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Best Buy to Match Back to School Promo with $100 Store Gift Card

Sunday June 19, 2011 8:20 am PDT by Arnold Kim

Readers who are disappointed with Apple's new Back to School promotion may be interested to hear that electronics retailer Best Buy is offering to match Apple's promotion with their own.

Apple recently launched their 2011 Back to School promotion. Instead of the typical iPod giveaway, Apple is now offering a $100 iTunes/App Store gift card instead. We've been told that Best Buy will be matching this promotion with a $100 Best Buy gift card for the same qualifying customers. This is an unadvertised promotion, so customers will have to ask for it specifically.

Apple's Back to School promotion is open to college students, students accepted to college, parents buying for college students or faculty/staff at any grade level. Qualifying computers include the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac Pro.
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Simplicated
25 months ago



I think I'd rather have the apple gift card


I think I'd rather get the Best Buy one so I can buy some substantial stuff.
Rating: 15 Positives
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mattwolfmatt
25 months ago



I think I'd rather have the apple gift card


You can use the Best buy gift card to buy the apple card. Also, if you're a reward zone member, you get 3-5% back of your purchase back, I think.

All else being equal, the Best Buy one is a better deal.
Rating: 14 Positives
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xdbuix
25 months ago

You can't use gift cards to buy gift cards.


that's wrong. I've done it so many times.
Rating: 8 Positives
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campingsk8er
25 months ago
I think I'd rather have the apple gift card
Rating: 7 Positives
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Macmaniac
25 months ago
Unless Best Buy is matching the $100 off the MBP for edu pricing then going with BB would be a silly idea. While some may not like the $100 iTunes card at least ur getting $100 off the computer as well. Oh and don't forget $66 off AppleCare on the 13 and $110 off AppleCare on the 15 when u buy through Apple! Oh and the $99 printer rebate as well, so check first or you could miss out on $300 worth of discounts and offers through Apple.
Rating: 6 Positives
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wordoflife
25 months ago
I'd definitely go with the Best Buy one given the option.
Rating: 5 Positives
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nunes013
25 months ago

Do you get an educational discount on a computer at Best Buy though?

The Apple store on-line or on campus gives $100 or more off the computer plus the $100 for buying apps or media (music, books or movies).

The benefit of the Best buy card is you can get DVD or CD and rip it instead of just the download.


i dont think you get an education discount. and i also dont think you get a $100 towards a printer. so between the $100 for a printer and $100-200 for a computer apples is still better but limits you when it comes to the giftcard. now if bestbuy added a printer and education discount we would be talking. that would bring back some of their loses and compete with apple at the same time.
Rating: 5 Positives
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Macopotamus
25 months ago

I'd definitely go with the Best Buy one given the option.


You would pay $100 more for your computer just so you can get a $100 gift card to Best Buy rather than take the discount + iTunes credit?
Rating: 5 Positives
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bigp9998
25 months ago
Agree that the big question here is whether or not they will match the EDU price of Apple as well. The MacBook Airs have traditionally only gotten $50 off for education, so even if BB doesn't match them, it would still be a better deal for me. I'm also really hoping now that the new 13" Air comes with 4GB RAM standard, since you can't upgrade through BB, from what I understand.
Rating: 4 Positives
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mccldwll
25 months ago

I'd rather have the best buy card. Miles more useful than the app store card would ever be. I could put it towards an iPod, buy a camera with it, or, as many others have said, buy giftcards towards other marketplaces like amazon, or even Apple's market. This is a WAY better deal.


No, it's not, unless BB also matches edu pricing AND matches aapl's printer offer.
Rating: 4 Positives

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