Free Mac with Each iPod Sold
Apple has got it all wrong. You see, during this year’s school shopping season they are giving away a free iPod with each computer. And that’s great and all, who doesn’t love a free iPod, but its backwards. Apple needs to start giving away Macs with each purchase of an iPod. Because there are a whole lot more people this school year that are going to want an iPod than there are who want a Mac.
Of course I wouldn’t want them to lose too much money in this deal, so there would need to be some restrictions in place. For example, only the two top-end iPod models should be eligible and the computer given away should be a Mac Mini. But even then I think Apple could do well in this deal.
The goal of course being to grow marketshare in the computer sector by leveraging its dominance in the music sector. If Apple could stand to take that big a hit to its margins then this would be the best way possible to get OS X out to the masses. Additionally, this would entice anyone looking for a cheap computer as well. Who could resist an iPod and a Mac, all for one insanely low price?
Apple certainly has the reserves to pull off something like this (once). And it wouldn’t lose too much money per sale, so why not? I think it would be much more effective than its current promotions. But if that is too much, then maybe Apple should consider giving away a $50 gift card to the iTMS with each iPod. That at least would seem to be a sure fire way to get new customers hooked on its download service. I mean, if it really is going to give a $200 iPod away for free with a computer, then it shouldn’t break the bank to pass out gift cards to anyone buying just an iPod.
The real problem is that Apple needs to take dramatic steps to grow its marketshare. The commercials are a step in the right direction, but more can and should be done. And while bare-bones pricing isn’t what Apple’s known for, it sure would help get the word out on its computers. I hate to suggest a bait-and-switch type marketing approach, but something must be done eventually. Unless it is happy with 5% of the market. Come on Apple, make me a deal I can’t refuse! After all, the back-to-school shopping frenzy is almost upon us. Get to it!
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Comments
I would definately buy a new iPod to get a free Mini. Then I’d sell the iPod on eBay and keep the Mini. As it is, I may buy a new MacBook and get the free Nano and sell that on eBay to help pay for the MacBook (along with selling my iBook).
If Apple followed Gillete’s model where the hw is free but the blades are oh, damn expensive, or HP’s printer model where (again) the hw is very affordable but the inks are…got it yet, Steve?
Well, we know the results.
Apple does not have to give away the Mac to entice the PC crowd to switch. There is an acceptable “price threshold” where psychologically most people think they are getting a bargain (refer to the HP model). This threshold is a variable for each type of product so the vendor has to do some calculations and take the risk. No company is ever rewarded without taking the necessary risk involved in every decision.
That said, Apple can make up the lost revenue in their other hobbies - software and content. Well, we might rebel overnight if this happens but surely you can’t be expecting to have your cake and eat it too, do you?