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Apple screwed you: So now what?

The $200 price drop isn't going over well with readers. So here are a few TUAW tips for how to handle this situation:

Returns. If you're within the first 14 days of purchase, you're golden. Go back to the store and raise hell. You may still be charged a $40 restocking fee--theoretically you shouldn't be for exchanges--but otherwise, you're good to return. Apple's official policy states "Should Apple reduce its price on any shipped product within 10 days of shipment, you may contact Apple Sales Support at 1-800-MY-APPLE to request a credit of the difference between the price you were charged and the current selling price." One reader writes that he was able to do a return for a September 1 purchase by asking to speak to the manager at the store.

Price Guarantees. The American Express Best Value Guarantee will refund the difference in price for items purchased within 60 days. Other pricematch credit cards include Citi Diamond, American Express Rewards Gold, and American Express Starwood. (Best Value Guarantee program ended on October 1, 2006. Readers report varied success with other card providers.) NOTE: CitiBank and Visa Signature are offering price protection. CitiBank is requesting "printed" ads--anyone know how to find these?American Express apparently offers 90 day returns as a standard benefit--but it may not cover over $300

Call AT&T That's what reader Robbie D did. "I called AT&T said I was not happy after standing in line with my wife on the 29th so we could get 2 of them only to have it cost $ 400.00 less 66 days later. They said sorry and gave me a $75.00 per line credit!"

Complain. Write Apple and give them a piece of your mind. The Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs may be contacted in writing at 1020 N Street, #501, Sacramento, California 95814, or by telephone at 1-916-445-1254. If you email, don't forget to cc in sjobs@apple.com.

Call your store Press 5 to get to a person. Demand to know if they will issue a price adjustment. Some readers report they're getting results. I ran into a brick wall from an obviously frustrated sales person. She told me to check online to see if any policy changes would be made.

Thanks to everyone at ModMyiPhone who suggested this post.

Update: A blue and green birdie associated with Apple chirped in our ears: "The stores heard about the price drop exactly when your readers heard  about it -- officially, they didn't hear about it until about half  an hour later.  They will not have an answer for you today about  price drops, but they will likely have an answer for you tomorrow. What people who call the stores today will get is frustration --  because the stores will be frustrated too, until the official line  about what to do is handed down, which will likely be in another few  hours."



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The $200 price drop isn't going over well with readers. So here are a few TUAW tips for how to handle this situation: Returns. If you're...
 

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Richard Ben

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October 22 2007 at 12:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cristina H

I agree with all those above about being completely insulted, cheated and slapped in the face! for this phone to become much less in this short of time is not good service to all of us who completely supported APPLE from the get go!If it wasn't for us true fans APPLE wouldn't be WHERE THEY ARE NOW!
below all quotes that were right on!!!!

"In several ways i feel cheated",
"This is really a slap in the face to anyone who supported the iPhone early on."
"Did I expect a price drop and better model at Christmas? Maybe so...But this is different, and it is insulting. I'm insulted."
"My love affair with Apple is officially over."

September 11 2007 at 8:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

To those that feel 'cheated':
You didn't pay $600 to have a $600 cellphone/mp3 player... You paid $600 for the 'status' of owning an iPhone. Now that it's no longer $600, you look at that as a reflection of your own self worth. If your self-worth is determined by what you own, then you need to get a life. You have been fooled by society to believe this, and it's just 1 big scam. You are worth more than that, much more. Stop having your life dictated by the clock, your 'stuff', and the media.

September 10 2007 at 9:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Whatever

I feel totally screwed; I don’t recall IPOD’s being reduced so drastically so soon (Which is the primary feature that made this phone so unique). The company obviously has a screw loose. The AT&T service leaves a lot to be desired as well. I am actually a little embarrassed to own one now. I seriously don’t believe anyone is going to purchase one now. I wouldn’t due to the instability that is being published with regards to the relationship between AT&T and Apple. Apple should take a page out of the blackberry book of business

September 10 2007 at 2:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roy

What about the users that bought the piece of crap and are given a used replacement? Should they get a discount or just be called suckers? Apple sucks...part of my screen died less than a month into use. Yes, Apple sucks..but they sure are business smart...just like a used car salesman that knows he is buying you junk-you'll need to come back to him for his back yard mechanic to fix it. That is how I was treated.

September 09 2007 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Damoclese

For those of you who found the strong among us, who forced a capitulation of Jobs, to be whiners . . . please, please don not take your rebate! Apple needs you! Be true to Apple and abstain fanboys . . . abstain.

September 09 2007 at 12:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Last Redoubt

I'm amazed at the number of people who've forgotten what a shallow and greedy company Apple is. Does no one remember the Apple III, Lisa, and that Palm computer Apple put out a few years ago. Apple has treated their customers, and the majority of their employees, like crap for decades. They've put out over priced, poorly designed product for years. They were also one of the first companies to use temps as employees. At one point only one in three Apple employees was an actual Apple employee. Perhaps people have a short memory, or Apple flew under the radar for a few years, I'm not sure. I remember, though. I remember a $10,000 computer that didn't work and Apple never made good on it. If you think getting screwed out of $200 dollars is bad, just be grateful you weren't one of the unfortunates that bought a Lisa back in the day.

September 08 2007 at 8:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Khurram

What if Apple would have increased the price by $200/-, would you be knocking on stores to pay the additonal $200/-. I believe not. You wanted to be one of the priviledged 1st, well it comes with a price and on this ocassion it's $200/-. Move on!

September 08 2007 at 4:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

Agreed to a certain point but I’m not a Apple lover, I did my research and Apple holds its value or at least it use to on the hardware.. I have been in IT for over 25 Year and have seen major drops in price of RAM and CPU chips but nothing that fast… WOW never in my wildest dream would hardware drop in price that fast. It’s all about the money for Apple which after doing my reviews of Apple I thought they were different NOT… They are just like any other Hardware / Software maker… If whining about a major price drop… then so be it… Maybe you’re the ones that wine or maybe you need a glass of wine and think about the expense that you spent to beta test a product of Apple…
As that is what most of us did… Beta test the IPHONE without the benefits that BETA tester get. I have been a beta tester for Microsoft and normally I get the product much cheaper than the release. Not here I got shafted by the company that makes it and then got shafted again on the price reduction.. For a Microsoft guy to switch to Apple and then switch back should be a clear cut indication that Apple screwed up… Heck look at the stock price

September 07 2007 at 10:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
George

Unfortunately, until you actually own an Iphone, you really don't know the features or lack thereof. Battery life stinks, the contact database can only be organized by first or last name - no way to organize it by company name. Phone is too slick -slides too easily out of your hands. All stuff you have no clue about until you actually own one. Sure I want a refund. I bought it 3 weeks ago - why not? My Mastercard bill hasn't arrived yet, but when it does, I will be paying $200 less or they can have the phone. I am not impressed.

September 07 2007 at 8:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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