Why I'm Buying My Next Laptop at Costco

A few years back, I bought my current laptop, a 13-inch Macbook Air, from Apple for what I thought was a decent price. At the time, I didn't think I'd be using it frequently, only as a personal computer to supplement the more powerful Macbook Pro that I borrowed through my previous employer.

Now I'm a full-time freelancer working from a 13-inch Macbook Air. Turns out, this laptop really isn't the best to use as a personal finance writer. Example: I currently have 10 open tabs and my laptop is huffing and puffing as if I were mining crypto. No lie -- once, my wife heard the laptop overheating from another room and asked if the refrigerator was broken. Not exactly ideal when your job requires in-depth research and multiple open browsers.

So now I'm in the market for a Macbook Pro, ideally a 16-inch. I've been comparison shopping and looking around the internet for a good deal. All in all, I decided I'm going to buy this laptop from Costco. Here's why.

1. Prices are competitive

Costco rarely sells laptops at the same price as the manufacturer. Case in point: Apple sells its 16-inch Macbook Pro (M2 with 512 GB) for $2,499, while Costco.com sells it slightly cheaper at $2,449.99.

But where I could really save money is buying this laptop in a warehouse when Costco is offering a promotion. For instance, I recently saw the 16-inch Macbook Pro at my local warehouse for $200 cheaper than the sticker price, or $2,249.99. That's about as cheap as you can buy a new Macbook Pro.

If you're curious, this is how much the same laptop sells on various websites.

Again, if you buy the laptop in-store at a Costco warehouse, you might get a lower price than from its online store. This is especially true as holiday sales approach, like Black Friday, which might see electronics and laptops discounted.

2. Generous return policy and two-year warranty

Costco will let me return a new Macbook Pro for a full refund within 90 days after I purchase it. Even better, Costco will accept my return even if I don't have the original box. For comparison, Best Buy will give you 15 days to return a MacBook (60 days if you're a My Best Buy Plus member), while Amazon will also give you 15 days.

Not only that but Costco will extend the manufacturer's warranty to two years, giving me two years of coverage for mechanical or electrical failures. And if that wasn't enough, it also sells AppleCare+ at a slightly cheaper price than other retailers: $319 for a three-year insurance policy. In contrast, Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy all sell the same policy for $399.

3. Free technical and troubleshooting support

Lastly, buying a MacBook through Costco means getting free technical support through its Concierge Service. This could really come in handy if you're working on a deadline, your Macbook suddenly stops working properly, and you don't have time or energy to figure out a solution on your own.

Even better is that you get technical support indefinitely, whereas other retailers, like Apple, will give you support for a set amount of time, like 90 days.

Low prices + support + 2% back = why I'm buying my Mac at Costco

All in all, I'll buy my 16-inch Macbook Pro from a Costco warehouse when I can get it for a discounted price. Cost is a major factor in my decision (I can't blow my personal finance goals for a new laptop). But so is the return policy, technical support, and one-year extension on the manufacturer's one-year warranty. Plus, I get 2% back with my Costco Executive membership, which is about $50 back on a $2,249 Macbook Pro.

True, it's important to compare that with other retailers to see who has the best deal, but if you're a Costco member, you might not find a better value when in-store laptops are discounted.