Apple’s release of a new line of iPods helped secure the company’s leadership in the music listening industry, but a new website is challenging its superiority.
AppleSliced.com, a website launched this month, is designed to compare prices to help consumers find Apple products at the cheapest prices, said Phil Edwards, Apple Sliced co-founder.
“Apple Sliced is a site that we started to help save money for people when they buy Apple products,” Edwards said.
The site shows prices based on the consumer’s ZIP code, and the cheapest prices in that location are shown with the tax and shipping rates factored in, Edwards said.
The site was started when co-founder and long-time Mac user Matthew Kraft wanted to show people cheaper alternatives to Apple stores that supply Apple products, Edwards said.
Edwards demonstrated the site’s price-saving capabilities by entering a Baton Rouge ZIP code and comparing prices of a 13-inch MacBook Pro between the Apple store and other vendors.
The MacBook costs more than $1,300 at the Apple store, while the same product is available for $1,049 on Apple Sliced.
The site works especially well for college students because they want the best computers and MP3 players but need to save money, Edwards said.
“We all like a bargain, especially when finding what we want is made easy,” said Richard Nelson, professor of mass communication and public affairs. “This is especially true for college students who are on a budget.”
Many students are attracted to Apple because of the education discount, and Apple Sliced has an option to compare prices with the education discount included, Edwards said.
Devin Fields, iPod owner and political science sophomore, said products from the Apple store are generally overpriced and he would opt to use Apple Sliced.
“The website is a good idea. Competition is always good, and it’s better for the consumer,”          he said.
Pre-nursing freshman Adam Fruge uses a Zune MP3 player instead of an iPod but said he would consider buying Apple products from Apple Sliced because of the cheaper prices.
“The only major downside to Apple’s products is their prices,” he said.
Another advantage of Apple Sliced is the price alert, Edwards said.
“If you’re looking to see when a Mac becomes $50 cheaper, you can set a price alert, and we will send you an e-mail when it hits that price,” he said.
Even with the cheaper prices that Apple Sliced provides, some shoppers may still prefer to buy their products from the Apple store.
The Apple store offers warranties and a knowledgeable customer service that Apple Sliced might lack, said Spencer May, history sophomore.
“You’re paying for a good product and a good experience when you go into the Apple Store,” May said.
Edwards said he and his business partner are Apple supporters and feel Apple should be pleased with the website because sales are still being made for the company — just at lower prices.
Nelson said the upside to Apple Sliced for Apple is that more people are being reached in practical ways, and the number of users and buyers is increasing.
The website’s founders hope people discover the site and find it useful, and Apple Sliced will continue to be made more useful and updated as new products are released, Edwards said.
“It’s been fun for us to work on,” he said. “It’s something we use ourselves and hope that other people will enjoy using, too.”
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Contact Ferris W. McDaniel at [email protected]