TAG | Apple now price matching at its US company stores? |
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| by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Friday, 28 November 2008 | |
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This presumption has even extended to a site called IfoAppleStore, which prides itself on delivering “news and information about Apple’s retail stores”. IfoAppleStore said that “Apple has apparently fired the first shot in the holiday shopping battle, by announcing internally that retail store employees have the authority to match the prices of other authorized retailers.” The news has exploded because Apple is offering a “Black Friday” sale in the US, something it has done in the past, with Black Friday sales supposedly heraldeding the only time in the year that Apple offered retail discounts, at least in the US. It’s also apparently come about because Best Buy, a US electronics retailer, has “announced $50 to $150 discounts on various [Mac] computer models” for the Black Friday sales. However others say Apple has always matched prices at retail in the US. A commenter called “Professor” at the IfoAppleStore story noted that: “Much of this story is incorrect. As a long time Apple Store manager, I can state that retail has always had the ability to match prices with Authorized Apple Retailers with some limits, such as matching rebates and matching prices with Club stores. The policy is very clear and printed in the retail operations manual.” A number of other commenters said similar things. This prompted IfoAppleStore.com’s Gary Allen to note in the comments that: “Everyone - Thanks for the feedback on the price matching policy. The comment consensus is that it previously was a “policy,” although unadvertised, unoffered and rarely used. However, multiple sources indicate price matching is now more up-front among Apple’s sales policies.” iTWire sent an email to Apple Australia asking what the official Apple Australia store “price matching” policy is - but we haven’t as yet received a response. If you’re in the US, what may have been a secret to some in terms of getting Apple to match prices or rebates is a secret no longer, as Apple seemingly faces up to the reality - in a stronger and more direct fashion at retail level - that customers are always looking for the best price, and they'll buy elsewhere if a better price can be found!
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