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Journalism of Courage
A Reddit user has sent the Internet abuzz after he shared his money-saving strategy to buy a new MacBook at a significantly lower price, and a bonus point? Enjoy an 11-day beach vacation in Vietnam. Astonishingly, he still ended up spending less than the cost of buying the device in India.
Sharing a breakdown of the expense, the man explained that he cut down on the high cost of Apple products in India, which is driven by steep import duties, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Apple’s premium pricing model. “If you’re planning to buy a MacBook or iPhone worth Rs 2 lakh+ in India, trust me, it’s worth making a short trip to Vietnam. You’ll get the device cheaper and squeeze in a mini vacation,” he wrote on Reddit.
According to the post, he booked the most affordable round-trip flight to Hanoi, worked remotely during the stay, and spent his free time exploring the city. As part of the mission, he also visited over 15 stores in search of the best deal.
The man further shared that the staff at one store even assisted in unboxing the MacBook for inspection and then resealed it to ensure eligibility for VAT refund at the airport. “Net savings on MacBook alone: Rs 36,500. So basically, add Rs 5K and you got yourself a brand-new MacBook and a vacation in Vietnam,” the user summed up.
“Final total I spent: MacBook + 11-day trip total: Rs 2,08,117 (before refund). After tax refund: Rs 1,97,000 approx. So if I deduct the cost of the MacBook alone, my 11-night Vietnam trip was just Rs 48K — and that too while working!” the post added.
See the post here:
The post immediately went viral, with a range of reactions. “Such a great post. Although I just got my Mac your post really made me wanna visit Vietnam for no reason,” a user wrote. “Woohoo champ. I have travelled to Vietnam twice in past and I just loved the country. Probably will be travelling again for work later this year and I am definitely inspired by you,” another user commented.
“Came for the MacBook offer stayed for the Vietnam trip report,” a third user reacted.
