Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!iuvax!bsu-cs!mithomas From: mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Apple Prices Message-ID: <7893@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> Date: 22 Jun 89 23:53:33 GMT References: <126900038@p.cs.uiuc.edu <43fc2743.18e92@apollo.COM <850@rex.cs.tulane.edu> Organization: CS Dept, Ball St U, Muncie, IN, USA Lines: 56 In article <850@rex.cs.tulane.edu>, cleeland@rex.cs.tulane.edu (Chris Cleeland) writes: > > Apple Computer University Price List (Individuals) > ------------------------------------ > UIUC NU Stanford > > Mac IIcx 2995 2972 2890 > Mac IIcx 40/1 3329 3417 3302 > Mac IIcx 80/4 4383 4499 4301 > 1-bit Video card 139 135 125 > 4-bit Video Card 349 340 314 > Expansion Kit 104 101 94 > Two-Page video Card 419 408 377 > Portrait Video Card 419 408 377 > ... > Now the question we've all been thinking but afraid to ask: > > A question posed to anyone out there who might know: Why do prices differ > so radically (and seemingly arbitrarily) from university to unversity? > Aren't all university prices identical (at least what Apple charges the > university)? Are some universities making money off this little venture? > Why do prices differ? Most people assume that Apple has one university purchase plan. HEPP I (Higher Education Purchase Plan I) is direct from Apple. From the prices above, I believe that NU is on this program. (It also appears that Stanford is, too, but more on that below). HEPP II is the second type of contract that Apple makes available to universities. This one uses a local dealer as a "go-between", and of course this dealer gets a certain percentage of all sales. UIUC is on this program, judging from the prices above (they match ours, and we are on HEPP II). There are supposed to be additional services provided to purchasers on HEPP II that you wouldn't get on HEPP I, like dealer setup and training. However, the specifics of the arrangement are hammered out by the dealer and the university. Now for the second question: Do universities take a cut for themselves? The answer: It depends. Universities are free to add whatever amount they see fit to the price of units that they sell, presumably so that they can cover their sales costs (floor space, shipping, salespeople, paperwork, advertising, etc.). It appears that Stanford is doing just that. While I prefer prices as low as I can get them, I do believe that all of the prices above are justified. > Any takers on this one? I'm really curious now... I hope this answers your questions. -Michael -- Michael Niehaus UUCP: !{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!mithomas Apple Student Rep ARPA: mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu Ball State University AppleLink: ST0374 (from UUCP: st0374@applelink.apple.com)