now every free loader in the world is going to be "test driving" mac minis with absolutely no intention of buying one...

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Guest wrote:
now every free loader in the world is going to be "test driving" mac minis with absolutely no intention of buying one...

Is worth two in the bush. This program gets some Macs into the hands of customers who otherwise may not have purchased one. And returning a computer that you've setup and used for 30 days is harder than keeping it. Just a matter of time until Dull or other PC makers follow suit with their own test drive deals.
The real question is how do I get one of the returned minis with a hefty discount?

A month's worth of interest may out way any returns. Plus they can re sell the returns as refurbs. It will also get people to look at the system, but I wonder how many PC people will be willing to part with the money. It will be good for those Mac users who need to upgrade to 10 but are still on 9 or a beige G-3.

: )

Now this is good.

"Just a matter of time until Dull or other PC makers follow suit with their own test drive deals."

But if Dell tried their own version of this, it'd result in nothing but almost every unit returned and alot of bad press.

Now, since Reality Check's been gone for awhile, let me try to relieve the longing with an a little impersonation:

Sorry, iLemmings, but now that Apple's the hip thing, millions of PC users will test-drive a Mini and promptly return it to Apple. Once 30 days is over Apple won't have a dime to its name thanks to all the refunds. Looks like another I told you so. Apple is doomed.

There. Almost like the real thing! Although it's way too well-reasoned for him. I can't drive all the facts from my head long enough to enter Reality Check's world of absolute delusion and do a truly convincing imitation.

Keep in mind that the customer still pays for shipping, and may likely buy things from Apple that aren't refundable (iPods for example). Even if people try the Mac mini, and return it to Apple, they can still sell it refurbished. Take a look at the refurbished section on the Apple Online Store. Every item is still selling at or above original estimated margins.

Apple would have to have so many people try and then return Mac minis that their store became flooded with refurbs to the point of driving refurb units down below their margin before there was ever a per unit loss on returns to even begin to offset the increase in revenue from increased sales due to the promotion.

Apple can do this because they command high margins and resell value is strong. Other PC vendors would have a hard time *promoting* an offer like this because due to their tighter margins, there would be a per unit loss on every returned item that they would have to weigh against any modest impact on sales.

The impact for Apple could be huge since people *need* to see before they switch, but for PC vendors, there's a lot less of an incentive to "try" a different brand.

We've seen the "Test Drive a Mac" campaign before, back in the Fat Mac days. It really didn't work very well - there was a lot of egg on Scully's face about that one. I hope it works out better this time.

Sounds like a desperate act, not befitting apple. And it ends Oct 31st. Just 2 month from now. So half hearted for a marketing campaign. Apple should stiffen its spine and get some balls.

last of the mini I'll bet ya a nickel

In the 80s IBM had a Try & Buy program for selling the dedicated word processor (Display Writer?) that placed a new unit in a company for 30 days - no charge. They had an 85% selling rate as I recall.

Apple's program is similar and should have a high retention rate. I think it is smart marketing and hope they do well with it.

as in, $10,000, which, given inflation, was probably a lot more back then (add some 2-3K).

Deals like this work when you are selling something unique, something that must be used day-to-day to properly experience how good it is.

When it's something as cheap in price as the mini, people won't have much incentive to return it.

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Guest wrote:


When it's something as cheap in price as the mini, people won't have much incentive to return it.

Well, "cheap" is relative. I think it isn't a bad price for a replacement or a second machine and a lot of people can swing that without having to give blood. All in all, I think it will be a great ploy to get them out in the hands of windows users before the Christmas shopping season and with more positive free word-of-mouth advertising, Apple may be looking at some great numbers for the Christmas quarter. I for one will be looking long and hard for a good price on a refurb.

I think it's a good move on Apples part - we all know that once a windoze user gets used to the Mac, there's no turning back. The only people I see returning them are either crass opportunists who intended to do so all along, or people wanting to play Doom 3 on their Mac with max eye candy.

Apple had a similar program called "Test drive your Mac" back in the 80's, and it was a complete failure (no wonder Sculley was behind it)...

But there is a great difference between the old program and the new...while in the former you just had to pick up a machine and sign some papers at a store, in the new you must effectively BUY the Mac Mini...so this is nothing really new, since many stores already carry the 30-day money back guarantee anyway...

GO APPLE!

"Sounds like a desperate act, not befitting apple."

Apple has nothing to be desperate about. Do you know how much hardware they've been selling lately? You seem to be clueless.

Letting curious Windows users test out a Mac Mini does nothing BUT benefit Apple. But that harms Microsoft, which probably explains your FUD.

"And it ends Oct 31st. Just 2 month from now. So half hearted for a marketing campaign."

Just two months? Aww, boo hoo. Obviously Apple should be letting people test out Minis for... What? Five months? A year? Long enough to make the sales of Mac Minis take a nosedive because everyone's testing one instead of outright buying it, right?

Right.

"Apple should stiffen its spine and get some balls."

It was okay for a first try, but you're no Reality Check. Better luck next time.


"last of the mini I'll bet ya a nickel"

The Mini's been selling quite well, so, you bet wrong. Where's my nickel?




"But there is a great difference between the old program and the new...while in the former you just had to pick up a machine and sign some papers at a store, in the new you must effectively BUY the Mac Mini...so this is nothing really new, since many stores already carry the 30-day money back guarantee anyway..."

I thought the great difference is that Macs are hotter items today than they were back then, Apple's a hotter name, and people in generel are much more fed up with Windows and willing to give Macs a serious try.

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Anonymous wrote:
"Sounds like a desperate act, not befitting apple."

Apple has to be desperate, reselling hardware as new. These Minis are nothing more than refurbished, unwanted computers. You seem to be
letting Curious George vandalize Apple stores. But that harms the Mac geniuses, which probably explains why you must schedule appointments with them in advance.

"And it ends Oct 31st. Just 2 month from now. So half hearted for a marketing campaign."

Just two months? Aww, enough time for users to get sick of them. Obviously Apple should be making the Mac Minis look nonseductive because everyone's saying form over function.


"Apple should stiffen its spine and get some balls."

It was okay for females, but you're no sex change person. Next time, Gadget!


"last of the mini I'll bet ya a nickel"

The Mini's been reselling quite well, so, it screws up market share numbers.


"But there is a great difference between the old program and the new...while in the former you just had to pick up a machine and sign some papers at a store, in the new you must effectively BUY the Mac Mini...so this is nothing really new, since many stores already carry the 30-day money back guarantee anyway..."

Macs are hotter items today than they were back then, Apple's associated with logic board fires, and people in generel are fed with the idea that Macs are serious toys.

It appears it is no longer valid, because there is no mention of it on the apple website anymore, and a e-mail sent to other mac news sites that states it has been withdrawn without stating a reason. I am confused.

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an out of touch Windows cultist wrote:

Please believe the lies I tell. Apple's doing so well... They're all I have. Don't pop my delusional bubble. It's nice and cozy here, in my world far removed from reality.

I mean, why does everybody always see through my lies just because I can't back them up with a single fact? Man. I can never catch a break.

Oh well. Time to pray at my altar to Bill Gates again.

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an Apple worshipper from his basement wrote:

Please believe the lies I tell. Apple's doing so well... They're my contact with the outside world. Bubble Boy is my favorite movie. It's nice and cozy here in my basement, in my world far removed from reality.

I mean, why does Apple cancel the Mac Mini Test Drive program and not back it up with a single explanation? Man. I can't return my Mini now so I'm stuck with it.

Oh well. Time to pray to my Steve Jobs poster again.

Ouch, that sucks, you bought one during that time period? You should contact apple, they'd probably let you return it (if you don't want it of course). Personally, i'd keep it.

I wonder if this was going to be the announcement on the 7th, and (again) it was posted on the web too early (like the specs to the iMac G5)?

But then, why not just leave it there... I mean since it's out, this is just going to throw a lot of people out of whack (especially people who bought one). I don't think it's that big of an announcement, especially since it's out already. We'll just have to wait and see though.

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Anonymous wrote:
Ouch, Nip Tuck, you bought one during this sham? You should sue apple, they'd probably give you a small settlement (if you don't mind pocket change). Personally, i'd settle for much higher.

I'm pretty sure apple will let you return it if you want, and I beleive thats all you get. Is it worth it to pay for a lawyer etc? Seriously though, the Mini is pretty sweet, I want one. I was really looking forward to this to test one out. Worst case solution, sell it on ebay.

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Anonymous wrote:
I'm pretty sure apple will let you return it if you want, and I beleive in Peter Pan. Is it worth it to pay for ebay?