Some Apple Retail Stores Start Price Matching iPad Air and iPhone 5c [Updated]

[Michael Scrip]

No, Apple products are still very desirable and will continue to be for some time to come. However, this could be another sign that Apple may have lost a little leverage in a maturing market with increasing competition (as ineffective as that competition may be in the eyes of some).

Are you talking about competition between different stores? Or competition between other brands of phones?

A person sees the iPhone 5C on sale at Walmart... and they want that same price at the Apple Store.

The point is... they were always interested in the iPhone 5C... not another phone. That's a point in Apple's favor!

 

[ryanmcv]

This is nothing new... the Apple Store in Phoenix (Biltmore) matched Walmart's $479 price for me 2 weeks ago. I believe they've been price-matching the Walmart price since launch day, but you have to ask for it and present the Walmart webpage advertising the $479 price.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I did Apple sales over the phone quite a few years ago, and they didn't do price matching but they did do something called deal-closers. They weren't advertised, but you could offer it if you were very close to closing the deal and the customer was obviously negotiating with you (mentioning they could get a better deal somewhere else). I can't remember ever successfully using one though because you could only offer it if the customer purchased AppleCare with the Mac (this was only for Macs). I think you had to get a code from a supervisor in order to do it, as well. I can't remember ever actually completing such a transaction.

 

[SusanK]

Apple Retail absolutely has a price match policy. Started about 3 years ago. Has to be a brick and mortar store, can't be an online only sale.

Yes, I first heard of this from my dentist about two years ago. Our local Apple store matched MicroCenter price. His wife wanted a Mac. She went Apple happy as a result and they purchased several items since.

He tells me of her newest thrills when I see him. He knows I am all Apple and seems to enjoy enthusiasm of Apple users.

He was very pleased with One to One. I told him he joined a one year club to return to the store and buy more stuff


Glad to see Apple price matching. The experience in an Apple store is superior to any other electronic retailer IMHO.

 

[9000]

"According to a retail employee, Apple now has an official policy on price matching, which allows specialists to price match iPhones, iPads, and Macs, giving up to 10 percent off on products without authorization. Specialists are also allowed to give business customers up to 20% off a non-Apple accessory when purchased with an Apple product."

I'm assuming this is all part of Tim Cook's campaign to make the Apple Retail Store more popular. Sounds like a good idea.

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No, Apple products are still very desirable and will continue to be for some time to come. However, this could be another sign that Apple may have lost a little leverage in a maturing market with increasing competition (as ineffective as that competition may be in the eyes of some).

Competing with whom? Their authorized resellers. This isn't about price-matching a Mac to a Dell. Apple just wants more people in their stores.

 

[Fuith]

I work for a retailer in Ireland. Don't know what the markup is in the States, but here it's about 12%. Add that to the fact that we can't get stock, and it's insane to discount Apple products.

It may sound like a good thing, but when you pay less at the till, you pay more after. Mitsubishi and Philips started making their products cheaper, and the quality dropped. Yes you pay more for Apple products, but my experience is that you get what you pay for. I'm hoping Apple don't join the race to the bottom.

 

[9000]

Bit of a stretch. If a the Apple magic was no more the stores would not still be the busiest place in any mall. By comparison, Microsoft and Sony stores in the same malls at the same time are often ghost towns. Don't conflate having to compete with having a less desirable product.

I went to the Sony store in New York City, so excited. And I was massively disappointed. The legendary store I've heard of was selling Sony iPod knockoffs, I think some of them branded as Walkmans, hugely overpriced PCs, and really bad smartphones. Some cool cameras and TVs, but a big letdown. Sony used to be cool

 

[WaxedJacket]

Currently, the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini are excluded from price matching.

lame

 

[Michael Scrip]

I went to the Sony store in New York City, so excited. And I was massively disappointed. The legendary store I've heard of was selling Sony iPod knockoffs, I think some of them branded as Walkmans, hugely overpriced PCs, and really bad smartphones. Some cool cameras and TVs, but a big letdown. Sony used to be cool

I walked by the Sony Store in Las Vegas. They had a 4K camcorder hooked to a 4K TV pointed out into the mall.

That caught my attention... but not enough to actually enter the store

 

[iSayuSay]

I went to the Sony store in New York City, so excited. And I was massively disappointed. The legendary store I've heard of was selling Sony iPod knockoffs, I think some of them branded as Walkmans, hugely overpriced PCs, and really bad smartphones. Some cool cameras and TVs, but a big letdown. Sony used to be cool

Sony used to be legend with their Walkman. And maybe, just maybe a decade from now Apple could end up the same? Used to be a huge tech company but grow up old and tired and by then you come to the store you'll see the same old iPod, iPhone, iPad. Again .. and again .. and again.

Some would really be boring with iOS 20 which is not that much of a difference as today. They keep using IPS display on the phone while everyone else already using hologram display. . A few cool vintage Macbook but overall a big letdown

Some of Apple products is already old and overpriced. Hint: Old MacPro. Not knowing when the new one will be released, that thing still stand for sale, nobody buy it, and you know what? It's still at $2500 with same old hardware, collecting dust in some of the Apple Store. Which sane tech company would do that?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

No, Apple products are still very desirable and will continue to be for some time to come. However, this could be another sign that Apple may have lost a little leverage in a maturing market with increasing competition (as ineffective as that competition may be in the eyes of some).

Yes, but you are merely restating what I said in a more verbose fashion. Again having to compete is not an indicator of Apple products losing there luster w/ consumers. That was my only point. Many of the store discounting iPad are doing so as a "loss leader" to get bodies into their store. It's more of a statement of the iPad's desirability than people tiring of it. It's why Apple limits the price matching to 10% off list price. Even at a 10% discount Apple products are still considerably more than similar non-Apple devices.

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Some of Apple products is already old and overpriced. Hint: Old MacPro. Not knowing when the new one will be released, that thing still stand for sale, nobody buy it, and you know what? It's still at $2500 with same old hardware, collecting dust in some of the Apple Store. Which sane tech company would do that?

Bad example. Apple EOL'd the old MP a couple months ago & it hasn't had a prominent place in Apple Stores for years. Usually it's used as the store tutors' machine. I agree Apple let it go for a long time but now we see why. Apple was hardly resting on its laurels no matter what you think of the new model ( personally I admire it, but not for me, unlike the previous MPs).

 

[kazmac]

smart move

Now this is a good deal, would make me stick with buying from Apple.

Nice to hear.

 

[the8thark]

So if this is nothing new, why is it worthy of a story on 9to5Mac (that they know will get picked up elsewhere and treated as something new or D&G for Apple)?

Page hits and in article links on other websites for 9to5Mac. That is why.

 

[Born Again]

Apple is doomed

 

[Michael Scrip]

Apple is doomed

There are 100 other companies who are doomed before Apple

 

[TouchMint.com]

A slippery slope...

 

[garya73]

I thought it worth mentioning that "Price Matching" is somewhat of a scam. The logic being that if every retailer will sell something for the same price as every other retailer, there is no incentive to lower prices. I'm surprised gas stations don't get together and do it, although it'd probably be illegal.

It is illegal. It's called collusion.

Price is not always the deciding factor when a purchase is made. People are willing to go to an Apple store and pay more, because of the service they get. Knowledgeable salespeople, genius bar, and so on. Others may go because of the atmosphere of the store.

Others may buy online or at a local retailer due to the distance between them and the closest Apple store. Others may not have reliable transportation, and buy online. Others may prefer doing their business at a trusted store where they have done business for years. Some may be intimidated by the Apple stores. I know I like to get in and get out, I'm not a touchy-feely-browsy type of person. I know what I want before I go.

Apple stores can eat the 10% because they are working on their own retail margins, not a big box store's. With the latter, you have to consider Apple's margin as well as the margin of the retailer.

I do think it is a bad idea to use Apple products as a "loss leader" unless you can upsell warranties, accessories, etc at the time of purchase to make up for the loss. Even with the premium Apple prices, I think it cheapens the brand image.

 

[Hookemfins]

I was told last year at both my local Apple Stores they would price match.

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Price is not always the deciding factor when a purchase is made. People are willing to go to an Apple store and pay more, because of the service they get. Knowledgeable salespeople, genius bar, and so on. Others may go because of the atmosphere of the store.

Actually, you can purchase an Apple product at Best Buy or Walmart and get the same great service in an Apple Store. I bought my Mac Mini and MBP at Best Buy but went with Apple Care. Even if you purchase an Apple product at BB or Walmart you still get the same 90 day phone support and 1 year Genius Bar support.

 

[HenryDJP]

When I was at the Apple Store the other day, I overheard a specialist saying to a customer that "this is Apple, we don't do discounts".

I find your entire post completely non-believable.

 

[Tech198]

"Currently, the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini are excluded from price matching."

That's too bad.

 

[quietstormSD]

Glad to see the downward pressure on prices of these types of products, considering the margins Apple and others make on these types of products. It's still a win-win for consumers and manufacturers (yeah i know Apple doesn't manufacture the actual thing), soon it'll probably be a win-loss, but that's with no innovation.

 

[dampfnudel]

Are you talking about competition between different stores? Or competition between other brands of phones?

A person sees the iPhone 5C on sale at Walmart... and they want that same price at the Apple Store.

The point is... they were always interested in the iPhone 5C... not another phone. That's a point in Apple's favor!

Well, the ultimate point is Apple is being more flexible than it was previously and I hope that trend continues (like lower price points for the iPhone and iPad next year).

 

[charlituna]

"According to a retail employee, Apple now has an official policy on price matching, which allows specialists to price match iPhones, iPads, and Macs, giving up to 10 percent off on products without authorization.

According to the BF this is a tad wrong. The policy is only for the iPhone 5c and original iPad mini. And it is matching only up to 10% of the item cost. And only at other brick and mortars in the area.

So say Walmart does a sale where you get $100 off a full price 5c. That phone is only $549 for a 16 GB. So Apple will only give you $54.90 off, not $100. Oh wait, no Walmarts in the area, nope no match.

Because the point of the policy is that if you can jaunt over to Walmart and get it they will lose a sale. But if you have to call your sister to send it to you cause the closest store is four hours away, you are likely to go for convenience.

And they will only match authorized resellers.

 

[johnparjr]

When I was at the Apple Store the other day, I overheard a specialist saying to a customer that "this is Apple, we don't do discounts".

They don't it's matching someone else's discount

 

[StevesJob]

I don't understand what this article is about. Maybe because I'm on drugs