AppleInsider Staff
Marking Apple's return to Black Friday sales bonanza festivities, the company has chosen to dole out gift cards alongside eligible product purchases, offering customers in Australia Apple Gift Cards worth up to A$200.
Announced via email and through the company's regional website on Friday local Australia time, the gift card promotion is nearly identical to Apple's Black Friday special in 2013. While Apple could opt for product discounts instead of cards in the U.S. and Canada, as it has done in the past with European Black Friday sales, North American customers typically see similar deals to those offered Down Under.
In 2013, for example, the value of Apple Gift Cards passed out in Australia mirrored cards meted out in the U.S., even with a substantial exchange rate discrepancy. The Cupertino tech giant switched to direct — and conservative — product discounts in 2014, but skipped Black Friday altogether last year.
For 2016, Apple is offering up to A$200 gift cards on select Mac purchases, including Mac Pro, iMac, MacBook, non-2016 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Customers in the market for portable equipment will receive an Apple Gift Card worth A$140 for iPad Pro, A$70 for iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and A$35 for iPhone SE. Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple TV also come with an A$35 gift card.
Apple Gift Card Values should be similar in the U.S., though it is unclear what the company has in store for Europe. In America, Apple is advertising free two-day delivery of in-stock items ordered through its online store by 5:00 p.m.
To save even more, though, Apple authorized resellers are offering aggressive Black Friday instant discounts, exclusive coupon offers, free shipping and no tax in most states. These deals can be found in our comprehensive Black Friday deal roundup with highlights below. And, as always, please visit our Price Guides to find the lowest prices on Apple products (updated daily).
Update: Apple's one-day Black Friday event is now live worldwide, with the company offering gift cards on select purchases in the U.S., Canada and select markets in Europe. In the U.S., gift card values max out at $150 for certain Mac purchases, $100 for iPad Pro and $50 for iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4. Customers buying an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus can nab a $50 card, while iPhone SE buyers get $25. Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple TV come with gift cards valued at $25.
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Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
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14 Comments
Does that say no discount on the new MacBook Pro?
Disappointing. Vouchers only if you buy old stuff that has already been updated or is about to be updated. No thanks. Other stores will offer discounts on Apple products.
I got a much better deal on the iPad Pro 9.7" Space Gray 256GB at Target for $649...a savings of $250. With my Red Card, I saved another 5%, off the $649 price. I also picked up the AppleTV 32GB for a birthday gift for my brother at 25% off, and another 5% off with my Red Card. Apple's online store is back online and their iPad Pro deal is $100 off the regular price and a $100 Apple Gift card by email. Target beat them hands down. They also had the PS4 500GB with a game bundle for $249.99, and then Target Cartwheel knocked off another 15%, and the Red Card another 5%...knocked it down to about $201. Games were also discounted too. So it was a nice Black Friday sale at Target.
Apple has become the lame company that Microsoft used to be. Who tries to push last year's products and gift cards that won't cover your dongle bill? Helping execs to fat stock bonuses is not really helping its customers. Maybe they need a Trump shakedown.