student discount?

[Macky-Mac]

heh, some people have tax free holy years

i'm not saying there are no taxes - i'm saying that if you go to the store you'll buy. let's say an ipod for $200 , for the same ipod if you have chosen the online store you'd pay let's see:
$200+$13.93 (estimated tax for Florida)= Estimated Total:

$212.93
some "info" @ : http://www.apple.com/r/store/help/estimatedtax.html

NOW let's see what happens when you wish to buy a MBP and you live in Florida :
Cart Subtotal:
$1,999.00
Free Shipping:
$0.00
Est. Tax*:
$139.93
Est. Total:
$2,138.93

and in Boston- Massachusetts
Estimated Tax*: $99.95

Estimated Total: $2,098.95
So-that should say - if i buy @online store i'd get it for 5 % more (at best) !

I don't think you've got this tax situation understood......Same state = same tax for both online or retail.

If you're in Boston, you'll pay Boston tax for either retail or online purchases.

If you're in Florida, you'll pay Florida tax for either retail or online purchases.

If you're in Florida and want to pay Boston tax, you're going to have to go to Boston or have it shipped to somebody in Boston...........at least if you're buying from Apple. There are other resellers online that will ship to you without charging you any tax at all.

 

[logana]

I don't think you've got this tax situation understood......Same state = same tax for both online or retail.

There are other resellers online that will ship to you without charging you any tax at all.

That is my understanding of US sales tax also !!

But can any of these other resellers offer the Back to School promotion of the free iPod Touch - it has to be from Apple (either on-line or in a physical store).

 

[erummel]

heh, some people have tax free holy years

i'm not saying there are no taxes - i'm saying that if you go to the store you'll buy. let's say an ipod for $200 , for the same ipod if you have chosen the online store you'd pay let's see:
$200+$13.93 (estimated tax for Florida)= Estimated Total:

$212.93
some "info" @ : http://www.apple.com/r/store/help/estimatedtax.html

NOW let's see what happens when you wish to buy a MBP and you live in Florida :
Cart Subtotal:
$1,999.00
Free Shipping:
$0.00
Est. Tax*:
$139.93
Est. Total:
$2,138.93

and in Boston- Massachusetts
Estimated Tax*: $99.95

Estimated Total: $2,098.95
So-that should say - if i buy @online store i'd get it for 5 % more (at best) !

You've got the idea, only it's backwards. Every state in the US will charge sales tax when you buy it in person. If you buy online, and Apple has an actual physical store location within that state, you will also pay that state's sales tax. If Apple does not have a physical store in your state and you order online, you won't have to pay sales tax.

What it seems like you want to do is have your friend in the US use your student discount (from Scotland it seems) to buy you a computer. That won't work, even if she has faxes and a scan of your info and a letter from God. You must present for your discount in person. The way the online system works, she can't you use student discount either, as your school won't show up in a US system. Apple will refer you to the UK HE store.

You have two choices.

First, you can just buy in the uK HE store and suck up the 17.5% VAT.

Or, you can see if your friend has a friend in University in the US that can go with her to the Apple store and use that person's discount. I hope this is clear to you now.

 

[jaw04005]

You've got the idea, only it's backwards. Every state in the US will charge sales tax when you buy it in person. If you buy online, and Apple has an actual physical store location within that state, you will also pay that state's sales tax. If Apple does not have a physical store in your state and you order online, you won't have to pay sales tax.

This is not exactly how it works here in the United States. It doesn't have to a physical store, it has to be a "presence."

Apple has decided that they have a "presence" in all 50 states. Therefore, if you live in a state that collects sales tax, Apple will charge you sales tax. The only states that I'm aware of that don't collect sales tax are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.

However, just because there is no state sales tax doesn't mean there are no taxes. Some states have counties, cities and municipalities that leverage their own sales tax on goods and services.

 

[logana]

Clarification - where we are so far......

The thread starter is in Europe somewhere (we think) -
He is a student at a US University (we think)
He won't buy the MBP on-line from Apple (coz he has to pay Sales Tax)
He wants his friend (who is not a student) to buy instore at Apple for him and using his student ID (emailed scan - not original) to get student discount and the free iPod Touch (and that way he/she does not have to pay any sales tax apparently)
He wants to buy before 15 September (BTS offer finishes then)
His friend will then take the MBP to him in Europe (somewhere) (we think)

It is all very simple.....oh and he wants the new refreshed MBP as well...

Have I missed anything - I'm the one in Scotland - don't exactly know where the OP is...

 

[ipo]

true

Clarification - where we are so far......

The thread starter is in Europe somewhere (we think) -
He is a student at a US University (we think)
He won't buy the MBP on-line from Apple (coz he has to pay Sales Tax) AND it will cost precious time.
He wants his friend (who is not a student) to buy instore at Apple for him and using his student ID (emailed scan - not original) to get student discount and the free iPod Touch (and that way he/she does not have to pay any sales tax apparently) AND could check the stuff-dead pixels , yellowish screens, etc AND i'd buy a bit more stuff, so the extra tax would be a deal breaker.
He wants to buy before 15 September (BTS offer finishes then AND the friend also happens to leave the US then)
His friend will then take the MBP to him in Europe (where one can buy products but + ~70% more $ and surely with a significant lag (take iPhone for instance))
.....oh and i WISH the new refreshed MBP if i'm lucky enough - but i want the new iPod touch as well- which shall not happen before 9th ok !

Have I missed anything - logana is the one in Scotland.

The only states that I'm aware of that don't collect sales tax are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.

However, just because there is no state sales tax doesn't mean there are no taxes. Some states have counties, cities and municipalities that leverage their own sales tax on goods and services.

I didn't know that for sure -Montana !!
whatever, i'm trying to say that , if you go to the mall and buy some stuff you won't be needing a calc. to "total" the price , ok - charges the amounts that you can find at the online store - no more , no less .. there are no mystery taxes- everything is included - like , if you want to sign a foolish contract for the iPhone 3G , you'll pay $200 as stated , period. (as a starter , not a good example,but)
and

Really? $40 FREAKING DOLLARS... Maybe you shouldn't be buying expensive things to begin with, it's a freaking 2% difference.

go learn some math. in my case it surely tops $200 - i'd rather use it for good , !

 

[ipo]

i can not believe no one done something like this in this forum !
C'mon there's gotta be a solution - besides how does apple know for sure
that you is you , when you buy via the online store , isn't it the money transfer exactly ???

 

[logana]

i can not believe no one done something like this in this forum !
C'mon there's gotta be a solution - besides how does apple know for sure
that you is you , when you buy via the online store , isn't it the money transfer exactly ???

The solution is simple and has been repeated several times on here already - buy online and get it delivered to your home address in the USA.

Any other way is not going to work. If you have to pay Sales Tax then that's life - it is still cheaper then any other way anybody else can think of......

 

[alphaod]

Really? $40 FREAKING DOLLARS... Maybe you shouldn't be buying expensive things to begin with, it's a freaking 2% difference.

Yeah but $40 is a RAM upgrade!

 

[ipo]

Same state = same tax for both online or retail.

If you're in Boston, you'll pay Boston tax for either retail or online purchases.

If you're in Florida, you'll pay Florida tax for either retail or online purchases.

agreed.
Well ...death and taxes , you know !

I've worked it out with those guys @ Boylston street-thanks !
It was ok to use the student discount without the presence of the student-
You just have to talk to people and it will be ok.
So if someone comes across this topic , i want to say:
It IS ok to use someone elses discount- just have to talk it through.