Education discount in store?

[SuperNoodle33]

Looking at purchasing a MacBook Pro soon, I was just wondering if it is possible to order a custom Mac in the actual store with education discount? If so, what University identification will be required? I'm looking to upgrade Ram, HD and screen. Thanks

 

[Tomorrow]

The couple of times I tried it, the store wouldn't take any custom orders. I was told to order it online (which you can do right there in the store, if you like).

You CAN use your discount in the store, but only for stock merchandise.

 

[GGJstudios]

Looking at purchasing a MacBook Pro soon, I was just wondering if it is possible to order a custom Mac in the actual store with education discount?

No, custom orders are only available online.

 

[miles01110]

The only way you'll get the machine with the specs you want is if they happen to have one in the store. They don't CTO in-store.

If you did find one you would be able to use the education discount with student ID or often they'll just take a university e-mail address.

 

[Xcallibur]

Looking at purchasing a MacBook Pro soon, I was just wondering if it is possible to order a custom Mac in the actual store with education discount? If so, what University identification will be required? I'm looking to upgrade Ram, HD and screen. Thanks

If you were buying an ordinary Macbook, all you would need is your University ID card, they may even allow a letter with your name on as proof. But a custom configuration is usually not possible with a university education discount unless you buy the product from the Apple store whilst browsing from your universities network.

However, Apple stores in the US are offering the chance to collect customised configurations in store, so this should allow the addition of an education discount. I don't think they offer the in-store collect in stores in the UK yet though.

 

[Tomorrow]

...a custom configuration is usually not possible with a university education discount unless you buy the product from the Apple store whilst browsing from your universities network.

I can confirm that you do NOT need to be on your University's network to do this. I did it from my home.

 

[GGJstudios]

I can confirm that you do NOT need to be on your University's network to do this. I did it from my home.

Agreed. The Education Discount is available by going to the Education Store from any computer on any network. You just have to select your school.

 

[SuperNoodle33]

I'm not looking to take it home with me there and then, just to order it and have it delivered to my home address. I just thought it would save me having to send off identification in the post or whatever means they have of proving I am a university student?
If they don't require proof and I just need to be logged onto the university network then I suppose I could do that. Any ideas? Thanks again

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm not looking to take it home with me there and then, just to order it and have it delivered to my home address. I just thought it would save me having to send off identification in the post or whatever means they have of proving I am a university student?
If they don't require proof and I just need to be logged onto the university network then I suppose I could do that. Any ideas? Thanks again

You don't need to be logged into your university's network. You can order online from anywhere. See the two posts just before your last post. They may or may not ask for proof of your student status.

 

[willyboy104]

Looking at purchasing a MacBook Pro soon, I was just wondering if it is possible to order a custom Mac in the actual store with education discount? If so, what University identification will be required? I'm looking to upgrade Ram, HD and screen. Thanks

Um not sure if people replying have actually done this or not, but I have purchased in store with educational discount twice.

The last time I did it was in July 2011 - OK, it wasn't very recent, but wasn't ages ago either and I doubt things changed. All you need to take is your student ID, they then have a list of Universities, you tell them which University and then they will take your ID number and confirm it.

Pretty simple procedure, and remember the discount differs on each product ALSO if you're planning upgrades remember you get discount on those too!

ALWAYS - Check the receipt, they have totally messed up the receipt twice for me!

 

[SuperNoodle33]

The school or college I went to only gives me 7% off, whereas the university gives me 15% off, however I need to be on the network, there is a way to trick it but I would still need to email/send them proof if they requested it.
The college I went to does give me 15% off but I only did a college course there, not a degree, therefore I wasn't actually a university student. Do you think I should just order it online under that network and if they ask for identification I just show them my college card? lol! Whats £100 to Apple? Haha!

 

[GGJstudios]

Um not sure if people replying have actually done this or not, but I have purchased in store with educational discount twice.

But you haven't made a BTO purchase in store, as this thread is discussing, since they're only available online.

 

[Xcallibur]

I can confirm that you do NOT need to be on your University's network to do this. I did it from my home.

Agreed. The Education Discount is available by going to the Education Store from any computer on any network. You just have to select your school.

Explain this then!

By the way, this is in the UK NOT the US & this is a University discount not standard education pricing!

 

[GGJstudios]

Explain this then!

Image

By the way, this is in the UK NOT the US & this is a University discount not standard education pricing!

The UK education discount program is different from the US. The OP hasn't identified their location, but the responses are based on the US program, not the UK. In the US, you do not have to be logged into a university's network to access the education discount.

​

 

[jtara]

For hardware, you will almost always get a better deal just going to a large online retailer, such as Mac Warehouse, etc. Forget the educational discount, they are cheaper than the educational discount. This is especially true if you can avoid paying state sales tax.

For software (especially Adobe) you should also forget the educational discount. Buy from your walk-in university bookstore. They will have a MUCH better deal than any educational discount, whether from Apple, online from the software maker, or educational discount from an online retailer.

You can check hardware prices at your bookstore, but you will probably get a better deal online. Sometimes the bookstores will run specials, though, so it is worthwhile to check.

 

[Tomorrow]

I've used the education discount three times - twice in a store and once online. I've never been asked to produce any ID or proof of enrollment. I did have my wife with me (who teaches elementary school) in case they asked for her faculty ID.

 

[GGJstudios]

I did have my wife with me

A wife is better than an ID any day!

 

[willyboy104]

Just to highlight, my answer was based on UK experience.

Also, I have BTO in store too with the same student discount. Also to highlight, in store (in the UK) the discount if at University is higher than what you get online.

As for actual discounts:

Macbook Pro range - 15%
iMac range 12%
Macbook range - 13%

Something like this...

 

[GGJstudios]

Also, I have BTO in store too with the same student discount.

Some stores have pre-built BTO models in stock, which you can buy in the store. That's not a true BTO, however, as they're not customizing it to your specifications. Stores don't offer the ability to choose your options and have them assemble it in the store.... you're limited to what they have in stock. The only place you can buy a built-to-order Mac is from their online store.

 

[iStudentUK]

Apple stores don't tend to hold many custom configs, but sometimes there are a couple. But as you are a UK uni student you get a better deal online. You get ~15% off and a free 3 year warranty. You don't get the free warranty in store. In the UK you should be on your uni network to access the HE education store. See link in my sig for more info.

.Also, I have BTO in store too with the same student discount. Also to highlight, in store (in the UK) the discount if at University is higher than what you get online.

The discount for uni students should be the same in store and online (more or less) but as I said above online you get the additional benefit of a 3 year warranty which doesn't come as standard in store.

 

[rockden]

i think many collage and university offer 7% to 10% off and you order by online

 

[And]

Explain this then!

Image

Explain this then! ;-)

http://store.apple.com/uk_edu_5000631

It only does a check when you initially try to go to the site, so just bookmark once you're in and access any time you like.

On another note, in the UK, if you buy via the apple store you can get the discount (with ID) but you do not get the free 3 yr warranty that you get by buying from the online education store - in short, buy online in the UK.

cheers.

 

[GGJstudios]

It only does a check when you initially try to go to the site, so just bookmark once you're in and access any time you like.

You don't even need to bookmark it. It lets you in again because you have a cookie stored on your system. If you clear your cookies, you're back to square one.

On another note, in the UK, if you buy via the apple store you can get the discount (with ID) but you do not get the free 3 yr warranty that you get by buying from the online education store

Yes, as iStudentUK said just before you.

 

[Xcallibur]

Explain this then! ;-)

http://store.apple.com/uk_edu_5000631

It only does a check when you initially try to go to the site, so just bookmark once you're in and access any time you like.

On another note, in the UK, if you buy via the apple store you can get the discount (with ID) but you do not get the free 3 yr warranty that you get by buying from the online education store - in short, buy online in the UK.

cheers.

Thanks for the tips! I managed to find my University by changing the last three numbers of the URL!

 

[kazmac]

agreed

Um not sure if people replying have actually done this or not, but I have purchased in store with educational discount twice.

The last time I did it was in July 2011 - OK, it wasn't very recent, but wasn't ages ago either and I doubt things changed. All you need to take is your student ID, they then have a list of Universities, you tell them which University and then they will take your ID number and confirm it.

Pretty simple procedure, and remember the discount differs on each product ALSO if you're planning upgrades remember you get discount on those too!

ALWAYS - Check the receipt, they have totally messed up the receipt twice for me!

Definitely check the receipt, Grand Central gave me the corporate discount 2x -even less than the educational discount- even after showing them my receipts from UCLA 2x.

As so many have said, Apple charges way too much for custom upgrades.

If you absolutely must have a custom Mac order through their online store. After choosing the Education Store, you can select your school just by inserting your zip code from any computer.

As for me, I will NEVER shop at the Grand Central store again and most likely not will not buy a custom Mac if I decide on another full blown computer once this iMac goes bye-bye.