Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!BRL.MIL!abc
From: abc@BRL.MIL (Brinton Cooper)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: [Philip R. Lindberg: Re: Educational Discounts]
Message-ID: <8911302148.aa18241@SMOKE.BRL.MIL>
Date: 1 Dec 89 02:48:36 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 47


I don't know  who told you that your school doesn't "qualify" for an
educational discount.  Did  you speak to a genuine Apple
Factory-Authorized dealer?  

(Any teacher is eligible to buy ONE Apple computer on the "educational
discount."  He/she documents his/her official standing as a teacher to
the dealer at the time of purchase. If your state authorities recognize
your school, I believe Apple will also.)

(It is my impression that these teacher discounts are given in
recognition of the large, unreimbursed, out-of-pocket expenses 
which teachers make every year.  Also, I'm sure that they make good
business sense.)

I'm sure that Tandy Corp would love to take a deep loss in order to get
some of their machines into your or any schools--public or private.
They had their chance years ago and simply wouldn't help out the
schools.  Apple stepped in and has become the de facto elementary school
standard in many districts.

You said, " I am on the computer committee at my daughter's school.  We
tried to get some Apple's for our school...."

I believe that "appearance" is as important as reality here.  If the
"computer committee" was talking to the dealer or to Apple, you might
well have not appeared sufficiently "official."  When my wife's PTA
wants to buy the school a couple of machines, I believe that they always
operate through the offices of the school system, making the latter the
official customer.  As a "computer committee," I'd bet that you really
have no *official* relationship to the school.  Conversely, I'd  bet
that if the school's principal or other headperson showed up at the
dealer with a Purchase Order in hand, discounts would be found all over
the place.

We've found that Apple is very careful about this; having exercised her
"teacher's discount," my wife is prevented from buying another machine
at that discount for some number (five??) of years.  They don't want her
being an unofficial dealer!

"Incidentally, I managed to convince the committee to buy 10 Laser
128's"  

I think that you moved too fast; I'll just bet that there's a discount
waiting for you.  Good luck!

_Brint