Education Discount Verification

[filmgirl]

I've done it with friends on numerous occasions, both online and in-store (for computers and accessories), and I may be using the HED discount within the next two weeks (right now, Amazon.com is actually cheaper because they won't charge me sales tax, Apple will, and they'll give me a $100 mail-in-rebate that'll leave me back at the pre-tax price the education discount offers), but in the store, it can vary clerk to clerk, but if you show them a student ID or an acceptance letter (or even a transcript or certificate of admission form), you're fine. Online, the only time I've ever seen the checks are when software purchases are involved. This actually makes sense. I've been buying academic software since I was in high school (I'm 24 and in grad school now) and have always had to fax proof of registration and some sort of photo ID, regardless of the place of purchase. The way Academic Software works is that the software companies get a write-off, essentially, for offering educational discounts (why else do you think Microsoft started selling the Student versions of Office in retail stores -- where NO one cares to make sure you really *are* a student -- they get to write it off and probably save a sale from piracy) -- so there has to be official documentation associated with that discount, proving the buyer was a student (Microsoft gets around this in the retail sector by basically putting a "disclaimer" on the box that you are only to use the product for academic or home purposes or whatever...but again, the Academic POS thing is more of a piracy prevention tool than anything...you can get academic copies of more advanced versions of Office (if we're talking about Windows, not 100% on what the Mac options are, though if they have different configurations, I'm sure it would work the same way) for the same price or less if you go directly through an authorized academic reseller than the standard version anyway). Hardware discounts are more of a good faith thing on behalf of the company (which is why IBM, HPSHopping and Dell all have student discounts too), they aren't getting a write-off for it -- it's just a ploy to get students or educators to shop with Apple or whoever directly, and use the incentive of a small discount to get a sale they might otherwise lose.

That was long and drawn out - sorry, point being -- in a store, they'll want an ID or acceptance letter, but it's not a huge deal -- you could use fake letterhead and it would work (I'm not suggesting that -- just saying, it wouldn't matter), but if you are getting academic software online (or in store, if they happen to carry the academic version), yeah, they're going to want verification details so they can get their write-off.

 

[black-phaeton]

Hello,

I have two similar question about this topic:

1.) I'm a student from Austria currently doing an internship in the US.
Since I need a new MBP, I was wondering if the student discount is also granted to students who are not enrolled in the US but in their home country.
Will they accept my Austrian student-ID at a retail store here in the US?

2.) The second question is about sales tax. Since I am a non-US-resident, I am not very familiar with that topic. However, I know that in California (where I do my internship) there is a sales tax of about 7.25%
Some people mentioned earlier, that amazon does not charge a sales tax. Why is this? I mean, shouldn't they also have to charge this tax if they send me a MacBook Pro to my address in California?
Why is there a sales tax if I order in the Apple Educational Store? I mean, they are both online stores - so why is the tax thing different?

 

[the Helix]

It's simple: Just go into the store and do this...

You don't need to see my identification.

Thanks for the good laugh! I thoroughly enjoyed that!

Cheers.

 

[mwp98223]

Hello,

I have two similar question about this topic:

1.) I'm a student from Austria currently doing an internship in the US.
Since I need a new MBP, I was wondering if the student discount is also granted to students who are not enrolled in the US but in their home country.
Will they accept my Austrian student-ID at a retail store here in the US?

2.) The second question is about sales tax. Since I am a non-US-resident, I am not very familiar with that topic. However, I know that in California (where I do my internship) there is a sales tax of about 7.25%
Some people mentioned earlier, that amazon does not charge a sales tax. Why is this? I mean, shouldn't they also have to charge this tax if they send me a MacBook Pro to my address in California?
Why is there a sales tax if I order in the Apple Educational Store? I mean, they are both online stores - so why is the tax thing different?

Typically on-line retailers are required to charge sales tax to any purchases being sent to a State in which they have a physical presence. Apple has stores in most states (all?) and therefore must charge sales tax to any on-line purchases. For instance, I live in Washington State, Apple has stores here, so I'm taxed. Unfortunately, Amazon is also in Washington State so they tax on-line sales made to Washington citizens. I belive most other states don't get tax charged on Amazon purchases.

 

[Mundy]

Typically on-line retailers are required to charge sales tax to any purchases being sent to a State in which they have a physical presence. Apple has stores in most states (all?) and therefore must charge sales tax to any on-line purchases. For instance, I live in Washington State, Apple has stores here, so I'm taxed. Unfortunately, Amazon is also in Washington State so they tax on-line sales made to Washington citizens. I belive most other states don't get tax charged on Amazon purchases.

From Amazon's site:

Items sold by Amazon.com LLC, or its subsidiaries, and shipped to destinations in the states of Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, or Washington are subject to tax.

I live in Tennessee, and since we have brick and mortar Apple Stores here (meaning Apple charges me sales tax even for online sales), I purchase most of my Apple products from Amazon.

 

[black-phaeton]

Typically on-line retailers are required to charge sales tax to any purchases being sent to a State in which they have a physical presence. Apple has stores in most states (all?) and therefore must charge sales tax to any on-line purchases. For instance, I live in Washington State, Apple has stores here, so I'm taxed. Unfortunately, Amazon is also in Washington State so they tax on-line sales made to Washington citizens. I belive most other states don't get tax charged on Amazon purchases.

Ok, I understand.
If Amazon would grant the Apple Student Discount to students who buy from them it would be the cheapest, because there is no sales tax + additional student discount (is there any online shop where this would be the case?).

 

[hauntedcity]

Now here's a crazy question... I'm a few years out of college, but my university's IT website says all their hardware discounts are available for "students, staff, faculty, and alumni". They have a link to the Apple Education Store for the university, but nowhere on the Apple site does it mention alumni.

Does anyone have a similar situation with their college? I'm guessing that since Apple doesn't mention alumni that the discount wouldn't apply. Any thoughts?

 

[hauntedcity]

Now here's a crazy question... I'm a few years out of college, but my university's IT website says all their hardware discounts are available for "students, staff, faculty, and alumni". They have a link to the Apple Education Store for the university, but nowhere on the Apple site does it mention alumni.

Does anyone have a similar situation with their college? I'm guessing that since Apple doesn't mention alumni that the discount wouldn't apply. Any thoughts?

Well, I just got an email from the university confirming that alumni are eligible for discounts! Whoda thunk it? Anyone else here go to Purdue?

 

[Spikeanator6982]

I do know the apple store used to/still does have a ad on it for the ed discount. and it says something like once u graduate its over. Of course it was fancier than that but i dont know the exact wording.


Brad

 

[Eidorian]

Well, I just got an email from the university confirming that alumni are eligible for discounts! Whoda thunk it? Anyone else here go to Purdue?

Check out my location...

~desu

 

[hauntedcity]

I do know the apple store used to/still does have a ad on it for the ed discount. and it says something like once u graduate its over. Of course it was fancier than that but i dont know the exact wording.

I just LOVE confusing and conflicting information, don't you?

Okay, I've done some more digging on the website. Here's what I find on Apple website:

ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS
Eligible Purchasers for the Apple Store for Education must be associated with public or private, nonprofit or for profit, state accredited, degree-granting institutions organized specifically for educational purposes. Eligible purchasers include designated purchasers and any colleges, university extension or approved satellite campuses. Apple shall determine eligibility in its sole discretion.​

This does not necessarily exclude alumni, since the university claims we are "associated with" them. If the university claims I'm a "designated purchaser" that may hold up.

HOWEVER, the current iPod promotion specifically states that you have to be a current student.

With the $199 iPod credit taken out the equation, and the sales tax that would have to be paid to the Apple store, I would come out ahead by ordering from MacMall or MacConnection, where for LESS money I would also get a copy of Parallels. That would include the printer credit and $150 rebate. I realize that some folk have some issues with MacMall and their return policies, but DANG -- $120 savings is just too tempting! Take THAT, education discount!

Okay, so now I'm done with my babbling digression, and you all may continue on with your "Education Discount Verification " thread.

Doug

 

[Khyber]

As mentioned, that was stopped recently. But I got a better one. I got such a huge discount, that my 4g 20GB iPod only cost me around 50 bucks. That was a few weeks before the 5g one came out though.

I remember using the education discount to buy my 5G 30 gig iPod but that was when it first came out. The discount was about $20 or so.

 

[DaveDixon]

What happens when you leave the University before the end of your first year because you didn't get the grades?
Is the 3 year warrantee still valid or will I have to buy that again? Will they ask for proof that you were at Uni?

 

[Igantius]

the higher education discount in the uk is fantastic, you get a 14% discount and the option to buy apple care for £58, saved me a lot of money on my mbp, which i got for £1560 instead of £2050, a saving of £490 or $971. Not a bad discount at all!

Machines bought under this discount automatically get a bonus three-year parts and labour warranty - the advantage of the £58 uplift to full Applecare is that if you do need to send it back for repairs, Apple pays this cost as opposed for you paying it to be sent or just dropping it off at an Applecentre.