In Singapore, IT fairs are like the indicators that mark the changing of the seasons: IT show in March (Spring), PC Show in June (Summer), Comex in September (Autumn) and Sitex in November (Winter). Days before each show, pamphlets from various shops and brands can be seen collated at sites displaying all their sales and promotions. To those who don’t shop around, those promo bubbles which shouts out discounts and product bundles might seem like a heavenly deal. But to season IT shoppers, most will tell you with a shrug, that these are similar to deals available at stores.

So it was a surprise to see Straits Time publishing this article “No more juice Apple deals at major IT fairs”:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_774262.html on the front page of the Home section.

In the article, Apple Australia has informed re-sellers here to sell Apple products only in their approved stores, instead of promoting them at such IT fairs, citing concerns over diluting image of the brand. As Apple products are price-controlled, re-sellers can only bundle in goodies in the form of memory upgrades, software installation or throwing in a printer or other Apple products. At the same time, not to discriminate customers visiting either the IT store or their own stores, they will have the same promotion at both locations.

End of the day, what Apple did is no big deal. You still get the same juicy deals whether you put yourself through the pain and hassle of squeezing with thousands of people and get your feet run over by mini trolleys carrying big ass monitors and printers, or walk leisurely to the multiple “Apple Shops”:http://www.apple.com/sg/reseller/appleshop/list.php or “Premium Re-sellers”:http://www.apple.com/sg/reseller/apr/list.php all over the island. Or better still, open your browser and go to “Apple’s Online Store”:http://bit.ly/hKO8sj and get it delivered to your doorstep.

If any of the Re-Sellers have any promotions, feel free to “contact us”:mailto:team@iheartapple.org and we will be glad to post them out here.