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What's the consequences for asking your friend to buy a student price macbook?

S

spongebobelaine

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 22, 2010
4
0
Hi everyone!!

I'm planning to buy a macbook pro and i know one way to save money is to ask your student friend to buy it for you with student discount.

and seems like if i buy it online, they don't seem to check my student status. But are there anything hitches after I bought it this way?? for examples they will check your identity when you ask for repair with your apple care, etc etc

And same as adobe software, are there any problems?? (besides guilt...-__-)

Thanks very much!!!;)
 
Once you have it, then Apple isn't going to ask for proof that you were a student when you purchased it. For all they know you dropped out a month after you bought it and then suddenly your computer had a problem.
 
Nothing serious other than guilt and owing your student friend a drink :D I suppose if you needed to use the warranty you'd need him involved but ... I've never had to take an Apple product back.

Perhaps that will change when I get a new 27" iMac ;)
 
spongebobelaine said:
Hi everyone!!

I'm planning to buy a macbook pro and i know one way to save money is to ask your student friend to buy it for you with student discount.

and seems like if i buy it online, they don't seem to check my student status. But are there anything hitches after I bought it this way?? for examples they will check your identity when you ask for repair with your apple care, etc etc

And same as adobe software, are there any problems?? (besides guilt...-__-)

Thanks very much!!!;)
Click to expand...

In this world: None if Apple doesn't find out. If they find out they will charge you the difference in price, and that is in the contract. They might charge you with fraud, but most likely won't.

On the other hand, I can tell you one thing, I've known people who wouldn't take notice of you all year and when they figured out you might be able to get something cheaper for them, they would pester and pester you, and they would do that to people for whom being caught could have grave consequences. Like employees who get 20% rebate on purchases but would get fired on the spot if that purchase wasn't for their own use; there are leeches who don't care one bit about that but pester these people to get some money off.
It's usually exactly the kind of people who would do _nothing_ to help you if you need any help.

So apart from the obvious fact that the whole scenario is fraud, I'd recommend to your "student friend" that they should run a mile if you come anywhere near them. I guess you missed the opportunity to buy some much need books for your student friend, right? All the benefits going one way?

PS. Adobe might take a much, much dimmer look at the situation, because student rebates for software are so much higher.
 
gnasher729 said:
In this world: None if Apple doesn't find out. If they find out they will charge you the difference in price, and that is in the contract. They might charge you with fraud, but most likely won't.

On the other hand, I can tell you one thing, I've known people who wouldn't take notice of you all year and when they figured out you might be able to get something cheaper for them, they would pester and pester you, and they would do that to people for whom being caught could have grave consequences. Like employees who get 20% rebate on purchases but would get fired on the spot if that purchase wasn't for their own use; there are leeches who don't care one bit about that but pester these people to get some money off.
It's usually exactly the kind of people who would do _nothing_ to help you if you need any help.

So apart from the obvious fact that the whole scenario is fraud, I'd recommend to your "student friend" that they should run a mile if you come anywhere near them. I guess you missed the opportunity to buy some much need books for your student friend, right? All the benefits going one way?

PS. Adobe might take a much, much dimmer look at the situation, because student rebates for software are so much higher.
Click to expand...

I'm planning on doing the same exact thing but I'm waiting until BTS Sale starts.
I think it's unfair to automatically assume that the OP is simply using the "student friend" and wouldn't repay the favor in some way.

My "student friend" happens to be someone I consider to be an older brother of mine even though we're not related. We've been best friends for 5 years now and a favor like this would only be one to balance out many from the past which have I've done for him.
If a problem arose and Apple found out, I'd gladly pay the difference.
 
I discover sth new (at least to me =P)...


for the adobe website, they actually ask me to sent a scan pdf of my student status.

but for Apple store, I try to proceed to check out...all the way they didn't ask for any proof of student identity, so i don't even need to ask a student to help me????
 
The apple store will verify that the student is eligible, but I believe the computer and warranty are transferrable as they are with standard computers. I buddy of mine in college sold his computer and transferred the warranty. He broke even after selling a 6 month old computer.
 
I apologize if this has been said, but I didn't read most of the thread.

Years ago, I purchased my iPod 5G at the Apple Store. The sales guy asked me if anyone I knew was in college. I already knew about the discount, so I brought my sister along to use her discount. The sales people at my local store ask everyone if they know anyone in college to use their discount. They don't care if you're even related, friends is fine.

I hope this helps, even though other stores could have a different stance. Just my personal experience.
 
akkkmed said:
They don't care if you're even related, friends is fine.
Click to expand...

Sure, the employee doesn't care, but that doesn't make it right. I say bad karma is what can happen to you.....if they wanted everyone to get a Mac cheaper they would lower prices.....they provide discounts to educators, students in college who are just starting out on their own, and military(I think).

So I will share with you what I teach my 2nd and 3rd grade students- "What if everyone did it?" If everyone did it prices would actually go up for everyone, discounts like this might go away, etc. You might say Apple won't miss the $100, but again, "What if everyone did it?"

I like a good discount just like most people do, but I don't abuse companies policies. I shop at stores like LLBEAN, Eddie Bauer, BackCountry.com, etc for the great company policies like replacing defective merchandise at any time if defective or doesn't live up to my expectations (hopefully realistic expectations)- but if "everyone did it" and abused the policy by returning anything and everything then the policy would go away which does nobody any good!

Companies have to tighten policies because people abuse the current ones- don't contribute to that!!!
 
*whoops, just realized student discount, not BTS deal* =(

I personally bought my first mbp 15" a couple of years ago from a UC.
I knew a younger friend who attended.

It seemed that the store did not really care about who paid for it, as long as there was a valid student there with you.

About 3 of us went with 3 different friends from the UC and purchased it there. We had no problems whatsoever.


But I'd be wary if there is a scratch or something on ur new macbook, you may not be able to exchange it or return it unless the same friend is there.
 
flyfish29 said:
akkkmed said:
They don't care if you're even related, friends is fine.
/QUOTE]

Sure, the employee doesn't care, but that doesn't make it right. I say bad karma is what can happen to you.....if they wanted everyone to get a Mac cheaper they would lower prices.....they provide discounts to educators, students in college who are just starting out on their own, and military(I think).

So I will share with you what I teach my 2nd and 3rd grade students- "What if everyone did it?" If everyone did it prices would actually go up for everyone, discounts like this might go away, etc. You might say Apple won't miss the $100, but again, "What if everyone did it?"

I like a good discount just like most people do, but I don't abuse companies policies. I shop at stores like LLBEAN, Eddie Bauer, BackCountry.com, etc for the great company policies like replacing defective merchandise at any time if defective or doesn't live up to my expectations (hopefully realistic expectations)- but if "everyone did it" and abused the policy by returning anything and everything then the policy would go away which does nobody any good!

Companies have to tighten policies because people abuse the current ones- don't contribute to that!!!
Click to expand...

really noble and all but you are waaay to quick to judge, ill do the same thing de OP is doing and why??? becasue where i live a mbp is almost as twice as expensieve than in the usa so ill be using a friends identity to buy one and i would love to be able pay for it without cheating but i just cant.

the world aint fair, companies policies aint either. so save all of your knight in shining armor morals this is the real world and people do what they have to do.
Click to expand...
 
spongebobelaine said:
Hi everyone!!

I'm planning to buy a macbook pro and i know one way to save money is to ask your student friend to buy it for you with student discount.

and seems like if i buy it online, they don't seem to check my student status. But are there anything hitches after I bought it this way?? for examples they will check your identity when you ask for repair with your apple care, etc etc

And same as adobe software, are there any problems?? (besides guilt...-__-)

Thanks very much!!!;)
Click to expand...


I just got my MBP a few weeks ago and got a student friend to buy it for me. It wasnt a problem at all, she just told them that it was a gift....so the computer and the Applecare are both in my name!
Apple really dont care, as long as they have the money in the bank....
 
I see a definite problem with outright lying -- saying that you're a student when you aren't -- but to me, if the buyer is a valid student and Apple gets their money, then the transaction is fine. Who cares who uses the merchandise?
That said, if your "student friend" is a made-up entity that you use to fake your way to a measly $50 rebate on a MacBook, then you are a bad person and shall incur the wrath of babby Jebus. Such is the way things are.

Seriously, though, when it comes to using educational discounts, don't be a tool -- actually be in school. Some of us gotta actually pay for tuition, and $50 will buy a lot of ramen.
Ruin it for me and I'll cut you. :p
 
I don't see what the point is in getting all moral about the deal.
It's going to happen anyway.

People think bringing a friend in to get the discount is wrong.
Well hypothetically speaking, lets say my friend buys a MBP with the discount and decides to sell it to me the next day for the same price...
Is it now wrong for him to sell me his laptop too?

Bringing him into the store is THE SAME THING, except you're just being upfront about your actual intentions.
If anything, the latter is the more moral thing to do than the prior.
 
jparenti said:
I see a definite problem with outright lying -- saying that you're a student when you aren't -- but to me, if the buyer is a valid student and Apple gets their money, then the transaction is fine. Who cares who uses the merchandise?
That said, if your "student friend" is a made-up entity that you use to fake your way to a measly $50 rebate on a MacBook, then you are a bad person and shall incur the wrath of babby Jebus. Such is the way things are.

Seriously, though, when it comes to using educational discounts, don't be a tool -- actually be in school. Some of us gotta actually pay for tuition, and $50 will buy a lot of ramen.
Ruin it for me and I'll cut you. :p
Click to expand...

:confused: Sorry, there's a lot going on there for such a simple question.

I'm in school and give you permission to do whatever the hell you want with the ID. :)
 
Another possibility is using amazon.com. Amazon usually has discount on many of the Apple products. Right now I am looking at the top-end iMac 21.5, Amazon has it for 6% off of Apple's price, not quite the same price as a student discount, but still a pretty nice discount. Plus you don't have to pay for tax at checkout which can help soften the blow. You would possibly need to pay the sales tax when you file your state an local taxes, but that would be up to a tax professional to advise you.
 
consequences? it's encouraged!

When I went in to the apple store to get my MBP the sales person was like "were you ever a student? are you planning on becoming a student?" It's not like they even care. They flat out let my girlfriend buy it for me in the store and she used her student discount out of the salesperson's suggestion.
You really have nothing to worry about especially if you get it online.
 
newmacnooby said:
really noble and all but you are waaay to quick to judge, ill do the same thing de OP is doing and why??? becasue where i live a mbp is almost as twice as expensieve than in the usa so ill be using a friends identity to buy one and i would love to be able pay for it without cheating but i just cant.

the world aint fair, companies policies aint either. so save all of your knight in shining armor morals this is the real world and people do what they have to do.
Click to expand...

Wow, so your argument is that people in the real world just need to do whatever they have to do....no attention is to be paid to honesty, integrity, respect? Isn't that EXACTLY WHAT GOT THE WORLD ECONOMY INTO THIS MESS- lack of honesty, integrity and respect. At some point we need to say no more no matter the scale- small or large. Obviously a few hundred dollars isn't going to make any bit of difference for anyone (except possibly the buyer) but again- "What if everyone did it?" Then it begins to make a difference.

I have heard the argument that "that $200 doesn't matter to the big-time executives....well news flash- that executive is not losing that $200...it comes from someplace else....and in the end if enough people do it then someone (besides the high $ executive) loses their job.

OH wait- maybe I have a change of heart here...ya know....so I can't afford a German made car so I will go to the dealer and ask an employee to give me an employee discount I am not entitled to and everything is cool- right? Hey, I can also go befriend a restaurant worker and get free food, and those Best Buy kids are always willing to buy stuff on their discount. Wow, I am beginning to like this entitlement frame of mind!:rolleyes:

I am not trying to say I am any better than anyone else- I used to do plenty of this crap when I was younger! :eek: I just think humans have a responsibility to be honest and respectful. As a elementary teacher I see this entitlement frame of mind showing up in a HUGE way in our children as they come through my classroom and it worries me. The children who reflect this entitlement frame of mind are clearly getting it from their parents.
 
newmacnooby said:
really noble and all but you are waaay to quick to judge, ill do the same thing de OP is doing and why??? becasue where i live a mbp is almost as twice as expensieve than in the usa so ill be using a friends identity to buy one and i would love to be able pay for it without cheating but i just cant.

the world aint fair, companies policies aint either. so save all of your knight in shining armor morals this is the real world and people do what they have to do.
Click to expand...
In the real world, you need to play by others' rules until you're powerful enough to set your own. And if you do what you "need" to do too early, you'll be sorry.
 
Apple puts you on their bad karma list, and from now on they will divert nothing but dud machines to you. ;)
 
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