Hey, do you guys know if Apple actually keeps track of how many Mac's you purchase on student discount? I bought a retina macbook pro a few weeks ago and now my nephew wants to buy one and what can i say, if i can get him $200 off, why not right? Anyone know if they will be able to tell? I did provide my student number when i bought mine...
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Student Discount... do they keept track?
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When i was a student a few years ago I bought atleast 5 computers in one year for myself. I was never told that i wasnt able to buy them.
The "policy" used to be that you could purchase up to two computers on a student discount per calendar year.
I bought my rMBP in February and they didn't even ask for an @edu address this time, they just made me check a box that said I double triple swear that this product is for a student. I don't think they care anymore.
Things might be very different in Canada, though.
I bought my rMBP in February and they didn't even ask for an @edu address this time, they just made me check a box that said I double triple swear that this product is for a student. I don't think they care anymore.
Things might be very different in Canada, though.
Generally, they don't care and are not actively keeping track, but there are systems in place that will throw a red flag if you're ordering the same model of computer 5 times in a year. The real purpose of the rule is to make sure you're not buying a bunch of Macs and selling them for a profit. (The terms of sale on almost any discounted Mac state you can't resell the computer for 1year after purchase, not sure how they track that though.)
I was a business specialist in a retail store and there was a system for tracking unusual purchasing habits by business customers that spent enough to earn discounts. Way back during the iPhone 3G launch Apple would also track a checksum based on credit card information to ensure people were not buying large quantities of phones to sell on the grey market. I can't remember the exact limit, but it was something pretty high like 15 phones per month.
For education discounts Apple retail will take the ID number off the gov issued ID matching the credit card/check you pay with and your student ID. I never had the system throw any errors or stop a transaction from entering the ID number, but I assume it is being tracked somewhere.
In all I wouldn't worry about it unless you are trying to do something shady like trying to resell. I had a family come in one day, 3 kids in college and mom and dad, all got new computers. 3 Laptops and 2 iMacs. Education discounts on all since students qualify for 1 laptop and 1 desktop. Had to be rung up in 3 transactions using dad's ID each time, no issues. I only wish I had been so lucky to have awesome parents like that...
I was a business specialist in a retail store and there was a system for tracking unusual purchasing habits by business customers that spent enough to earn discounts. Way back during the iPhone 3G launch Apple would also track a checksum based on credit card information to ensure people were not buying large quantities of phones to sell on the grey market. I can't remember the exact limit, but it was something pretty high like 15 phones per month.
For education discounts Apple retail will take the ID number off the gov issued ID matching the credit card/check you pay with and your student ID. I never had the system throw any errors or stop a transaction from entering the ID number, but I assume it is being tracked somewhere.
In all I wouldn't worry about it unless you are trying to do something shady like trying to resell. I had a family come in one day, 3 kids in college and mom and dad, all got new computers. 3 Laptops and 2 iMacs. Education discounts on all since students qualify for 1 laptop and 1 desktop. Had to be rung up in 3 transactions using dad's ID each time, no issues. I only wish I had been so lucky to have awesome parents like that...
Apple Store in my area told me the policy is two Macs per school term(Fall or Spring) is when it resets but certain Back-to-School promos are limited to two Macs(free iPod or AppStore credit). Some stores write down your student ID+State ID number if the product is a high-demand item(short supply). I'm sure the receipt still says something along the lines of "Student/Educator" and the extra terms & conditions for education purchase.
I'd suggest checking your university purchasing dept, some schools include the extra Apple Care coverage at no extra cost due to bulk orders for staff, students & IT dept. Some of the bigger schools still give discounts to alum which is another forgotten secret
I'd suggest checking your university purchasing dept, some schools include the extra Apple Care coverage at no extra cost due to bulk orders for staff, students & IT dept. Some of the bigger schools still give discounts to alum which is another forgotten secret
They seem to keep track of your purchases via apple ID, just like all your purchases. And your apple ID is associated with a qualified school.
If your order is taking longer to process than you thought, its because they are confirming the educational store discount (happens most weekends). I was denied a purchase two years ago, although I get the impression that currently it is not watched that closely. There is no penalty for trying, just an email stating that the purchase doesn't qualify. There is no after the fact gotcha.
If you don't want the 2013 refresh, there are a number of resellers offering deep discounts on 2012 models, more of a discount than the ed store. But if you also want Applecare, the savings is usually a wash.
If your order is taking longer to process than you thought, its because they are confirming the educational store discount (happens most weekends). I was denied a purchase two years ago, although I get the impression that currently it is not watched that closely. There is no penalty for trying, just an email stating that the purchase doesn't qualify. There is no after the fact gotcha.
If you don't want the 2013 refresh, there are a number of resellers offering deep discounts on 2012 models, more of a discount than the ed store. But if you also want Applecare, the savings is usually a wash.
It used to be that the terms and conditions limited purchase to 1 desktop and one portable computer per school year, and they reserved the right to audit sales and bill you if they discovered you didn't quality.
HOWEVER I just looked this up (it's been a couple years) and there doesn't appear to be any purchase limit or recovery for unqualified purchases. On the other hand, the discounts have become pretty pathetic. I used to rely not only on the computer discount, but also the free iPod Touch and printer (which could be resold) and the major discounts on software, now all gone.
HOWEVER I just looked this up (it's been a couple years) and there doesn't appear to be any purchase limit or recovery for unqualified purchases. On the other hand, the discounts have become pretty pathetic. I used to rely not only on the computer discount, but also the free iPod Touch and printer (which could be resold) and the major discounts on software, now all gone.
Years ago, the UNH store sold only certain apple products at a considerable discount, you purchased through the UNH store. They abandoned that and substituted the Apple store for education, so now purchases are directly with Apple.
BC, Dartmouth, and Northeastern did not have a special school store, and we used the Apple educational store. Deals are all the same on the apple store for education.
Dunno of any schools currently have their own store, although some sell macs in their bookstore.
Current deals are not that great on a computer, perhaps $100-200, but often the upgrades, accessories and applecare is discounted heavily. We saved a few $$$ on replacement batteries and a time capsule over the years.
Last month I saved $400 on a maxed out rMBP 15 and applecare. Apple also participates in the discover card store promotion where I saved another $125.
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So i've bought 3 Macbook Pro's within a month of eachother, one for myself and two for family members. No flags were raised, however, in all 3 cases they took down my Student ID number.
And i'm pretty sure here in Canada, all schools get the same discount. My discount was $200 off a 15" base model rMBP (bought two) and $50 off a base model MBP.
Not bad saving $450 in the end.
And i'm pretty sure here in Canada, all schools get the same discount. My discount was $200 off a 15" base model rMBP (bought two) and $50 off a base model MBP.
Not bad saving $450 in the end.
I've purchased 4 computers (4 Apple Care packages too), a Classic iPod and 2 Apple TV's in the past year using my student discount. When I'm in the store the sales rep just has me sign into my student e-mail or show my student ID (never carry it with me) and the discount is taken off right away.
They were not all purchased at the same time but even if they were, I don't think they would say anything.
They were not all purchased at the same time but even if they were, I don't think they would say anything.
Too bad we don't have Apple stores in PR, only resellers. I cannot buy with the discount from Apple online neither since the schools here are not included on the University list they have.