Apple Launches 2015 Back to School Promotion, Offers Free Beats Solo2 Headphones With Mac Purchase

[Wahlstrm]

The only thing Beats headphones are good for is making the EarPods sound even better..

But it´s a smart promo from Apple making it look like apple-fans actually buy these..

 

[Patdt13]

To everyone complaining: it's free. Don't act like you weren't going to buy the computer without or without this deal. I for one need new headphones and can't wait to get the blue beats for free.

 

[StyxMaker]

They already do this with EDU discounts for college students. And by the way, they have no obligation to create a discount or promotion at all.




That's a sad topic for an entirely different debate.
So few people see the value in music only device anymore.

I remember, when I was younger, but still older than most of you, when I carried a Pocket PC, a cellphone (that I also used as a modem to connect my pocket PC to the Internet), an MP3 player, and a GPS device for the car. So, since buying a smart phone, I see no value in a music only device.

 

[nattK]

Please do not label me as either 1) a person that hates Beats or 2) does not appreciate receiving something extra. I am fine with both. No hate here.

Instead, the beef I have with Apple.

Using my "Christmas Vacation" analogy, Clark expected a monetary bonus. Hey, it came every year like clockwork. But this go around, it was different. Nothing showed up at the normal time. Strange, given that the company had a great year. In the end, Clark received a "preselected" gift late that he had really no use for.

I would have accepted this announcement better if it was timed ahead of the release of Music. Instead, I feel like I have been to the door of the dentist that hands out candy at Halloween. I question the motives.

Now, some of you may like the Jelly of the Month Beat headphones. Super. In fact, we have benefited from some of the Apple student freebies from the past (the free printer died but the iPod is still in a drawer, along with about a dozen others).

The iPod promotion was different - iPods were still relatively new and in demand. It was something someone within the family could use. And yes, my family did buy music off of iTunes to fill it up. We ate up that candy.

Given the number of headphones I have seen being worn by the "target market", I question whether this will get Beats in the hands of those that want them and don't already have a pair.

In the end, this promotion feels like an attempt to offload a product that is losing market share.

What better way to create headaches for your competition. If you discount below the "fair" price, you are accused of dumping. But if you give them away for free, you are an angel.

I have a drawer full of ear buds. And have at least three pair of over the ear headphones. Add one more ear device to the list.

Hopefully they work well with Tidal HiFi.

Apple has no obligation to give you anything for free. But they to chose to give out free headphones to college students and I think it's great. Who cares whether they are offloading products that is losing market share. Even if they are, how does it affect you? Apple's not forcing you to buy a Mac or accept the free headphones. Don't like the promotion? Don't get it then.

Why look a gift horse in its mouth? I think people here are too self-entitled.

 

[infinitech]

i had so many people waiting for something useful like app store credit and I've been saying how horrible these beats are for years now. I owe a lot of people dinner or at least a strong drink if they have to swallow this.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

So much entitlement in this thread MR's owners might have to go out and buy a data center to store it all.

 

[StyxMaker]

How is it odd.. Angela Ahrends mentioned last week that she would say more about the back 2 school program. So it's not really that weird to assume she's involved when she has information about it.

People jump to conclusions so fast... Take a second to think.

And you are jumping to the conclusion that, since she would have more information later, she was making the decision. Sounds more like she was waiting to be told what to relay to the retail store staff.

 

[neutralguy]

I have the beats wireless solo 2... I don't understand the general hate around them. They are decent headphones with decent sound and good looks. I agree they aren't a great deal for the price... You pay for the brand. But you do the same for Apple computers. If you are only looking for the best deal out there apple isn't for everyone either.

I don't understand the brand value of Beats. Is Dr. Dre a sound engineer or acoustic engineer? Does he have any experience in making headphones? That's like saying if Tom Cruise makes a tv company, we all should pay premium price for his brand of TV. What crap!!! I still can't believe Apple bought this sub-standard company and sells their products.

 

[StyxMaker]

It would still be a better device for free, which is my point.

It's not 'a better device for free' if they have no use for said device. Free headphones sounds like something the actual students taking advantage of the back to school special would actually use.

 

[Wahlstrm]

I don't understand the brand value of Beats.

That makes about 7 billion of us

 

[StyxMaker]

Like I said to another poster, if she doesn't have the metal to tell him its a ******** deal and explain why then she is not fit for the position. Retail is her baby. Maybe she doesn't care enough.

Or, maybe, she has enough retail experience to know this is a deal that will appeal to the vast majority of back to school buyers.

 

[B4U]

And we would then wonder why there were thousands of these new headphones ended up on eBay...

 

[myrtlebee]

It's not 'a better device for free' if they have no use for said device. Free headphones sounds like something the actual students taking advantage of the back to school special would actually use.

Seriously? Why is it so hard for people to understand that I am speaking for ME and for me alone. I think it is a better device. My posts are my opinion.

 

[Cigsm]

It's pretty sad that during a back to school sale apple is giving away a new pair of $200 headphones that are highly coveted by students?

And their sale isn't late. They don't have to do it at all. They never even announced a date.

This is pretty sad and shows how Angela Ahrendts phoned this in without giving it any deep thought. Not to mention it being late and causing parents and grandparents more stress than they deserve.

Maybe Apple need someone on the team who's mind is still rooted in the street as clearly they are all living in cloud cuckoo land.

 

[StyxMaker]

I'm not a fan of Beats headphone.

It's not that the sound is rubbish per se, it's just that I think they are really bad value for money.

I read an article recently where they did a tear down and discovered that the actual 'cans' had extra lumps of metal in them, whose sole purpose was to make them feel heavier and therefore more premium.

I'll see if I can find the article.

Even if they are a "really bad value for money" that doesn't make them a bad value when given away free with a purchase the buyer would, probably, have made without the inducement.

 

[iPaintCode]

I'm pretty sure if polled, k-12 and college kids would rather have a pair of $199 Beats Solo2 than a $100 iTunes gift card. Remember this is a "Back to School" promo not an adult self entitled "I want EDU discount and $100 gift card because I said so". Keep in mind it's no secret if you visit campuses that you will see a lot of students walking around with some sort of beats headphones or Apple earbuds, same goes for Jr/High School.

Good on Apple for hitting their target "B2S" audience with this promo.

 

[StyxMaker]

When you look at the financial report that Apple just released and people have subtracted 3-4 million Apple watches out of the "Other" category along with the iPod and Apple TV, not much is left for Beats. I'd question if they are really selling all that great considering what Apple paid for this brand.

Beats have always been considered garbage by audiophiles, but since Apple has purchased them some argue they are now audiophile grade headphones. I don't know. I wouldn't own them because from what I can tell they only do well with a certain genre of music and I don't listen a lot to that genre.

"…considered garbage by audiophiles…" I have yet to meet a person who doesn't consider 'audiophiles' to be pretentious ******s spouting whatever the 'audiophile' magazines and web sites tell them to spout.

 

[Gildarts]

And you are jumping to the conclusion that, since she would have more information later, she was making the decision. Sounds more like she was waiting to be told what to relay to the retail store staff.

I never said she made the decision. I only said that the guy who pointed to her involved was not wrong for doing so based on the fact that she has information about it.

See what happens when you don't listen to my advice?

Think (before you act). I know it hurts.

I don't give a rat's about who decided what. I was merely pointing out stupidity.

 

[AppleNewton]

I like them, this is a nice deal for a new mac. would be nicer if it was with say a new iPad, or Watch, or iPhone.
As I think the use-case and value may be there (maybe not for Apple)

I got a pair to use with my Apple Watch while working out, exercising, and at work. They're compact and wireless, price is not that great...but I couldn't find any other headphones that were ideal.
I love over the ear headphones...but not while working or exercising, too bulky.
These fit just great, are pretty much weightless and audio quality is good.

The quality is decent and product is OK. sure would have loved $100 off the headset but oh well. again probably a better promo for iPads, Watches, or iPhones IMO.

 

[StyxMaker]

Why cant I get that new ipod touch instead?

Because they aren't offering the new iPod Touch. Are you really having a problem understanding that?

I'll just wait to use my educational discount at some other point in the year. I understand the shift, but the gift card (which I balked at initially) was better than headphones.

Between this and the AT&T fee increase / introduction news yesterday...

Is this really a wise choice? Wait until Apple isn't giving away something free to buy an Apple product. That will teach Apple a lesson they will never forget.

 

[C DM]

The only thing Beats headphones are good for is making the EarPods sound even better..

But it´s a smart promo from Apple making it look like apple-fans actually buy these..

Except these are actually fairly good.

 

[0000757]

I'm sorry, I thought this was the B2S promotion, not the "Back to AARP Meetings" promotion.

The youth like Beats. They look awesome, and 99% of the young population literally do NOT care that Seinheiser XGB3018-whatevers sound way better for like, $50 less.

Why did I buy my Beats? I liked the way they sounded, they looked cool, and they felt nice.

Not to mention the Solo2's are actually a great hit among audiophiles, as well as urBeats (I wonder how many people actually have used Beats that criticize it?).

 

[phillymacuser]

I remember when you were able to get a free iPod with a purchase during the "Back to School Promotion". If the credit is worth $199 for a pair of headphones, why not let customers choose an iPod instead!!

 

[S.L.]

Got my new MBPr two days ago, called Apple today to honor the promotion. Thanks Apple!

 

[vigorblade]

Absolutely brilliant marketing this to get youth hooked on the brand.

Exactly. Once you are introduced to a brand from an early age and you grow fond of that brand, you tend to become loyal to it, as long as it continues to be relevant in your life.