Apple Now Requires UNiDAYS Verification for Education Discounts in U.S. and Canada, Adds Apple Watch

[MNGR]

Because many customers abuse the system.

I purchased a MB for my granddaughter to use when she started college. I had checked with Apple that it was permissible.

I wonder how this change would affect that

 

[Hajj.david]

What about my children in elementary school?

 

[Corefile]

Will this apply to Macs too? What if I collect in-person but forget my college ID?

 

[klasma]

We can thank AI for this.

Nah, it has been that way in other countries for a long time.

 

[Corefile]

I purchased a MB for my granddaughter to use when she started college. I had checked with Apple that it was permissible.

I wonder how this change would affect that

Interesting. So can I buy an EDU priced Mac for the kid of the dog walker I know from one street over from me?

 

[KENESS]

following that same logic - I might as well just post my social security number and mother’s maiden name here in the forum

Broken logic. This verification process does not require personal information anywhere near that level.

For most people it will just be verifying that they have a functioning email address from the institution they claim to be attending.

Be careful, sure. But people need to chill out with the histrionics.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I purchased a MB for my granddaughter to use when she started college. I had checked with Apple that it was permissible.

I wonder how this change would affect that

I bought a Neo for my wife. Using her credit card. While she was in class.

But I suspect the idea is to add a layer of friction, so those who can afford to not save $100 will do so.

 

[KENESS]

Will this apply to Macs too? What if I collect in-person but forget my college ID?

Are you so forgetful that you're literally planning on what to do if you theoretically forget your college ID? 😉

I'm not positive, but I believe you'll have needed to verify status when you place the order, so it may not matter when you pick up.

But if you are "planning on forgetting your college ID" you'll want to verify that.

 

[KENESS]

I bought a Neo for my wife. Using her credit card. While she was in class.

But I suspect the idea is to add a layer of friction, so those who can afford to not save $100 will do so.

That's a pessimistic take certainly... And it'd be pretty much impossible for anyone here to PROVE you wrong.

But I think it is just to avoid people abusing the discount.

I mean, really... Pretty much anywhere you get a discount for meeting a certain qualification, you do have to actually meet that qualification. Apple was the outlier in having a discount like this, for so long, and not even requiring any kind of actual process to confirm you qualify.

 

[Le Big Mac]

saved 1000's on this loophole.

Because many customers abuse the system.

Exactly.

Interesting. So can I buy an EDU priced Mac for the kid of the dog walker I know from one street over from me?

Claiming the edu discount requires you to certify you're buying for self or family member who qualifies for edu discount.

 

[triumvirate]

It was only a matter of time. Many people openly abused this system. As a lurker I have seen encouragement even on these forums to do so in the past. In the age of AI, this was inevitable.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

That's a pessimistic take certainly... And it'd be pretty much impossible for anyone here to PROVE you wrong.

But I think it is just to avoid people abusing the discount.

I mean, really... Pretty much anywhere you get a discount for meeting a certain qualification, you do have to actually meet that qualification. Apple was the outlier in having a discount like this, for so long, and not even requiring any kind of actual process to confirm you qualify.

Society went from being based on trust, to being based on trust but verify, or maybe just verify. It is a pessimistic outlook.

 

[frozencarbonite]

I've used my wife's education discount a few times to buy Mac Books. She always buys them in her name. I was surprised at how lax it was; never requiring any type of proof.

I just hope this new way doesn't make it too hard to use the education discount.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

Interesting. So can I buy an EDU priced Mac for the kid of the dog walker I know from one street over from me?

How is that the same as buying it for a family member? I can see them allowing it for family.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

In the age of AI, this was inevitable.

What does this have to do with AI?

 

[parkds]

UNiDAYS requires you be 13 to be verified. This is a problem and a huge step backwards. A lot of kids need a laptop before 8th Grade and now there is no way to get access to the education discount for them.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

If you live in the US most state’s DMVs sell your data to private companies, why worry about this?

Read: "roll over and accept surveillance capitalism"

 

[jooish]

Nah, it has been that way in other countries for a long time.

The US alone accounts for roughly 40% of Apple's sales and you don't think this recent change is in any way motivated by their increased cost of hardware? Interesting.

 

[Biro]

Will this apply to Macs too? What if I collect in-person but forget my college ID?

Then I guess you’re out of luck.

 

[SnowCrocodile]

following that same logic - I might as well just post my social security number and mother’s maiden name here in the forum

After the Equifax data breach, your doctor’s office breach, your bank data breach, your college data breach, and your veterinarian’s data breach, you might just as well.

Right after the Equifax fiasco, I put credit security freeze on all family members.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple doesn't have sales.

What do you call their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale then?

Here's What Apple is Offering for 2025 Black Friday

Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands...

www.macrumors.com

 

[Astuces iOS]

even in store?

They already asked me on store, look guys… discount on Apple Watch… I cannot say no…

 

[Astuces iOS]

What do you call their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale then?

Here's What Apple is Offering for 2025 Black Friday

Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands...

www.macrumors.com

It’s not really a sale, they give you a gift card… they don’t drop the prices…

 

[turbineseaplane]

What do you call their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale then?

Here's What Apple is Offering for 2025 Black Friday

Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands...

www.macrumors.com

A really sad excuse of a "sale" usually.

 

[EugW]

While this is a logical move to make, I still bet the timing has more to do with the Neo supply constraints than anything else.

Could be, but I’m not convinced of that. Remember, they already tried to implement this in the US a few years ago before all these supply constraints happened and long before the Neo was released, but reversed course because of problems with the verification system.

Luckily for me I still qualify. I only rarely teach these days, but it’s enough to pass verification.

Or buy on Amazon for a bigger discount.

Much less common outside the US. For example, here in Canada the pricing on Amazon.ca usually is very near retail. It occasionally goes on sale, but the pricing is almost never better than edu.