Price Comparison -Costco in a photo finish Over Hp's Academic Pricing & Hp's Main w/$200 Coupon

DV9000t
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T7200 (2.0GHz/4MB L2Cache)
size='2']$50 off upgrade from 1GB (2 Dimm) to 2GB (2 Dimm)!
200GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (100GB x 2)
FREE Upgrade - LightScribe DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
512MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7600
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
17.0" WSXGA+ BrightView Widescreen (1680x1050)
Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
FREE Upgrade: HP Imprint Finish/Microphone/Webcam
System Recovery DVD w/Windows Vista Ultimate
HP Expresscard TV Tuner for Windows Vista Notebook

Costco = $2,100.99 (+$50 to join but you receive a superior warranty of one additional year, value apx $90.00)
Academic = $2,102.76
HP Main = $2,136.97 (with $200 off coupon)

If you count the value of Costco's One year warranty extension, Costco is superior. HP value to purchase is $94.99 though HP's extra includes accident protection which Costco lacks. [/SIZE] Admittedly the difference is small.

Question. Do either Costco and HP impose state sales tax on the purchase? Or do they leave it up to the customer to be honest?

At the moment I think I'll hang tight until Santa Rosa & perhaps AMD bring us new choices next month. Hopefully the result will be lower pricing on current configuration, and maybe a superior graphics card option-Ha.[/SIZE]

 

I just tried to use the $200 off coupon and I believe it has reached its maximum number of people who could get it.

HP does charge you sales tax, at least they did for me. (I like in PA)

 

You will be charged sales tax no matter how you purchase it. Unlike buying computer electronics and books from another state, notebook manufacturers have devised a way to always place a sales tax on sales. It's really good for the economy & society, so I wouldn't worry too much about paying it.

 

Hmmm, I'm not getting those same prices from HP...and the $200 discount is no longer valid.

Excluding taxes for your configuration I found:

- CostCo = $2,100.99 (if you're not a member add at least $50)
- HP APP (Academic) = $2,050.13
- HP (Main) = $2,180.99

If you add "1-year HP Accidental Damage Protection with Express Repair" the prices are as follows, still excluding taxes:

- CostCo = $2,168.99 (once again, if you're not a member add at least $50)
- HP APP (Academic) = $2,145.12
- HP (Main) = $2,280.98

Is this like airline ticket pricing: I get one price and the next guy gets a completely different price based on some ridiculous formula?

Anyways, save yourself some money and get the 256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7600 and I recommend against LightScribe, even though it's free! And I think the System Recovery DVD is not worth the money either; just burn a backup yourself.

 

The best deal I found was when Amazon had it. Living in California, where Best Buy, Costco, and HP have a sales tax presence, Amazon had the $200 rebate, plus it had free shipping, plus it had not sales tax to worry about. I paid $2150 for a DV9260US which had the HD-DVD upgrade (aka DV9000t with HD-DVD add-on. After the no tax, free shipping and $200 rebate, I netted it for $1950.

The only thing I missed out on was the 1050 screen.

 

Yes the pricing seems to vary, slightly without rhyme or reason - almost daily. For example, the three year accident protection was listed for $250 on HP's main pricing for a short time while being $350 on the academic side.