🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <7893@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) writes:
>In article <850@rex.cs.tulane.edu>, cleeland@rex.cs.tulane.edu (Chris Cleeland) writes:
>> 
>> 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
> ... stuff about HEPP II
>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.
>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)

Stanford's pricing policy is that they mark up the price they are
charged by Apple by 5%.  As far as I know the Stanford Bookstore,
which administers the microcomputer program, buys directly from Apple,
IBM and other manufacturers.  They will only buy from those who offer 
significant discounts to the University community.  Other
manufacturers and publishers include Radius, Everex, Microsoft and
Claris (of course). My guess is that the 5% they charge is just about
right given the service they provide and their prime location that
anyone else would pay an arm and a leg to get.

Glen