Apple retailers opening discounting.-is this a new thing?.. this time Harvey Norman...

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Apple retailers opening discounting.-is this a new thing?.. this time Harvey Norman...

wellygary

8845 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5321

#320409 11-Aug-2025 10:43

Now, I've seen discounting in the past particularly when there is a model change,
But this is the first time I can recall seeing an Apple retailer openly advertising (also in the major papers) discounts on current models...

From what I had heard, Apple use to take a fairly dim view of its retailers cutting prices on its stock... maybe things have changed,

antoniosk

2384 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 750

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3401637 11-Aug-2025 10:46

same going on in the USA, not so much aus.

sales mus be sluggish - good time to buy if your in market

________

Antoniosk

snj

305 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 221

#3401638 11-Aug-2025 10:51

The Macbook Air's getting discounted isn't anything particularly new.

As far as the Apple Watch SE's go, well they are getting on a bit age wise (last updated September 2022) & the iPhone 16's are also getting discounted (around $200 at most places). A German Telco accidentally let slip that the next Apple event is going to be September 9th-ish so the discounts on items likely to be announced then aren't too surprising as retailers focus on getting old stock out of the door. (Edit: Could also be an indirect reason for Air's getting discounted as there is normally a Macbook Pro announcement around this time of year)

mattwnz

20525 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4798

#3401693 11-Aug-2025 14:42

Discounts on things like Apple Watch isn’t new. The only thing that tends to never be discounts or only be a small amount are new model iPhones

gehenna

8670 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3889

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3401796 11-Aug-2025 16:00

It's not so much that Apple takes a view, it's that the Apple product margins for retailers are so low that there's no point for retailers to sell at a loss. When you see lower retail prices on Apple stuff it's probably because it's older stock that isn't being refreshed because it's close to a new product launch, for example.

Aucklandjafa

540 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 262

#3401799 11-Aug-2025 16:04

This has happened for years. When I bought my previous MBP from JB, they had a ‘GST off every Mac’ promo - essentially a loss leader to make you buy more stuff.

johno1234

3397 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2899

#3401917 11-Aug-2025 23:12

Could this be caused by tariffs?

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

snj

305 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 221

#3401918 11-Aug-2025 23:32

johno1234:

Could this be caused by tariffs?

Nah I don't think so, this seems to be just a thing that happens before most Apple announcements (which themselves generally are like clockwork), tariffs are going to affect US pricing mainly, not ours (unless NZ starts imposing retaliatory tariffs on US companies regardless of manufacturing location).

I remember a similar discussion (on Reddit I think) just before a different Apple product launch/refresh. I wouldn't actually be surprised if Apple might be offering some sort of rebate to the retailers to help shift the stock - it's in their interest for stock of older models to be limited to encourage people towards the newest models.

On a separate tangent, on the MacBook Air thing, I noticed earlier that MacRumors has posted about the potential for a non-Air low cost MacBook that might be announced next month in the typical September refresh/announcement cycle. Assuming that the reports are credible, it could potentially explain the desire to shift higher value Air's now, especially if it is going to muddy the markets a little.

SpartanVXL

1504 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 667

#3401996 12-Aug-2025 09:23

There will be new stuff announced within a month, not surprising there is a sale on old stuff.