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Remember that those discounts are usually mail-in rebates that takes weeks, even months to arrive. Also what I've heard, customer service in e.g. MacMall is terrible.

I prefer buying straight from Apple or in-store from reseller but everyone makes their own decisions
 
showing who gives what discounts and the like if you don't mind not purchasing from the Apple store.

http://www.appleinsider.com/mac_price_guide/

Considering the savings, dropping back from an i7 to the i5 and going with clubmac will save me over three hundred dollars.

Yeah I noticed that too and made a post in the buying advice forum. The i5 quadcore at 1790.52 was an amazing deal. It is cheaper than even the developer price (which is usually the highest discount anyone can get, with the exception of Apple employees)
 
Remember that those discounts are usually mail-in rebates that takes weeks, even months to arrive. Also what I've heard, customer service in e.g. MacMall is terrible.

I prefer buying straight from Apple or in-store from reseller but everyone makes their own decisions

The rebates are very contorted to get, and they often deny the rebate because they say they didn't receive something or other. I had one rebate where I had to send in the original purchase receipt and they said they never received it. Don't buy tech gear expecting a rebate.
 
The rebates are very contorted to get, and they often deny the rebate because they say they didn't receive something or other. I had one rebate where I had to send in the original purchase receipt and they said they never received it. Don't buy tech gear expecting a rebate.

That;s good advice. Dealing with rebate companies is not for the faint hearted. Thats why I always advise everyone to take copies of everything they submit. Almost all rebate companies will accept resubmissions, especially if htey claim "they never received something".
 
As Tony5787 pointed out in the Amazon thread, B&H actually has some pretty great prices (no taxes/free shipping if you don't live in New York) on the i5 and i7s with various configurations (I assume they just order the BTO from Apple and then ship them to the customer -- that or they do the RAM upgrades in-store), no rebate hassle required.

I had a great buying experience from them back in June with my mini -- super fast shipping too.

So don't just look at the table (though that's helpful), visit the sites and see what configurations they offer.
 
If I wait and receive the Black Friday discount, can I combine that with the educator's discount for 200 or so dollars off?
 
The rebates are very contorted to get, and they often deny the rebate because they say they didn't receive something or other. I had one rebate where I had to send in the original purchase receipt and they said they never received it. Don't buy tech gear expecting a rebate.

Did you even read the Clubmac rebate form? Any simpler would require them just to take the discount off (which is what they should do in the first place)
 
If I wait and receive the Black Friday discount, can I combine that with the educator's discount for 200 or so dollars off?

Usually not. Its one or the other. Last year, the discount ended up being about $1 cheaper than the US education price.
 
I've had no such issues from Mac Mall and I bought my last two Mac Book Pro's from them through Apple Insiders pricing guide. My last rebate from them took less than a month. The first one took more, maybe 6 weeks. I'm ordering a 27-inch iMac from MacMall as soon as the i7's come out. I like using Bill me Later with them because I can get a new Mac, transfer the information from my old one, sell the old one on eBay, then pay the Bill Me Later bill which I have 90 days to do. Club Mac usually has slightly lower prices through Apple Insider but do not offer the Bill Me Later option.

Remember that those discounts are usually mail-in rebates that takes weeks, even months to arrive. Also what I've heard, customer service in e.g. MacMall is terrible.

I prefer buying straight from Apple or in-store from reseller but everyone makes their own decisions

Rebates suck thats true. But thats why you need to keep copies of everything. Mac Mall posts on their web site when they receive your rebate form and keep you up to date through that. So you know if they got it or not. I certainly do expect a rebate if its offered.

The rebates are very contorted to get, and they often deny the rebate because they say they didn't receive something or other. I had one rebate where I had to send in the original purchase receipt and they said they never received it. Don't buy tech gear expecting a rebate.
 
Did you even read the Clubmac rebate form? Any simpler would require them just to take the discount off (which is what they should do in the first place)

I was speaking of rebates in general. In general tech rebates are not something you can depend on. Maybe you will get it maybe not. Why should I go read the clubmac rebate form? I wouldn't trust them enough to even shop there in the first place. Depending on a rebate in the tech world is like depending on a politician. If you'd checkout clubmac on resellerratings.com, you might not be so eager to shop with them. They have a poor record.
 
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old-wiz said:
Remember that those discounts are usually mail-in rebates that takes weeks, even months to arrive. Also what I've heard, customer service in e.g. MacMall is terrible.

I prefer buying straight from Apple or in-store from reseller but everyone makes their own decisions

The rebates are very contorted to get, and they often deny the rebate because they say they didn't receive something or other. I had one rebate where I had to send in the original purchase receipt and they said they never received it. Don't buy tech gear expecting a rebate.

I have never have had a tech rebate fail me. And yes, I'll take that cookie.

As shivetya pointed out. It's all in the instructions. And as long as you make copies, you pretty much have yourself covered. Macmall wouldn't be in business today if their rebate program was a scam or broken. That goes for any tech company.
 
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I have never have had a tech rebate fail me. And yes, I'll take that cookie.

As shivetya pointed out. It's all in the instructions. And as long as you make copies, you pretty much have yourself covered. Macmall wouldn't be in business today if their rebate program was a scam or broken. That goes for any tech company.


and following all my posting here about the subject, I have an order in for an i7 and Applecare from Apple.

That is 2510 with tax. If I drop back to the i5 it is 2298.08 with tax.

If I go to MacMall that i5 will cost me 2018. Makes it very hard to justify the i7 from Apple, or even the i5 from them. 280 dollars from Apple ordered i5 to MacMall or 490 from i7 Apple down to i5 MacMall.

Now I can clear that in a day (before taxes) but still, the way to have money is to not spend it needlessly. I am just trying to take my own advice.
 
Well I followed my own advice... first time I think I listened to the voices in my head...

Ordered the i5 from ClubMac. Will report on their timeliness and standing behind their rebates.
 
Well I followed my own advice... first time I think I listened to the voices in my head...

Ordered the i5 from ClubMac. Will report on their timeliness and standing behind their rebates.

Did you end up cancelling your i7 order from Apple or are you just buying two QC iMacs?;)
 
I like how Best Buy prices are exactly like Apple's.

Apple's Black Friday prices on computers are usually the educational discounts. So not much.

It's best to find someone who works at the store and befriend them. Every Apple employee gets 3 Friends & Family discounts at 15% off on computers.
 
I like how Best Buy prices are exactly like Apple's.

Apple's Black Friday prices on computers are usually the educational discounts. So not much.

It's best to find someone who works at the store and befriend them. Every Apple employee gets 3 Friends & Family discounts at 15% off on computers.

Do you know the specifics of the Friends and Family discount? Do you have to purchase the item in store at which the Apple employee works at, or can you have it ordered and shipped to your house? Also is it applicable on CTO items? The reason I ask is that the employee I know works at an Apple store in a taxed state, and I live in a tax free state, so if I have to purchase it at the retail store where he works, the difference gained wouldn't be any different from me ordering it directly from the EPP store and having it delivered to my address (tax-free).
 
Do you know the specifics of the Friends and Family discount? Do you have to purchase the item in store at which the Apple employee works at, or can you have it ordered and shipped to your house? Also is it applicable on CTO items? The reason I ask is that the employee I know works at an Apple store in a taxed state, and I live in a tax free state, so if I have to purchase it at the retail store where he works, the difference gained wouldn't be any different from me ordering it directly from the EPP store and having it delivered to my address (tax-free).

Your friend should give you a link that will allow you to buy a computer at 15% off and have it shipped to you. In the old days they didn't have that, retail employees had to order from a website that was only accessible in the store. So I would call my friend when he was going to order and give him my Apple ID & password. He logs in and completes the order. Then I would change my password :)

Yeah you just answered your own question. It all goes through the EPP store. \
 
Your friend should give you a link that will allow you to buy a computer at 15% off and have it shipped to you. In the old days they didn't have that, retail employees had to order from a website that was only accessible in the store. So I would call my friend when he was going to order and give him my Apple ID & password. He logs in and completes the order. Then I would change my password :)

Yeah you just answered your own question. It all goes through the EPP store. \

Is it 15% off all computers or is it just 15% off the pro versions. Underlying question - can you get 15% off of the imacs?

Again, thanks for you detailed response!
 
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