"Constrained product" is a very common term. When I worked for an IT reseller back in the 90s, laptops were constantly in a constrained state.
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Printer deal "Bait and Switch"? Looking for advice.
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"Constrained product" is a very common term. When I worked for an IT reseller back in the 90s, laptops were constantly in a constrained state.
Doesn't emailing Steve Jobs sound a little extreme over a $100 printer? Along with this whole thread? Could we please try to overreact a little next time?
If getting the system tax-free and with the $100 printer is a major requirement, then drive on up to New Hampshire and go to the Rockingham Mall. When I got my new mini they were swimming in the $100 HP and Canon printers that are eligible for the rebate. I had the opposite issue and had to wait while they scraped around the back room to find the last of their on-hand Canon MP620 network printers. I was happy to get a new scanner and network printer for $50 net (got my rebate check within about two weeks). They even looked up both my company's discount and the educational discount and determined which discount was better for me to use. I bought right before the iPod promotion figuring I wouldn't qualify for it, then realized that since I am working at a University it would have. I could have upgraded my touch to a version 2. Oh well, upgrading my mini to one that holds 4GB of memory and has a video card ready for Snow Leopard was my main goal anyway. That and sticking it to MA for raising their sales tax by getting it tax free!
constraint |kənˈstrānt|
noun
a limitation or restriction : the availability of water is the main constraint on food production | time constraints make it impossible to do everything.
Synonyms:
restriction, limitation, curb, check, restraint, control, damper, rein; hindrance, impediment, obstruction, handicap.
It's built right into OSX.
Delaware has no sales tax!? I envy those states. But they did offer so that makes it seem like the Apple guy was trying his best to help you. The tax issue may be something that they can't get around though, it's just the way shipping something in NJ has to be. I'll give you it is frustrating and they should still have those in stock there may have simply been nothing they could do. As far as the particular accusation at bait-and-switch the widespread availability in the past of these $100 printers to many people on this board sorta makes it seem like running out of stock is not something they do on purpose or even often.
If your looking at just avoiding the tax try eBay and a reputable buy-it-now seller coupled with Microsoft Cashback(8%).
When did they raise it? When I got my iMac it was like 5.x% , my family was so excited to not pay the 8.75% that NY has and we had just moved and didn't know that NH has no sales tax. And the no tax on clothing was really surprising as well.
Also, the printer rebate isn't part of the Back-To-School promotion. It's always going on, it's just that most people don't know about it, or don't care because they already have a printer. Commonly, the Back-To-School promotion is a great time to remind people about the printer rebate because so often a college student needs both the computer (and a free iPod ) and a printer.
) and a printer.Here's a thought, why don't you learn to read before insulting people for no reason? People are like you make me slightly hesitant to get a mac. I don't like dealing with the small percentage of mac users with a huge superiority complex. There is no reason to post something like that.
It's not that big of a deal I guess about the printer. I just figured Apple to be a "customer service" company as opposed to a "fine print and policy" company. I would have bought it sans the printer, but I found it so annoying that they refused to something so simple to please a customer about to drop a lot of money. I mean how hard is it to call me when the printers come in or reserve one for me! I'm going to keep calling to check stock for a week or so and then just go buy it without.
I sold my 2 PC's and I'm dying to get this MBP!
You posted with an overly dramatic thread title. This isn't a bait and switch scenario. You're looking to stack student discount, free ipod, free printer, and no sales tax... You were SHOCKED when your free printer was out of stock (gasp)... Not just disappointed... not just inconvenienced... shocked.
Then someone offends you, and since it was a Mac owner it makes you hesitant to buy one?
I got mine in Oregon and they had no $100 printers either.
I figured that the $50 id get on craigslist wasn't worth the hassle to worry about it.
I figured that the $50 id get on craigslist wasn't worth the hassle to worry about it.
Whatever man. I was admittedly overreacting because I was a little pissed off. I just don't care for people who think its their place put people down on the internet. It's just lame and unnecessary.
Bait and switch is actually what Circuit City used to do all the time. The reason I say bait and switch is it ALWAYS happened on the SAME "blockbuster" items.
They would advertise something in the flier for one price, then when you get to the store they have an "Ad Correction" (which should be illegal IMO) stating something like "The ad featured an Acer Laptop for $199 but its actually $599 with a $100 mail in rebate. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you, the customer."
This happened with several items every week. THAT is bait and switch.
They would advertise something in the flier for one price, then when you get to the store they have an "Ad Correction" (which should be illegal IMO) stating something like "The ad featured an Acer Laptop for $199 but its actually $599 with a $100 mail in rebate. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you, the customer."
This happened with several items every week. THAT is bait and switch.
You shouldnt have hoodwined us with an overreacted title and instead old us the true facts in the title. People dont like being mislead.
If getting the system tax-free and with the $100 printer is a major requirement, then drive on up to New Hampshire and go to the Rockingham Mall. When I got my new mini they were swimming in the $100 HP and Canon printers that are eligible for the rebate. I had the opposite issue and had to wait while they scraped around the back room to find the last of their on-hand Canon MP620 network printers. I was happy to get a new scanner and network printer for $50 net (got my rebate check within about two weeks). They even looked up both my company's discount and the educational discount and determined which discount was better for me to use. I bought right before the iPod promotion figuring I wouldn't qualify for it, then realized that since I am working at a University it would have. I could have upgraded my touch to a version 2. Oh well, upgrading my mini to one that holds 4GB of memory and has a video card ready for Snow Leopard was my main goal anyway. That and sticking it to MA for raising their sales tax by getting it tax free!
Yeah I was pissed that they rose the taxes up again.
Back on topic, i bought my macbook pro and got the ipod touch as part of the educational discount plan on the 14th but they ran out of printers at the time, so they told me i had 2 weeks to wait or so till they got their stock back. I went back 2 weeks later got the printer though i had a bit of a problem since i sent in my rebate early but they fixed that too so i'll be able to get the printer rebate as well.
PS. New Hampshire no tax ftw.
Thank you
constraint |kənˈstrānt|
noun
a limitation or restriction : the availability of water is the main constraint on food production | time constraints make it impossible to do everything.
Synonyms:
restriction, limitation, curb, check, restraint, control, damper, rein; hindrance, impediment, obstruction, handicap.
It's built right into OSX.
Thank you.
OP,
you might want to try your luck again. i was at the same store yesterday, in the afternoon and picked up my MBP with the Ipod Touch BTS promotion, and the free printer. i saw 4 other people picking up the same bundle during the 45 minutes i was there.
they had the HP printer for $100, and they offered me a choice of colors, black or white, so it seemed like they had plenty.
i would avoid the afternoon though, it was very crowded.
you might want to try your luck again. i was at the same store yesterday, in the afternoon and picked up my MBP with the Ipod Touch BTS promotion, and the free printer. i saw 4 other people picking up the same bundle during the 45 minutes i was there.
they had the HP printer for $100, and they offered me a choice of colors, black or white, so it seemed like they had plenty.
i would avoid the afternoon though, it was very crowded.
Yup. Picked it up Tuesday when the new printers arrived. Love the macbook FYI
The guy said the HP printer stock shouldn't be a problem from now on. I guess HP fixed their supply issue or something.
Well, I think some of your disappointed comes from thinking Apple has superior customer service . . . sometimes yes and sometimes they are like every other business. Over the years I find Apple surprisingly stubborn on some issues and surprising generous on others.
If the running out of printers had occurred at Best Buy or Circuit City, would you be as upset? You would probably think it's typical for them. Also, customer service varies from Apple store to Apple store, and person to person in the store. I have encountered some excellent outstanding people and very few bad ones with one in particular who should be fired on the spot. And it wasn't just a bad day thing. Don't know how she slipped through.
If the running out of printers had occurred at Best Buy or Circuit City, would you be as upset? You would probably think it's typical for them. Also, customer service varies from Apple store to Apple store, and person to person in the store. I have encountered some excellent outstanding people and very few bad ones with one in particular who should be fired on the spot. And it wasn't just a bad day thing. Don't know how she slipped through.
Yup. Picked it up Tuesday when the new printers arrived. Love the macbook FYI
The guy said the HP printer stock shouldn't be a problem from now on. I guess HP fixed their supply issue or something.
See, everything worked out. Also, a piece of advice - don't take things so personal. Certainly don't threaten to not buy a mac because of mac people.
noobs...
Picked it up Tuesday when the new printers arrived. Love the macbook FYI
Glad to hear it worked out!
But as Luba Cox pointed out - having a good product doesn't necessarily mean having good customer service . . . and that store may just be one of the not so "customer-friendly" ones. It happens . . . and it's sometimes worth bringing it to the attention of the store manager. He/she may be the cause of the problem, but he/she may also be unaware of the problem unless someone mentions it.