🚀 go-pugleaf

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: <backbones>!{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)