Apple to Launch Annual 'Back to School' Promotion Tomorrow

Apple is gearing up to begin its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and other countries on Tuesday, July 1, offering iTunes Store/App Store gift cards to students that purchase a Mac, iPad, or iPhone.

According to a source who spoke to MacRumors, Apple's 2014 Back to School promotion will be similar to the 2013 promotion, providing students with a $100 App Store gift card for the purchase of a new Mac or a $50 App Store gift card with the purchase of an iPad or iPhone.

back_to_school_2013_window

2013 Back to School Retail Display

In the past, all iPhones, iPads, and Macs have been eligible for the promotion, with the exception of the Mac mini. The 2013 promotion was available in the following countries, with varying gift card amounts, and the 2014 promotion is likely to be similar: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

Apple is expected to decorate its retail stores with new window displays overnight, adjusting signage and other aspects of store layouts, and Apple has indeed scheduled an overnight refresh of its store visuals tonight, as reported by 9to5Mac earlier this month.

Apple's Back to School promotion is held at different times throughout the year in different countries to correspond to various educational calendars, but the summer program is typically the company's largest as it encompasses the United States, Canada, and Europe.

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Top Rated Comments

peteullo Avatar
151 months ago
I miss the days when you got a free iPod. :(
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nikiaf Avatar
151 months ago
This promotion used to be so much better. I got an iPod worth $250 as part of the promotion just 4 years ago. I could have even gotten $100 off a printer.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
151 months ago
that phrase i hated when i was a kid.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macboy Pro Avatar
151 months ago
Why? Think of the sales!

"So you're starting your Senior year. Celebrate with a new Mac Mini, built when you were in 10th grade."

I actually dread the Mac Mini update. I expect a thinner model with removed functionality and upgradeability just so they can knock off 4 mm like that is innovation. Please just keep the same form factor and put in better hardware. Not everyone wants a 128GB SSD and soldered RAM just so we can be gouged on the upgrades to make it usable.

Will be the last straw for me.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macboy Pro Avatar
151 months ago
The problem Apple runs into is that you can buy just about ANY Mac for $100 lower than you can buy it at the Apple Store. In most states you can not pay Tax also, making the savings MUCH better than the Apple retail price.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flight3 Avatar
151 months ago
This promotion used to be so much better. I got an iPod worth $250 as part of the promotion just 4 years ago. I could have even gotten $100 off a printer.
I remember that too! Good times :cool:

Also, has there been any more news on when apple will update the retina macbook pros? I've been planning to update this year and I was hoping to get one during the back to school promotion. Are they usually released after the promotion or should I just wait?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)