Confused by Apple Promotion

[Eric Idle]

So I'm pricing a new MacBook Air and am looking at Apple's college student offers. There's two parts to this: $150 off the base price and then a free $150 gift card. The problem I can't figure out is that there is a $12.50 monthly charge (I'm paying for this using the Apple Card 12 month interest free option) for the gift card.

Why is there a charge at all for the gift card? It's not a gift card if I'm paying for it. If I have to pay for it, I don't want it but there's no way to remove it from the order.

Does anyone understand this strange situation?

Thank you.

 

[jlc1978]

The reason is for how returns are handled. If Apple gave you the card, you could return the Mac and get the full value of your purchase price back, and keep the gift card. By discounting the Mac $150 and charging for the gift card, you need to return both to get all your money back. Apple doesn’t say it’s a “Free Gift Card,” just that you get one. If you look at your bag, Apple discounts the Mac $150 in addition to the educational price and adds the gift card so the total price is still what the educational price would be; thus giving you a $150 gift card at no additional cost to you. You actually save on any sales tax since gift cards have no sales tax until used.


Here is the applicable note from the promotion:

Qualified Purchasers shall receive a discount equal to the value of the Apple Gift Card off the price of the eligible Mac or iPad, but will be charged for all items in their cart, including the Apple Gift Card.

 

[Eric Idle]

The reason is for how returns are handled. If Apple gave you the card, you could return the Mac and get the full value of your purchase price back, and keep the gift card. By discounting the Mac $150 and charging for the gift card, you need to return both to get all your money back. Apple doesn’t say it’s a “Free Gift Card,” just that you get one. If you look at your bag, Apple discounts the Mac $150 in addition to the educational price and adds the gift card so the total price is still what the educational price would be; thus giving you a $150 gift card at no additional cost to you. You actually save on any sales tax since gift cards have no sales tax until used.


Here is the applicable note from the promotion:

Qualified Purchasers shall receive a discount equal to the value of the Apple Gift Card off the price of the eligible Mac or iPad, but will be charged for all items in their cart, including the Apple Gift Card.

Thank you! Very helpful.

 

[lcs101]

A bit of a digression, but I was standing in the customer service line at Best Buy a few backs with a couple arguing about the price of the gift card that was included with the purchase of their TV being subtracted from their return amount because they had already used it. They were not quite angry about it, which of course, is ridiculous. They just wanted that free money, I guess.

 

[enthawizeguy]

so did i read that right, i paid for the apple gift card even though i did not need it? i thought that once the laptop shipped i was to be refunded for the 12.20 a month payments for the gift card?

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

so did i read that right, i paid for the apple gift card even though i did not need it? i thought that once the laptop shipped i was to be refunded for the 12.20 a month payments for the gift card?

No. You received $150 off the already discounted education price on the computer itself. Then Apple charges you $150 for the gift card, but since the gift card is worth $150 and the computer's price was reduced by $150. you're basically getting the gift card for free.

The only way this wouldn't pan out for you is if you have no use for the gift card. But you can use it for just about anything Apple sells. Ours will fund our Apple One subscription for several months.

 

[sjperformance]

No. You received $150 off the already discounted education price on the computer itself. Then Apple charges you $150 for the gift card, but since the gift card is worth $150 and the computer's price was reduced by $150. you're basically getting the gift card for free.

The only way this wouldn't pan out for you is if you have no use for the gift card. But you can use it for just about anything Apple sells. Ours will fund our Apple One subscription for several months.

I wish apple allowed for us to use it for applecare+

 

[flyfly]

So this is how it works in my country (EU):
Price of my BTO without student discount: 2229€
Price of my BTO with student discount: 2068€ which includes a 150€ gift card.

What did they charge me? 2068-150= 1918€ and when the Air was sent out, then they charged me another 150€.

I thought i got in the end the M2 for 1918€ with the 150€ gift card 🤣 but wasn't the case!

They do this to avoid what other people said: So you get the gift card and return the laptop....

Total savings: 2229-2068=161 PLUS 150€ for a gift card... 311€ in total savings if you need extra items from the apple store... OR you can sell the gift card for 130€ easily...

 

[mplsdude]

Any ideas on where to sell the gift card? Due to me changing colors on the M2 and having to return and re order, I now have two $150 gift cards that I have no use for.

 

[jlc1978]

Any ideas on where to sell the gift card? Due to me changing colors on the M2 and having to return and re order, I now have two $150 gift cards that I have no use for.

Wouldn't Apple take it back? Per their US TOCs:

Returns and exchanges are subject to the policy of the Qualifying Location where the purchase was made. The Promotion Product received with the purchase of an Eligible Product must be returned with such Eligible Product in order to receive a full refund for that purchase. If the Promotion Product is missing, is not returned, or has been redeemed, the full original value of the Promotion Product will be deducted from the exchange or refund of the Eligible Product.

Here is an old article on reselling gift cards.

 

[johnparjr]

I wish apple allowed for us to use it for applecare+

You can but only at a Apple store

 

[sjperformance]

You can but only at a Apple store

Oh really? I didn't know.

 

[mplsdude]

You can but only at a Apple store

Allegedly. Reports are mixed on whether they will allow it or not so this is very much a YMMV situation.

 

[enthawizeguy]

No. You received $150 off the already discounted education price on the computer itself. Then Apple charges you $150 for the gift card, but since the gift card is worth $150 and the computer's price was reduced by $150. you're basically getting the gift card for free.

The only way this wouldn't pan out for you is if you have no use for the gift card. But you can use it for just about anything Apple sells. Ours will fund our Apple One subscription for several months.

so I got the EDU Discount plus 150 off more off air but than I got charged 150 for gift card meaning I didnt really get anything off? I would have rather not gotten the gift card than and had cheaper payments.

 

[Chateaunole-du-Pape]

so I got the EDU Discount plus 150 off more off air but than I got charged 150 for gift card meaning I didnt really get anything off? I would have rather not gotten the gift card than and had cheaper payments.

Sure you did. Let's use a theoretical example:

• Let's say that the computer you buy has an EDU price (available any day of the year, not just as part of this promotion) of $1,000
• As part of this promotion, Apple cuts the price by $150, so you get it for $850
• Apple then "makes" you buy a $150 gift for $150, bringing your total cash outlay to $1,000
• However, the gift card itself is worth $150. Essentially you're getting $1,150 in value (computer plus gift card) for $1,000. Alternatively, you could say that you got the computer for $850 if you want to consider the gift card a discount off the price of the computer - and as long as you can find a way to spend the gift card, that's basically what it is.
• Again, the only way this doesn't work out as a $150 discount is if you can't find a way to spend the gift card.

 

[applesith]

so I got the EDU Discount plus 150 off more off air but than I got charged 150 for gift card meaning I didnt really get anything off? I would have rather not gotten the gift card than and had cheaper payments.

It’s really simple math. You can look at your receipt to see you received a $150 gift card and a computer, but were charged $150 less than the retail price of those two items.

 

[jlc1978]

so I got the EDU Discount plus 150 off more off air but than I got charged 150 for gift card meaning I didnt really get anything off? I would have rather not gotten the gift card than and had cheaper payments.

So would I but that is not what Apple offers. By giving a gift card they don't take the revenue hit that would occur if they lowered the price an additional $150 since the GC is an expense.

 

[foldpages]

Allegedly. Reports are mixed on whether they will allow it or not so this is very much a YMMV situation.

Just going through this with their agreements team. They cannot take the gift card over the phone. She recommended going into a store as they *might* be able to do it.

 

[foldpages]

Any ideas on where to sell the gift card? Due to me changing colors on the M2 and having to return and re order, I now have two $150 gift cards that I have no use for.

You can call the Apple Store and have them cancel the gift card and it will be refunded to you. This has to be done over the phone, and cannot be done in store. I learned it the hard way. It also takes a really long time for them to process the refund.

 

[mplsdude]

You can call the Apple Store and have them cancel the gift card and it will be refunded to you. This has to be done over the phone, and cannot be done in store. I learned it the hard way. It also takes a really long time for them to process the refund.

I’ve never heard of a retailer allowing someone to return a gift card and get their money back.

 

[foldpages]

I’ve never heard of a retailer allowing someone to return a gift card and get their money back.

I can confirm 100% it works. Just did this last week. Returned MBA in store but they couldn't refund the gift card. Spoke to the store manager who said they can't refund the card but to call Apple directly as they might be able to. I called them when I got home and they cancelled the gift card on their end and issued a refund back to me.