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made an account just to chime in on this issue:

I spoke with an Apple Store employee yesterday while buying a family member a new computer. I asked about the Back-to-School promotion and the employee told me they canceled it this year due to return issues.

Basically too many people were buying an Apple product to get the iTunes gift card, returning the product and expecting to keep the gift card. it's a shame they cancelled it because I would have enjoyed $100 on iTunes, however we still did receive the educational discount on the MBP and Apple Care

This is completely untrue. I'm quoting to the terms and conditions from last year;

"If the Apple Store Gift Card is missing, not returned, or has been partially or fully redeemed for a purchase, then the full original value of the Apple Store Gift Card will be deducted from the e!xchange or refund of the Qualifying Product"
 
I know this is technically a free market (barely under this regime) and Apple is free to charge whatever price they want but come on. Quit being a bunch of cheap asses. Ever heard of giving back a little? Or do they have to pay for all the Apple Watch R&D and advertising? Maybe they trying to make up for the fact that they now need to pay Artists for their songs during that free promo period? Maybe they need more funds for their new multi-billion dollar Apple compound? Well here's one for you....maybe I'll just not buy an Apple product right now. I can wait, not forever of course but I can wait.
 
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They seem to have cut back on a lot of discounts and giveaways (12 days of christmas) since people got upset about the U2 freebie.......
 
This is completely untrue. I'm quoting to the terms and conditions from last year;

"If the Apple Store Gift Card is missing, not returned, or has been partially or fully redeemed for a purchase, then the full original value of the Apple Store Gift Card will be deducted from the e!xchange or refund of the Qualifying Product"

huh, not sure why the Apple Store employee told me that. Maybe he was just guessing or misinformed.

Hopefully they bring the promotion back, especially as people have come to expect and wait for it each year.
 
I reported it to Mac Rumors but they didn't bother to print it, but Apple pulled all cashback a few months back too - they used to offer 1.5% through sites like Quidco and Topcashback, so it really does appear to be a tightening up everywhere....
 
Maybe they are starting it later because they realize that those of us who are teachers and students don't want to be reminded that school is around the corner when we're trying to enjoy our summer ;)
 
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Very disappointed if they cut this promotion! Apple did a great job of looking after the grassroots and getting hardware in the hands of would be developers! I'm sure the promotion is just late....

I reported it to Mac Rumors but they didn't bother to print it, but Apple pulled all cashback a few months back too - they used to offer 1.5% through sites like Quidco and Topcashback, so it really does appear to be a tightening up everywhere....

So quidco and topcashback are gone..... lame. I suspect our company discount also dropped a few %

Where is Taylor Swift, when she's needed?!

There is no profit in it for her......she will not appear! Those damn student probably download all her music anyway !!

How many damn discounts do students need ?

Since thier full time job is studying, and yours is probably working.... I'd say they are at an disadvantage when it comes to purchases apple hardware.

When I was a student, the only shiny metal I bought was beer cans, an apple laptop was crazy expansive, even with discounts!
 
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It is still very early - time before school-buying needs to begin.

If it ain't free, I don't want it.
If you're not going to let me have something for nothing, I don't want to be bothered.
 
Part of this promotion was actually a government subsidy.

Hence why so many computer brands do a similar type of promotion. You could still get the discount on the computer any time of year, it would just no longer carry the additional iTunes gift card that was from Apple.

There's a chance the government ended this subsidy program.
 
The back to school promotion was going to be whether or not I bought new or a refurbished Mac Mini.

I'm a teacher and 2 years ago I bought a Mac mini during the BTS promotion and the Mac mini wasn't part of it. I'm not sure that has change or even if there is going to be a BTS this year, but check the details so you won't be surprised. BTW I love my Mac mini!
 
I'm a teacher and 2 years ago I bought a Mac mini during the BTS promotion and the Mac mini wasn't part of it. I'm not sure that has change or even if there is going to be a BTS this year, but check the details so you won't be surprised. BTW I love my Mac mini!


Thanks for the heads up. I'll probably just go refurbed anyways. I think it's more of a savings that way.
 
I remember when Apple offered the iPod rebates with the purchase of a Mac Computer. I got an iPod Classic for $50 after $200 rebate because I bought an iMac. That was my entry into my first iPod. Maybe they will bring it back!
 
I'm holding off buying a new 15" rMBP, not that I won't buy it eventually anyway and getting a 100.00 card with a 3,000 (tax + applecare) purchase is a bit of a drop in the bucket especially considering it is a GC, a GC that I will use to buy something that costs more than 100.00 like..... a watch... Yep!! ;)

I'll hold out for another 2 weeks... fingers crossed
 
Blame Taylor. If Apple wasn't paying for those 3 months of AM, we would have the BTS promotion. Lol. Apple wants to make up for those 3 months.
 
Its this sort of thing that annoys me. Apple is a huge company that rips people off by selling ancient hardware new, yet it can't bring itself to give back to the community just a bit?
 
The point of the discounts was to give young people access to Apple products in the hope that when they enter the workforce and make real purchasing decisions they'll keep using Apple products.

Given the ubiquity of Apple products among young people, perhaps it's becoming less of a necessity.
 
Maybe they should to schools with fat ass million dollar management instead of apple, because im sure those are the one stealing them blind


I'm having trouble understanding your post as it isn't in proper English. Did you skip English class in school or skip school altogether?
 
Come back to me when you start paying off my $20,000+ in tuition. Want to pay for my $150 Vector Dynamics book too?

If you are $20,000 in debt, maybe you should visit your university's computer lab for free rather than buy a $2000 Mac.
 
The point of the discounts was to give young people access to Apple products in the hope that when they enter the workforce and make real purchasing decisions they'll keep using Apple products.

Given the ubiquity of Apple products among young people, perhaps it's becoming less of a necessity.

Umm, so the end result may be: Apple products won't be so 'ubiquitous' as this next generation of potential buyers goes elsewhere
 
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Hmm, I see you have background in scientific research and citations.

Yes, who hasn't heard of all these great papers that feature only web sources in their citations.
Also, why buy books for courses when you can tell your professor to suck it and force him into giving you online sources only.
Oh wait, that's the man grading your papers.

Glassed Silver:mac
If you're citing books instead of journals you are way behind the curve.

Also I'm pretty sure the guy you quoted meant pirated pdfs and not Wikipedia.
 
Guess its time to give up the ghost, we're in the middle of July and in a few more weeks people will be getting ready to buy back to school supplies and for others actually start school. Apple has decided not to hold this specific promotion :(
 
Apple likes the element of 'surprise'

Of course, the other reason is Apple just plain forgot about this year.. But no, we won't think about that one.
 
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