Here's the background info. We are a 501 (c) 3 not for profit organization with a tax exemption certificate. We are also an educational facility, an aviation museum to be specific. We work with both public, and private schools in the community ranging from Kindergarten through college. We also have a reoccurring internship every semester with Miami Dade College's school of aviation. We receive grant money from Dade County Public Schools to pay for public school field trips to the museum, and we offer a very large discount to other educational facilities wanting to use our facilities FOR public education.
The knitty gritty: After being on the phone with Apple for well over an hour, and speaking with four Apple representatives, I find out that we are considered, in their eyes, to be an educational facility. Now, here's the catch...
In order to obtain an educational discount, I was told by two reps that we can NOT use our tax exemption certificate. Or, conversely, we can forgo our educational discount and use our tax exemption on the purchase. This does not make sense to me at all.
So, my question is this. Besides being morally or ethically wrong to deny us educational discounts because we are a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization; is it legal to force someone exempt from paying taxes, to pay tax? I mean, maybe these large educational institutions can write off computers in order to not pay taxes on tuition revenues, but we do not have this option. Why is Apple apparently making it difficult for the "little guy" in education? The ones who do it for the betterment of it's community?
I'd love for someone who works for the company to chime in, as I have been a personal Mac owner for 6 years now, and have always had great customer service. This is the first time I've ever been transferred over and over again just to finally hang up without a clear explanation as to why I am being denied.
Thanks in advance for any constructive comments of suggestions you might give!
Sincerely,
Drew
The knitty gritty: After being on the phone with Apple for well over an hour, and speaking with four Apple representatives, I find out that we are considered, in their eyes, to be an educational facility. Now, here's the catch...
In order to obtain an educational discount, I was told by two reps that we can NOT use our tax exemption certificate. Or, conversely, we can forgo our educational discount and use our tax exemption on the purchase. This does not make sense to me at all.
So, my question is this. Besides being morally or ethically wrong to deny us educational discounts because we are a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization; is it legal to force someone exempt from paying taxes, to pay tax? I mean, maybe these large educational institutions can write off computers in order to not pay taxes on tuition revenues, but we do not have this option. Why is Apple apparently making it difficult for the "little guy" in education? The ones who do it for the betterment of it's community?
I'd love for someone who works for the company to chime in, as I have been a personal Mac owner for 6 years now, and have always had great customer service. This is the first time I've ever been transferred over and over again just to finally hang up without a clear explanation as to why I am being denied.
Thanks in advance for any constructive comments of suggestions you might give!
Sincerely,
Drew