Can I save when buying an Apple iMac?

Big_Nose_3

I'm looking to replace my ancient iMac with a new model and had forgotten how difficult it is to take a bite out of the cost price of anything from Apple.
I thought the days of manufacturers being able to dictate the price of their goods to retailers were over but no-one, not even Tesco, are offering a single penny discount on an iMac 17" Intel Core 2 Duo.
The best deal I can find is to buy from Apple and get 0 per cent over six months as well as a £60 rebate on a printer if I buy at the same time - one of the printers they're offering is a £60 Hewlett Packard which looks to have good reviews so effectively I get a free printer.
But I want MORE MORE MORE (Martin's really got to me) and want to pay LESS LESS LESS!!
Does anyone out there know if anywhere is knocking off iMacs in the sales or are offering better deals than the Apple Store?
Any advice would be appreciated - barring advice to buy a PC ... after five years of completely trouble free 'motoring' with my iMac, telling me to switch to a PC would be like advising a Porsche driver to buy a Trabant!
Thanks.

girders

As you've said really tricky to get a discount on apple gear. Best option is when a retailer has a store wide promo or discount code that doesn't exclude computers etc - eg 10% off at Currys (only 20" version and out of stock) or some kind of discount in conjunction with taking a store card etc.

Any option of getting one with an educational discount through the apple store online? And I'm assuming you aren't interested in refurb.

My own experience last year getting an iBook involved a Tesco promo of 20% off their laptops (mostly cheap brands) but which also included their Milton Keynes store which was a pilot store for a larger Apple section. Confirmed that MK had it in stock and was then able to get my local John Lewis in Glasgow to price match the 20% off.

If you aren't desperate to get it immediately you will be able to get a decent discount - although you might have to wait a while and you will need to be creative about it!

Edit - you might also want to waint until after Apple's next big event in early January for news on product changes etc and also consider waiting to see when the new version of teh OS - Leopard is announced along with the 07 version of the iLife software suite (iPhoto, iDVD, iWeb, Garageband bundled with new macs)

Paul1_2

If you are planning a holiday Apples are much cheaper in the US, but failing that here's a code from Hotukdeals:

Discount: £56

Minimum Spend: £560.00

Promotional Code: IPMQRFY5DC

Expiry: 31/12/2006

Applies to: First orders

Instructions: £56 (inc VAT) off £560 (inc VAT) at Apple Store UK !! Includes sales from the refurb store Quidco 3% cashback also available.

Paul

Chuffy

If you work for the NHS you can get a discount from clicking through NHSDiscounts.co.uk.
You can also open another window and click through Quidco and that should track at the same time.

vk2003

If you have a student in the house, you can get an educational discount.
Alternatively, there is the Apple refurb shop. I have bought from this many times at a significant saving, and the goods have been perfect, and with full apple warranty.
Finally, if you phone them up (and get to speak to the right person...), and explain what you want to buy, and how you can get an equivalent dell for £xx amount less, they sometimes negotiate a lower price with you.

Jnelhams

Toys 'R' Us in Watford had some Mac Stuff on promo the other week, no idea if it is still on offer though....

eater_of_its

I worked at an Apple Authorised Service Provider for a few years, and am still friends with some of the guys. The markup on Apple products is ridiculously low, which is why the AASPs are struggling to survive and try to push support packs with the computers themselves.

Anyway, for a while it was cheaper for us to purchase from PC World (the business to business shop) than it was to buy from Apple themselves. If this isn't possible for you (or it's no longer the case), you could look at getting a refurb or a previous model. Call an AASP and ask if they have any lying around that they'd like to get rid of.

goody2

Hi

I bought a G5 last year from John Lewis ...

A friend told me he had bought a iBook from JL when he saw a iBook on the bottom shelf near the counter, he asked if it was for sale and the sales chap said it was a return, nothing wrong with it , the customer just did not want it, so they were selling it with a full guarantee ( which I think JL's is better than other retailers) and £100 off

So guess what...I went up to Handforth Dean and saw a G5 around the sales counter in a box, asked the sales chap about it and he said it was a customer return and they were selling it with a full guarantee and £100 off plus a better spec. I snapped his hand off! I saved about £250! :j

Ring them up to see if they have any returns that they are selling off..it's worth a go...they can only say No!

Sui_Generis

Big_Nose wrote:

I'm looking to replace my ancient iMac with a new model and had forgotten how difficult it is to take a bite out of the cost price of anything from Apple.

The £56 discount code is the best around expires 31/12 but you can get ~12% off by ordering through the Education store - get a student to do it for you. You cannot use vouchers in the education store and the additional benefit is three years cover is included (~£150-200? expense). You can use Quidco but its a bit of a fuss.

Macworld is up on 9-1-2007 and Leopard will be released in Q1 so you might want to wait until then as any upgrade will cost ~£70 and about the same again for iLife 07 - so an extra £150ish expense if you buy before then. Leopard does have some really nice features...

Mr_Ikasu

Apple offer 13% off on most things if ordered via a University campus network via the links on intranet or through Apple's site.

If you have anyone who is a student or who works at a University (both my parents ) then this is a great option. No problems for me and you even get a 3 year warranty as standard instead of 1 year.

The refurb store is also a good place to look and you occassionally get an even better deal as the Mac will have been upgraded by the original purchaser and you get these upgraded components for no extra cost.

Hope that helps.

girders

Just had an e-mail in from PC World saying they are doing Vat free offers until 1st January although I think it may be instore only.

I'd recommend trying to find a store with the Mac you want in stock and then getting John Lewis to price match it for you.