Apple Adjusts Studio Display XDR Pricing Weeks After Launch

[mozumder]

So... that makes it $400 for the stand?

 

[MayaUser]

Yes it does

 

[gadgetfreak98]

Why would you be refunded? You purchased it when it was that price, oh well.

They obviously are under no obligation to do so -- but it's a smart move to not make the most loyal customers who are buying the most premium products feel disrespected, and clearly Apple can absorb the cost.

Recall, they also gave a partial discount to the earliest adopters of the original iPhone when they dropped the price not long after launch. I think they reduced the price $200 and gave $100 back in store credit to people who jumped in on day one (myself included). It's just smart business -- if you can afford it, which they can.

 

[Satch111]

I was crapping on apple for charging the same price for the vesa mount as the stand version 2 weeks ago.

 

[mattopotamus]

Why would you be refunded? You purchased it when it was that price, oh well.

Probably because someone could return it and repurchase if they were unwilling to budge depending on the date.

 

[bniu]

Depends, sometimes Apple gives refunds, and sometimes they require you return the item and then buy another. There doesn't seem to be a strict policy about this.

When they price adjust in store, they are technically returning and immediately having you repurchase the same item, all on the same receipt.

 

[deevey]

this is still $1500 above its value

Compared to what exactly?

 

[kevcube]

Why would you be refunded? You purchased it when it was that price, oh well.

have you never heard of retailers doing good-faith price adjustments? the alternative is that you return it and rebuy which probably will cost apple more than $400.

 

[kevcube]

One usually does not use a laptop to drive these high tech screens, but the M5 Max Mac Book Pro would work as an intern solution.

I have a 1st gen studio display that has only ever been driven by a laptop, I am considering a Studio Display xdr that would also only ever be driven by a laptop. I know a few other people in the same boat.

Mac desktops are just not appealing when you can get the same power (~95%) in a portable form factor.

 

[VideoFreek]

Probably because someone could return it and repurchase if they were unwilling to budge depending on the date.

This. And...it's actually their official policy.

Apple - Legal - Sales Policies - U.S. Retail Sales

www.apple.com

Should Apple reduce the price on any Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days from the date you receive your product, visit an Apple Store location or contact Retail Customer Care at 1-800-MY-APPLE within 14 days of the price change to request a refund or credit of the difference in price. This excludes limited-time price reductions and special sales events, such as Black Friday. Price protection is limited to 10 units of a particular product and we may require that you have the product with you and/or have proof of possession to use it.

 

[nobody in particular]

I'm going to scream

 

[switz]

If you have USB-C 5 ports on the laptop, you could drive the XDR to its specs. The literature states that as I remember,

 

[Rafagon]

This is the headline that should've had the word "rare" in it.

I wonder if early buyers will get a refund.

 

[funnyenough]

Launch day purchase - 11th. > 14 days. I just called them and got a refund. I hope this helps.

 

[kevcube]

So... that makes it $400 for the stand?

which btw I bought a basically identical stand for my VESA Studio Display on TaoBao for under $100. Looks fantastic, solid aluminum, and works with any VESA monitor. Tilt and height adjustable.

 

[Gantra]

Ordered for delivery to my house on March 7th direct from Apple Store. Received March 17. Apple chat is promising refund of the $400 on April 3rd.

 

[falkon-engine]

Still overpriced for a monitor that has only *1* input. HDMI 2.1 and DP2.1 are a thing. Apple own Macs come with HDMI 2.1. So why does their expensive monitor not have at least HDMI 2.1 as well?

 

[IceCool]

They obviously are under no obligation to do so -- but it's a smart move to not make the most loyal customers who are buying the most premium products feel disrespected, and clearly Apple can absorb the cost.

Recall, they also gave a partial discount to the earliest adopters of the original iPhone when they dropped the price not long after launch. I think they reduced the price $200 and gave $100 back in store credit to people who jumped in on day one (myself included). It's just smart business -- if you can afford it, which they can.

I don’t think the original iPhone from almost 20 years ago is a fair comparison in the slightest, but I hear your point.

I don’t agree with it being “smart business” since we’re talking about a multi trillion dollar company. Whether they do it or not, it won’t hurt them. And I think we all know their customers are going to be loyal regardless.

My point is leaning into the post 14 day area. If I make a purchase that I’m no longer able to return and Apple then brings down the price, they don’t owe me anything at all.

 

[lapstags]

If one reads the fine print, to use the specs of the better model monitor, one needs USB-C 5 for the band width. The target computer horsepower will be the M5 Max or Ultra Mac Studio, which are still vaporware in the real world. One usually does not use a laptop to drive these high tech screens, but the M5 Max Mac Book Pro would work as an intern solution.

If you are buying this you probably have a m4 pro or above

 

[archvile]

Apple has a price protection policy where they will match a discount for any item that has a price drop within 14 days of you receiving (not ordering) the product. Customers would have to specifically request the price match within a subsequent 14 days of the new price being announced.

If someone bought on launch day and received the item anytime before March 16 they might be SOL, but anyone who received their item after March 16 should be eligible for a price match.

Third party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, etc. tend to have more generous 30+ day price match policies.

Amazon won’t price match anymore, they make you return the item and purchase it again under the new price. This is probably because their pricing changes so frequently that they would constantly be issuing refunds. This way they make it a hassle for the customer to have to go through the return process in order to get something at a cheaper price. They *used* to price match several years back, though.

 

[Return Zero]

Dang... if this ever hits 2400-2500 3rd-party sale prices, I might have to consider one. This with an M5 Mac mini for $3k total would be one hell of a desktop.

 

[nobody in particular]

I'm going to scream

Update: Amazon won't do a price match, but they did at least allow me to open a return and re-buy at the new price. Stupidly wasteful but it's their money I guess.

 

[Gloor]

Someone doesn't cross check!

Go on Apple.com and see for yourself

Damn, you almost had me 😀

 

[bradman83]

Amazon won’t price match anymore, they make you return the item and purchase it again under the new price. This is probably because their pricing changes so frequently that they would constantly be issuing refunds. This way they make it a hassle for the customer to have to go through the return process in order to get something at a cheaper price. They *used* to price match several years back, though.

Good to know. Best Buy definitely will price match if an item drops, they even have a button where you can request it automatically in your purchase history.

 

[Alex.ne]

Still overpriced for a monitor that has only *1* input. HDMI 2.1 and DP2.1 are a thing. Apple own Macs come with HDMI 2.1. So why does their expensive monitor not have at least HDMI 2.1 as well?

Because it is an "one cable connection" display for a Mac. Camera, speakers, external SSD, charging all work via single TB cable. This solution is not for everyone for sure, but clearly Apple is not aiming to sell huge volume of theirs monitors.
I am not sure if 1 HDMI can drive 5k at 120Hz.