Why Amazon.com can sell Mac cheaper than Apple store

Who know's? Maybe they're willing to take less of a profit margin. Maybe it's because Apple Stores are traditionally in high-end malls where the rent is no doubt astronomical.

Bottom line is Amazon is just fine. If they have what you want and the price is good then go for it?

This may run afoul of talking about Apple's policies, but what the heck.

Most manufacturers with "company stores" tend not to undercut prices, as to not upset their retail sellers. Most manufacturers want their products sold in retail channels because it makes for larger sales volume, even if the per unit profit isn't as much as the same products sold in company stores. The Apple Stores are in high-profile (read high rent) locations and tons of advice is doled out (often for free) including for people who bought their Macs through outside retailers. The stores seem to be more than just a retail outlet, but a goodwill gesture for the customer.

That being said, the discount isn't that much. I know there's a small rebate, but don't have any idea of the business decision that allows it.

I donnt know about amazon. But I bought macbook from www.kakaku.com
its one of the best online shopping website in Japan.
The price is about 1250 dollar US. whereas if we buy from the apple.com website, even included the student discount, the price is about 1400 US dollar. So there is about 150 US dollar difference.

Its quite amazing the gap of the price.

Hmm...

Hey...

i bought my trusty and very dependable late 2006 MacBook from eBay, and the seller had it shipped directly from an Amazon. The previous explanations as to why Amazon is less expensive make sense... and i would buy from Amazon if is cheaper as the products are essentially the same and are covered under the same warranty.

hope that helps, happy holidays!

I bought my Macbook 3 weeks ao from Amazon along with Apple Care. Total I save about 200 vs. buying from Apple. 75.00 rebate free shipping and no tax totaled actually about 250.00 and all is good so far. Maybe Amazon gets a discount for buying so many at one time. Mine is the latest model and all packed in Apple boxes with the exception of the main box and that was Amazon.

...free shipping and no tax totaled actually about 250.00 and all is good so far.

Of course, you still have to pay the tax yourself. Buying from an online retailer that doesn't charge you local sales tax doesn't mean you don't owe it, it just means they didn't collect it and submit it for you. Suggesting you bypass paying your local tax by purchasing online is against the Terms of Use of the Apple Discussions as it's an illegal activity.

-Doug

You still have to pay it but no at the time of sell. You know I forgot that Apple ships free also... I didn't save but 75 on rebate so not that much beter but still 75 is better then nothing. O well 75.00 is still better then nothing. I was thinking they charge for shipping but that was ebay.

I bought a, "late 2006," MacBook last May from PC Connection, who have been in business for 20+ years. They were about $300 less than Apple's on-line store, plus they included shipping, and a nice carrying case. That is even considering any discounts I qualify for at the educational version of the Apple Store.

PC Connection did charge sales tax because they ship from a warehouse facility in Wilmington, Ohio, and I live in Ohio.

Something you might want to think about is if you cam resist being the first kid on the block to have the most shiny new trinket. If you wait, you'll get some really substantial discounts from retailers and the unit you'll receive will most likely be more reliable because the manufacturing process has had time to be refined.

I waited to get the 1.83 GHz MacBook until the Santa Rosa version was just starting to go on sale. The discounts made the MacBook less expensive than any Core 2 Duo notebook machine Dell was selling at the time.

We got way off topic. Let me say to Doug, what I meant about the tax was, in my state even if you pay online tax you still have to pay it again locally. Our state has an old law thats been in affect for over 60 years. They found that they could get extra money by using an old law that really double taxes us but what can ya do. Anyway to the original OP sorry this got off topic. I think Amazon buys so many that they get a discount. By them offering a 75.00 rebate making them cheaper then Apple I will continue to think of Amazon for future purchases. Or maybe there over stocked lol.