You do know that depending on what state you live in you have to pay a use tax. If you don't file for one you can be in a lot of trouble. Have fun with that.
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Apple and Costco Officially Parting Ways
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You do know that depending on what state you live in you have to pay a use tax. If you don't file for one you can be in a lot of trouble. Have fun with that.
Makes sense.
The company I worked for once looked into offer our products @ Costco and I believe the minimum discount/pricing (off retail) they require is 20%. I'm sure they bend the rules for some, but I can't see Apple offering anything over 8-10%.
The company I worked for once looked into offer our products @ Costco and I believe the minimum discount/pricing (off retail) they require is 20%. I'm sure they bend the rules for some, but I can't see Apple offering anything over 8-10%.
Thanks. Perhaps not price fixing but resale price maintenance (RPM) is the correct term and I see that it's illegal as well, except "under certain circumstances". Maybe Apple falls into the "under certain circumstances" but it's still suspect behavior.
Too bad. Costco's customer service can't be beat. I suspect it may not have a huge impact on either company, but there's no doubt that the Costco demographic is waaaay more affluent than the Walmart demographic. After all, Costco started off as a club catering to small business owners. If you want a taste of the Walmart demographic, just go to the www.peopleofwalmart.com for a good laugh...
So long itunes gift cards
I will miss my $60 worth of itunes gift cards for $45 dollars. That was a steal!
I will miss my $60 worth of itunes gift cards for $45 dollars. That was a steal!
Actually Walmart has a pretty diverse demographic compared to some other retailers. While your statement might be true in larger metro areas, Walmart has many stores in smaller cities and towns. In many of those towns, Walmart is the only national retailer that offers products like iPods and iPads. In many smaller cities a diverse demographic shops at Walmart because there isn't a lot of choice. Saying only lower middle class and poor shop at Walmart is not an accurate statement when you take a nationwide look at the store.
It was reduced to 90 days because of people like that...
http://shop.costco.com/en/Customer-Service/Returns.aspx
Because for some of us (who live in Washington), we don't really have many places (that aren't some no name internet place that you've never heard of and would be hard to trust 1k of your money to something like that) where you can go and avoid tax.
And, as well, itunes gift certificates. At least you could get a small deal on itunes that way (only other place I've seen having good itunes gift certificates deals is Best Buy and I refuse to give them a dime of my money).
There are about 4 costcos within close driving distance from where I live, and no matter which one I go, the place is always PACKED with customers. I just wish they'd open a new one in the middle of LA.
Before, the average customers who wanted to buy an MP3 player would say
"I need an MP3 player. Should I buy Apple iPod or the Sandisk Sansa?"
now it's
"I need an MP3 player. I guess I'll buy Sandisk's Sansa."
They are not going to say
"I need an MP3 player. I'm going to walk out of costco and go to the nearest walmart to buy an Apple iPod"
Before, the average customers who wanted to buy an MP3 player would say
"I need an MP3 player. Should I buy Apple iPod or the Sandisk Sansa?"
now it's
"I need an MP3 player. I guess I'll buy Sandisk's Sansa."
They are not going to say
"I need an MP3 player. I'm going to walk out of costco and go to the nearest walmart to buy an Apple iPod"
I think they know the difference between an iPod and a Sandisk and aren't "blinded" by the awe that is Costco. If they are wealthy enough to have a membership and buy 5x what they need because it's "so cheap in bulk" I think they are smart enough to turn on ther Sony (insert fake model number that only Costco sells) TV on and see an ipod or iphone or ipad commercial.
If they open another one, it'll just be packed again... It's really strange how in this economic crisis Costco can stay so busy and so packed. Even in the middle of the week! We had to wait in line for an hour to check out with 3 items today...
Just a guess,but I'm thinking that since iPods are available everywhere at basically the same prices as Costco Apple will never notice the change.Costco will though.
Change that to "legally you are obligated to pay tax."In practice states have no idea what you bought(yet).Can you site a case where someone got"in a lot of trouble?"
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some of you have your heads up your asses, Not just costco discounts products and why the hell is that bad? Do you like paying premium for products? Fine with us we don't need apples business anyways. Apple can be a really greedy company.
Why carry an item that cannot be discounted when it failed to attract customers who might otherwise shop at Walmart / Sam's Club, Tiger, etc.
I never bought an iPod there because they cost almost the same as they do at other on-line stores; I would imagine others didn't for the same reason. Why take up floor space with items that are not selling?
I never bought an iPod there because they cost almost the same as they do at other on-line stores; I would imagine others didn't for the same reason. Why take up floor space with items that are not selling?
You don't go to Costco and buy just 3 items..
Some of us are not restaurant owners shopping at Costco for our daily / weekly supplies - or the head of a family of eight. I have gone in to buy just one product. It depends on how convenient it is to shop there, but the self-check lanes help.
At least here in the DC area the couple of stores I checked had none
It is also called customer service.....
Boy was this a good laugh:
Costco: "Why don't we have iPads Steve!?!?"
Apple: "We're not playing your discount game with iPad.."
Costco: "Fine; We're done selling your products... You lose!"
Costco probably wasn't making hardly anything on Apple products anyway (since they sold everything at well below MSRP) I just loved how Costco handled the situation!
Well joined Costco looking for discounted iTunes Cards - among other things.. will stick around even without Apple...
Agree on this... Apple blew it...
On iTunes Cards - I would have bought more from iTunes with the slight discount on them at Costco. As to the hardware, would prefer dealing with Costco than most any other store. I need no support other than warranties...
Amen to that!
Not sure how that works in your state; but here in Virginia we are required to pay a use tax when we buy tax free. FWIW, yes I plan on filing my use taxes this year. Hope if more folks did this the services that sales taxes pay for won't require my other taxes to go up.
Thanks for that... will have to check out my Coinstar outlets!
I refuse to shop at Wal Mart/Sam's Club because I think they are horribly unethical companies that are a cancer on the American economy.
I loved Costco, though, and was hoping they'd sell iPads there soon. Alas.
I loved Costco, though, and was hoping they'd sell iPads there soon. Alas.
Kinda silly to say they don't need each other because they have so many other companies to do business with. While true you could apply that to every place they deal with. Apple doesn't need Target, Cosco doesn't need Coke-Cola. Of course they don't need each other, but it is silly to act like either side gained much if anything from the decision.
Wow I had seriously never known there was such a thing before. Just looked it up and my state does want me to voluntarily give them my 6.875% still. Looks like I am fine though. From the official state site with Minnesota tax information: "An individual, however, can purchase up to $770 in taxable items for personal use without owing use tax." Pretty sure I am not over that cap. I use amazon a lot, but rarely big purchases.
Wow I had seriously never known there was such a thing before. Just looked it up and my state does want me to voluntarily give them my 6.875% still. Looks like I am fine though. From the official state site with Minnesota tax information: "An individual, however, can purchase up to $770 in taxable items for personal use without owing use tax." Pretty sure I am not over that cap. I use amazon a lot, but rarely big purchases.
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