Mac mini Test Drive Offer Pulled

[johnpeter]

Why not? Circuit City can do it!

There are many brick and mortar stores that have no problem having a 30 day take back policy on their computers (with no restocking fee!)- along with most of their other products. It does not seem to be hurting their sales, and in fact, offers incentive to buy from them.

Their marketing analysis tells them that most folks will keep a product if it works well- and the extra sales generated by the incentive of offering the 30 day take back policy more than compensates for those who abuse the policy or take a product back because they legitimately simply do not like it.

Come on Apple! Whatever marketing geniuses (no pun intended!) who decided to pull this, wake up and listen to the ones who thought up the idea!

Oh, by the way, I have been hanging around this thread for awhile- this is my first post. Thanks to all here who offered advice (often without knowing it), on helping me make my mind up to purchase my 20" iMac G5.

 

[autrefois]

That's because the whole world knows Apple makes computers, and no comercial will change what operating system someone prefers, it would just be a waste of money.

Well we'd better tell this to Microsoft. They paid what at the time was a fairly large sum of money ($10 million??) for the right to use the song "Start Me Up" as part of the huge Windows 95 ad campaign. As we all know, that campaign was a collossol flop. The amount of Windows users dropped considerably and Bill Gates eventually had to have Apple help bail them out......

I'm not a big fan of ads, I'd be very happy if I never saw another ad for anything again. But I don't agree that you can say they'd definitely be ineffective. And unless Apple just likes throwing money out the window, they also believe ads can help. They recently had a big switcher campaign in development and even paid for people to fly out and give their testimonials before pulling the plug on it. Did Steve just wake up one morning and say "I have had a vision. Ads will not convince people to switch operating systems. Call Errol Morris and scrap the switcher ads before it's too late!!"

EDIT: I'm obviously not saying everyone or even most people who bought Windows 95 were influenced by the ads. But some people were. And in the computer industry, one customer is $1,000s of business over a lifetime, especially in Apple's case since they make not only the OS but the computers to go with it.

 

[840quadra]

That's because the whole world knows Apple makes computers, and no comercial will change what operating system someone prefers, it would just be a waste of money. I believe the iPod comercials on the other hand, are just to remind everyone who really owns the market share for mp3 players. Not to really advertise thier product, because let's face it, a bunch of dancing people don't prove much, it's the apple logo that serves as a good reminder.

Everyone knows VW makes cars, Dell makes Laptops, Kenmore is a sears brand for appliances, and Dodge has Hemi. However they still all advertise.

Not to be rude, but you are contradicting yourself. If your first point were true, it would also negate the need for advertising the iPod as well. There is enough market saturation for the iPod now to rule out the need for any advertising. Using your example, everyone knows Apple makes the iPod, and also know what the iPod does.

840

 

[EricNau]

Originally Posted by 840quadra
Everyone knows VW makes cars, Dell makes Laptops, Kenmore is a sears brand for appliances, and Dodge has Hemi. However they still all advertise.

Not to be rude, but you are contradicting yourself. If your first point were true, it would also negate the need for advertising the iPod as well. There is enough market saturation for the iPod now to rule out the need for any advertising. Using your example, everyone knows Apple makes the iPod, and also know what the iPod does.

840

I'm not advertising specialist (as I'm sure all of you have figured out), but I just think that Apple realizes that no comercial is going to make a lightbulb pop up above ones head, so they go out anf buy an iMac. I think they rely more on work-of-mouth. Why they waste their money on iPod/iTunes ads, my only guess is that they like to brag a little.

 

[AidenShaw]

"We all know" - LOL

... to use the song "Start Me Up" as part of the huge Windows 95 ad campaign. As we all know, that campaign was a collossol flop. The amount of Windows users dropped considerably and Bill Gates eventually had to have Apple help bail them out......

Can you explain the "flop", and Apple's "bail out" of Microsoft?

Methinks you are making this up....

 

[autrefois]

Can you explain the "flop", and Apple's "bail out" of Microsoft?

Methinks you are making this up....

I was being ironic. I was saying the opposite of what really happened to get my point across. In other words:

Well Microsoft's experience would seem to go against what you (EricNau) said. They paid what at the time was a fairly large sum of money ($10 million??) for the right to use the song "Start Me Up" as part of the huge Windows 95 ad campaign. As we all know, that campaign was a huge success. The amount of Windows users rose considerably and Bill Gates eventually had to help bail Apple out

 

[AidenShaw]

I was being ironic.

You got me, you were just too good at the deadpan irony - it seemed outrageous, but you didn't have a smiley or other statement to point out the "point".

 

[autrefois]

You got me, you were just too good at the deadpan irony - it seemed outrageous, but you didn't have a smiley or other statement to point out the "point".

Sorry about that. You're right, I should have put a smiley at the end to make it clearer, I'm not sure why I didn't. I guess I forget not everyone is as cynical as I am, which is definitely a good thing. 🙂

I already test-drove a mini. And frankly, I brought it back.

I bought it from Best Buy, who were very enthusiastic about letting me bring it back, like any of their other items, if I was not happy.

Is this a general policy with Best Buy? What are the conditions on this—this would definitely be a good alternative for those who got their hopes up about the Mac mini test drive before it got pulled.

 

[fluidinclusion]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Its lame apple doesn't offer a full money back guarantee on all its products. IBM has done this forever and it makes you feel good to buy from IBM because of this. The fact that apple makes you buy an applecare warranty and that there is a restocking fee makes me sick. If they could just turn those two things around I would feel better about buying from apple store. That is why compusa is getting my business these days. 21 day return policy full money back no questions asked. THANK YOU COMPUSA!

Yeah, and look how many PC's IBM sells now. I guess that's how they became so profitable.

 

[fluidinclusion]

Applecare???

Quote:
The fact that apple makes you buy an applecare warranty and that there is a restocking fee makes me sick...

Apple certainly does not require that you buy an applecare warranty. I have bought several Macs from the Applestore since 1999, and have never been required to buy applecare. Where do people come up with these ideas?

 

[firsttube]

interesting

I don't find the powermac to be too noisy at all, just the opposite.

It's too quiet? 😀

 

[blenderdude]

Quote:
The fact that apple makes you buy an applecare warranty and that there is a restocking fee makes me sick...

Apple certainly does not require that you buy an applecare warranty. I have bought several Macs from the Applestore since 1999, and have never been required to buy applecare. Where do people come up with these ideas?

And besides, the original warranty that comes with Apple's computers is essentially free Applecare... buying the applecare just extends this to 3 years, so you don't have to buy applecare right away to get the same warranty.

 

[yojitani]

It's too quiet? 😀

I haven't heard my PM since upgrading to Tiger. 10.3 was a different story...

 

[trbgln]

free tiger...

Perhaps they thought too many people would order a mac simply
to get a copy of tiger. Later return the mini, but leave
your other computer conveniently upgraded...

 

[notjustjay]

Is this a general policy with Best Buy? What are the conditions on this—this would definitely be a good alternative for those who got their hopes up about the Mac mini test drive before it got pulled.

I think it's their general policy, as would be Circuit City's (as a poster above mentioned).
Edit: I checked; Best Buy has a 14-day return policy on computers. No restocking fee.

In my case I was admiring the mini and a salesperson started to try and make a sale. We talked about BTO versus store-bought and I told him (truthfully) that I was torn between being able to walk out of the store immediately with mini in hand, or get a BTO and wait a few weeks for a unit with more memory and/or DVD burner. The salesperson immediately told me I was welcome to take one home and try it, and if I decided that a BTO was better for me, to bring that one back. That sold it for me.

I did decide that 256 mb (the standard at the time) wasn't enough and brought the unit back and got my full refund. I did not end up going the BTO route, however - in fact I ended up buying a used Cube for quite a bit less. Certainly not the same power as the mini, but its performance is more in line with its price than I think the mini is (if that makes any sense).

 

[notjustjay]

Perhaps they thought too many people would order a mac simply
to get a copy of tiger. Later return the mini, but leave
your other computer conveniently upgraded...

Yeah, but if I'm going to steal Tiger anyway, why would I bother doing all that? I already have friends running Tiger who offered to lend or burn me an installer disc (I declined).

I admit I was very tempted to do a similar switcheroo when the minis were still shipping with Panther and Apple would offer a Tiger disc for $20; additionally, units had iLife 04 installed and an extra iLife 05 disc in the box.

 

[chatin]

I think Apple should try employee pricing.

You pay what chief evangelist Guy Kawasaki pays, not a penny more!

😉

 

[840quadra]

I'm not advertising specialist (as I'm sure all of you have figured out), but I just think that Apple realizes that no computer is going to make a lightbulb pop up above ones head, so they go out anf buy an iMac. I think they rely more on work-of-mouth. Why they waste their money on iPod/iTunes ads, my only guess is that they like to brag a little.

I see were you are coming from, however, it would be nice to see apple push some of their other products.

840

 

[oober_freak]

Apple has been advertising a lot here in India since June. Everyday they advertise their products in all the leading newspapers like Times Of India, Hindustan Times etc.

They're even sponsoring shows on kids channels....

But yeah, this is a bit strange... why did they withdraw? Does it signify that there'll be an update At the paris Expo?

 

[lickily]

....But yeah, this is a bit strange... why did they withdraw? Does it signify that there'll be an update At the paris Expo?

They just axed Steve's keynote there too. I wonder if the two cancellations are related? Things will probably be a little clearer by the end of the day.