Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Does Apple have any way of confirming university student status?
- Thread starter Bob Loblaw
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yeah, do people honestly think the store employees are going to phone up Universities every time someone comes in with valid ID to check they haven't graduated?
please please please - read this...one of the first results from google search = "apple student discount policy"
http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/salespoliciesEdIndividual.html
they do random audits...i've had to submit a copy of my student ID and tuition billing statement.
just be honest - call them up (or show up) explain your situation, i.e. a recent student, didnt have the money to buy a computer during your last year but wanted to - they may be ok with it, they may not. either way, the only thing you're doing is asking...
agreed though - some people on this forum need to calm down about defrauding apple...sheesh. FYI - i haven't used my edu discount since 1999 b/c the refurb prices are always cheaper...its not like you get 50% off.
Well, at the USA Apple store, recent graduates are allowed to make purchases using the education discount AFTER they graduate....as long as it's with an undefined "reasonable" amount of time. It's somewhat similar to their policy of extending the discount to students who have been accepted to a university but haven't actually enrolled and started classes.
This issue came up in my family last week and it resulted in a call to the Apple Education store. They said our grad is eligible for an education discount as long as he can present an ID showing affiliation with his university. I asked specifically if there was a defined time limit after graduation in which he had to make the purchase and was told that there isn't.
What you should have done was signed up for Student ADC when you were still an active student. That gives you a year from starting your membership to use your one-time Student ADC discount. Plus, for pro models the discount is even better.
They don't care at all. I'm not even a university student and I get the discount every time I buy a new computer. I've never been Id'd but I assume thats because I look like a college student (I'm in high school fyi)
No nasty comments about "fraud" please, they clearly aren't losing money on student purchases and I would just have a college aged friend buy it if they actually cared.
No nasty comments about "fraud" please, they clearly aren't losing money on student purchases and I would just have a college aged friend buy it if they actually cared.
I've heard staff in UK Apple stores advising people to get a student to buy Macs for a none student, so I guess they are kinda soft on fraud. Afterall a sale is a sale.
Any evidence of Apple instigating a lawsuit? (for a single purchase, I guess if it was wide spread corruption by any campus they might)
Yea, I recently graduated from college as well. However, I purchased my MBP 5 days before I graduated, after finals were over. And now I'm loving my computer!
Hope things work out for you Bob, don't take other's words so harshly, it is only an internet forum!
Hope things work out for you Bob, don't take other's words so harshly, it is only an internet forum!
I think the fraud comments are somewhat out of line. It's not like we're talking about some guy in his 30's that has been out of college for 10 years just looking to scam Apple out of $200 bucks. He's only been out of school for a few weeks, and personally I'd still consider him a student. Just because he received his diploma doesn't mean that he's found a job with a good income, and settled into a new life. He's probably still living the life of a student.
Also, over the past 2 months I've been getting a ton of Apple emails encouraging me to use my discount before it goes away (they think I just graduated for some reason, even though I'm going into my senior year). So Apple is actively going after those in higher education who are either a) about to graduate or b) have already graduated.
I don't want people to abuse the system for fear that they might take it away, but I REALLY don't think this is any form of abuse.
Also, over the past 2 months I've been getting a ton of Apple emails encouraging me to use my discount before it goes away (they think I just graduated for some reason, even though I'm going into my senior year). So Apple is actively going after those in higher education who are either a) about to graduate or b) have already graduated.
I don't want people to abuse the system for fear that they might take it away, but I REALLY don't think this is any form of abuse.
Whether you have been in college or never attended is not the point here. Your attempting to steal from a company. You graduated. Your no longer in college.
I suppose you also download music etc. without any regard to the artists??
Some people has a consious others, well......you decide!
well, since the Apple store says it's ok for a recent grad to buy using the education discount, then he isn't trying to "steal from a company".....it's just baseless nonsense to say so
Considering the overwhelming majority of Student ID's have no printed expiration, in-store purchases with an ID check "could" theoretically take place even years after graduation. Not an endorsement, just an observation.
As far as "fraud" or "theft," Apple (and many others) offer discounts for "students" knowing full well that many of those purchases do not technically qualify. MS Office Student & Teacher Edition, anyone? If they felt it were creating a loss, they would either be stricter, or simply not offer it. It's an inducement, period. They have more than sufficient margin to cover any number of these, and would rather have a non-student buying an Apple product with an "undeserved" discount than buying a Dell at any price.
Besides, you can get it cheaper from Amazon, anyway...
As far as "fraud" or "theft," Apple (and many others) offer discounts for "students" knowing full well that many of those purchases do not technically qualify. MS Office Student & Teacher Edition, anyone? If they felt it were creating a loss, they would either be stricter, or simply not offer it. It's an inducement, period. They have more than sufficient margin to cover any number of these, and would rather have a non-student buying an Apple product with an "undeserved" discount than buying a Dell at any price.
Besides, you can get it cheaper from Amazon, anyway...
In an older thread that someone linked in here, they said their school told them that they still qualify as alumni. I e-mailed my school's bookstore today, but didn't receive a response before they closed, so hopefully I'll get one tomorrow. I looked at the page on the Apple store that says who qualifies and who doesn't. I didn't notice anything about recent graduates.. could you direct me to that? I very well may have just overlooked it.
Exactly.
In fact, why even bother buying it in person? Circumvent the whole ID issue by purchasing it online. You probably still have a University email address, right? That should be sufficient. Honestly, I don't think it's a huge deal for Apple either way. Selling to students at a discount is probably a corporate tax write off for them.
I know someone who used someone else's student ID--over the phone- to an apple store 3000 miles away. The employee just asked for the ID # and I was told never actually even asked for it. However, there were other factors in play. There were credit card issues and he ended up leaving the store and coming back after the issues were cleared up.
I bought my computer with my credit card shipping to my sister (she was a student). However, to my defense (if I even need one)--I recently graduated and was in the process of applying to law schools.
The Moral: There will likely be no issues with a student buying hardware for another student. What he does with the computer after he leaves is his business. And it is likely 99.9% of Apple employees will agree
I ask for the discount on all of my purchases and even got one in-store for Leopard when I don't think I was supposed to (weren't then not offering them at the time?). Sometimes they check my ID sometimes they don't.
Talk to an employee-ask them- you are not obligated to purchase anything.
I bought my computer with my credit card shipping to my sister (she was a student). However, to my defense (if I even need one)--I recently graduated and was in the process of applying to law schools.
The Moral: There will likely be no issues with a student buying hardware for another student. What he does with the computer after he leaves is his business. And it is likely 99.9% of Apple employees will agree
I ask for the discount on all of my purchases and even got one in-store for Leopard when I don't think I was supposed to (weren't then not offering them at the time?). Sometimes they check my ID sometimes they don't.
Talk to an employee-ask them- you are not obligated to purchase anything.
Homer steals cable
Please see the Simpson episode "Homer Steals Cable."
Same thing.
This is a variation of the (FALSE) "they build the shrinkage/loss into the price structure" argument. You are basically saying that it's okay to steal as long as it's a faceless corporation and that no one really loses because they have fat margins all around.
Please see the Simpson episode "Homer Steals Cable."
Same thing.
This is a variation of the (FALSE) "they build the shrinkage/loss into the price structure" argument. You are basically saying that it's okay to steal as long as it's a faceless corporation and that no one really loses because they have fat margins all around.
Please see the Simpson episode "Homer Steals Cable."
Same thing.
Have you ever gone over the speed limit? If so you are endangering the life of innocent people and you should be ashamed of yourself...
Who cares? As long as everyone gets home safe at night! Although, Steve Jobs could use another personal jet.
On a side note and in no support of my argument (that I cleverly never make explicit), You do realize that the top 99% of the wealth in the United States is concentrated is a teenie weenie proportion of the general population--all because of their strict ethical policies and straight moral compasses--we don't want to take that away from them and we never will.
I had to call Apple and ask about recent grads and was told that a recent grad is still qualified to use the discount. I asked if there was a time limit after graduation and was told that there isn't an official deadline. He wanted to know when the kid was graduating and I said he just did and it would prob be several weeks before he made his purchase.......the Apple Store said that was fine....good faith and reasonableness seemed to be what they expected
If that's what the Apple store tells it's customers, then that's good enough for me.
that's sound good, I'll go see what happen tomorrow since I am a graduate student but is pursuing in continuing my education maybe later next year when ever i can make schedule for school.
Hey kiddo I'm in my 30's and I just graduated from grad school. Kill the generalizations about that BS if you don't want us to scream "fraud" when you're talking about the student discount.
And you are wrong, it is fraud and a form of abuse of the system.
oh grow up. my god do you not speed or something.. you commit a crime then too. he's trying to save some money on a computer, apple doesn't sell anything without a profit. I say go for it.
This is a variation of the (FALSE) "they build the shrinkage/loss into the price structure" argument. You are basically saying that it's okay to steal as long as it's a faceless corporation and that no one really loses because they have fat margins all around.
Same thing.
Sorry, but taking advantage of a discount is NOT theft, no matter how you slice it. The product was paid for at a price determined by the seller to receive a fair profit. There was no "unlawful taking," as theft is defined. MSRP is a suggestion, not a law.
Apple, by the very manner they manage it (little or no verification, efforts by employees to provide the discount to all sorts without being asked) implicitly advertises that a lower price is available for the asking.
For the record, I don't claim a student discount (although I have a few dozen student ID's), but I use my military discount whenever I'm in an Apple Store.
You could easily apply the same argument to the cable though given that the service is already there and the money the company recieves from a particular setup varies depending on the customer and the discounts applied. Some customers get cable cheaper than others based on their status and what deal they are offered.
In any case, I don't want to get lost in some argument trying to prove an exact correspondence to the "Homer steals cable" episode. I merely pointed it out as an example of an (almost) identical moral stance.
You can call it whatever you want, but taking something that you know you don't deserve, and under what amounts to false pretences is still immoral and all the dancing around with statements like "they build it into the price" or "other folks do it" etc. as some on this thread were doing is immaterial to that.
If Apple comes after you (which they won't) like one of the over-zealous posters said earlier... just counter-sue for discrimination against non-college-going folk. I'm sure you could make a pretty strong case in court that they are favoring 'rich kids who go to college' while making those 'working class blue-collar people' pay a non-elitist premium! Those ba*tards...
That'll show 'em!
That'll show 'em!