Why am I being charged for a gift card?

So, get a free gift card, exactly what the website and promotional offers say. You also get your education discount. That isn’t enough? What did you expect?

If I buy an iPad Pro online (least expensive) I pay $899 plus sales tax, plus receive a $100 gift card. The $899 price already reflects the educational discount plus I get another $100 Apple Gift Card. Total savings of $200.

I’m not sure where the confusion is?

What is the point of the gift card if all you want is the laptop and Apple Care for it? The ed store is forcing you to buy a gift card in the same amount as the alleged savings. Or, put another way: why not apply this gift card immediately to the purchase of the Apple Care plan? That, at least, would feel like a saving.

It's sleazy, IMO.

Jeff Donald, I came here looking answers to the whole gift card charge and I’m a bit more clear now. Maybe this is a stretch, but if for some reason I return my laptop (which won’t happen), then Apple can revolt the gift card also, and they’ll be whole again — as if they had never sold the computer to me. Either way, when the laptop is all paid off, then I would have the full value of the gift card in the end. Or, I could be very wrong in this line of thinking. 😏

And, not surprisingly, point-of-sale systems often don't make returns easy. Glad to be out of retail.

Did you read my answer above, marked >Best Answer.<

I am not sure you are right: for example, I am buy iPad Air , the listed price is $549.00. They charged my $549.00 + tax and then Apple charged me $100.00 for Gift card. I do not see any "savings"(

Thank you for the explanation, I knew there had to be a reason. I appreciate the quick response too!

Can please anyone give ms a gift card

Osman789 wrote:

Can please anyone give ms a gift card

Ask your family for one for your birthday.

Me too. Apple shows me education saving but compulsory sell me a $100 Gift Card and charge my money from my bank account balance.

It is tricky. ～～

Nope. Nothing tricky about it at all. You're getting a $100 gift card in addition to your purchase. And, you're only paying for the purchase (the total is the same)

Thank you for this explanation. I was having a hard time figuring this out, but it makes sense now.

One year later, and the same thing happened to me just now!!!

maryann l wrote:

What is the point of the gift card if all you want is the laptop and Apple Care for it? The ed store is forcing you to buy a gift card in the same amount as the alleged savings. Or, put another way: why not apply this gift card immediately to the purchase of the Apple Care plan? That, at least, would feel like a saving.

It's sleazy, IMO.

Did you review what you can use the Apple Account balance for after redeeming the Gift card? You would not be able to use it for the initial purchase of AppleCare, but could continue coverage for an additional 1 - 2 years depending on the Mac and it would not cost you anything.

• For some recurring charges, like AppleCare+, you can't start your subscription with Apple Account balance. But as long as you keep another valid payment method on file and your Apple Account balance would cover an entire charge, your recurring charge will pull from your Apple Account balance.*

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance - Apple Support