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Better Than Black Friday: Save Up to $500 Off 2018 MacBook Pro and Up to $290 Off 2018 Mac Mini

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Apple-authorized reseller B&H is offering up to $500 off select 15-inch 2018 MacBook Pro models today as part of its Cyber Monday sale, while supplies last. That's even better than its Black Friday deals on the latest MacBook Pro lineup. These are brand-new-in-box models like those sold on Apple.com.

cyber-monday-2018-mac.jpg

Apple authorized-reseller Expercom is also offering up to $500 off the 2018 MacBook Pro and up to $290 off a few higher-end 2018 Mac mini configurations, marking the best deal we've seen on the new Mac mini.

While most resellers are currently offering just $50 off the new Mac mini, Expercom is able to offer up to $290 off because they are configured-to-order, open-box models with Expercom-installed RAM. Expercom is an Apple Authorized Service Provider, so this doesn't affect AppleCare eligibility.

2018 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

macbookprodesign.jpg
B&H is also offering more run-of-the-mill discounts of $100 to $200 off select 13-inch 2018 MacBook Pro models for Cyber Monday.

2018 Mac mini

mac-mini_2018_side-ports-e1540915876987.jpg

Note: These are open-box Mac mini configurations equipped with Expercom-installed RAM, not Apple RAM. Expercom is an Apple Authorized Service Provider, so this does not affect AppleCare eligibility.Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: Better Than Black Friday: Save Up to $500 Off 2018 MacBook Pro and Up to $290 Off 2018 Mac Mini
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/26/cyber-monday-macbook-pro-mac-mini-deals/
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obiwan said:
Just wish these were available in the UK. They don't call it 'rip-off Britain' for nothing...
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Darkashnet said:
Curry’s offering an amazing £100 off. But no chance I’m buying anything from them.
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Better to buy it from Stormfront - they also offer £100 off but they include 3 years warranty (so no need to purchase AppleCare+ unless you want accidental - saving ~£400 (or £319 as student). They are an authorised Apple repairer in addition to an authorised reseller, so I'd trust their warranty.
 
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Thats a huge rip on the mini. They make it sound like you're getting a deal but note they installed the ram. Which is less than half of what apple is charging. Then they are jacking the base price to match apples price for the ram they installed. Then "discounted" it to a price that is still higher if you bought the same config and put the ram in yourself.
 
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archer75 said:
Thats a huge rip on the mini. They make it sound like you're getting a deal but note they installed the ram. Which is less than half of what apple is charging. Then they are jacking the base price to match apples price for the ram they installed. Then "discounted" it to a price that is still higher if you bought the same config and put the ram in yourself.
Click to expand...
This is the first thing I noticed. Everyone knows Apple charges a huge premium for their pre-installed RAM. For a company to install their own off the shelf RAM, list Apple's price for that much RAM, then offer a "discount" back to the normal price for a lower end spec Mac mini + off the shelf RAM is shady to say the least. It probably works fine, but there is no actual discount.
 
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Aah crap. Expercom's page says "while supplies last" for the discounted Mini. I was planning on swinging by this afternoon to get one, but now that MacRumors has run this article they might legitimately run out of stock before I get there...
 
archer75 said:
Thats a huge rip on the mini. They make it sound like you're getting a deal but note they installed the ram. Which is less than half of what apple is charging. Then they are jacking the base price to match apples price for the ram they installed. Then "discounted" it to a price that is still higher if you bought the same config and put the ram in yourself.
Click to expand...

How are the 3rd party RAM compared to Apple's? Aside from the Apple charging a premium, any notable difference in performance, quality, or overall stability?
 
archer75 said:
Thats a huge rip on the mini. They make it sound like you're getting a deal but note they installed the ram. Which is less than half of what apple is charging. Then they are jacking the base price to match apples price for the ram they installed. Then "discounted" it to a price that is still higher if you bought the same config and put the ram in yourself.
Click to expand...
I haven't seen MacRumors post any real 2018 Mac mini discounts. "Up to $290 Off 2018 Mac Mini" is extremely misleading.
 
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Baymowe335 said:
These promotions are great. They cut into the retailer margins, not Apple’s margins.
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I thought it's been known for a long time that Apple won't discount products on Apple.com but when you see a $100 off HomePod deal or $299 iPad mini, Apple's telling the retailer they can do a discount and Apple can get retail channels emptied out without actually discounting the MSRP directly.
 
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awer25 said:
This is the first thing I noticed. Everyone knows Apple charges a huge premium for their pre-installed RAM. For a company to install their own off the shelf RAM, list Apple's price for that much RAM, then offer a "discount" back to the normal price for a lower end spec Mac mini + off the shelf RAM is shady to say the least. It probably works fine, but there is no actual discount.
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For folks who aren't willing to crack open their own machine to upgrade the RAM later (yes, I know it's not difficult, but there's still plenty of these people) just not having to pay Apple's ridiculous markup for their RAM upgrade is actually a pretty big deal. Just because we can pretty easily see how Expercom offers the discount doesn't mean it's not a discount. Mostly it just offers proof that Apple's RAM upgrades are RIDONKULOUSLY priced.
 
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archer75 said:
Thats a huge rip on the mini. They make it sound like you're getting a deal but note they installed the ram. Which is less than half of what apple is charging. Then they are jacking the base price to match apples price for the ram they installed. Then "discounted" it to a price that is still higher if you bought the same config and put the ram in yourself.
Click to expand...

awer25 said:
This is the first thing I noticed. Everyone knows Apple charges a huge premium for their pre-installed RAM. For a company to install their own off the shelf RAM, list Apple's price for that much RAM, then offer a "discount" back to the normal price for a lower end spec Mac mini + off the shelf RAM is shady to say the least. It probably works fine, but there is no actual discount.
Click to expand...

I don't understand what you mean. Expercom charges $1,408 for:

3.0GHz 6‑core Intel Core i5
32GB RAM
256GB SSD
Gigabit Ethernet
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Thunderbolt 3

That's $1699 on Apple.com.

Expercom is charging $291 less. The only difference is they are installing the 32GB RAM themselves.
 
C00rDiNaT0r said:
How are the 3rd party RAM compared to Apple's? Aside from the Apple charging a premium, any notable difference in performance, quality, or overall stability?
Click to expand...
The Mac mini must be unboxed and opened to upgrade the RAM (so you are essentially buying an open-box product), plus the third-party RAM isn't covered under the Apple warranty if it fails for some reason.

That being said, $359 isn't unreasonable, if they are using good-quality 2666 MHz RAM. You'd save about $70 doing the upgrade yourself, and a lot of people are better off avoiding the risk of damaging something.
 
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Joe Rossignol said:
I don't understand what you mean. Expercom charges $1,408 for:

3.0GHz 6‑core Intel Core i5
32GB RAM
256GB SSD
Gigabit Ethernet
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Thunderbolt 3

That's $1699 on Apple.com.

Expercom is charging $291 less. The only difference is they are installing the 32GB RAM themselves.
Click to expand...
because they are trying to compare it to apple prices for that 32gb ram upgrade. Which it doesn't cost them anywhere near that. Then they are saying they are discounting it but really they are charging you for the ram plus a nice profit for themselves. If you do it yourself you'd save an additional $60 or so.
So it's not terrible if you want that much ram and don't want to do it yourself but their advertising method makes it sound like a killer deal when it's really not. It's misleading and shady.
They are selling you an 8gb mac mini, then selling you ram and then charging you to install it. Same as any other 3rd party shop. Same as you buying a 8gb mini, then buying 32gb of ram and having someone install it. Well not the same as you can get the ram for even cheaper.
 
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Joe Rossignol said:
Expercom is charging $291 less. The only difference is they are installing the 32GB RAM themselves.
Click to expand...
That’s a big difference. And Apple’s RAM premium is substantial, but at least you know you’re getting quality parts. (Plus, a 256GB SSD is piddling these days, and not upgradeable.)

Personally I’d rather take advantage of OWC’s discount/rebate promotion, saving about as much, and install the RAM myself.
 
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Joe Rossignol said:
I don't understand what you mean. Expercom charges $1,408 for:

3.0GHz 6‑core Intel Core i5
32GB RAM
256GB SSD
Gigabit Ethernet
Intel UHD Graphics 630
Thunderbolt 3

That's $1699 on Apple.com.

Expercom is charging $291 less. The only difference is they are installing the 32GB RAM themselves.
Click to expand...
Still, "Up to $290 Off 2018 Mac Mini" is misleading as it's simply not the same as Apple's OEM upgrade. You're getting third-party RAM not covered under the Apple warranty, and an open-box product as well.
 
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