David Jones in the Melbourne CBD are offering $100 off their sticker prices (which match the online Apple store prices) of all Apple computers until 23/08/09. I don't know if this is being matched by other DJ stores.
They are also offering 24 month interest-free terms with no deposit with a David Jones storecard until 23/08/09 with a $35 establishment fee and $2.95 per month upkeep fee (no annual fee). I asked whether it could be paid off faster than this and then close the account to avoid the upkeep fee and they said you could pay it off as quickly as you liked.
Also, for purchasing an Apple notebook during August with a David Jones storecard you get a "Toffee Sleeve" - some kind of laptop protection sleeve worth RRP $99.
And if you purchase an Applecare warranty along with an iMac on your DJ storecard then you also receive bonus Bose Companion II speakers valued at $149, a 4GB iPod shuffle worth $129 and a $20 iTunes card. If you were interested in these bonus items, that brings the price of the Applecare down to a comparable level to what you can find stand-alone on eBay.
These bonus deals can be found in the "Spring/Summer Home book 2009" and the "August Instant Rewards 2009" DJ catalogues in the link provided.
Well the annual fee is really $35.40
The account keeping fee really negates the term interest free.
Over the 24 months the account keeping fee is $71, that's 3.5% on the cost of a $2000 laptop
Add on the $35 establishment fee and you are up for 5.3% more than that cost of the laptop