Apple isn’t really into the whole discount thing. It may offer some small markdowns for students, corporate customers, Japanese “lucky bag” promotions, and Black Friday shoppers, but the company usually doesn’t offer deals outside of those rare instances. According to a confirmed report, Apple is dipping its toe in new waters for the next couple weeks by offering a $50 discount on the Apple Watch Sport or Apple Watch when purchased with a new iPhone.
The promotion, which is in-store only and runs from Oct. 30 through Nov. 15, was confirmed by MacRumors. The caveat here is that the offer is available only at participating Apple Store locations in the Bay Area (Burlingame, Chestnut Street, Corte Madera, Hillsdale, San Francisco, and Stonestown) and the Boston metro area (Boylston Street, Burlington, CambridgeSide, and Chestnut Hill).
The limited-time Apple Watch discount does not require the purchase of AppleCare+ or any other accessories or add-ons, according to MacRumors. The discount will only be valid when an Apple Watch and iPhone are purchased together in a single transaction.
This rare discount offer is likely a trial run for Apple, which could roll out the deal more widely if it sees positive results. It may also be a signal that Apple Watch sales aren’t as healthy as the company would have the public believe.
At a Wall Street Journal technology conference in late October, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed optimism about Apple Watch sales but said, “We are not announcing the numbers.”
That said, the Apple Watch appears to be doing well when compared with its competition. One recent report pegged Apple Watch sales in the third quarter at 4.5 million, good for 72.8 percent of the market. A separate report found that Apple has the strongest brand association among U.S. consumers who know what a smartwatch is.
