I know this is sneaky but..

Tax-free weekend is only for certain states (SC)!

All right, so I am going to do it. You guys say its unethical, but that is not an issue for me. I'm still a good guy I swear! :)

But this is why:

1) Have it in my hands earlier!
2) I will be out of town that weekend, still tax-free if I order from Apple, but then I would have to wait for shipping!
3) Now, if I am not satisfied, I won't miss out on tax-free for any other machines!
4) It actually gives me enough time to test it out and buy a new machine before school starts!

And I am going to a professional school now, and unfortunately we do not have a mac store on campus. We have one in the same city that will still honor the education discount though :)

Last question (again, some may think it is unethical.. but I really don't care)

What if I bought this one and then bought another one on tax-free weekend... then just kept this one and put the one i bought on tax-free weekend in the box of the one i bought earlier? LOL
 
docgerrard said:
What if I bought this one and then bought another one on tax-free weekend... then just kept this one and put the one i bought on tax-free weekend in the box of the one i bought earlier? LOL
Click to expand...

The serial number on the device wouldn't match the one on the receipt and the store's internal records. I don't know what they'd do about it, though (assuming both devices had the same configuration - if not, no doubt they'd deny the return).
 
Regardless of what you & others think, yes it IS unethical. You're costing Apple money so that you can get the best of both worlds. Just because something is within the rules doesn't make it ethical. You're taking profit out of their pocket, forcing them to sell your old computer as a refurb when there is nothing wrong with it except a spoiled, entitled brat wanted to screw the system. Congratulations to you and the others that feel this is ethical for being one of the problems with this country today. Why don't you go ahead and sign up for an ethics class at your school. You obviously don't understand anything about it.

And yes, I'll be one of the ones laughing if you end up dropping it and busting the screen and end up with nothing. Karma loves people like you.
 
docgerrard said:
Tax-free weekend is only for certain states (SC)!

All right, so I am going to do it. You guys say its unethical, but that is not an issue for me. I'm still a good guy I swear! :)
Click to expand...

You are going to medical school, yet have no problem with ethics. It bodes well for your future career! :D
 
Whatever bros. I didn't want this to be a discussion on how "ethical" I was being but rather Apple's return policy would allow me to do this.

You guys can continue giving thousands of dollars to Apple Corporation instead of doing the most "ethical" thing and donating to charity. I will continue watching every penny I spend and not care if poor little Apple has to sell a refurbished product but instead save myself $100.



Still, everyone here has been very helpful in the past and will continue being very helpful, so thanks again!

Dave421 said:
Regardless of what you & others think, yes it IS unethical. You're costing Apple money so that you can get the best of both worlds. Just because something is within the rules doesn't make it ethical. You're taking profit out of their pocket, forcing them to sell your old computer as a refurb when there is nothing wrong with it except a spoiled, entitled brat wanted to screw the system. Congratulations to you and the others that feel this is ethical for being one of the problems with this country today. Why don't you go ahead and sign up for an ethics class at your school. You obviously don't understand anything about it.

And yes, I'll be one of the ones laughing if you end up dropping it and busting the screen and end up with nothing. Karma loves people like you.
Click to expand...

You literally care more about a billion dollar corporation having to sell a refurbished product than a regular consumer (and medical student living off of government loans) trying to save a quick $100.
 
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docgerrard said:
Whatever bros. I didn't want this to be a discussion on how "ethical" I was being but rather Apple's return policy would allow me to do this.
Click to expand...

If apple knew the reasons WHY you want do this they would have a reason to deny the return.

docgerrard said:
You guys can continue giving thousands of dollars to Apple Corporation instead of doing the most "ethical" thing and donating to charity. I will continue watching every penny I spend and not care if poor little Apple has to sell a refurbished product but instead save myself $100.
Click to expand...
Just because you don't have much and they have a lot doesn't justify doing something unethical.
 
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docgerrard said:
You literally care more about a billion dollar corporation having to sell a refurbished product than a regular consumer (and medical student living off of government loans) trying to save a quick $100.
Click to expand...


What kind of financial state would that "billion dollar corporation" be in if we all decided to do things like this...just to save a quick $100?
 
docgerrard said:
You literally care more about a billion dollar corporation having to sell a refurbished product than a regular consumer (and medical student living off of government loans) trying to save a quick $100.
Click to expand...

You are not "trying to save a quick $100". You could easily save the same amount of money by WAITING 2 WEEKS.
 
Dave421 said:
... when there is nothing wrong with it except a spoiled, entitled brat wanted to screw the system.
Click to expand...

This is the entire issue in a nutshell.

docgerrard said:
You literally care more about a billion dollar corporation having to sell a refurbished product than a regular consumer (and medical student living off of government loans) trying to save a quick $100.
Click to expand...

Any regular customer? Probably not.
A self entitled brat? Absolutely. I'll root for the major corporation every time.

You are not trying to save a quick buck, you are trying to scam a quick buck.
There's huge difference, but I don't expect you to comprehend that.
 
You could talk the the store manager, tell them that you know this tax free offer is coming up, and ask if you could buy one today at the tax-free price, instead of buying one and then returning it. Or you could ask in advance if they can refund the difference if you go back in on the tax free weekend (saves the returning and swapping hassle).
 
Self-entitled brat?

You guys must be angels.



And yes, the very fact that they have billions and I don't is why its all right. I'll use the money I save to donate to charity (something your glorious leader Steve Jobs has never really been shown to do, to my knowledge). Or I will use the money to put back into the economy at the mom and pop small business. Regardless, both of these are better options then going into Steve Jobs mutual fund.

If you are trying to argue this is unethical... you don't know much about ethics. Either way, I'm not doing anything against the rules. I will buy my first macbook air. I will obviously not be satisfied with the product when I know I can get it for $100 cheaper. If I am not satisfied, I can return it and buy another one to then become completely satisfied with the product.

Finally, I will be happy to make another consumer perfectly happy by giving them a "refurbished" MBA that will be in perfectly good shape.
 
I'm saying $100 means more to basically anyone than a billion dollar corporation. If I was going into the register and stealing this money, that would be one thing.

I am doing something clearly outlined on Apples return policy.

Now which of those is invalid?
 
Definite abuse of the generous Apple return policy: you are buying the first one under false pretenses since you do not plan to keep it. Also, if you have to order these it is a blatant waste of resources and energy to ship back and forth, process through the system, and prepare for resale. All and all, you are less than ethical using this tactic; don't be so spoiled - wait the two weeks.
 
docgerrard said:
I'm saying $100 means more to basically anyone than a billion dollar corporation. If I was going into the register and stealing this money, that would be one thing.

I am doing something clearly outlined on Apples return policy.

Now which of those is invalid?
Click to expand...

As I said earlier, saying you are saving $100 is invalid because you would pay the same price if you waited 2 weeks. The only reason you want to buy now is because you are impatient, spoiled, and entitled.

And why do I somehow doubt that you will be "donating the money to charity"? Most penny-pinchers I know would be the last to give up their precious dimes and nickels to a worthy cause.
 
docgerrard said:
I'm saying $100 means more to basically anyone than a billion dollar corporation. If I was going into the register and stealing this money, that would be one thing.
Click to expand...
You are still abusing the system.

docgerrard said:
I am doing something clearly outlined on Apples return policy.

Now which of those is invalid?
Click to expand...
No, you are not taking use of something that is outlined, you are abusing it, because you know beforehand that you will return and thus cause damage.

It's unrightful.
 
be extra careful you do not drop or spill something on it while waiting 2 weeks for your big winfall
 
docgerrard said:
I'm saying $100 means more to basically anyone than a billion dollar corporation. If I was going into the register and stealing this money, that would be one thing.

I am doing something clearly outlined on Apples return policy.

Now which of those is invalid?
Click to expand...


The fact that you don't understand that you ARE in effect going into the register and stealing the $100 shows how deluded you are. Congratulations on being a well rounded individual. If you're going into medicine, enjoy that first malpractice lawsuit by someone that's not "breaking any rules."

Also, please spare us the BS that you're going to donate it to charity. Unless Charity is a stripper, we all know you're lying.
 
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Your whole argument is rubbish. You said the savings is born out of a tax-free weekend? Well, you aren't screwing a multi-billion dollar company out of funds you are screwing your state. Don't try to be all high and mighty about "I'll give the savings to charity etc..." You are screwing the paving job that is needed downtown, the school budget, police officer, or country clerk that processes your driver's license out of salary or benefits. Don't you know what taxes are for? You are screwing your state while at the same time abusing Apple's return policy.

If you want it now, be man enough to pay the taxes. You are a classic American jerk.
 
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Hey guys, I've come up with a way to scam my bank out of hundreds of thousands of dollars on my mortgage. I know it's ethical because they have more money than me but what I'm wanting to know is, is it against policy? I'm going to do it anyway but I was just wondering. I'm cool with it and all because they have a bunch of money and stuff. Thanks!

PS, I flunked Ethics 101 because that professor was a moron!
 
For what it's worth. imho ..... It's not nice to do, but it is perfectly legal. It's simply using a loophole that Apple has chosen to leave open. If too many people take advantage of the loophole, Apple will close it. Also, Apple has already priced it's products to account for this kind of "loss". In essence, we are all paying a teeny bit more on our new products to balance out this "loss".

On the plus side, there will be a shiny new MBA on the refurbished site shortly after tax free weekend, for one us to pick up on a serious discount. It would be ironic if one of us picked up their refurbished MBA for cheaper than the OP gets their tax-free MBA. :)

@OP Just take really good care of your MBA.... I don't know what the condition of the machine needs to be in to qualify for a return.... but I would guess you would want to know that. Otherwise your grand scheme may meet a hiccup....

Also, depending on how you pay for it you may end up with two purchases on your credit card for a period of time, until the return is processed. In my experience stores will charge for purchases the instant you make them, but will need to send returns in for processing to a very slow back-office.
 
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