You can buy Mac gear from any dealer - local or not, it simply doesn't matter. What does matter, however, is that you must pick it up or the dealer must deliver it; no shipping as per the Mac warranty policy.
Now, obviously, only you and the dealer know whether the item has been shipped, picked up, or delivered. Mac doesn't have spies out there.
In this case, the OP got screwed because SOMEBODY told Mac the unit was shipped. I buy Mac stuff from dealers half way across the country all the time. They ship it and I fill in the warranty card and no problem. But I have a receipt from an authorized dealer and as far as anyone knows, I picked the stuff up while on vacation.
End of story.
Now, obviously, only you and the dealer know whether the item has been shipped, picked up, or delivered. Mac doesn't have spies out there.
In this case, the OP got screwed because SOMEBODY told Mac the unit was shipped. I buy Mac stuff from dealers half way across the country all the time. They ship it and I fill in the warranty card and no problem. But I have a receipt from an authorized dealer and as far as anyone knows, I picked the stuff up while on vacation.
End of story.