Apple to Give Employees $500 Off Macs and $250 Off iPads

[sessamoid]

Originally Posted by HarryKeogh

I agree. It's not that impressive a discount. I haven't worked in retail in 20 years (thankfully) but when I worked for The Gap in its prime we got 30% off everything including gift certificates and 50% off several items each month.

Of course, Gap had the advantage of most of their items being made overseas by people making slave wages.

Oh wait...

No, the Gap had the advantage of having almost zero material cost as well.

[Rafterman]

Originally Posted by SteveSparks

Likely this has to do with Apple's cost of the item, $99 mac mini does not recover any of the costs associated with the item, where a $699 macbook pro will recover some of the costs. I would also suspect Apple would rather have laptops out in the open than Mac Mini's at home. The $99 Mini is also a huge temptation for buy resell. At lease with the macbook you have a lot more of your own personal money into the product that makes you think about the purchase etc.

So the staff still gets the 25% discount yearly right?

Oops, you are mixing up your products $99 is for an Apple TV, not a Mac Mini. A Mac Mini is $699+, depending on the model. Macbook Pro's start at $1199.

[tehBrad]

Originally Posted by Rafterman

Oops, you are mixing up your products $99 is for an Apple TV, not a Mac Mini. A Mac Mini is $699+, depending on the model. Macbook Pro's start at $1199.

He was talking about prices after discounts (599-500= $99 mac mini)

[G77]

Originally Posted by Rafterman

Oops, you are mixing up your products $99 is for an Apple TV, not a Mac Mini. A Mac Mini is $699+, depending on the model. Macbook Pro's start at $1199.

Well maybe, just maybe, he was talking about prices after $500 discount? What do you think? Could this be the case?

And btw. Mac Mini starts at $599

[lvlarkkoenen]

Originally Posted by G77

Well maybe, just maybe, he was talking about prices after $500 discount? What do you think? Could this be the case?

And btw. Mac Mini starts at $599

Well, yeah, but wasn't the initial claim that the Mini should be open to a $250 or even $200 rebate?
Makes sense to me since it costs more than an iPad.

[alephnull12]

Discounted macs?

*sigh*

Bad business idea. Sounds like a return to the bad old days of Apple in the 90's where there were a million different pricing points and special ways to get discounts (educational, business, yada yada yada).

Steve Jobs was right. Have a simple, single price point so that all customers are feeling like they have a similar consistent, and slick appearance.

Providing deep discounted products, even when provided to employees, only degrades the perception among consumers about the value of the product, which is one reason that Apple is capable of maintaining its high margins. Why should I pay full price for an item that is worth only half as much to the people selling it to me? That will be the perception.

For example: "Hey, my nephew worked for apple for one month and bought his iPad 3 for $250. Why the heck should I pay $600 to get one?" Good question.

[SuperCachetes]

Originally Posted by gnasher729

I think this discount will be in place so that Apple employees use Apple products.

No question about it. This makes it much more likely that Apple employees will be Mac owners, and therefore preaching the gospel.

[Steve121178]

Originally Posted by SPEEDwithJJ

Nice. That is very generous of Apple. I can imagine how good it is to work for Apple.

When I used to work at IBM, we used to get 23% off an unlimited amount of Desktop PC's, screens & ThinkPad's. There was even an online employee shop full of special configurations with a heavy discount.

This new offer by Apple seems incredibly tight in comparison.

[hgm]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

According to 9to5Mac, during today's town hall meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that they would get $500 off Macs and $250 iPads.
[…]

Oh how generous. Such a big deal. Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Porsche pay each of their employers an annual bonus of several thousand Euros, depending on revenue.

Shame on Apple.

[MonkeySee....]

Originally Posted by alephnull12

Discounted macs?

*sigh*

Bad business idea. Sounds like a return to the bad old days of Apple in the 90's where there were a million different pricing points and special ways to get discounts (educational, business, yada yada yada).

Steve Jobs was right. Have a simple, single price point so that all customers are feeling like they have a similar consistent, and slick appearance.

Providing deep discounted products, even when provided to employees, only degrades the perception among consumers about the value of the product, which is one reason that Apple is capable of maintaining its high margins. Why should I pay full price for an item that is worth only half as much to the people selling it to me? That will be the perception.

For example: "Hey, my nephew worked for apple for one month and bought his iPad 3 for $250. Why the heck should I pay $600 to get one?" Good question.

Are you serious?

I don't think anyone in their right mind would begrudge paying for a product a member of staff is getting at a discount.

----------

Originally Posted by hgm

Oh how generous. Such a big deal. Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Porsche pay each of their employers an annual bonus of several thousand Euros, depending on revenue.

Shame on Apple.

My goodness. MacRumour members are on top form today

[gnasher729]

Originally Posted by Steve121178

When I used to work at IBM, we used to get 23% off an unlimited amount of Desktop PC's, screens & ThinkPad's. There was even an online employee shop full of special configurations with a heavy discount.

Not too long ago, a Microsoft employee was sent to jail, because he used his rebate on Microsoft software licenses to run a million dollar business in expensive server software licenses. (The rebate was only for personal use, but nobody checked for a while. I guess his colleagues where wondering why the sales person with the lowest sales numbers could afford the most expensive car )

On the other hand, many businesses sell or make things that are of no use to their employees. On the third hand, I heard of companies selling prefabricated buildings, where every year groups of employees take their holiday together and build a new home for one of them, with only the cost of the ground and the materials to be paid.

Originally Posted by Steve121178

When I used to work at IBM, we used to get 23% off an unlimited amount of Desktop PC's, screens & ThinkPad's. There was even an online employee shop full of special configurations with a heavy discount.

This new offer by Apple seems incredibly tight in comparison.

If you could buy a new PC ever month with 23% rebate, with no questions asked, that means the company actually expects you to be a sales person with a 23% commission, and they expect that they wouldn't have made the sale if you hadn't sold the computer. With PCs, it is all about price, so they increase the number of sales that way. The same thing at Apple, number of sales won't increase by much.

Originally Posted by alephnull12

For example: "Hey, my nephew worked for apple for one month and bought his iPad 3 for $250. Why the heck should I pay $600 to get one?" Good question.

Daft question. Because it is an employee benefit, and you are not an employee. Apple also gave a lot of cash to the nephew, and not to you. Because he is an employee, and you're not.

[jackc]

Originally Posted by hgm

Oh how generous. Such a big deal. Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Porsche pay each of their employers an annual bonus of several thousand Euros, depending on revenue.

Shame on Apple.

You should try to rescue the exploited workers. I suggest carrying them out on your shoulder one-by-one, and bring the media.

[Dr McKay]

A Macbook Air for $499? Damn lucky

[firestarter]

This isn't so much a generous benefit - more like a sensible business practice.

Of all Apple's Western employees, their retail staff are probably the lowest paid. How can these people do their jobs and help customers out if they don't have experience of using a Mac or iDevice at home? Apple should just give them one to use.

Is there anyone here in Apple retail? Do Apple only hire people who already use their products?

[Dagless]

I wouldn't work in retail for a $500 voucher. But it's a good incentive for those already in there, I think.

[CountBoni]

Originally Posted by jayhawk11

On the retail side, working for Apple sucks. You get crapped on a lot by customers and the innovation isn't there like it is at corporate. It's really no different than any other retail gig.

Side note, this discount is an *additional* $500 off every three years. They still get the 25% off once a year.

I worked for Apple Retail and it was a great experience, obviously it depends on what your professional goals are, for me it was a cool experience while I got another job in my field and I still hang out with the iMates and some of the managers. We used to have a lot of fun on the floor and even though sometimes we got crappy customers, most of them were really friendly and some of them went back often just to say hi. The meetings were hilarious and the parties awesome. I have really good memories working for

[jonnyb]

Originally Posted by firestarter

This isn't so much a generous benefit - more like a sensible business practice.

Of all Apple's Western employees, their retail staff are probably the lowest paid. How can these people do their jobs and help customers out if they don't have experience of using a Mac or iDevice at home? Apple should just give them one to use.

Is there anyone here in Apple retail? Do Apple only hire people who already use their products?

When I was at the genius bar in Covent Garden, London recently there were two geniuses showing their Samsung Galaxy S2 wallpapers to each other. When I asked jokingly if that was even allowed one of them said it was because they wanted iPhone 4Ss but couldn't afford them.

Now they can (or maybe they actually preferred their S2s and were spinning me a line)

[KnightWRX]

Originally Posted by iMikeT

Time for me to send in an application to work for Apple. Hell, I'll take a janitorial job to get $500 off a new Mac.

So you'd take a pay drop of a couple of thousand dollars for what amounts to basically 250$ added revenue per year ?

Or maybe your current job doesn't pay more than a janitor job ?

Frankly, this is a nice gesture for employees, but hardly a reason to quit your day job and take a salary cut over. Apply to work for Apple because the position, advantages and salary are what you want, not because you get a discount on a Mac.

With my current job, I can easily afford that 500$ and I doubt Apple has any positions in Quebec that can live-up to my job (and I can't move to the US to fill positions that would).

[fozzy.bear]

Apple retail only differs from any other retailer due to the efforts to create a "culture" there, but under the covers...it's still retail. Vis-a-vis Apple Inc. it's a whole separate beast -- viz the exclusion of Apple retail employees from the "company-wide" meeting. 25% off computers and iPads (withheld for months after the release) have encouraged employees to drink the KoolAid. Apple Retail is NOT the same as working for Apple, Inc. don't let anyone try to tell you differently.

[Chupa Chupa]

Originally Posted by Consultant

Once every 3 years? That seems a step backwards.

I hope they can still provide F&F discounts. I've received discounts on high end BTO that's more than $500.

Why? This is a bonus on top of the existing 25% emp. discount. This is an improved emp. perk, not a diminished one.

And once every 3 years seems reasonable -- it keeps the benefit for the employee and also prevents employees from buying a lot of computers just to flip them.

[MonkeySee....]

Originally Posted by fozzy.bear

Apple retail only differs from any other retailer due to the efforts to create a "culture" there, but under the covers...it's still retail. Vis-a-vis Apple Inc. it's a whole separate beast -- viz the exclusion of Apple retail employees from the "company-wide" meeting. 25% off computers and iPads (withheld for months after the release) have encouraged employees to drink the KoolAid. Apple Retail is NOT the same as working for Apple, Inc. don't let anyone try to tell you differently.

It would be nice to work for a company you actually respect and believe in though. Wouldn't it?

[KnightWRX]

Originally Posted by MonkeySee....

It would be nice to work for a company you actually respect and believe in though. Wouldn't it?

I already do and it's not Apple. Not everyone only respects and believes in Apple you know...

In fact, with Apple's current behavior in courts around the world and with their walled iOS garden, I'd have some moral problems working for them.

[spazzcat]

Originally Posted by MultiMediaWill

I wonder what discounts they give to Foxconn employees #laborlaws

Well they are Foxconn employees, so why would they get an Apple employee discount?

[MonkeySee....]

Originally Posted by KnightWRX

I already do and it's not Apple. Not everyone only respects and believes in Apple you know...

In fact, with Apple's current behavior in courts around the world and with their walled iOS garden, I'd have some moral problems working for them.

Well I have respect they are doing everything they can to protect themselves. I know others don't have this view but its ok.

[spazzcat]

Originally Posted by hgm

Oh how generous. Such a big deal. Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Porsche pay each of their employers an annual bonus of several thousand Euros, depending on revenue.

Shame on Apple.

You really think their employees don't get cash bonus, this just a cherry on top of that...