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Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 02:00 pm
Apple's unadvertised retail store price matching policy
In an effort not to be undersold on its own products this holiday shopping season, Apple is quietly re-conveying its long standing price-matching procedures to retail store staffers.Corroborating a report first published by AppleInsider earlier this week, ifoAppleStore notes that Apple is reminding its store employees that they have "the authority to match the prices of other authorized retailers."
It’s unclear whether the Mac maker, which rarely offers discounts outside of back-to-school and Black Friday promotions, plans to promote the policy given the current economic situation, but has chosen not to do so in the past.
An AppleInsider reader on Monday noted that the policy has been in place for some time. "If you bring in a flyer or ad to an Apple Store [showing proof of a lower price], they will match the price after getting it approved through the manager," the reader said.
An Apple retail store manager posting in the comments section of the ifo report offered similar information:
"As a long time Apple Store manager, I can state that retail has always had the ability to match prices with Authorized Apple Retailers with some limits, such as matching rebates and matching prices with Club stores. The policy is very clear and printed in the retail operations manual.
Another commenter reported success in having prices from online resellers matched, not just those from brick and mortar retailers:
Last year I showed an Apple Store manager an online price and asked if he’d match it. He agreed and instructed a clerk to ring it at that price.
By better vocalizing its policy to retail staffers this year, Apple hopes to keep pacing with a growing array of aggressive Black Friday sales already announced and in effect through Apple authorized resellers Amazon.com (Black Friday Sale), Best Buy (4-Day Apple Sale), Mac Mall (57 Hour sale), and others.
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Previous Comments View All
I find it utterly insidious on Apple's part that they do not make this public.
I assume this would be in leu of a student discount, not including.
Yah, but it really wouldn't be a true 'matching price' in most states, unless Apple includes state sales tax into the equation, which I doubt they do. Because many online stores, like Amazon, don't have sales tax, while most states and the retail stores located within them, do.
In California for example, that difference is worth about $100 on a MacBook, $150+ on a MB Pro, on top of any discounts/rebates Amazon is already giving me.
Apple probably can't match that.
But if I was living in Nevada, which doesn't have sales tax, the Apple retail stores matching Amazon would be awesome (assuming I lived near Reno or Las Vegas, the only two places that have Apple stores).
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I am not sure why the sales tax issue is relevant, since the same issues (related to amazon.com vs. Apple retail) would apply whether or not there is a special sale?
I am not sure why the sales tax issue is relevant, since the same issues (related to amazon.com vs. Apple retail) would apply whether or not there is a special sale?
*Sarah Palin voice*
"In what respect, Charlie?"
...
Apple would be on the hook for the sales tax if they did not collect it from the buyer. That is a huge difference between buying from Apple, and buying online. Moreover, Oregon has no sales tax, like Nevada. Residents of either state can order from Apple directly, and not be subjected to sales tax. However, I'm not sure that price matching would work ordering directly from Apple, as it would in an Apple Store.
Here's a list of 2008 sales tax rates. Seems like I'm off 'bout Nevada... they have sales tax, actually. It was state income tax that they don't have, 'parently.
Not sure the list includes all special/local levies... for example, Cali is listed at 7.25% sales tax, but I pay 8.25% where I am (Santa Clara county).
The reason that you pay more than the state tax rate is because you're also paying local taxes, on top of the state rate.
The reason that you pay more than the state tax rate is because you're also paying local taxes, on top of the state rate.
I kinda said that already, but, coo'.
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I wonder how this would work with advertized rebates...
Mac mall, it seems, always has these rebates where you have to cut part of the box and then mail in a form and wait 6 weeks. If Apple stores price match without the hassle, that would be cool (state sales tax notwithstanding).
Still, I agree with anantksundaram that it is a shame they keep this quiet. But, money is money...
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Another commenter reported success in having prices from online resellers matched, not just those from brick and mortar retailers:
Last year I showed an Apple Store manager an online price and asked if he'd match it. He agreed and instructed a clerk to ring it at that price.
Yah, but it really wouldn't be a true 'matching price' in most states, unless Apple includes state sales tax into the equation, which I doubt they do. Because many online stores, like Amazon, don't have sales tax, while most states and the retail stores located within them, do.
In California for example, that difference is worth about $100 on a MacBook, $150+ on a MB Pro, on top of any discounts/rebates Amazon is already giving me.
Apple probably can't match that.
But if I was living in Nevada, which doesn't have sales tax (last I checked- maybe that's changed), the Apple retail stores matching Amazon would be awesome (assuming I lived near Reno or Las Vegas, the only two places that have Apple stores).
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