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Apple Launches iTunes Volume Discount Program
An anonymous reader writes "Apple has launched a volume discount program for iTunes. The program allows for volume purchases of songs for giveaways, incentives, and others. Seems like this is what is going on beyond straight licensing programs to universities like Florida State."
In a nutshell Apple is standardizing their marketing incentives for 3rd parties to come and take as they see fit. I would expect a steady stream of revenue coming from this program for a number of years. Just like the creation of iTunes gift certificates and allowances lets parents bot keep tabs on things and give a present at the same time, these volume certificates will allow universities and corporations to do the same.
Apple is doing a pretty good job IMHO on leveraging the music store to both make money and make mindshare. I have seen a number of Apple logos in _strange_ places on campus due to crosspromotions with pepsi and the school.
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How soon until another company uses this to sell iTunes songs at discount? I would probably be a taker.
For anyone wondering how they plan to make money off this.
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J. TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Goods, including song codes which expire unused, are not redeemable for cash and cannot be returned for a cash refund, exchanged, or used to purchase gift certificates or provide allowances by either Purchaser or possessor of Goods ("Holder").
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Read the freaking website From the FAQ: "Restrictions on re-selling codes Q: Can I purchase these codes and re-sell them to customers for my promotion? A: No. iTunes song codes are available for purchase as giveaway items only. Song codes may not be re-sold to customers or other third parties."
Besides all the promotion etc., think of the CC processing fees they would be saving. The second biggest chunk in the $0.99 purchase price was CC processing fee. With this move, they eliminate 25-30c from their costs, give 20 to their customers and maybe get to keep a few cents themselves.
I know nothing is that simple, and it would cost them to build software for bulk purchase, keep track of codes etc., but I think this is a good move for long term.
Did anyone ever believe that Pepsi Co etc who have bought 100,000,000 tracks in iTMS paid the full price?
I hope Apple can make enough on each unit sold, it must be expensive to manufacture each digital song.
I wonder if there will ever come a day when music can be reproduced for nearly zero cost.. can you imagine how inexpensive it will be! I bet CDs would be $2 and music downloads would be pennies.
As no other product is being promoted.
This isn't a "$0.99 each, or 10 for $8" deal, so this won't make a difference for the vast majority of us.
Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
Does anyone know the status of the Lawsuit that Apple Records brought against Apple Computer?
I wonder if this will result in "co-ops" of iTunes Music Store users who band together to buy 25,000 songs at a discounted rate.
It seems like if you wanted 100 songs a year, you would just need 250 people like yourself to come together, pay apple $20,000, and everyone gets 20 songs free.
When I write out that final price, this seems less likely. But if there were some sort of online-escrow/bank account, maybe it would work.
Sure it does. I've seen that very thing done many times. We raffle off a donated cooler or other such container which just happens to have something that they manufacturer claim couldn't be resold. We weren't selling them. We sold the cooler. The contents just happened to be included.
and is not simply reselling something. You sell raffle tickets to some sort of item on the premise that you are getting much more than the item is worth, because the money you raise is for some purpose other than simply selling the item. Hence, a PROMOTION and not a RESELLING.