Apple's Black Friday Sales Begin Launching Internationally with Gift Card Deals

[kazmac]

...

Like I said yesterday if this gift card in lieu of discounts went through, I'd only take advantage of this with an iDevice.

Otherwise, give me the discount please.

Disappointing, but really not surprising.

I hope to goodness this is not what they will do with the educational/corporate discounts from here on out.

 

[xNYMetsx]

I don't know what's more pathetic, Apple and its endless greed (seriously store credit?) or the people that think this is such a generous deal. Was looking at getting iPods for the nieces and nephews, but definitely scratching this retailer off my holiday gifts list now.

Thank you. It's annoying when people support Apple's every decision.

 

[sevimli]

I am student, would this gift card promotion work for EDU pricing?

 

[doboy]

I don't know what's more pathetic, Apple and its endless greed (seriously store credit?) or the people that think this is such a generous deal. Was looking at getting iPods for the nieces and nephews, but definitely scratching this retailer off my holiday gifts list now.

So you think every retailer has to participate in BF by giving people cash incentive? I'm not trying to defend Apple, but your assertion that Apple is endlessly greedy because they are giving out gift cards (~2X cash value of last year) instead of cash discount doesn't add up. Also if they are so greedy why would they do BF deal internationally when most companies only do within US.

 

[slyk]

I am student, would this gift card promotion work for EDU pricing?

I could not get education pricing to work with the gift card promotion on the Australian apple store website. My guess is that it will be the same for the US site. Bummer!

 

[richard371]

Im not trying to get any money or return anything. I just want the gift cards as I can use them to buy gifts Im going to buy anyway.

If you think it's a crappy offer, just give the gift cards to someone else.

I think that quite on the contrary, giving away gift cards means that money will be spent on software which then goes to software developers, which makes it more worthwhile to write software for Macs and iOS.

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Of course. However, what they do is sell you a device at a reduced price and a gift card at full price at the same time. So if you return the computer you will not get back the money for the gift card.

Seriously, do you think they are totally stupid?

 

[Dave-Z]

I look at it like this: iPad Air, make a second purchase to get a case/AC.

This is exactly what I plan on doing.

 

[Boardiesboi]

If I buy in store, do they give me the gift card on the spot?

Buying two iPads for Xmas and was hoping to use gift card on second iPad at point of purchase.

 

[Dave-Z]

Not really sure what all the hatred is about. If you're an Apple enthusiast you must know they don't really do discounts or compete price-wise. This year's offer isn't as immediately rewarding as previous years, but it's a better overall value so in the end you would come out ahead financially.

Apple gets more sales, consumers can get more for their money. It's win-win.

 

[lilo777]

Looking at deals elsewhere it appears that Samsung may sell more sDevices on "black Friday" than Apple will sell iDevices in a year.

 

[doboy]

Looking at deals elsewhere it appears that Samsung may sell more sDevices on "black Friday" than Apple will sell iDevices in a year.

so what. remember Apple's deals are international.

 

[The Mercurian]

Not really sure what all the hatred is about. If you're an Apple enthusiast you must know they don't really do discounts or compete price-wise. This year's offer isn't as immediately rewarding as previous years, but it's a better overall value so in the end you would come out ahead financially.

Apple gets more sales, consumers can get more for their money. It's win-win.

Honestly ? They are just greedy. I feel as a long time customer who paid them $$$$ over the years they should give some kind of loyalty discount to repeat customers.

 

[satchmo]

These are gift cards, so you can use them to purchase more than just songs and apps.

But can you use them on for refurbished items in the Apple store? I don't see anything in the Terms and Conditions, as it says it's valid for the online store, but I know in the past, it wasn't applicable to refurbs.

One last thing. Yes, it's pretty lame discount. I prefer the cash discount. Perhaps, Apple wants to make up for the less than stellar iPhone 5c sales.

 

[lilo777]

Not really sure what all the hatred is about. If you're an Apple enthusiast you must know they don't really do discounts or compete price-wise. This year's offer isn't as immediately rewarding as previous years, but it's a better overall value so in the end you would come out ahead financially.

Apple gets more sales, consumers can get more for their money. It's win-win.

I understand what, say, computer enthusiast is. But what is "Apple enthusiast"? Someone who buys Apple products enthusiastically?

 

[mariotr87]

I bought a Time Capsule earlier this month (the 5th or so). I can see I'm still within my return period (due to the holidays policy though).
I could just return it and purchase it again, but I'm just not gonna do that. Do you think they would just give me the gift card?

 

[netnothing]

Can these be used for AppleCare

i'm happy to use my gift card for Applecare after the original purchase. I was going to put it in the cart with an iMac but this is fine too.

That's actually a great idea for those who intend on getting a new machine with Applecare.

So does anyone know for sure, can Apple store gift cards be used for AppleCare?

-Kevin

 

[robgettier]

Wondering how quickly you get the gift card via email. I'd like to purchase one product, get the card and then purchase another item and apply the gift card.

 

[copydeskcat]

Does anyone know how soon you can use the gift card?

For example, could I purchase something online, get the card, then go straight online and order something else? (ie. does the card have a code on it in the way iTunes cards do?).

Or, do the cards have a "start" date, which means you can't use them for a certain period of time?

 

[vpro]

Indeed. Save your money if you can, all of it!

A great ad I found online really touches my heart strings.

 

[Dave-Z]

I understand what, say, computer enthusiast is. But what is "Apple enthusiast"? Someone who buys Apple products enthusiastically?

enthusiast: a person who is highly interested in a particular activity or subject

Therefore, a person who is highly interested in Apple, Inc.

 

[copydeskcat]

Wondering how quickly you get the gift card via email. I'd like to purchase one product, get the card and then purchase another item and apply the gift card.

Bingo - that's just what I posted seconds after you. Anyone know?

 

[ecrispy]

Calling this a 'deal' is a little bit of a joke. All other oem's and retailers offer huge discounts on their products, yet Apple remains as arrogant as ever and is giving you a gift card??

I don't begrudge them their success, there is obviously huge demand for the products, yet in this economy it is hard to justify, and with their mountain of cash Apple could most certainly afford to offer true sales. They maximize their profits thru marketing, minimal incremental improvements, questionable labor practices, and avoiding taxes (although this last part is common to most big corporations), yet never pass on savings to customers.

Every other 'premium' product gets discounted for holidays, except Apple.

 

[koban4max]

the key to winning discount is to make Apple desperate...by ignoring their offers until they realize they needed to give us hefty discounts.

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or.... we can purchase whatever for gift card...and return the products w/o opening it.

 

[netnothing]

So does anyone know for sure, can Apple store gift cards be used for AppleCare?

-Kevin

So after trying this, I was able to put AppleCare in my cart and in the payment section it does allow you to use an Apple gift card.

-kevin

 

[FloatingBones]

It's annoying when people support Apple's every decision.

This is the mother of all straw men in the MR forums. I have never ever met a single person in these discussions who supports every single decision that AAPL makes.

@xNYMetsx: can you please cite a single person who "support Apple's every decision"?

If you can, please provide your evidence. How do you know this [hypothetical] person supports every single decision that AAPL makes?

If you can't, please explain to us why you make nonsense claims like that here. And please stop making this silly claim. Thanks.

when you make an average of what. 45%+ pure profit margin on your devices,

Your numbers are incorrect. AAPL's gross margins were 37% in the last quarter -- compared with 40% margins a year ago.

and the BIGGEST sale you can muster up is a measly 5% discount....

This number is also incorrect. The iPad Air sells for A$ 598 today. The A$ 75 gift card you receive amounts to a 12.5% discount of the retail price.

when you no longer even want to do a discount, but offer a gift card which obligates the buyer to continue shopping and spend more money at your location just to get a "deal"

It does not. You could either give or sell the gift card to someone else.

That's three factual errors in one message.

a $20 discount on that 500.

And that's four.

Did you actually read the offers that you are criticizing?