Some Apple Retail Stores Start Price Matching iPad Air and iPhone 5c [Updated]

[ThunderRobot]

"Currently, the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini are excluded from price matching."

That's too bad.

Why?

If there's a store near you which is offering discounts on those products and has them in stock, why not buy them there? Regardless of where you buy them, Apple will service them at an Apple Store.

Of course, if there's no store near you offering discounts or the store offers discounts but doesn't have it in stock, there would be no price match anyway so it doesn't matter.

Point being, buy where it suits you. Whether that's for price, convenience or post-sale service. There's no requirement to buy an Apple product at an Apple store.

 

[bbeagle]

I thought it worth mentioning that "Price Matching" is somewhat of a scam. The logic being that if every retailer will sell something for the same price as every other retailer, there is no incentive to lower prices.

I'm surprised there isn't a lawsuit against Apple already for Price Matching. And the media should be all over Apple for this price matching scheme.

It happens with everything else - Apple is singled out as the bad guy, while everyone else does the same thing.

 

[rmwebs]

It's not really that big of a deal when you consider that anyone can get 14% off and free Applecare by using an edustore link.

 

[SPUY767]

Price matched an Air the other day to Micro Center. But the rMini is still "off limits".

Policy is very uneven though. On other items I've had one store refuse to PM & another one 5 miles away happy to do it.

MicroCenter is my favorite tech store. Best prices anywhere.

 

[Sandman1969]

Even if they don't price match, it isn't like they aren't making money off the Apple products sold everywhere else.

 

[Boatboy24]

If I know I can walk right into a Best Buy and get the deal, why go to a busy Apple Store to haggle and hope I might get the same deal. Granted, some pimple faced teen will try to sell me an extended warranty at BB, but I can simply say no and go about my day. Either way, Apple gets my money in the end, but at least BB or WalMart can share the love. And no lines or crowds to deal with at Best Buy.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

MicroCenter is my favorite tech store. Best prices anywhere.

I love the store too but I was returning an rMini so didn't feel like making the xtra trip.

 

[musika]

They don't it's matching someone else's discount

Same thing?

 

[Laird Knox]

I walked by the Sony Store in Las Vegas. They had a 4K camcorder hooked to a 4K TV pointed out into the mall.

That caught my attention... but not enough to actually enter the store

There's a Sony store in Las Vegas? Huh.

 

[winston1236]

When I was at the Apple Store the other day, I overheard a specialist saying to a customer that "this is Apple, we don't do discounts".

Yea but sales associates dont make those decisions.

 

[NorEaster]

This is great news... I had an Apple store price match MicroCenter a few years ago for me on a 13" MBP but I figured I was just lucky.

Where are all of the fanboys now that said Apple would never do this because it "cheapens" the brand? I don't think it cheapens the Apple brand at all... instead it tells me Apple cares about getting my business and they'd happily price match to get me in to their stores. A positive in-store experience will always get me going back to the store and the store mgr's prior price matching didn't cause me to think any less of Apple.

 

[lilo777]

Good first step. Now Apple just need to "price-match" Android phones.

 

[SPUY767]

I love the store too but I was returning an rMini so didn't feel like making the xtra trip.

Perfectly reasonable. I was just saying that I like to shop there because they aren't a mega-chain like Best Buy, and I want to make sure they stay in business.

 

[ZachsMacDaddy]

I'm going to an apple store today for an iPad air. If they don't match Micro Center's price ($40 less), I can just run to Micro Center. If they match, I will pickup AppleCare+ and maybe a case. The extras should be incentive for them.

 

[dec.]

Good first step. Now Apple just need to "price-match" Android phones.

They don't "need" to. They could if they wanted, but they don't.

 

[ZachsMacDaddy]

I'm going to an apple store today for an iPad air. If they don't match Micro Center's price ($40 less), I can just run to Micro Center. If they match, I will pickup AppleCare+ and maybe a case. The extras should be incentive for them.

The Apple store DID price match Micro Center today. They weren't very happy, but they did it. I just said that if they match it I will buy it there today, and if not, I will just go to Micro Center because it's not too far away and is on an alternate route home. After the guy spoke with his manager, and looked at the Microcenter ad with me several times, they agreed to match. I was also able to get AppleCare+ with my company discount, which seemed to further peeve them. But in the end, I managed to save about $53 off retail for the whole deal.