Apple's Cyber Sale: Gift Cards Trump Cash Deals?

During Cyber Weekend, the Apple Store's sales strategy involves offering gift cards rather than direct cash discounts on its products. The value of these gift cards ranges from $25 to $250, depending on the specific item purchased. These cards are redeemable for future Apple Store transactions, either online or in person.

In most cases, these Apple gift card offers do not match the savings provided by other retailers, which frequently feature cash discounts. For example, AirPods are significantly cheaper with cash savings elsewhere, and even high-end MacBook Pros see steeper markdowns at Amazon and Best Buy. Notably, several of Apple's newest products, including M5 MacBook Pros and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, are excluded from this promotion.

However, there are five exceptions where Apple's gift card promotion proves more advantageous than retailer cash discounts. The AirPods Pro 3, for example, come with a $50 Apple gift card, which is a better deal than the $30 discount available at other stores. Additionally, purchasing Apple gift cards from Target during this period can yield further savings through their Circle membership program.