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

Sunday June 19, 2011 9:20 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.

[ 192 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
mattwolfmatt
112 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: 11 Votes
Avatar
Simplicated
112 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: 9 Votes
Avatar
xdbuix
112 months ago

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


that's wrong. I've done it so many times.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
Macmaniac
112 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: 5 Votes
Avatar
Macopotamus
112 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: 4 Votes
Avatar
xxBURT0Nxx
112 months ago
I'm sure everyone would prefer a $100 Best Buy gift card to the $100 App Store Gift Card, since you can buy far more things at best buy.

However, with no educational pricing, and no free printer, it's actually a worse deal than what Apple is offering. Just with your edu pricing discounts, you could buy the $100 best buy gift card (even more than $100 with some models) and you would still have a free printer and a $100 mac app store gift card.

If best buy would at least match the edu pricing, this would be a far more appealing deal, since in my experience most people don't particularly care for a mail in rebate printer or already have a printer at home.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
nunes013
112 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: 4 Votes
Avatar
wordoflife
112 months ago
I'd definitely go with the Best Buy one given the option.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
mccldwll
112 months ago

?...

But I would gladly forgo the education discount for a BB gift Card if I needed accessories. Perhaps this is why BB is offering the program,tooffset the pricing they cannot offer.



Huh? You would rather pay full price at BB and get a free $100 gift card than pay Apple $100 less with education discount AND get a free $100 iTunes, etc. card? Best Buy needs more customers who think like you.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
corywoolf
112 months ago

No, it's a math equation. < means less expensive.


No, it's a math inequality. :eek:
Rating: 3 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]