Welcome! The U-M Computer Showcase offers a couple of shopping options for you.
Our popular "Welcome to Michigan" program designed for Summer Orientation attendees is no longer accepting orders. Previously submitted orders should be picked up during the requested week. If you have a question about this sale please send e-mail to computer.showcase@umich.edu.
Our "Back-to-School" sale runs from now til August 22. It also features a "pre-order" system so we can have products ready and waiting when you arrive on campus in late August or early September. Prices in the late summer and early fall are usually comparable to those we offer earlier. If a vendor drops prices mid-summer we will pass those savings along to our customers. There may also be new products announced over the course of the summer that were not featured in our "Welcome" sale. We typically experience some price and/or product shifts every summer. Sorry, we cannot ship Back-to-School orders.
You can also buy directly from Apple and Dell using the U-M partnership websites. These links (unlike shopping at Apple's or Dell's public sites or stores) will recognize you as a U-M student and calculate an educational discount. We strongly recommend that you comparison-shop prices and specifications (including warranties) before making a purchasing decision. If you need advice, please give us a call or send e-mail from your U-M account.
You may shop in person, anytime you like, at either of our campus stores (Michigan Union or Pierpont Commons) as soon as you have a valid M-card. You do not need to buy a computer bundle if that's not what you need: simply select the products that are right for you. We are open year-round.
Even if you buy your computer elsewhere, please be advised that you are eligible for significant discounts on Microsoft, Adobe, and other software through our campus agreements. For example, Microsoft Office (2007 for Windows or 2008 for Mac) costs only $47.17 at the Showcase. Please check our product catalog for a complete list of software.
Please DO NOT make any purchases without consulting your school first, since, some programs, such as Art and Design, feature a required computer package. Other academic programs have recommended systems, so please check with your unit before making a purchase.
Our business rules (associated with the educational discounts and licenses provided by our vendor partners) dictate that we must match each sale directly to a registered U-M student.
If you (rather than your student) will be the party making payment for the purchase, there are a few ways we can go about the transaction:
The easiest way to purchase is to come in with your student at the time of pickup so that we can charge your credit card. Please note that your student will be required to show UMID and sign U-M's software licensing agreement(s) at that time.
If you want to have someone (including a parent) besides the student pay for and pick up the products, the only way we can release a student's order to another party is as follows:
Parents who are not on campus and wish to pay for their student's computer package may do so by authorizing the purchase over the phone when their student comes to pick it up. We will need to talk to the cardholder personally.
For security reasons:
Your student will need to make this request and we will place the follow-up call.
All of our communications regarding purchases (confirmations, back-orders, etc.) are directed to the student's U-M e-mail account, since we consider the student the official "purchaser." Thanks for your understanding.