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Black Friday Apple: Cynical Is as Cynical Does

29 November 2013 18,356 views No Comment

Cash is not king and direct discounts are right out. Your daddy’s Black Friday Apple is gone, never to return. This year’s Black Friday Apple promotion is 100 percent virtual, involving zero cash and no fungible discounts.

Yes, when you purchase an eligible item at the Apple Store, real or online, you get an Apple Gift Card, which cannot be used to pay for the item — no direct discount (image below).

Apple says, “savings,” but the amount due isn’t adjusted down. So, savings on what on precisely? Not the Mac, iPad, iPod or accessory you just bought.

Black Friday iPad
— iPad Air: $75 Apple Gift Card
— iPad 2: $50
— iPad mini: $50

Black Friday Mac
— MacBook Pro: – $150 Apple Gift
— MacBook Air: $150
— iMac: $150

Black Friday iPod
— iPod touch: $50 Apple Gift Card
— iPod nano: $25

Black Friday Accessories
— Apple TV: $25 Apple Gift Card
— 
Go Pro: $50
— Nike FuelBand: $25
— Beats: $50

However, if you need a printer or camera, then it could work out OK, but in a very full price (double dipping) sort of way. For example, when it comes to peripheral and accessory pricing, Apple nearly always charges the full SRP.

Black Friday Apple: Cynical Is as Cynical Does

“Savings” aren’t what Apple’s offering. This promotion is very, very much like the company’s Back to School promo, which delivers a gift card with Mac or iPad purchase.

I’m in the habit of defending Apple and its practices, because they generally make sense. But what good can be said about this year’s Black Friday Apple Store offer? Although some money might eventually leave Apple’s walled garden (i.e. third-party vendor payments), it won’t be in customer hands.

So, gone, gone, gone are the $50, $100 or more direct discounts of years past. And, while you might come home with more stuff, your bill at the end of the day will be higher…

What’s your take?

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