Apple has reportedly starting matching prices of the iPad Air and the iPhone 5c in select Apple retail stores in the US.
The price-match started earlier this week, and is live only in certain regions. From 9to5Mac:
The price-matching will vary region-to-region, with some markets choosing to not conduct any price-matching at this time.
The stores that do support matching, however, will only match up to 10% off. So if your local carrier is offering the iPhone 5c free on-contract, don’t expect to get a free iPhone 5c at an Apple Store.
While Apple doesn’t put its own products on discount usually, retailers like Best Buy and Walmart sell iPhones and iPads at discounted prices to lure buyers into their stores, and thus buy more of their products. Notably, during the Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend, a number of retailers were selling the iPhone 5c for as low as $0 (with a two-year contract).
9to5Mac notes that after its launch, Apple had started price-matching the iPad Air to Walmart’s $479 price, but stopped soon after. It’s not known if or when the company will price-match the supply-constrained iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini.
Apple had recently also debuted an official trade-in program that would let buyers bring their old iPhones in exchange for gift cards, which can be used towards the purchase of a new iPhone. All these steps are reportedly being taken to increase the percentage of iOS device purchases made through Apple Stores.
Update:
MacRumors reports that according to their source, Apple now has an official policy on price matching for iPhones, iPads and Macs, however the iPhone 5s and Retina iPad mini are excluded.
According to a retail employee, Apple now has an official policy on price matching, which allows specialists to price match iPhones, iPads, and Macs, giving up to 10 percent off on products without authorization. Specialists are also allowed to give business customers up to 20% off a non-Apple accessory when purchased with an Apple product.
Currently, the iPhone 5s and the Retina iPad mini are excluded from price matching.
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