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halki · Sep 22, 2003, 09:58 AM

I have just watched the Paris expo stream on apple.com and Jobs gives the prices of the top end 15" powerbook at 2499 Euros. I am irish and living in the UK so I thought I would go back to Ireland to purchase it as that works out �300 less than the uk price. I then find it is over 3000 Euros in Ireland. Can anyone tell me the reason for this.

Hanul · Sep 22, 2003, 10:10 AM

Well, it is EUR 2,499 - without tax. If you add the tax (in Germany VAT is 16%) you end up with something around EUR 3,000 (to be exact EUR 2,898.84). Looks like Ireland's VAT is even higher that Germany's. The U.S. price is $2,499, also without tax.

halki · Sep 22, 2003, 10:14 AM

thanks. i looked through the other european stores and ireland is the most expensive place to buy a powerbook. looks like i will be buying it here

PBG4 User · Sep 22, 2003, 12:57 PM

Actually, the US price is $2,599 without tax.

Or $2,299 with student discount.

halki · Sep 22, 2003, 01:14 PM

if i was to order via the uk educational store what sort of checks do they make to verify if u are a student or not. i am no longer a student.

Hanul · Sep 22, 2003, 04:41 PM

AFAIK all European customers are served from Cork, Ireland. The parts are shipped from Taiwan to Ireland and are then distributed to the European countries. The Apple Online Store does not check for student IDs (at least in Germany, so I assume it is the same all over Europe), but Apple reserves the right to ask for one, if they like to. I ordered several parts through the Online Store with educational discounts and was never asked to provide an ID (although I could). So, the risk seems to be rather small, but it's up to you.

michaelb · Sep 22, 2003, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by Hanul:
The Apple Online Store does not check for student IDs (at least in Germany, so I assume it is the same all over Europe), but Apple reserves the right to ask for one, if they like to. I ordered several parts through the Online Store with educational discounts and was never asked to provide an ID (although I could). So, the risk seems to be rather small, but it's up to you.

I think it depends on the scale of the order: an entry level iBook would probably pass without question whereas a G5 with Cinema Display could require confirmation in the form of a faxed student card and ID.

That's been my experience with edu orders.