Tax free day is on the 6th. WWDC is the next day...

[mattcube64]

So, here's my dillema. I'm in highschool trying desperately to save up for my first Mac this summer. I was originally eyeing the 17" iMac, and anticipating the Macbook. Well, the Macbook is perfect for me, except that I want a video card. So, I keep going back and forth on whether to buy the iMac or MB. Until recently when I thought I could really work hard, sell some games, and gather enough to maybe buy a 15" MBP. However, I'll have to do away with an immediate RAM upgrade, seperate speakers/kb/mouse, etc.

In Missouri, we have an education tax free day on Aug 6. Since it would save me a hundred bucks, I figure then would be the best time to make the purchase. However, from what I've gathered, we'll likely see new MBP upgrades as early as the next day.

So, my question is: Could I possibly buy the MBP on the 6th w/o tax, wait until the next day, and if something is announced (for immediate sale) exchange my still sealed MBP for a new one w/o paying tax. Is it okay, is it ethical? If this is some "bad thing," I'm sorry and mods can lock. But I was just wondering if anyone has done it in the past?

Also, on the tax free day, are online purchases tax free as well?

 

[Killyp]

Who cares about upgrade? Apple stopped selling 1.83 Duo MacBook Pros 2 days after I bought mine, and I don't care. It's still a frigging fast laptop which will run the most up to date apps for the next few years! It runs the apps I want now, and will do in 5 years time. Get the MBP, unless you are obsessed with having the most up to date computer in the world. I love mine to bits, couldn't be better (well, maybe it could have a mini fridge to keep a few largers in)...

 

[mattcube64]

Who cares about upgrade? Apple stopped selling 1.83 Duo MacBook Pros 2 days after I bought mine, and I don't care. It's still a frigging fast laptop which will run the most up to date apps for the next few years! It runs the apps I want now, and will do in 5 years time. Get the MBP, unless you are obsessed with having the most up to date computer in the world. I love mine to bits, couldn't be better (well, maybe it could have a mini fridge to keep a few largers in)...

I'm not super worried about having the best computer available. However, I would be rather upset to buy a computer for two grand, only to have a better one available for the same price in less than 24hrs. This would especially hold true if the video card was updated in either the MB or MBP line, as they are the main deciding factors.

 

[besler3035]

So, here's my dillema. I'm in highschool trying desperately to save up for my first Mac this summer. I was originally eyeing the 17" iMac, and anticipating the Macbook. Well, the Macbook is perfect for me, except that I want a video card. So, I keep going back and forth on whether to buy the iMac or MB. Until recently when I thought I could really work hard, sell some games, and gather enough to maybe buy a 15" MBP. However, I'll have to do away with an immediate RAM upgrade, seperate speakers/kb/mouse, etc.

In Missouri, we have an education tax free day on Aug 6. Since it would save me a hundred bucks, I figure then would be the best time to make the purchase. However, from what I've gathered, we'll likely see new MBP upgrades as early as the next day.

So, my question is: Could I possibly buy the MBP on the 6th w/o tax, wait until the next day, and if something is announced (for immediate sale) exchange my still sealed MBP for a new one w/o paying tax. Is it okay, is it ethical? If this is some "bad thing," I'm sorry and mods can lock. But I was just wondering if anyone has done it in the past?

Also, on the tax free day, are online purchases tax free as well?

I thought that when you buy online (from out of state), you have to pay shipping INSTEAD of taxes. Therefore, Aug. 6 would not benefit you at all.

 

[Kwyjibo]

I thought that when you buy online (from out of state), you have to pay shipping INSTEAD of taxes. Therefore, Aug. 6 would not benefit you at all.

No, you have to pay taxes in the majority of states, only those without sales tax (apple has a business presence in all 50 states)

 

[mattcube64]

I thought that when you buy online (from out of state), you have to pay shipping INSTEAD of taxes. Therefore, Aug. 6 would not benefit you at all.

Many online stores (Amazon, Compusa, Apple) offer free shipping, no matter where you live in the states. You have to pay tax if the store resides in your state. However, on the 6th, I'm wondering if online purchases are also tax free.

 

[Roads0]

You ussually can buy online on tax free days and get the discount, however just to make sure, you could always just call and get the discount. If you call you will defiently get the tax free discount on your state's tax free day.

As for deciding if you should buy something the day before WWDC, it's your descision. This is the problem with Apple, they give no warning when products will be updated. Good Luck.

 

[Kwyjibo]

you might be worrying a little bit early. Apple may make a move before education sales get started and having WWDC so late, hopefully they update before kids start by computers for college.

 

[wmmk]

I personally doubt that apple will be not announcing a large update for the MBP at WWDC. Leopard and MacDesk would be exciting. Then again, if the new Conroe/Woodcrest are in for that time, so will the laptop chips. wow, this is quite an iffy situation. i can see a laptop processor update, but probably not much with the graphics.

 

[joebells]

EDIT: Doh I didn't actually read the full first post for some reason. I see no problem with it as long as you keep it sealed.


why not just buy it that day and not open it? Then if the next day they do announce somethign then you can return it and buy whatever is announced so you lose the no tax then but oh well you get the upgraded whatever they announce.

 

[yg17]

I don't believe there's sales tax if you buy from Amazon.

 

[Church]

No, you have to pay taxes in the majority of states, only those without sales tax (apple has a business presence in all 50 states)

There is no apple store in Alabama... Either way, when I buy online from Apple, I only have to pay federal sales tax, which is how I thought it was in most states anyways...

 

[Kwyjibo]

There is no apple store in Alabama... Either way, when I buy online from Apple, I only have to pay federal sales tax, which is how I thought it was in most states anyways...

Yeah, as I said Apple has a business presence in all 50 states. This does not necessarily mean that they have an apple store, but it just means that they charge sales tax. Its simple for them. The only real way to avoid sales tax is to buy on a special day if your state has them like the OP said or to live in one of the states without sales tax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_without_sales_tax)

 

[yg17]

Yeah, as I said Apple has a business presence in all 50 states. This does not necessarily mean that they have an apple store, but it just means that they charge sales tax. Its simple for them. The only real way to avoid sales tax is to buy on a special day if your state has them like the OP said or to live in one of the states without sales tax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_without_sales_tax)

What defines "business presence"? I was charged sales tax on a recent purchase from Dell and they don't have any stores in MO, and no offices that I know of.

 

[debrey]

Certain states also have agreements with where they collect sales tax for each other.

In many states, you legally are supposed to pay sales tax for out of state purchases. California, for example, has become much more serious about this.

-- David

 

[mccldwll]

"Either way, when I buy online from Apple, I only have to pay federal sales tax, which is how I thought it was in most states anyways..."


Huh??? No such thing as federal sales tax. As others have said, when Apple has a legal presence (defined term) in state, Apple has to collect that state's sales tax (though tax free day probably tax free). If no state sales tax, none collected by Apple. With companies such as Amazon, MacMall etc., if no legal presence, they do not collect sales tax BUT most (if not all) states which have a sales tax require purchaser to pay a self declared use tax equal to saales tax.

 

[Timepass]

legelly speaking you are supposed to pay your states sales tax on anything you by and bring into the states. Most of the time they rather you pay the differnce in in it to your states. It very complacitated mess. Apple does it wrong in many ways. Texas Sales tax is 6.25 and then citys and toue counts. can each at 1% bring the total to 8.25% even though I live in an area that does not have the extra 2% I still have to pay it because apple just went with what most of the state goes buy.

States are starting to target online retailers and demanding that they start collecting sales tax and give them the money. It is a lot of money the states are losing out on and they dont like it. Nor do I blame them. They are supposed to get that money and are not getting it.


How would you feel if you where owed 100 bucks and not having it given to you. It would bother you as well. The states are complaining about millions loss this way.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

What defines "business presence"? I was charged sales tax on a recent purchase from Dell and they don't have any stores in MO, and no offices that I know of.

Not that this directly answers what a "business presence" is, but there are Dell kiosks in virtually every mall in St. Louis. I'd say that would qualify as "presence," but I certainly don't know all the particulars, as, before Apple even had a store in Missouri, they charged me tax on my iMac 4 years ago.

 

[benthewraith]

So, here's my dillema. I'm in highschool trying desperately to save up for my first Mac this summer. I was originally eyeing the 17" iMac, and anticipating the Macbook. Well, the Macbook is perfect for me, except that I want a video card. So, I keep going back and forth on whether to buy the iMac or MB. Until recently when I thought I could really work hard, sell some games, and gather enough to maybe buy a 15" MBP. However, I'll have to do away with an immediate RAM upgrade, seperate speakers/kb/mouse, etc.

In Missouri, we have an education tax free day on Aug 6. Since it would save me a hundred bucks, I figure then would be the best time to make the purchase. However, from what I've gathered, we'll likely see new MBP upgrades as early as the next day.

So, my question is: Could I possibly buy the MBP on the 6th w/o tax, wait until the next day, and if something is announced (for immediate sale) exchange my still sealed MBP for a new one w/o paying tax. Is it okay, is it ethical? If this is some "bad thing," I'm sorry and mods can lock. But I was just wondering if anyone has done it in the past?

Also, on the tax free day, are online purchases tax free as well?

Do student discounts count for High School students? If so...you can buy the MBP for less than it's sold currently ($1799 instead of $1999). As another matter, you can get AppleCare for $100 less than its sold to for normal consumers.

If you are really tight on money and can afford the student discount (and it's agreed taxes are just terrible), it'll probably cost you somewhere around $1999 without the AppleCare. Which you have a year to decide whether to purchase it.

As far as Office software is concerned, you can get free word processing apps like Abiword that are more than sufficient for college students. If you're looking for something more better than that, than NeoOffice would be the thing for you.

 

[CiBoys]

i just want to know if they will up grade the MBPs (sometime after August) to a magnetic locking mechanism and changing the keyboards.

 

[playaj82]

Graphics Card?

My question for you would be why you really NEED the graphics card. What exactly are you planning on doing that is graphic intensive.

If you are going to say games, ok, but most games are slow regardless of which Mac laptop you play them on, not because the computers are slow, but because the games are not properly optimized for OS X.

My advice is that you should just get a MacBook if your only concern is the graphics card, because as recent articles have discussed, the MacBook and MBP speeds are not as different as you would imagine.

Check out the arstechnica review or the creativemac.com review.

 

[yg17]

Not that this directly answers what a "business presence" is, but there are Dell kiosks in virtually every mall in St. Louis. I'd say that would qualify as "presence," but I certainly don't know all the particulars, as, before Apple even had a store in Missouri, they charged me tax on my iMac 4 years ago.

D'oh....forgot about those kiosks. There's a little Dell kiosk directly across from the West County Apple Store. You can guess who gets more attention from shoppers


Hasn't the WestCo store been around for more than 4 years? It opened when the entire mall opened up...I thought that was about 5 or 6 years ago?

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

D'oh....forgot about those kiosks. There's a little Dell kiosk directly across from the West County Apple Store. You can guess who gets more attention from shoppers


Hasn't the WestCo store been around for more than 4 years? It opened when the entire mall opened up...I thought that was about 5 or 6 years ago?

Eh, you're right...It's been more than 5 years since I got my iMac. West County was renovated shortly after I got it, 'cause I got my iPod there 8 months later.

 

[mattcube64]

My question for you would be why you really NEED the graphics card. What exactly are you planning on doing that is graphic intensive.

If you are going to say games, ok, but most games are slow regardless of which Mac laptop you play them on, not because the computers are slow, but because the games are not properly optimized for OS X.

My advice is that you should just get a MacBook if your only concern is the graphics card, because as recent articles have discussed, the MacBook and MBP speeds are not as different as you would imagine.

Check out the arstechnica review or the creativemac.com review.

Well, I just would like to have it. I consider myself a pretty hardcore gamer (nerd). However, I've never had much of a chance to play any newer computer game. Like recently, I REALLY wanted to get SW Empire of War, but I just *couldn't*, as I don't have a decent video card on the family computer. I just like knowing it is there. Besides, I plan on using Boot Camp for games. Plus, I do like the bigger screen and casing of the MBP.

 

[zflauaus]

Of course, it's the day after my birthday. But then again, it was on my birthday last year. I don't think my parents would let me get another computer right now anyways.

I love the West County store, although I've only been there 2 times because it's a 1 1/2 hour drive. But the people are so nice! I LOVE APPLE!