update, i called a second store and they were like "well your just changing your method of payment right? yeah sure, i dont see why we couldnt do that." so crossing my fingers!
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How I saved 19% off the purchase of my brand new Late 2015 iMac!
- Thread starter Tymbo
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Hi, to use educational discount buying it online, I need some way to show or send student ID if it ship to my home? And if I pickup imac in apple store? Thanks
Can someone confirm? If this is the case then everything would be so much easier...
sure, its in-app "apple pay" but its not IN STORE apple pay. i.e., using NFC. trust me on this one man, there's a 3600 post thread over on slickdeals. for the 10% promo it must be in store using NFC.
Yes it is apple pay but you might want to reconfirm if you'll receive the 10% bonus cashback...
Any update on this? I really wanted to order online, return to store and re-purchase on the spot but I just called apple and they said that if I returned it to the store it would have to go back to the warehouse, thus squashing my plan. All I wanted was the 512gb flash drive and the magic trackpad.
I can confirm this works. Buying BTO macbook online and picking up in store to return and rebuying said BTO macbook using Apple Pay. I did this twice (returned first BTO because I wanted more memory so I bought another BTO).
I guess it might depends on who you talk to in the store. I checked with Valley Fair Apple Store, while one person told me it could work and the other said no. The person who said no also said I should contact 1800-MY-APPLE, which I did.
After spending 44 minutes on the phone, and trying numerous method. Our solution was having him configure the iMac for me, and sent me the email of the order, this way his name and number will be attached to the order, then take it to the store and tell the store I want to purchase the computer shown in the email.
He said that this should work and if the store gives me any problem I can have them called him directly through his extension.
I got my Maxed 27" iMac with 16GB of ram and 1TB flash storage and the magic mouse + track pad and Apple Care + over night shipping right around $3,700 this is including the $275 tax.
The rep discounted the heck out of my iMac build for me gave me free Apple Care and a track pad + over night shipping. Apple is awesome
The rep discounted the heck out of my iMac build for me gave me free Apple Care and a track pad + over night shipping. Apple is awesome
I think it's how you go about it too. A noob store employee who doesn't know may automatically say no. I didn't ask if I could do it. I picked up my order and told them I need to return and rebuy so I can get 10% off with the Discover Card promo. At first they thought about it and then they just did it.
My thoughts too, when something like this happens where we hear two side of a story i tend to believe it is doable. I really don't believe the "They didn't know what they are doing, We don't suppose to do it this way."
Anyways, I haven't receive my card yet, but it should be here tomorrow. I will update as soon as I have something new.
Update: I called the store yesterday and asked if I could return my iMac and repurchase it without my iMac being physically present.
"Yes, as long as you are repurchasing it."
I then mentioned that I ordered it online and it's being shipped to me, and asked if I could still do it.
"Yes, as long as you are repurchasing it."
I failed to mention that it was a customized iMac (details later).
Today I went to the Apple Store, ready to return and repurchase. Before entering, a thought occurred to me that I did not want to risk cancelling the order (since it had not yet shipped), so I gave Apple a call. I explained the situation to her and she, ultimately wanting assurance that my order would not get canceled. She wasn't sure or something, and wanted to give the store a call. After being on hold for 5 minutes, she returned stating that because it was a customized iMac, it could not be returned and repurchased because it would mess up their inventory.
I was baffled. I "politely" argued, wanting to somehow get this to work, but she was simply repeating what the store employee told her. She asked me if I wanted to cancel the order so I could go in and reorder a new one. It didn't make sense, and I felt like I was going no where and wanted to try my luck in person. I thanked her and said goodbye.
I finally enter the Apple Store and explain to the greeter that I am in the store wanting to return my BTO iMac and repurchase it via Apple Pay. I didn't mention the phone call I just had. I told him I didn't have it physically with me and explained how I called yesterday to make sure I didn't physically need it with me. It turns out that I do. I asked him to ask the manager for a second opinion, and he obliged. The manager directed him to talk with an "inventory expert" in the back.
It turns out that the BTO iMac has a special serial number or something that the store needs to be able to physically scan -- an order number does not provide all the information needed to make a return.
I we a little less upset about the whole thing, because this time I got both of their names and confirmation that when I bring the computer in, I CAN RETURN AND REPURCHASE IT.
It's been quite a runaround, but today's loss was a couple hours of time and 40 miles of gas wasted. But hey, I'm about to save a few hundred bucks. I plan to go back on Monday so I can also purchase the Apple TV with Apple Pay.
"Yes, as long as you are repurchasing it."
I then mentioned that I ordered it online and it's being shipped to me, and asked if I could still do it.
"Yes, as long as you are repurchasing it."
I failed to mention that it was a customized iMac (details later).
Today I went to the Apple Store, ready to return and repurchase. Before entering, a thought occurred to me that I did not want to risk cancelling the order (since it had not yet shipped), so I gave Apple a call. I explained the situation to her and she, ultimately wanting assurance that my order would not get canceled. She wasn't sure or something, and wanted to give the store a call. After being on hold for 5 minutes, she returned stating that because it was a customized iMac, it could not be returned and repurchased because it would mess up their inventory.
I was baffled. I "politely" argued, wanting to somehow get this to work, but she was simply repeating what the store employee told her. She asked me if I wanted to cancel the order so I could go in and reorder a new one. It didn't make sense, and I felt like I was going no where and wanted to try my luck in person. I thanked her and said goodbye.
I finally enter the Apple Store and explain to the greeter that I am in the store wanting to return my BTO iMac and repurchase it via Apple Pay. I didn't mention the phone call I just had. I told him I didn't have it physically with me and explained how I called yesterday to make sure I didn't physically need it with me. It turns out that I do. I asked him to ask the manager for a second opinion, and he obliged. The manager directed him to talk with an "inventory expert" in the back.
It turns out that the BTO iMac has a special serial number or something that the store needs to be able to physically scan -- an order number does not provide all the information needed to make a return.
I we a little less upset about the whole thing, because this time I got both of their names and confirmation that when I bring the computer in, I CAN RETURN AND REPURCHASE IT.
It's been quite a runaround, but today's loss was a couple hours of time and 40 miles of gas wasted. But hey, I'm about to save a few hundred bucks. I plan to go back on Monday so I can also purchase the Apple TV with Apple Pay.
Tymbo,
Thanks for your efforts and great write up. Please keep us posted. So it basically sounds like the store can scan the unique barcode to RETURN and to RE-RING the order. I hope that means all the discounts you may have gotten when you ordered such as from the Education Store will remain when you rebuy your iMac.
Thanks for your efforts and great write up. Please keep us posted. So it basically sounds like the store can scan the unique barcode to RETURN and to RE-RING the order. I hope that means all the discounts you may have gotten when you ordered such as from the Education Store will remain when you rebuy your iMac.
Ok. It didn't work. They tried everything to pull up the computer after I returned it. but it doesn't any show up on the system.
They are saying because it's a CTO computer it will not show up in the system. And it must go back to the warehouse and not to be sold.
They are saying because it's a CTO computer it will not show up in the system. And it must go back to the warehouse and not to be sold.
To follow up the solution they provided. The Apple representative say that he will order the CTO for me over the phone, then once the processing goes through with Discover, I need to call Discover and tell them that there was something wrong with Apple Pay in the store and they had to swipe the card, he offered me his extension number and tell me to conference him in if there is any problem with Discover. He also mentioned that his manager knows Discover will be able to change the transaction to Apple Pay.
I will follow up on this again. In the meantime, if anyone else is able to return and repurchase a CTO iMac, please ask them how they did it, as this would help others in the future so they would know what to tell the people over at the Apple Store.
I will follow up on this again. In the meantime, if anyone else is able to return and repurchase a CTO iMac, please ask them how they did it, as this would help others in the future so they would know what to tell the people over at the Apple Store.
So I was near an Apple Store today and decided to stop in and confirm 2 things: that I couldn't do BTO in store, and that they didn't stock any upgraded configurations. Both confirmed true.
HOWEVER. The salesperson really wanted to help me get my Apple Pay Discover cash back, so he had an interesting suggestion: buy the top stock config using Apple Pay, then immediately return it for gift cards. He said that Discover shouldn't know anything about the return, so as far as they are concerned, I bought merchandise in store. I would then go online and use the gift cards to buy my BTO config, covering any difference with my credit card (using the Discover Deals 5% cash back).
This method hinges on the assumption that Apple doesn't tell Discover anything about the return for gift cards. The salesperson seemed pretty confident of this, but until 10% cash back is confirmed (1-2 billing statements), it is not 100% known.
I decided to take the risk and go for it. With the stock config + AppleCare, I got about $2600 and change on gift cards. I should have had him ring up an iPad or something in the dummy purchase, as this was still about $800 short of my final BTO price online. No big deal though. Assuming it works, that's still $2600+ getting the 10% Discover cash back, better than simply ordering online.
I then went through Discover Deals to get 5% cash back online, then ordered my actual BTO config (with edu discount) using the gift cards and covering the balance with Discover. Had it shipped to store for safety, scheduled to arrive Nov 6.
So this is a possible alternative, pending final verification that it works.
HOWEVER. The salesperson really wanted to help me get my Apple Pay Discover cash back, so he had an interesting suggestion: buy the top stock config using Apple Pay, then immediately return it for gift cards. He said that Discover shouldn't know anything about the return, so as far as they are concerned, I bought merchandise in store. I would then go online and use the gift cards to buy my BTO config, covering any difference with my credit card (using the Discover Deals 5% cash back).
This method hinges on the assumption that Apple doesn't tell Discover anything about the return for gift cards. The salesperson seemed pretty confident of this, but until 10% cash back is confirmed (1-2 billing statements), it is not 100% known.
I decided to take the risk and go for it. With the stock config + AppleCare, I got about $2600 and change on gift cards. I should have had him ring up an iPad or something in the dummy purchase, as this was still about $800 short of my final BTO price online. No big deal though. Assuming it works, that's still $2600+ getting the 10% Discover cash back, better than simply ordering online.
I then went through Discover Deals to get 5% cash back online, then ordered my actual BTO config (with edu discount) using the gift cards and covering the balance with Discover. Had it shipped to store for safety, scheduled to arrive Nov 6.
So this is a possible alternative, pending final verification that it works.
Discover Deals requires you to pay with your Discover card and you are using giftcards you got from Apple, so how do you figure?
I can see that working. I wish I thought of that. I'm feeling somewhat paranoid that I'm going to get a "we're not allowed to refund gift cards" surprise, which might be legit since Apple's website does say they cannot refund gift cards. My only line of defense is that they said I could over the phone and that the person who helped me messed up my purchase my suggesting/convincing that I purchase gift cards as my form of payment via Apple Pay.
I'll find out Monday.
I'll find out Monday.
Discover Deals only covers the $800 and change that was left over after the gift cards. Here's how it will break down in the end, assuming everything works (I'm using round numbers instead of exact figures):
- In-store purchase with Apple Pay: $2600.00
- 1% Discover cash back: $26.00
- 10% Apple Pay bonus cash back: $260.00
- Double cash back after 1 year: $26.00+$260.00
- Return for 2 gift cards (max $2k per card)
- $2000.00
- $600.00
- Online order (BTO edu discount): $3400.00
- Gift cards: $2600.00
- Discover Deals online: $800.00
- 1% Discover cash back: $8.00
- 5% Discover Deals: $40.00
- Double cash back after 1 year: $48.00
- Total paid: $2730.00
- Grand total saved off edu price: $670.00 (19.7%)
- Off regular price ($3800.00): $1070.00 (28.1%)
The red cash back is in slight question simply because we don't know 100% for sure if Apple doesn't tell Discover about the return for gift cards. It seems very unlikely, and I certainly hope not. If I have problems down the line, I will argue with Discover that I was told the gift card was a way to use Apple Pay to purchase a BTO Mac in store. Which is absolutely true.
You can go through Discover deals and pay your order full or part of it with gift cards and still Discover will give you the full cash back amount that you could earn with that purchase. I've done it a couple of times.
I'm pretty sure that when you buy through Discover deals, even with the amount that you will be paying with the gift cards, they will give you 5% cash back on the whole purchase. Like I said in the other post, it happened to me before.