Best Apple Black Friday 2013 Deals: No Discounts, Free Gift Cards w/ Purchase
Apple launches its Black Friday 2013 promotions around the world. Unfortunately, Apple will not offer Black Friday discounts, but will offer gift cards with select purchases instead. The gift cards cannot be used for App Store or iTunes purchases and can only be redeemed at the Apple Store.
Apple rarely offers discounts to its iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs to the market but it regularly gives out discounts to college students and businesses. In Black Friday 2012, Apple offered $101 off on Macs and many expected Apple to repeat this offer in 2013.
Apple isn't actually calling this gift card promotion a Black Friday event because this offer is valid around the globe. Black Friday is an American event, but Australians are the first to benefit from this event. While gift card amounts in the Apple Store are in Australian dollars, this is a translation over U.S. dollars.
Apple usually launches its products, promos and early orders on PST since the company's headquarters is there, so people around the globe should wait for that time if they want to be among the first to take advantage of the deals. There's no need to rush though, because Apple will not run out of any items, unlike its resellers.
Apple's Black Friday iPad deals are not really as attractive as Target's or Walmart's, who offer up to $100 in gift cards with iPad purchases on Black Friday; however, it is not available online and stocks are limited. Apple offers a $75 gift card with the iPad and a $50 gift card with the iPad 2 and iPad Mini.
Apple offers a $150 gift card with any iMac or MacBook purchase. This is a great deal on the cheapest Macs like the $999 11-inch MacBook Air because it amounts to a 15% discount. The best deal at Apple.com and Apple stores is perhaps the $50 gift card that comes with the $249 iPod Touch, dropping the price to $199. It could be a wonderful Christmas gift.
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are not available on Apple's Black Friday Australian landing page though, but Apple is offering gift cards on its own and third party accessories for the aforementioned devices.