[Cody Dawg]

Seriously, I found out today that the regular student doesn't qualify for an Apple educational discount.

Is that screwed up or what?

Yes, if you are an elementary, middle school, or high school student, you don't get a student discount.

My son wanted to use some of the money he's earned buy a 12-inch Powerbook and he called them and wanted to buy one and they said, "No. You don't qualify because you're not in college."

We've been Apple customers for years and years but because of this I am seriously thinking of dropping Apple altogether as a result.

It is just plain wrong.

[goMac]

You could have tried reading Apple's page:

"To buy for yourself, first choose your category.

College or university student
College or university faculty, administration, or staff member
K-12 teacher or staff member"

High school students don't usually buy computers on their own. Apple is assuming a kid could be walked in by their parents to buy a computer for their parents. With college students that is less likely.

[Cody Dawg]

The POINT is that even if you prove your kid is a student they don't qualify for a student discount.

Yes, I read the page. But it doesn't change the fact that the average student does not get a discount and no, not every student is "walked in by their parents" to buy a computer. My son is 13 and has been working for the last year and he's earned about $6,000 and he wanted to buy a computer. Why doesn't he qualify for a discount? He's a student...so he should. (He's also an honor student who has won a science project using an Apple iPod as the basis of his project.)

I think that policy sucks.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

The POINT is that even if you prove your kid is a student they don't qualify for a student discount.

Yes, I read the page. But it doesn't change the fact that the average student does not get a discount.

And I think that policy sucks.

Like I said, the problem is when Daddy decides he wants a new computer he could simply walk his kid in and buy it under their name with the educational discount. Apple doesn't want this, and pre-college aged kids aren't huge computer buyers anyway.

Plus, if you take a community college course during the summer, you're officially a college student and then you could qualify for the discount.

[Tomchu]

Just go to the Apple EDU store, pick a college somewhere in your area, and voila. Last time I checked, they didn't require any form of proof for a random college I checked.

They do ask for my BCIT student number when I pick British Columbia --> British Columbia Institute of Technology, though.

[Big Mac]

Yeah, that's the way it has always been, Cody. And the silly thing is, for the normal education (college) online Apple Store they do no verification of student status.

[El Gato]

The difference between retail and education pricing on a 12in PB is $100.

Oh, the travesty. When will all companies give consumers something for nothing?

[Cody Dawg]

It is the POINT.

I appreciate your advice, but why should my son have to lie to get something he should qualify for? He earned his money and he wants to buy it himself.

It's just wrong. Apple could set up a student database and allow, say, only one student purchase per name or something. They could do SOMETHING.

Instead I see or hear that people just lie to get the same discount, yet my son, who is a student, has to pay more.

It's just wrong.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Seriously, I found out today that the regular student doesn't qualify for an Apple educational discount.

Is that screwed up or what?

No. It's assumed that students all the way through high school are dependents on their parents who should have jobs and can buy them a computer without the need of a discount.

When you get into college after the age of 18, that's when you're on your own. At least, that's how it was for me and for hundreds of thousands of other college students I'm sure. It's very difficult to work and save up money while going to school so many businesses offer discounts to college students so they can afford things.

[11011001]

I always assumed the student discount was because students are so poor from paying their tuition, living expenses etc. As for educational discounts to universities, I always imagined it was because of the research they do, and that money is actually being invested back into the economy.

Back in high school I had the same problem, but I was able to find a 3rd part store that sold me my tower at a 10% discount. Perhaps you will be able to do the same

[Cody Dawg]

olePigeon:

My son works and saves his money and he's 13.

So you're saying that he doesn't matter? His money is worth less than someone who is 18?

What a crappy thing to say.

In other words, we're penalizing a student along with a work ethic is what is going on.

[Dakar]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

My son works and saves his money and he's 13.

So you're saying that he doesn't matter? His money is worth less than someone who is 18?

What a crappy thing to say.

In other words, we're penalizing a student along with a work ethic is what is going on.

You could just be nice parents and make up for $50 or $100 he would have saved since you say he is a good student.

Originally Posted by olePigeon

No. It's assumed that students all the way through high school are dependents on their parents who should have jobs and can buy them a computer without the need of a discount.

When you get into college after the age of 18, that's when you're on your own. At least, that's how it was for me and for hundreds of thousands of other college students I'm sure. It's very difficult to work and save up money while going to school so many businesses offer discounts to college students so they can afford things.

Quoted for emphasis.

[Love Calm Quiet]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

It is the POINT.

It's just wrong. Apple could set up a student database and allow, say, only one student purchase per name or something. They could do SOMETHING.

So, this means that any adult who HAS A CHILD could purchase at the educational rate to buy a computer "for my child" (even in first grade). If they have four children, they get the discount on FOUR items?

I understand your frustration, but I'm not sure how the policy could be set and not provide a huge loop-hole for all parents. Do you know ANY computer company that has figured this out better?

Perhaps there could be some arrangement whereby if an adult has bought a regular-price Mac (within 2 years), the family could buy one for a child-student (at edu discount)?

[Cody Dawg]

Of course I'd pay it.

I have spent $100K on Apple equipment for our HOME in 10 years.

It is the POINT that this was his first Apple/Mac purchase on his own and he, a kid at 13, has to pay full price because Apple doesn't care about kids.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

olePigeon:

My son works and saves his money and he's 13.

So you're saying that he doesn't matter? His money is worth less than someone who is 18?

What a crappy thing to say.

In other words, we're penalizing a student along with a work ethic is what is going on.

Way to insult us college students. We're paying out our noses for tuition and supplies. You whine when your 13 year old son doesn't get the same discounts we do. How much of his education does your son pay for? Does he spend thousands on tuition a semester?

[Dakar]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Apple doesn't care about kids.

Hence why they make deals with schools...

[zmcgill]

I'm kind of the opposite. I bought my iMac from the Apple Store when I was 14 (Summer 2000 iMac DV w/Zip drive:$1100), and I used my dad's educational discount to do it, he's a school principal.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

My son works and saves his money and he's 13.

Your 13-year-old son isn't working 9 hours a day and accomplishing at least 6 credits worth of college work, having to pay tuition every semester, car payments, health insurance (if any), rent, food, and other necessities; all the while not have you as backup.

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

In other words, we're penalizing a student along with a work ethic is what is going on.

The key here is dependency. A company is more likely to see money from your 13-year-old because you can help pay for it regardless the situtation. They are less likely to see money from an independent college student because they will be scraping every penny they can ($100 off a laptop means food for 2 weeks.) Discounting products for independent college students is a great way to garner business from people who may not be able to afford such products.

Seriously, though, just find someone in college or a staff or teacher in school and get the discount for your kid.

[Love Calm Quiet]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Of course I'd pay it.

I have spent $100K on Apple equipment for our HOME in 10 years.
It is the POINT that this was his first Apple/Mac purchase on his own and he, a kid at 13, has to pay full price because Apple doesn't care about kids.

Yes, but how can any seller be expected to know it's a purchase "on his own"...

Your son is fortunate to be a skillful, hard worker to earn such money. But (sorry to be the skeptic), I think that there are WAY more families that would dishonestly pass off a purchase as "by the kid" than there are families with kids who have earned enough money to buy it on their own.

Again I'd ask: has ANY computer seller found a way to show more "care about kids"?

[RAILhead]

Okay, Cody — I'm usually on your side, but you're all kinds of bassackwards on this.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I appreciate your advice, but why should my son have to lie to get something he should qualify for?

Why does being in high school mean he should qualify for a discount?

[Busemann]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

The POINT is that even if you prove your kid is a student they don't qualify for a student discount.

Yes, I read the page. But it doesn't change the fact that the average student does not get a discount and no, not every student is "walked in by their parents" to buy a computer. My son is 13 and has been working for the last year and he's earned about $6,000 and he wanted to buy a computer. Why doesn't he qualify for a discount? He's a student...so he should. (He's also an honor student who has won a science project using an Apple iPod as the basis of his project.)

I think that policy sucks.

How banal. 13 year old pupils that live at home and have $6,000 in the bank don't need that discount like real students do. If they were to give discounts to all kids in school, then just about every household and their neighbor would use it.

[Cody Dawg]

I don't think I'm backwards.

Here's his schedule:

6:00 AM get up.
6:30 AM go to school.
7:00 AM he works in the library until 9:00 AM.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM is school
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM is some club or band practice
5:15 to 6:00 PM back to the library working in the computer lab or helping out. He gets home around 7:00 PM most nights.

Saturdays he works from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM helping kids with their Saturday school in the computer lab or in the math lab.

HE WORKS AND HE WORKS HARD and he does it all and still maintains an A average and is an honor student.

In fact, I've been a college student and the truth is that some days his schedule is worse than anything I had.

I'm proud of him and I think that Apple sucks to not have a buying program through each school - which we checked into - so that he'd qualify that way for a discount.

I just think it's wrong, period.

[epluth]

I have been purchasing through edu apple for roughly 7 years, through their website, (I love getting the OS for 69 bucks) but I have NEVER had to prove that I was a govt employee, nor in college or a college employee. I am in fact govt employed, but have never verified that with Apple.

Granted the discount is a minor one (would be nice if they gave better hardware discounts) they really cant just give it to everybody.

Cody, I have in the past spoke with consumer relations at apple, and sometimes, if you argue your point well enough, they will work with you on stuff like this.

[Dakar]

Wow, I wish school started that late when I was a kid.

[Cody Dawg]

Oh, and for people who say that a 13-year old working doesn't matter, YOU SUCK.

He's saving for college now rather than later and we're proud of him for caring about college tuition now. It's called (drum roll please): A WORK ETHIC.

Something some of you don't have, apparently.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

HE WORKS AND HE WORKS HARD and he does it all and still maintains an A average and is an honor student.

So because he works hard, he should get a discount? I bet factory workers have it harder. Should they get an even bigger discount?

I think the discount is a promotional gimmick, not a basic human right.

[Cody Dawg]

Thanks, epluth.

I can afford it - obviously - but I just think it's wrong to have to make a point with Apple about this.

Anyway, I'm done ranting because it doesn't matter.

But my kid is a hard working boy without a snot-nosed "gimme" mentality that some kids have.

[Cody Dawg]

Chuckit:

Are you really so STUPID as to compare factory workers to students?

Go away. You obviously can't understand that this thread is about STUDENTS.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I don't think I'm backwards.

Here's his schedule:

6:00 AM get up.
6:30 AM go to school.
7:00 AM he works in the library until 9:00 AM.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM is school
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM is some club or band practice
5:15 to 6:00 PM back to the library working in the computer lab or helping out.

Saturdays he works from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM helping kids with their Saturday school in the computer lab or in the math lab.

HE WORKS AND HE WORKS HARD and he does it all and still maintains an A average and is an honor student.

In fact, I've been a college student and the truth is that some days his schedule is worse than anything I had.

I'm proud of him and I think that Apple sucks to not have a buying program through each school - which we checked into - so that he'd qualify that way for a discount.

I just think it's wrong, period.

That's great. You're proud of him. The point of college student discounts is that without them college kids might have a harder time affording a Mac. Your son has no such problem.

This isn't a question of how hard your son works. It's a question of how much money he is spending on his education that he doesn't have to spend on a Mac. I worked a $17 an hour job last summer and had to spend it all on tuition.

If you've decided he's such a hard worker you pay the rest of it. It's not Apple's job to decide your son works hard and give him a discount. Apple doesn't give good behavior discounts. They give you you're-a-dirt-poor-college-student-making-your-own-way discounts.

[euchomai]

Good Lord, it is a college student discount. Not a kiddo discount or a Senior Citizen's discount. It is specifically for college students. When you realize that the pouting and angry faces should go away.

You son is important, he is valuable and everyone loves him. Apple just chooses very specific groups they give discounts to. No harm in it at all. One thing to remember is that we are not entitled to any kind of discount, they generously give it to college students who are typically on the broke side of living.

[mduell]

Can he sign up for one class at the local community college for the summer or fall term? I started taking community college courses between 7th and 8th grade (so I think I was about 13). Some states even have a program where tuition (which is only like $15/credit anyway) is waived for middle and high school students.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Oh, and for people who say that a 13-year old working doesn't matter, YOU SUCK.

He's saving for college now rather than later and we're proud of him for caring about college tuition now. It's called (drum roll please): A WORK ETHIC.

Something some of you don't have, apparently.

Great. That's your son's choice. Apple does not give good behavior or good work ethic discounts.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by mduell

Can he sign up for one class at the local community college for the summer or fall term? I started taking community college courses between 7th and 8th grade (so I think I was about 13). Some states even have a program where tuition (which is only like $15/credit anyway) is waived for middle and high school students.

This is what I did. I was at a community college, and I worked for my school, so I was both a student and staff.

[Cody Dawg]

Anyway, he just walked in the door (we have an eye appointment for him in 15 minutes) and I just asked him, "Do you think that regular students should also get the discount that college students get?"

(He knows nothing about my being upset about this or about this thread.)

"Well, not really. College kids are on their own. I'm not."



(What a great kid he is! )



So, he agrees with some of you here, but I still think there should be a way for a high schooler to catch a break.

Later everyone.

[epluth]

Originally Posted by goMac

They give you you're-a-dirt-poor-college-student-making-your-own-way discounts.

remember the tiny little 100 dollars they are discounting... That little 100 dollars means just about nothing to someone in college who cant even afford a meal, much less a 1500 dollar computer.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by epluth

remember the tiny little 100 dollars they are discounting... That little 100 dollars means just about nothing to someone in college who cant even afford a meal, much less a 1500 dollar computer.

Which is another reason I don't get why Cody is so mad over this. The discount is so small even to a poor college student. For a family with money getting mad over $100 makes no sense.

[euchomai]

Originally Posted by epluth

remember the tiny little 100 dollars they are discounting... That little 100 dollars means just about nothing to someone in college who cant even afford a meal, much less a 1500 dollar computer.

I totally disagree, that $100 dollar difference is even bigger to a dirt poor student that is scraping their cash together to buy a computer.

[Busemann]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

But my kid is a hard working boy without a snot-nosed "gimme" mentality that I have.

[epluth]

hmm, it just seems so easy to argue this point. Dirt poor. Oxymoron?

Sure 100 bucks is 100 bucks, but...

[epluth]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

But my kid is a hard working boy without a snot-nosed "gimme" mentality that some kids have.

says alot about the parent

[FireWire]

Originally Posted by goMac

Like I said, the problem is when Daddy decides he wants a new computer he could simply walk his kid in and buy it under their name with the educational discount. Apple doesn't want this, and pre-college aged kids aren't huge computer buyers anyway.

Here goes the presumption of innocence, until proven guilty

What the hell is wrong with you people? Always making big excuses for dishonest business practices.. You're making the apologies of the big corporation instead of taking the side of the small person, that is right, by the way (the person). Is it that hard to admit that Apple is wrong?

While we're at it, cancel the student discount at the theater, museum, fair.. We're in 2006: people start using computers from their earliest age. We live in an era in which computers are becoming a necessity, and people are expected to own their own computers. So what if the father buys a computer FOR his child? After all, he's the one who pays the admission fees to the aforementionned places. Why penalise them?

I too have been frustrated by this policy when I was in high school. I was about 15 at the time, and would have paid with my own money (allowance, work, small inheritance) but Apple would refuse to give me even a small discount. Really nice of them...

Now we can also argue whether 100$ discount is really a discount but that's another story, another one that doesn't make Apple shine...

P.S: just because it says something on a website doesn't make it more legitimate. We're talking about the principle here.

[epluth]

Originally Posted by FireWire

Here goes the presumption of innocence, until proven guilty

What the hell is wrong with you people? Always making big excuses for dishonest business practices.. You're making the apologies of the big corporation instead of taking the side of the small person, that is right, by the way (the person). Is it that hard to admit that Apple is wrong?

While we're at it, cancel the student discount at the theater, museum, fair.. We're in 2006: people start using computers from their earliest age. We live in an era in which computers are becoming a necessity, and people are expected to own their own computers. So what if the father buys a computer FOR his child? After all, he's the one who pays the admission fees to the aforementionned places. Why penalise them?

I too have been frustrated by this policy when I was in high school. I was about 15 at the time, and would have paid with my own money (allowance, work, small inheritance) but Apple would refuse to give me even a small discount. Really nice of them...

Now we can also argue whether 100$ discount is really a discount but that's another story, another one that doesn't make Apple shine...

P.S: just because it says something on a website doesn't make it more legitimate. We're talking about the principle here.

well said

[goMac]

Originally Posted by FireWire

Here goes the presumption of innocence, until proven guilty

What the hell is wrong with you people? Always making big excuses for dishonest business practices.. You're making the apologies of the big corporation instead of taking the side of the small person, that is right, by the way (the person). Is it that hard to admit that Apple is wrong?

While we're at it, cancel the student discount at the theater, museum, fair.. We're in 2006: people start using computers from their earliest age. We live in an era in which computers are becoming a necessity, and people are expected to own their own computers. So what if the father buys a computer FOR his child? After all, he's the one who pays the admission fees to the aforementionned places. Why penalise them?

I too have been frustrated by this policy when I was in high school. I was about 15 at the time, and would have paid with my own money (allowance, work, small inheritance) but Apple would refuse to give me even a small discount. Really nice of them...

Now we can also argue whether 100$ discount is really a discount but that's another story, another one that doesn't make Apple shine...

P.S: just because it says something on a website doesn't make it more legitimate. We're talking about the principle here.

Well... in addition there is that whole thing about discounts are for poor starving students...

Kids also don't generally buy their own computers. This discount isn't for adults with jobs, period. It's not a good kid discount. It's not an ethical discount.

I bought a $3000 Powerbook when I was 15 and I saved every penny for it. I worked for what I wanted. I didn't whine about how expensive it was. I don't go into McDonalds and whine about how they won't give me $1 off of a $4 Quarter Pounder.

[waxcrash]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I don't think I'm backwards.

Here's his schedule:

6:00 AM get up.
6:30 AM go to school.
7:00 AM he works in the library until 9:00 AM.
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM is school
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM is some club or band practice
5:15 to 6:00 PM back to the library working in the computer lab or helping out. He gets home around 7:00 PM most nights.

Saturdays he works from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM helping kids with their Saturday school in the computer lab or in the math lab.

HE WORKS AND HE WORKS HARD and he does it all and still maintains an A average and is an honor student.

In fact, I've been a college student and the truth is that some days his schedule is worse than anything I had.

I'm proud of him and I think that Apple sucks to not have a buying program through each school - which we checked into - so that he'd qualify that way for a discount.

I just think it's wrong, period.

I don't know how you do things in Florida, but where I'm from 14 is the minimum age to work.

[d4nth3m4n]

just go the a campus bookstore on a college campus, everything apple is already the discount price.

been circumventing this for a while.

[meelk]

Apple should NOT be turning customers away over a measely edu discount that most people probably cheat on anyway.
Apple's market share is what? 2.2? 2.4?

Wake up Apple.

Considering how many times Apple has tried to get their laptops into schools, this is lunacy.

[buffswin]

I don't like it that the speed limit is 75.

I think that policy sucks.

[epluth]

Originally Posted by meelk

Apple should NOT be turning customers away over a measely edu discount that most people probably cheat on anyway.
Apple's market share is what? 2.2? 2.4?

Wake up Apple.

Considering how many times Apple has tried to get their laptops into schools, this is lunacy.

considering pc's are cheaper... yes apple, wake up.

[Dakar]

Originally Posted by meelk

Apple should NOT be turning customers away over a measely edu discount that most people probably cheat on anyway.
Apple's market share is what? 2.2? 2.4?

Wake up Apple.

Considering how many times Apple has tried to get their laptops into schools, this is lunacy.

Yeah, so if Apple gives the discount to everybody what happens then? It's not a discount anymore, its just the regular price.

Then College Students start bitching that they need a discount.