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Apple Ends $100 Printer Rebate Program for New Mac Purchases

I use my printer frequently, and it came with my Mac Pro way back when. When a client emails me a list of stuff, I print it out and write notes on it as I edit. Way nicer than trying to juggle screen space or as someone mentioned (!) use an iPad instead.

Sure, it's a cheap wifi printer, but funny how all my laptop/iPad roommates and friends need to print something and I have the only printer in the house. Also useful for printing travel docs to hand the airline/car rental/hotel agent.

I see this as plugging a small but quantifiable money leak for Apple, and they know people won't revolt over free printers.
 
Mal said:
You're on a Mac forum. No such thing as a Print Screen button (that's a Windows function).

jW
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True....it does take a few keys pressed together to do the same on the Mac, but it can be done.
 
I've bought many Macs in my life and never once did I decide to buy one of those printers. Perhaps they killed it because not many people ended up doing it?

It's like buying a new DVD player just because you're buying a TV...no thanks, my old one still works fine!
 
It seems it will most likely be replaced by a $100 Mac App Store voucher. My email from Apple yesterday seemed to suggest that's what the student promotion is these days, in lieu of an iPod or something.

A digital bonus means lower losses for Apple and no shipping costs.
 
The rebate wasn't coming out of Apple's wallet, but was paid for by the manufacturer so most of the theories here are off base. Obviously the program was stopped because the manufacturers didn't think it was cost effective or Apple didn't want to manage the program anymore.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
The rebate wasn't coming out of Apple's wallet, but was paid for by the manufacturer so most of the theories here are off base. Obviously the program was stopped because the manufacturers didn't think it was cost effective or Apple didn't want to manage the program anymore.
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Indeed. I believe this has more to do with printer companies hurting as less and less people carry paper. In the past, printer manufacturers made up the $100 loss by the $$$$ you would spend on replacement cartridges (Notice the included cartridges are always half-empty when you buy the printer? :mad:).

Now that I carry an iPad and keep copies of docs in the cloud, I can pull up my documents anytime, anywhere, and create less pollution.

This move could also be used as another gesture to eco groups (ex. Greenpeace) who like to keep Apple on its toes.
 
VanMac said:
I never took advantage of that rebate, so no biggie.
I do like the free ipod back to school promos though.
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Unfortunately they stopped doing this as of back to school 2011. :( now they give you a $100 iTunes voucher which can be used on iTunes, iBookstore, AppStore, etc.

baller1308 said:
I always felt like that should give iWork for free after rebate as part of the back to school promotion.
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I suppose the good thing about this voucher is that everybody can get what they need with it. I wouldn't have use for iWork, for expample, but bought tomtom and a few other apps.
 
I wonder if this is a sort of barometer of Apple's current popularity. It simply doesn't need many incentives to get people to buy a Mac anymore. A friend of mine just bought her first Mac. I told her that they would transfer her files from her old PC laptop to the Macbook right there at the Apple Store. I was wrong. Apple has apparently discontinued that helpful practice. So I guess those type of customer freebies aren't needed when Apple is the one computer manufacturer that's growing leaps-and-bounds from quarter to quarter.
 
Kaibelf said:
I think it likely has more to do with the fact that people are printing less and less. I even take my iPad on interviews instead of a hard copy of a pitch or resume, and it always pleases people that I am avoiding wasted paper.
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Wow...so many negative comments on your post...I guess the printer companies read this blog and don't like the fact that you aren't printing anymore.

Just like the CD/DVD burner, there isn't much of a need to print for a lot of individuals now.

I'm like you...taking everything digital with me if possible.

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jayducharme said:
I wonder if this is a sort of barometer of Apple's current popularity. It simply doesn't need many incentives to get people to buy a Mac anymore. A friend of mine just bought her first Mac. I told her that they would transfer her files from her old PC laptop to the Macbook right there at the Apple Store. I was wrong. Apple has apparently discontinued that helpful practice. So I guess those type of customer freebies aren't needed when Apple is the one computer manufacturer that's growing leaps-and-bounds from quarter to quarter.
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Probably has to do more with liability then anything.
 
I got burned by this rebate offer. I purchased the printer when I bought my new Mac, sent in the rebate forms and receipts — and Apple Japan then claimed they never received them and refused to issue the refund — even though I had proof that I had submitted the paperwork via registered mail.

That was about three years ago, and the experience has left me sour on Apple Japan ever since.

Still, sorry to see the program disappear, as it obviously worked for lots of folks.
 
Sad to see this go actually, I made use of this last summer when ordering an air and got my printer for free. I wonder will they ever replace it with something new.

They seem to be cutting down a lot on the incentives when buying a Mac , like for the student promotion this year it went from getting a free iPod Touch to getting a €75 gift card for the App store, which was a little bit of a disappointment in comparison to a €200 iPod which could be sold to make some money back.
 
jayducharme said:
I wonder if this is a sort of barometer of Apple's current popularity. It simply doesn't need many incentives to get people to buy a Mac anymore. A friend of mine just bought her first Mac. I told her that they would transfer her files from her old PC laptop to the Macbook right there at the Apple Store. I was wrong. Apple has apparently discontinued that helpful practice. So I guess those type of customer freebies aren't needed when Apple is the one computer manufacturer that's growing leaps-and-bounds from quarter to quarter.
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Bingo. This is Apple's way of saying "we don't need ANY promotions to sell our products besides VERY MODEST Educational/Business/Government Discounts"

You're wrong about the data transfer tho. Stores still do it. Maybe that one was just too backed up.
 
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