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It looks like every year, the back-to-school is getting worst and worst!

I would disgree. In 2008, you could get a free $299 8GB iPod when you bought a Mac. A MBA with a HDD cost $1700 or so with a student discount. A MBA now starts at $899 with the $150 gift card. Before the promo was valued at about 18% of the purchase price, now it is 17%; there is no real change in the value of the promo relative to what you paid. In 2015, the the offer was for a $200 Beats 2 Headphone, which for a $1000 MBA was a 20% relative value. I don't recall if that was the edu price so the % may have been higher that year, around 22%. There were years where gift cards were given valued at around $100, which would be a 10% return. Promos seem to stay within a relatively narrow band overall, with a few outliers.

I suspect Apple sets promo offers based on minimizing the impact on margin, while encouraging more sales to increase revenue at a crucial buying period.
 
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Not that anyone asked, but I was able to use the $150 gift card on AC+ for the MBP I bought. The only catch was that I had to use the gift card in the store (you can’t use it for AC+ online). They honored the 20% educational discount on AC+ in-store, as well. So $73 out of pocket for 3 years of coverage after applying the gift card—not too shabby.

Also, don’t make the mistake that someone at the store made yesterday. They added the gift card to their Apple account, at which point it can’t be used for in-store purchases. Just a FYI.
 
Not that anyone asked, but I was able to use the $150 gift card on AC+ for the MBP I bought. The only catch was that I had to use the gift card in the store (you can’t use it for AC+ online). They honored the 20% educational discount on AC+ in-store, as well. So $73 out of pocket for 3 years of coverage after applying the gift card—not too shabby.

Also, don’t make the mistake that someone at the store made yesterday. They added the gift card to their Apple account, at which point it can’t be used for in-store purchases. Just a FYI.
But if they are paying interest free monthly payments on their Apple Card they can ply it to their payments correct?
 
But if they are paying interest free monthly payments on their Apple Card they can ply it to their payments correct?

I'm pretty certain you can't use a gift card to pay on your Apple Card. And I don't think you can add the gift card to your Apple account and then pay on a credit card that way, either.
 
Does the gift card work for anything from the Apple Store ? Can I use it to buy a Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case for iPad ? ... as I stated above, the gift card is not yet available here in Czechia ... but I want to make an order as soon as it is
 
Why does it want to charge the gift card to the monthly installment plan?
 

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Why does it want to charge the gift card to the monthly installment plan?
This left me scratching my head too. The value of the card was taken off the price, then added back to monthly payments. I received my gift card a couple days ago and redeemed it back onto my Apple account so it will pay for the added charges.
 
It looks like every year, the back-to-school is getting worst and worst!
This year's version is actually an upgrade. A gift card to buy anything instead of AirPods which you may not need. And even new models like M2 MacBooks are included. In past years, they would not be eligible.
 
This left me scratching my head too. The value of the card was taken off the price, then added back to monthly payments. I received my gift card a couple days ago and redeemed it back onto my Apple account so it will pay for the added charges.
Apple Card won't use your Apple balance for payments. I've tried that before.
 
Apple Card won't use your Apple balance for payments. I've tried that before.
That is not what we are talking about, look at the screenshot that I posted. It is wanting to charge my Apple Card installments for the iPad AND the Apple Gift card. $37 for the iPad and then $8 something for the gift card.
 
That is not what we are talking about, look at the screenshot that I posted. It is wanting to charge my Apple Card installments for the iPad AND the Apple Gift card. $37 for the iPad and then $8 something for the gift card.

I believe they do that to avoid issues with returns. If they charge you for the gift card and you return the computer then you're left holding the bag for the gift card.
 
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My wife's a college student. Would I be able to purchase a computer using her student ID? Would her name need to be on the billing or shipping address and would her name have to be on the credit card?

What's the restrictions?
 
That is not what we are talking about, look at the screenshot that I posted. It is wanting to charge my Apple Card installments for the iPad AND the Apple Gift card. $37 for the iPad and then $8 something for the gift card.
Ok sir, calm down. A simple misunderstanding.
 
I believe they do that to avoid issues with returns. If they charge you for the gift card and you return the computer then you're left holding the bag for the gift card.
That is not what we are talking about, look at the screenshot that I posted. It is wanting to charge my Apple Card installments for the iPad AND the Apple Gift card. $37 for the iPad and then $8 something for the gift$150
$150 discount was applied towards my purchase off the top. I financed the rest on my Apple Card with zero interest. The $150 was added back on in monthly installments. Meanwhile a $150 gift card was emailed to me.
 

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No it doesn’t, unless you didn’t pass math class.

You’re paying $899 plus tax. The gift card can’t be applied to the purchase and even if it could it’s applied post-taxes.
Don't know why people are laughing. You're right.

As I said earlier, this is not a discount on your Mac.

It is a way for Apple to get you to get tied up even more in their ecosystem by buying subscriptions, more products, etc.

This is ONLY valuable if you already planned to give Apple more money for other things. If you are like "eh, guess I'll get some AirPods" or "guess I'll buy some apps and services I wouldn't have before since I have this gift card," you are saving zero dollars unless you're gonna buy the AirPods and then immediately resell them for actual cash.
 
You can't. Gift card balances or gift cards can't be used for purchasing Apple Care after the original order. They ask for a credit card number even if you have a sufficient balance.

I know this from experience.
i wonder tho,dumb question perhaps but..can u use this 15o dollars credit to buy a software on the app store ?
 
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