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Apple Offers Money Back Guarantee with Mac mini 30-Day Test Drive

by , 4:55 PM EDT, August 30th, 2005

Apple Computer has launched a new program to entice people to the Mac platform called "Test drive a Mac mini." The program allows users to purchase a new Mac mini, including an optional Apple keyboard or mouse, and use it for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, if the user is not satisfied with their Mac mini, they can return it, along with the mouse and keyboard, to Apple for a full refund.

From Apple's Web site:

We're so confident you'll love your new Mac mini, we'll let you test drive it for 30 days with no risk. If you decide you don't want it, we'll take it back. Here's how the test drive works:

  1. Purchase a new Mac mini from the Apple Store online. You can also get an Apple keyboard and mouse, such as our new Mighty Mouse.
  2. Set it up and start enjoying it.
  3. If you don't love it, call us within 30 days of your order and we'll arrange for you to return your system — including the Apple keyboard and mouse — for a full refund.

If you have any more questions, call our Mac specialists at 1-800-MY-APPLE.

The program ends on October 31st, 2005. You can find more information at Apple's Web site.

Thanks to our friends at MacNN for the heads up on the new program.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
View Name:Guest
Subject: oh no
View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:apex Posts: 62 Joined: 23 Jun 2001
Subject: A mini in the hand

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?

View Name:Guest
Subject: Hope it works for Apple
Close Name:treehouse1 Posts: 7 Joined: 27 May 2004
Subject:

Now this is good.

View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:macslut Posts: 60 Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Subject: Worst case still benefits Apple

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.

Close Name:Curious Gene Posts: 1 Joined: 20 Jul 2005
Subject: Oooh, Deja Vu

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.

Close Name:Kung Fu Guy Posts: 36 Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Subject:

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.

View Name:Guest
Subject: looks like a fire sale..
Close Name:kenaustus Posts: 601 Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Subject: Like IBM's Try & Buy

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.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Yeah, but the fat mac cost 10K
Close Name:squintbro Posts: 241 Joined: 23 Jul 2002
Subject: Cheap??

Quote
Guest wrote:


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


I don't think I would call $677.00 U.S. 'cheap'.
(1.42 GHz model with Apple wired keyboard & mouse)

Close Name:acdc1174 Posts: 678 Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Subject:

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.

Close Name:Bookman Posts: 543 Joined: 22 Apr 2002
Subject:

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.

View Name:Guest
Subject: It's not the same thing
View Name:Guest
Subject:
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Subject:
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Subject:
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Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: Ouch
Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 2928 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject: Hmmm...

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)?

View Name:Guest
Subject: Could be
View Name:Guest
Subject: Re: Ouch
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Subject:
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Subject:
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