Pre-order from Amazon

[JonathanK81]

That rep is clueless. There's a link right on the MBA page where they want you to tell them about a lower price. And, Amazon often does price match computers.

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook...ZP4/ref=sr_ob_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311272456&sr=8-1

scroll down to the bottom of that page

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That's incorrect as well. Amazon does not price match unless it's TVs. Yes, they have a link for you to tell them a lower price, but that isn't regarding price matching for previously made orders. They want to be competitive for future orders. They want to know about someone else's lower price, so they can lower their prices for those who will be buying in the future. It's not for you to use after you already bought the item.

Taken directly from Amazon's pricing information page....

With the exception of TVs, Amazon.com doesn't price-match with other retailers (including those who sell their items on our website). We do, however, consistently work toward maintaining competitive prices on everything we carry.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_468502_guarantee?nodeId=468502#guarantee

Obviously, there will be some reps who will price-match for you, but that is not the policy. More the exception than the rule.

 

[getyup]

That's incorrect as well. Amazon does not price match unless it's TVs. Yes, they have a link for you to tell them a lower price, but that isn't regarding price matching for previously made orders. They want to be competitive for future orders.

Taken directly from Amazon's pricing information page....



http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_468502_guarantee?nodeId=468502#guarantee

Many of Amazon's policies are YMMV. Really just depends on who you get. They usually won't call it a price match, but often will refer to it as a customer goodwill adjustment or loyalty discount as not to set a precedent. But at the end of the day, they're a business and know customers have a choice, and if it's within their capabilities, they'll usually act within the best interest of the customer.

 

[JonathanK81]

Many of Amazon's policies are YMMV. Really just depends on who you get. They usually won't call it a price match, but often will refer to it as a customer goodwill adjustment or loyalty discount as not to set a precedent. But at the end of the day, they're a business and know customers have a choice, and if it's within their capabilities, they'll usually act within the best interest of the customer.

Oh of course, that's why I added the last line to my post. But my point being policy isn't to price-match. But that's not to say they won't do something. I've had it go both ways in my years of shopping with Amazon. Some will do something to even the price, others will not, so of course you're correct with the YMMV. I will say, lately I've noticed they're sticking more the "we do not price-match..." mores than in the past.

 

[srxtr]

You're saving, REALLY. So tired of people calling the $100 credit on the App Store a "savings" ... IF you use the app store and planned on spending $100 in the next year or so, yeah, call it a savings, but for most (see app store usage statistics), it's a smoke-and-mirrors offer that they'll only use because they get it, which means it's not a savings, it's just an add-on value.

Bottom line, If someone lives in CA and wants a stock 11" upper model:

APPLE (No Discount) - - $1199 + 105 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste + $10 2-3 day delivery = $1322

EDU - $1149 + $101 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste fee + $10 2-3 day dleivery = $1268 ... then you get a bonus of $100 in software, but that's far from "money in pocket" for most that didn't plan to buy $100 in pocket.

BUSINESS - $1127 + 96 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste + $10 2-3 day delivery = $1243

AMAZON - $1195 + $0 Tax + $0 CA eWaste + $0 2 day shipping = $1195

Sure seems like Amazon is the cheapest to me. It's like someone saying that it's a better deal for you to buy a car from Toyota of Oakland because even though their car is cheaper, they'll throw in a "undercoat protector, a $100 value" for free. Well if you're like most, you weren't planning on buying it anyhow, so the value is minimal since even if you wanted it done, you could have it done elsewhere for 75% off the "value" they state.

Most people are blinded by marketing... it's okay. When Apple was giving away free iPods it was a good deal because you were getting a tangible in-demand piece of hardware you could sell to recoup costs. With this, that's essentially squashed. This is a great deal, but ONLY if you planned on buying software and buying it from the inflated App Store prices anyhow.

Be smart consumers, see through marketing BS people.

This won't apply to all, but Discover has 5% cashback for Discover card users who shop at apple.com.

APPLE (No Discount) - - $1199 + 105 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste + $10 2-3 day delivery = $1322

$1322 x 5% = $66
$1322 - $66 = $1256

 

[Duke15]

You're saving, REALLY. So tired of people calling the $100 credit on the App Store a "savings" ... IF you use the app store and planned on spending $100 in the next year or so, yeah, call it a savings, but for most (see app store usage statistics), it's a smoke-and-mirrors offer that they'll only use because they get it, which means it's not a savings, it's just an add-on value.

Bottom line, If someone lives in CA and wants a stock 11" upper model:

APPLE (No Discount) - - $1199 + 105 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste + $10 2-3 day delivery = $1322

EDU - $1149 + $101 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste fee + $10 2-3 day dleivery = $1268 ... then you get a bonus of $100 in software, but that's far from "money in pocket" for most that didn't plan to buy $100 in pocket.

BUSINESS - $1127 + 96 CA Tax + $8 CA eWaste + $10 2-3 day delivery = $1243

AMAZON - $1195 + $0 Tax + $0 CA eWaste + $0 2 day shipping = $1195

Sure seems like Amazon is the cheapest to me. It's like someone saying that it's a better deal for you to buy a car from Toyota of Oakland because even though their car is cheaper, they'll throw in a "undercoat protector, a $100 value" for free. Well if you're like most, you weren't planning on buying it anyhow, so the value is minimal since even if you wanted it done, you could have it done elsewhere for 75% off the "value" they state.

Most people are blinded by marketing... it's okay. When Apple was giving away free iPods it was a good deal because you were getting a tangible in-demand piece of hardware you could sell to recoup costs. With this, that's essentially squashed. This is a great deal, but ONLY if you planned on buying software and buying it from the inflated App Store prices anyhow.

Be smart consumers, see through marketing BS people.

You will get charged tax when you go and pick it up. So its not the cheapest. Also you forgot Bestb Buy, they offer a 100$ gift card and possibly the 50$ off(not 100% about the latter)