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Apple Accepting Trade-ins
zaren writes "Apple Computer has kicked off a trade-in program that apparently is covering all of Europe (I first heard about it on apple.ru, but there's now a link at euro.apple.com as well).
Apple is accepting any Power Mac (from the 6100s on up) for a credit towards the purchse of a new G4 tower. Seems like they're a) pushing for more people to upgrade to Mac OS X, and b) pushing to clear out their G4 inventory before MacWorld New York." It looks like it is not any Power Mac, but old ones (I don't see iMacs listed). Still, I wish they would do the program in the US.
Powermax is an Apple dealer. They've been accepting trade-ins for quite a while. I recently sent them a Blue and White G3 in trade for a refurbished iBook. I essentially upgraded all the components on my machine (memory, CPU, ports), retained compatibility with the system I traded in, and gained the portability of a laptop for about $400 out of pocket.
The only problem with the deal is that it takes about a month to have the computer examined and the credit applied to your credit card.
The middle mind speaks!
I think the Powerbook program was to get those machines out of circulation. The trade-in was for 190s and 5300s (if I remember corectly), which were covered under a special extended warranty as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement there were multiple design flaws in those machines, easily the worst quality products to ever escape from Cupertino.
:p
:)
I still have my 190, since I still couldn't afford a new machine, even with the trade-in
BTW, my first accepted submission! Yay me!
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Apple hardware STILL too expensive? How about a raffle ticket?
Come to the University of Mars! Classes starting soon!
Really? Then do it. Go to ebay.com, search for your model 'on completed auctions" (or whatever). This should give you an idea of what like machines are selling for. Take a $100 off that price (but hope you get lucky) and *now* decide: if I could sell for this price, would I?
Extra credit: Look up the 'completed auction' price of recent 6100 and 8100s. Wait for this offer to be extended to the US, watch for jump in price.
Apple is already offering up to US$300 rebates on G4's in US and Canada, with no strings attached:
:)
http://www.apple.com/promo/powermac/
I'm guessing that Europe doesn't have this promotion, and this trade-in is EuroApple's way of blowing out G4 inventory. I wouldn't expect either promotion to cross over the Atlantic and combine with the other.
(Maybe trade-in programs are easier to maintain in Europe for whatever technical legal reasons, or they figured they have a better pool of old machines.)
So, what are you waiting for, get that G4 today! (and stay away from MWNY to avoid buyer's remorse
Motorola are already anufacturing several MPC 85XX parts, none of which is suitable as a desktop CPU - check out Moto's site, all else is speculation.
That was classic intercourse!
Bear in mind that European prices include VAT (value-added tax or sales tax), which can be as high as 20 per cent or thereabouts, whereas U.S. (and Canadian) prices do not. (For example, the dual-gigahertz G4 costs C$4,800 in Canada, but you've got to add 15 per cent or so to cover GST and provincial taxes, in most cases.) The presence of the VAT in the price might not account for all of the difference in price, but it's a part of it -- could add about US$600 or so.
Good point (and your right about the tax about - it's' about 20% in Europe).
It's 17.5% here in the UK, but the average is higher (20-25%) apart from Switzerland, which is only 7%, the minimum allowed by the EU is 15% (one of the reasons they are not members).
I know the laws about displaying taxes on goods differs in the US (here in the UK/Europe all prices aimed at consumers included VAT, though products aimed at business users may omit VAT as long as they state that's the case).
I had assumed that a 'Federal' level of tax would be included and that the only tax left to pay would be 'State' tax (which they might be ignoring or charging at a the rate of the where ever Apple's dispatch point is) because it's a web site (and as such their is little/no strict regulation enforce yet).
Is this correct?
There is no federal tax here, at least for VAT style taxes. They get you for 10-39% of your income though.
Apple will charge you state tax in all 50 states, so that Dual 1gig would be 8.8% more expensive here, or roughly $260.
Then there's the classic 'buy it out of state', either by mail order or by weekend getaway.