$150 gift card charge after buying MBA M2

They bill the gift card separately and bill the MacBook Air at a discount. For example, if you buy an $1199 MacBook Air, they bill $150 for the gift card and when the MacBook Air ships they bill $1049. The total billing is the $1199 price of the MacBook Air.

Also see: Back to School - Terms and Conditions - Apple

Score one million for Apple to the consumers zero. They got me too - lol. I thought the same thing but my problem was I didn't read the fine print. The Apple store is off limits from now on I kinda feel this is a shady tactic by Apple to stipulate that they do not actually discount their products. But I will give them this win but their image takes a huge hit with this one.

This is a shady practice by Apple. I spent time with a customer service rep who did not have a clue either and had to double check the process.

Apple is giving you $150 discount on the product price because you are buying an Apple Gift Card (They are forcing you to buy a gift card so that you can get the discount). So, you end up with a gift card that you paid $150 for and are forced to use it only for Apple products or services.

It is as if you did not get any discount on the product and ended up with a $150 gift card. They could have simply discounted the product if it is truly a sales discount.

Sales gimmick to sell gift cards.

But how is it a discount if the individual is actually charged for the gift card?

you can then buy something from the store for that 150$, that is also a discount.

This "discount" is the 150 gift card.

I agree I spent 30 min on the phone with support. It’s actually no discount at all! If you end up paying for the gift card and device = full price. They are good I’ll give them that.