I was looking for an iPad and learnt about MacXeon Technologies, a small store located in Liberty Plaza 1st floor. I found the store when I searched ikman.lk and saw a featured advertisement on top of the list. I asked around. My click isn't "Apple" and they hadn't heard about the store. So I decided to check it out.

So yesterday, when I was in Colpetty to see a friend, I thought of visiting the store. From my research I figured they were the only ones with the WiFi only version for 85,000/= (cash) 87,500/= (card - with 3% added). There were smaller stores selling product for lesser (about 83,500/=) but I discarded them as they didn't sound knowledgeable or professional over the phone.

Sales Knowledge

I have talked to various people selling iPhones and iPads. I learnt that they don't necessarily have knowledge about the products. There was this lady in the store and she knows quite a lot about Apple product releases, events, the past present and future. It was a delight to talk to her as I have talked to many and understood they knew little about what they were selling. Sellers without passion is a huge turn-off for me. MacXeon is a small store with big brains and a good seller.

Product

The products come from Singapore as many other vendors including Abans. They obtain their products from Singapore especially when they go on special promotions and ship it to Sri Lanka. This is why they have a good price and maintain a decent profit margin to run a store in Liberty.

The products are in a sealed box. Yes I know there are some that re-seal used/refurbished products but I don't have any reason to believe that these are as such. This is one reason why I don't products form questionable stores.

Warranty

The store provides 1 year warranty and Apple comes with 1 year international warranty. In Sri Lanka there is no Genius Bar or similar for servicing. Abans has a service enter in the race-course and there are some other 3rd party service enters. So claiming warranty could can be an issue for any Apple product not belonging to few authorized dealers and if I am correct involves a service charge.

MacXeon will handle the warranty for the client so that there won't be extra cost. We didn't go in to details around it, but from what I understood they might sent it back to Singapore and deal with it there which even Abans does if its beyond there scope.

The lady described the warranty is more of an "mutual understanding" but in reality its more. The 1 year warranty they provide is also legally binding. So its not just mutual understanding. How ever its slightly different from what you get from a store like Abans.

Why a store like this and not Abans

Stores like this can save you a little money. If you look at the percentage, its not much, but some times that matters. Your risks of having a product defect is marginal and thus warranty is rarely an issue. I have bought quite a lot of tech gadgets but only once did I have to take it for warranty claiming and its a printer nozzle issue due to not using it frequently. I got it fixed and the same happened few months later and I sent it for recycle.

But that is not the main reason why I look at stores like this. Looking for an iPad 7th Generation, I only wanted a WiFi model with 128GB memory. Abans didn't import WiFi Only models. Neither did Future World. They say its harder to sell the WiFi Only model. The logic makes sense. But the price difference is almost LKR 35,000/= which is a lot. There were few other stores that had "in stock" but I doubted I would want to step in to them.

Then there is this issue where places like Abans get the product late. Some times from announcement they might take about 2 months to get items. But stores like MacXeon get them a little earlier. Usually a couple weeks from being available. So if you are in a hurry, then that is the best option.

If its not one of these cases, I would always go to a store like Abans since I have a relationship with the brand dating back as early as early 2000.

Store Location

Finding the store was a little difficult.

• Liberty Plaza - First Floor
• Find Coffee Bean
• Do a 360 you should see very small store with Apple Products

That is how I found it.

Finally

This is by no means an endorsement. I almost bought an iPad from them. Where as other smaller and some bigger stores out there that sell Apple products I like how MacXeon feels. Depending on your requirements, use this article to be informed of my opinion on the store from a single visit.