Because I have an affinity for the Apple ecosystem (yep, I”m an Apple fanboy), I’ve bought several Apple products over the years, from iPhones to MacBooks and even a few iPods back in the day. One thing I’ve known for a long time is that being on Team Apple can be expensive!
How To Pay Less for Apple Products
In this article, I’m going to show you how to save money on Apple products. To help us, we’ll get some great tips from ClarkDeals.com’s Sarah Jordan.
So what is the best way to save on an Apple product?
"Buying used/refurbished is probably the best way to save on Apple products," Sarah says.
Let’s get into some other ways to get Apple products for a lower price.
Know Where To Shop
As I mentioned at the outset, if you go to your local Apple store or Apple.com, you’ll pay top dollar for an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Fortunately, you can find Apple products at most of the big retailers that sell electronics. Want to save? Catch the sales.
As a Costco member, I get emails with exclusive sales from the retailer delivered to my inbox. I recently received one advertising a MacBook Pro with 256GB for $1,099.99. That same MacBook retails for $1,299 on Apple.com. That's a $200 savings!
Sarah agrees that Costco is a place you definitely want to look if you want to buy a MacBook.
"I think discounts on MacBooks are harder to find, but we see the best prices on new ones at Micro Center and Costco," Sarah says. "Best Buy also offers student discounts in August, around the start of the new school year, with its student membership. They offered $200 off last year," she says.
Buy at the Right Time
You also want to shop for Apple products at the right time of year.
“We’ll probably see discounts on AirPods coming up in June/July for Amazon Prime Day,” Sarah says. “Of course, we usually see the best deals on all electronics, especially AirPods and Apple Watches, around Black Friday,” she adds.
Some of the biggest sales can be found on retail holidays. Mark these on your calendar:
- Black Friday
- Cyber Monday
- Amazon Prime Day
Another option is to time your purchase after an Apple event, which is when the company debuts new products or product features.
Apple events drum up interest for the newest models, but that usually means older models start to drop in price.
If you don’t mind buying an Apple product one or two generations behind, after an Apple event is often when you can save the most!
Buy Refurbished Items
Many electronics retailers sell refurbished Apple products including Walmart, Best Buy, eBay and Apple itself. Another place to look is Woot.com.
“Woot offers deals on refurbished iPhones and watches pretty frequently, but they’re daily deals so you have to keep an eye out for them,” Sarah says.
One place I've found success at when it comes to buying used Apple products is Amazon Renewed. I've bought a couple of iPhones and a MacBook Pro, all certified refurbished in like-new condition.
Interested in buying refurbished items? Here's what to know about Amazon Renewed.
Trade In Older Electronics
Another way you can get Apple products for a cheaper price is to use the trade-in value of other items.
“I remember Clark talking a long time ago about how a certain carrier was offering a really good discount when you traded in your old iPhone,” Sarah says. “I think he purchased an iPhone from eBay and then traded it in at the store for a bigger discount on a new model.”
The good thing is you don't have to Google for Apple's biggest trade-in deals. Apple.com has a Carrier Deals Page that shows you all the trade-in specials you should know about.
Final Thoughts
They are durable and beautifully-designed products, but Apple items can put a hurtin’ on the wallet!
Check out your favorite retailer’s refurbished section to get some great deals on Apple products. If you’re buying from a third-party seller on sites such as Amazon.com, make sure you buy only from sellers with the highest ratings.
And if you do choose to buy refurbished, make sure your Apple product comes with a money-back warranty.
More Resources From Clark.com:
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