Best Buy Secret Sale?

[BIRDinho]

This past Sunday, April 24th, I was surfing the web for some macbook air deals. When I was on the Best Buy site, I was looking at the base 11" model. The price of $999 was red and crossed out, and said "view price in cart". When I added to cart it was $60 cheaper at $940.

I thought this was great and planned to do an in-store pickup the next day. When I logged in the following morning, the price was back to $999. Did I miss a weekend sale? The circular said nothing about this. I want that price!!

 

[rkaufmann87]

Buy a refurb from Apple and save $150!

 

[BIRDinho]

Buy a refurb from Apple and save $150!

but they don't offer 18 month 0% financing

 

[Lateraleye]

They do offer 0% for the first 12 months on an order over $999 though. Grab AppleCare and you'll be good to go!

 

[BIRDinho]

They do offer 0% for the first 12 months on an order over $999 though. Grab AppleCare and you'll be good to go!

might as well just buy a new one at best buy for $999 with 18 month 0%

 

[Buckeyes1995]

As long as you're good with the base models, Best Buy's 18mo. is a nice option.. might as well spend their money instead of yours.

Unfortunately, you don't have many configuration options when you got the Best Buy route.

 

[bella92108]

Yikes.... financing a $950 laptop!!?!

 

[BIRDinho]

Yikes.... financing a $950 laptop!!?!

I don't earn much more than $1,000 per week. So spending almost an entire week's worth of my wages is a bit steep to me. It's much more comfortable to pay the $60/month financing and just pay more when I can.

 

[bella92108]

I don't earn much more than $1,000 per week. So spending almost an entire week's worth of my wages is a bit steep to me. It's much more comfortable to pay the $60/month financing and just pay more when I can.

So why not put the $60 a month into an interest-bearing CD\Money Market\Bank Account, and when you've saved enough to buy the computer, you'll likely be able to outright own a much better spec model since it'll take a year or two to save, and you'll have a couple bucks in interest.

I guess it makes sense that our government won't exercise fiscal discipline if those living in this country won't. lol

 

[philxor]

Yikes.... financing a $950 laptop!!?!

I've used their deal just because I'd rather just pay the small monthly amount instead of laying out $1K+ at one time, which can be earning money instead of sitting in Best Buy's bank account. Like another person said, you are paying for the laptop with their money upfront instead of yours, as long as you are disciplined enough to pay it off in 18 months it's not a bad deal.

 

[bella92108]

I've used their deal just because I'd rather just pay the small monthly amount instead of laying out $1K+ at one time, which can be earning money instead of sitting in Best Buy's bank account. Like another person said, you are paying for the laptop with their money upfront instead of yours, as long as you are disciplined enough to pay it off in 18 months it's not a bad deal.

Not to try to start a fight, but no, you're not using their money. You're prolonging the payment in exchange for collateral, this sort of misinformation is why we're in such trouble as a country. When you defer payments, you face devaluation of your collateral and inflation's devaluation of currency, so it's never smart to do. For years, we've been programmed to think using credit is okay... it used to be that credit was okay for buying a house, then it became a car is okay... now people think it's okay to finance a computer. That's one of the worst possible things you can finance.

 

[BIRDinho]

So why not put the $60 a month into an interest-bearing CD\Money Market\Bank Account, and when you've saved enough to buy the computer, you'll likely be able to outright own a much better spec model since it'll take a year or two to save, and you'll have a couple bucks in interest.

If I wait 2 years, I might as well wait forever

 

[Beaverman3001]

I'm glad this forum is suddenly full of financial planners

People can spend their money how they want (shocking I know).

 

[bella92108]

If I wait 2 years, I might as well wait forever

LOL, you demonstrate such lack of discipline, lol. You're basically saying you know you can't exercise discipline. I am not sure when this behavior came into play. When I was a kid, I was taught that you earn something. If it were a car that you "NEEDED" to get you to and from work and was a reasonable purchase, I could understand, but I just don't understand when someone says they can wait 2 years to pay for something, but don't think it's fair to save for 2 years to be able to buy it... such a strange mentality thats become so prevalent in this country. Instant gratification and entitlement....

 

[bella92108]

I'm glad this forum is suddenly full of financial planners

People can spend their money how they want (shocking I know).

But as he said, he's "spending Best Buy's money" (which I think he means Citi or whoever does BBY's financial services).... but that's my point, people should spend THEIR money, not other peoples. Because TONS of people default on retail accounts (I've seen statistics as high as 50%). Who do you think pay for that? The rest of us because retail and creditors have to mark up products and services to cover the write-offs from people who say "I want it today because if I have to save up for it for 2 years I might as well just wait forever" ....

lol, but enough on my personal opinions. Fortunately creditors have tightened up and the low-lifes have a slightly harder time getting credit now.

 

[BIRDinho]

I could understand, but I just don't understand when someone says they can wait 2 years to pay for something, but don't think it's fair to save for 2 years to be able to buy it... such a strange mentality thats become so prevalent in this country. Instant gratification and entitlement....

After the 2 years, I will no longer be saving for the original laptop since that would be nearly obsolete. What is the point of saving for 2 years, to buy a 2 year old laptop?

 

[bella92108]

After the 2 years, I will no longer be saving for the original laptop since that would be nearly obsolete. What is the point of saving for 2 years, to buy a 2 year old laptop?

Thank you, you made my point. Because if you save two years you can buy the latest and greatest laptop and own it outright, or buy today's (already aging) technology and pay for it for two years and by the time you own it it'll be THREE YEARS OLD and dated as hell, and then you'll not be satisfied with it because everyone on here will be talking about how great their 4ghz quad core with 4TB SSD and 16GB RAM is, and you'll be miserable because in May 2013 you'll have just made the final payment on your 2010 MacBook Air 1.4ghz core 2 duo laptop....

Get it? When you make payments, you never own something until the last payment is made. When you finance technology, you'll never ever win, lol.

 

[zepharus]

LOL, you demonstrate such lack of discipline, lol. You're basically saying you know you can't exercise discipline. I am not sure when this behavior came into play. When I was a kid, I was taught that you earn something. If it were a car that you "NEEDED" to get you to and from work and was a reasonable purchase, I could understand, but I just don't understand when someone says they can wait 2 years to pay for something, but don't think it's fair to save for 2 years to be able to buy it... such a strange mentality thats become so prevalent in this country. Instant gratification and entitlement....

Jimmny Cricket should be on the Disney forum and not here. I get where you are coming from and whether you are right or wrong is not in question. People dont come here to be preached to. You be fiscally responsible and let others do what they do, it does not affect you and your excellent credit rating

 

[BIRDinho]

Get it? When you make payments, you never own something until the last payment is made. When you finance technology, you'll never ever win, lol.

I understand. My point wasn't to take advantage of the minimum payment option. But using credit allows me to pay as much as I want, as quick as I want. I could pay it off in 3 months time if I choose to. Then the laptop would become entirely mine and still be new.

 

[Blue Fox]

LOL, you demonstrate such lack of discipline, lol. You're basically saying you know you can't exercise discipline. I am not sure when this behavior came into play. When I was a kid, I was taught that you earn something. If it were a car that you "NEEDED" to get you to and from work and was a reasonable purchase, I could understand, but I just don't understand when someone says they can wait 2 years to pay for something, but don't think it's fair to save for 2 years to be able to buy it... such a strange mentality thats become so prevalent in this country. Instant gratification and entitlement....

This thread neither asked for, nor wanted financial advise regarding financing. Nor is it a "strange mentality" to want to finance (at no interest) a product and pay it off over a couple of months. Nor are you in any position to be lecturing/preaching to anyone on the way they spend their money. No replies are necessary to this, thank you.

As for the OP's original question, $60 savings on a $1000 laptop isn't anything to really stress over. That's not even savings in tax. I'd just get the one you want and be happy with it.

 

[bella92108]

I understand. My point wasn't to take advantage of the minimum payment option. But using credit allows me to pay as much as I want, as quick as I want. I could pay it off in 3 months time if I choose to. Then the laptop would become entirely mine and still be new.

Right, understood. If you had the means to buy it in 3 months, then you'd be an idiot to buy today when you know a new model will be out in 3 months that you supposedly could pay cash for.

No, even IF you paid it off in 3 months ("time") it will still not be "new" lol

 

[bella92108]

This thread neither asked for, nor wanted financial advise regarding financing. Nor is it a "strange mentality" to want to finance (at no interest) a product and pay it off over a couple of months. Nor are you in any position to be lecturing/preaching to anyone on the way they spend their money. No replies are necessary to this, thank you.

If you don't want anyone to give opinions you don't agree with, don't read and don't post. You're a hypocrite. You support opinions as long as they agree with you, but chastise those who oppose your views... wow. Maybe you should stick to sites like http://www.bestbuy.com... the purpose of a forum is to exchange ideas freely, even if they don't agree with your ideas. I have just as much right to give examples of how credit may have an adverse effect than what the poster intends.

 

[Beaverman3001]

Right, understood. If you had the means to buy it in 3 months, then you'd be an idiot to buy today when you know a new model will be out in 3 months that you supposedly could pay cash for.

No, even IF you paid it off in 3 months ("time") it will still not be "new" lol

The 2010 version might be more ideal than the 2011 version for the OP. You also don't know the OPs credit history, current debts and assets, intentions for payment plans, computing needs, etc. You are giving advice that is being based on your opinion, not any actual facts. It is useless.

The guy just wanted information on besybuy's sales, not your financial intuition.

 

[bella92108]

The 2010 version might be more ideal than the 2011 version for the OP. You also don't know the OPs credit history, current debts and assets, intentions for payment plans, computing needs, etc. You are giving advice that is being based on your opinion, not any actual facts. It is useless.

The guy just wanted information on besybuy's sales, not your financial intuition.

Right. Nobody NEEDS a MB Air, so don't even go there. If things are tight and he needs a computer, Acer sells one for $299 that will accomplish everything you can do on a MB Air. The issue is people WANT macbook air because they look nicer, are cooler, etc. I don't blame em, but if I were so hard up that I couldn't buy a laptop without borrowing the money from someone else to buy it, it would cause me to reevaluate if it's a NEED or a WANT.

Entitlement. Like I said. Has nothing to do with his credit history, nor his computing needs, etc. I'm just going to stop arguing, because the average american is more than $10k in debt, so naturally most people are defensive as it's the life they've learned to be stuck in. But I will say, having zero debt feels amazing.

 

[Beaverman3001]

Right. Nobody NEEDS a MB Air, so don't even go there. If things are tight and he needs a computer, Acer sells one for $299 that will accomplish everything you can do on a MB Air. The issue is people WANT macbook air because they look nicer, are cooler, etc. I don't blame em, but if I were so hard up that I couldn't buy a laptop without borrowing the money from someone else to buy it, it would cause me to reevaluate if it's a NEED or a WANT.

Entitlement. Like I said. Has nothing to do with his credit history, nor his computing needs, etc. I'm just going to stop arguing, because the average american is more than $10k in debt, so naturally most people are defensive as it's the life they've learned to be stuck in. But I will say, having zero debt feels amazing.

Oh, I didn't know Acer laptops running Windows could run Final Cut Pro or Aperture, or any of the multitude of everyday applications people use to make a living that are OS specific. As I said, it is your opinion based on what you think without knowing any of the reasonings around the OPs intended purchase.

Grats on your zero debt, I have none either. I'm also not pretentious enough to tell people how to plan their purchases.