Is this Forever MacBook Upgrade program an answer to fears of missing out?

[proveritas]

This company appears to be offering their own version of the iPhone Forever program, but limited to MacBooks.

I keep reading on the forums how many rue having to keep their existing MacBook while with the latest and greatest MacBooks are now annually coming on a regular basis.

How about it? Does a program such as this make sense?

Upgraded - Join the MacBook Upgrade Program

Get a new MacBook every two years with low monthly payments, AppleCare+ protection, and effortless upgrades.

getupgraded.com

 

[Apple_Robert]

I think a better program is for more people (in general) to mature and get rid of the FOMO mindset. There is nothing wrong with liking tech and new features. However, I believe it has become a real problem for many on the forum.

I think the risk to Apple for a program like you linked to may be a bit too high, when it comes to MacBooks.

 

[Mainsail]

Well, you will be paying full retail for your MacBook, and you will be missing out on some pretty great deals that come available fairly regularly. The base M3 MBA has been as low as $850, with BB membership or $899 without. So, paying $1,099 full retail seems like a pretty steep premium over the on-sale price. Apple care pricing is the same price either way.

 

[proveritas]

So they charge same price as Apple Store (which also gives no discount), charge 0% interest like Apple Store, but they go out 36 months at 0% interest. After 2 years of payments you can send in the MacBook and get a new one on same terms. OR pay off final 12 months of 36 month term and keep it. Includes AppleCare as well. I will have to do the math on it to see how it compares with just trading in Macbook after 2 years with Apple or elsewhere and then buying a new one at that time.

 

[Aka757]

So they charge same price as Apple Store (which also gives no discount), charge 0% interest like Apple Store, but they go out 36 months at 0% interest. After 2 years of payments you can send in the MacBook and get a new one on same terms. OR pay off final 12 months of 36 month term and keep it. Includes AppleCare as well. I will have to do the math on it to see how it compares with just trading in Macbook after 2 years with Apple or elsewhere and then buying a new one at that time.

Without running any numbers, I feel that buying and then selling after 2 years would probably give you the best value. Of course then you have to deal with putting up a listing somewhere, getting a buyer, shipping; and all that jazz, but economically I feel like that’s the way to come out ahead. On the other hand, if the difference would only be a couple hundred bucks, I can easily see a lot of people (including me) paying that much for the convenience of not having to sell their existing machine and opting for an upgrade program. There isn’t really even the drawback of not being sure about a purchase, since you can keep it after 3 years.

However, worth noting that the 0% financing appears to be a promotional rate, doesn’t seem that it would apply to all future upgrades

 

[proveritas]

Thank you. Just trying to see if it is worth it or not. Also, I forgot that there would be no Educational Discount and one would not get 3% back by using Apple Card which also offers 0% interest, but only for the One Year.

(Friend seeing me type all this just mentioned that with high inflation, you would be paying “back the loan at not only 0% but using “cheaper” Dollars too.“ I confess that to me, $100 a month, for example, is still $100 a month. Doesn’t seem cheaper to me!).

 

[theluggage]

Thank you. Just trying to see if it is worth it or not.

You don't get owt for nowt ...so just look at the terms very carefully for the "wrinkle" that's going to make them their profit.

Remember the "what ifs" - what if your priorities change and you don't want a new Macbook in two years' time? What guarantee is there that the scheme will still be running in two years' time? What if your circumstances change and you can't make payments - what would be the cost of extracating yourself from the deal?

Edit: Or, what happens if a new, must-have Mac appears only 1 year in...?

you would be paying “back the loan at not only 0% but using “cheaper” Dollars too.“

Depends on what you were planning to buy with those dollars: inflation is a very crude measure. The same number of dollars in 1980 would have bought you an Apple II with a 1MHz processor and massive 32k of RAM - or paid a whole year's rent on your house, with enough change to fuel your car*. The dollar price of a base iMac hasn't changed since 1998!

So, if those dollars come from your "new computer fund" then they'll most likely buy more/better computer hardware in 2 years' time than they will now. If they're coming from your "pay the rent" fund then... well, this isn't the forum for personal financial advice.

Let's just say that the "inflation" argument is very, very dependent on your situation.

*NB - just being rhetorical - I haven't fact-checked those exact figures (apart from the iMac), but you get the point: the only "inflation" on computer hardware in the last 50 years has been the changing SI prefixes after the specs...

 

[johnerik]

Hi folks, founder of Upgraded here. 👋 Thank you OP for shouting us out! A couple comments.

I think a better program is for more people (in general) to mature and get rid of the FOMO mindset. There is nothing wrong with liking tech and new features. However, I believe it has become a real problem for many on the forum.

I realize that our service helps folks "always own the latest" but I do agree with you: If it's not necessary for your profession and, especially, if you don't have the disposable income to support it, always owning/feeling like you need the latest is just a vicious trap. "Step. Awayyy. From. The. MacBook."

Our thinking at Upgraded is: Start with new MacBooks, target creatives (developer, designer, videographer, illustrator) with great credit scores (740+ who qualify for the 0%), who are already buying and selling their MacBooks every couple years anyway, and just make the process affordable and hassle-free. Solve a problem where the current solution is clunky and time consuming, but people are doing it anyway. That's step number 1.

Step 2 is used/refurbished devices. Once we have a decent cohort of folks who have put their MacBook upgrades (and perhaps iPad Pro upgrades) on autopilot with us, we'll begin to offer older, refurbished devices.

For example: My mom enjoys getting a new iPhone every two years, but it doesn't have to be the iPhone 16 that just came out, it can be two or three generations behind but "new to her." By cycling the phone/device out every couple years, people get something new AND it gives us a chance to make sure everything on it is working correctly, the battery is in good shape, etc.

Step 3: Profit. 🙂

However, worth noting that the 0% financing appears to be a promotional rate, doesn’t seem that it would apply to all future upgrades

Good catch on the text that says promotional rate. However, if you are approve for 0% (you get the promotional rate) it does stay with you for future purchases. I need to ask Citizens why their terms make us show it in that way.

Please feel free to ask any other questions. It's one of the coolest feelings to build something and then see people you don't know talk about it! So, thank you. I just want to learn and try to incorporate anything I can into our offering.

 

[johnerik]

So, paying $1,099 full retail seems like a pretty steep premium over the on-sale price.

Yes, sigh. We're just don't have the scale yet to be discounting. The prices that BBY is selling MacBook Pros for right now is lower than Upgraded/our partner GatorTec can get them wholesale from Apple. It's wild.

I'm hoping we'll catch the crowd who is planning to upgrade to the M4.