|
As
students across America settle back into the school
routine, they should know they carry a privileged status
as consumers. They’re eligible for special student
pricing nobody else can get — on everything from
computers to clothing to restaurant food.
Sometimes,
merchants will require a student identification card or,
in the case of college students making purchases online,
an .edu e-mail address. Trouble is, merchants don’t
always make known their student discounts, said Brad
Wilson, founder and editor of deal website
BradsDeals.com, who has researched student discounts.
“The
big takeaway from doing research was, if you have a
student ID, you should always ask for a discount.
There’s no harm in that,” he said. “It really is
much more widespread that the average student
realizes.”
Wilson
notes that the three biggest categories for student
savings seem to be computers, clothing and food.
“Of
course, that’s 75 percent of what kids are spending
their money on anyway,” he said. “It’s almost a
no-brainer to take advantage of some of these student
discounts.”
One
caveat for students: Especially with online purchases,
search the Internet for coupon codes, sales and other
deals that might offer greater savings than the standard
student discount.
“The
value of student discounts is greatest when a store
isn’t doing any other discounting,” Wilson said.
Helpful
online lists of student discounts have been compiled at
such sites as BradsDeals.com and GiftCardGranny.com.
Here’s
a sampling of what you might find.
COMPUTERS
AND TECH GEAR: Apple Inc. offers discounts to college
students, teachers of kindergarten through 12th grade,
administrators and staff members. During back-to-school
buying — this year through Sept. 20 — it offers a
bonus for buying a Mac computer.
This
year, it’s a $100 card to use for buying additional
Apple products. In previous years, it has included an
iPod.
Hewlett-Packard
Co. also provides student discounts through its HP
Academy site, at http://www.tinyurl.com/3f26ruw/. So
does Dell Inc. via its Dell University site, at http://www.tinyurl.com/3lqn73a/.
Microsoft
Corp. offers an interesting deal for students this year.
College and high school students who buy a Windows 7 PC
for $699 or more will get a free Xbox 360 gaming
console.
AcademicSuperstore.com
offers a variety of discounted software and other gear
with discounts for students. For example, Microsoft
Office Professional 2010, which can sell for $500, is
available to students who qualify for as low as about
$80. JourneyEd.com is similar.
FREE
SHIPPING: Amazon.com, via http://www.amazon.com/student/,
offers college students a free six-month membership to
Amazon Prime, its membership program that provides free
two-day shipping of Amazon goods. It also offers
exclusive discounts in a variety of categories.
EVENT
AND VENUE TICKETS: Movie theaters, museums and some
sporting events often have student rates that slash the
ticket price.
For
example, select AMC Theaters offers discounts to
students on Thursdays.
And
various Regal Cinemas locations offer student discounts,
a company spokeswoman said.
As
a general rule, if you’re reaching for your wallet at
a ticket window, reach for your student ID too.
TRAVEL:
A number of websites offer student travel deals. STA
Travel (statravel.com) offers an International Student
Identity Card for $22.
With
the card, full-time students ages 12 to 26 can buy
discounted plane tickets and get a year’s worth of
basic travel insurance, as well as discounts in stores,
hotels, train stations and museums worldwide.
StudentUniverse.com
offers deals for no charge.
FOOD:
People might be surprised that many chain restaurants
offer students discounts.
They
include 10 percent off at McDonald’s, Burger King,
Subway, Arby’s and Waffle House, according to
GiftCardGranny.com. Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and
Domino’s Pizza restaurants might offer discounts that
vary by location.
CLOTHING:
Student discounts at clothing retailers are common, but
waiting for a sale might reap bigger savings, Wilson
said. Examples of stores that have student discounts are
Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, J. Crew and The Limited.
Discounts of 15 or 20 percent are common.
AUTO
INSURANCE: Some auto insurance companies will provide a
20 percent discount on policies that include single
students younger than 25, says Bankrate.com. Some
require students to maintain a “B” average.
A
corollary tip is for parents who have college students
on their auto insurance, but the child is attending
school 100 miles or more away.
Contact
your insurance company for a possible discount, says the
Insurance Information Institute.
The
idea is that your out-of-town student doesn’t have
regular access to the family car, and you shouldn’t
have to pay full price for them.
Of
course, there are too many student discounts to list,
but check student pricing for buying General Motors
vehicles, wireless service from the big four cellphone
carriers, membership at Sam’s Club and subscriptions
to some newspapers.
Like
discounts for senior citizens or active military, the
key is to ask, “Do you offer a student discount?”
|
