Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, iPhone
Apple giving early iPhone buyers $100 credit
You were not happy, and Steve Jobs listened. Apple has posted an Open Letter from Steve (yet another blog post, Steve? When are you going to make it official? You know, we are looking for bloggers... I'm just saying) in which Steve acknowledges that the iPhone price reduction was the right thing to do, but that Apple needs to think about those who bought an iPhone early on and not just those who will buy one during the holiday season.
Apple will be offering a $100 credit to the Apple Store (both online and physical stores) for anyone who purchased an iPhone before the break reduction and who hasn't received any other kinds of credit (i.e. if you get a refund from Apple or AT&T already you won't get another sawbuck). While I still think the reaction to the price reduction was way overblown, this is a great example of Apple listening to their customers and trying to make the situation right.
Details are still being worked out, but look for them to be posted on Apple.com next week.
Well done, Steve and company.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
YodaMac said 3:32PM on 9-06-2007
Hope this applies to 1st day buyers as well as just the last 14 days...
If so: All is well, SJ. Peace be with you. :)
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emrys Joseph said 3:38PM on 9-06-2007
FORGET IT. I called the news tv organizations in New York and they are going to do an article on Apple screwing the first buyers. Also Apple has been deleting the posts in the APPLE FORUM do to us early buyers are complaining about what they did to us. I went to the Apple Store in Walt Whitman Mall Long Island New York. After having a dificult time getting the manager I was told the Eastern Seaboard Retail and Canada would not honor the IPHONE buyers. I finaly got from him after a long talk (He also told me that APPLE told them to not honor the first buyers of the IPHONE from this lady) the Apple District Manager for the Eastern Seaboard. Her name is Meghan Alexander at 1-631-912-9494. So far she has not returned CALLS to me. Also I gave her number to the TV News Agencys in New York. I believe we been screwed again like the NEWTON of Old. And my Newton is still working strong.
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Mitch said 3:32PM on 9-06-2007
Sweet! I was taking the big price drop in stride but I am definitely stoked that Apple will be dropping $100 in my lap!!
Thanks Steve!
p.s. nice job yesterday
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Aaron said 3:32PM on 9-06-2007
Apple is great. They make the world a better place, now if only every company cared for its customers like this...
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Kender said 3:36PM on 9-06-2007
That rocks. :) Steve just gave my studenty-discounted self a copy of Leopard for my birthday next month!
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Fritz Laurel said 3:33PM on 9-06-2007
You know, it's weird. It's like I've been stabbed in the back by my best friend and now he's apologizing.
That's great they're talking about 100 bucks back to early adopters. I'll take the 100 bucks, be happy and never speak of this, but I'll never trust him again.
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KR said 3:36PM on 9-06-2007
Wow, they give you a kickback, when you had 2 months of bragging rights on a device that you knew would improve and/or come down in price, and you're still complaining?
I think it's great that Apple is doing this. They could've easily just said "Deal with it".
And no, I don't own an iPhone, nor will I anytime soon, but I am a long-time Mac and iPod user...
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Fred said 3:36PM on 9-06-2007
I LOVE YOU AGAIN STEVE!!!!
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Adrian vG said 3:38PM on 9-06-2007
Are you happy now, children?
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JPC said 3:41PM on 9-06-2007
This is all I was after. I bought this 16 days ago (ya, I know, it sucks) KNOWING that it was worth $600...at least in my mind (though it brings to light my materialistic nature). I complained not because I felt screwed, but because I was SOOO close to the 14 day policy and $200 is a lot of money. $100 to the store is a reasonable and generous offer. Thanks Apple.
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Charles said 3:40PM on 9-06-2007
I'm a member of the 600 Club. I was upset. This seems like a fair solution.
Most feel, to some degree, that the price cut was too much, too soon. It clearly was not driven by some variation of Moore's Law, but of a planned business strategy (to make a more meaningful choice between the iPhone and iPod Touch, as welll as "hit the afterburners" for a second wave of sales).
Still, there is a price associated with being an early adoptor, and we paid it willingly. It becomes a question of degrees. I'm happy to be an early adopter (and evangelist) for something if I get to be the "cool kid" for a while. When it is technolgoy (Moore's law, the next model) or competition (an equally cool product from someone else) that changes it, we can accept it. These factors weren't in play.
Splitting the difference feels OK by me.
Some will complain about the fact that it is "only" $100, or that it is in the form of a credit. I'm trying to take a half-full approach. I just need to resist the temptation to spend it before Leopard comes out.
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Carter Neal said 3:41PM on 9-06-2007
That's what makes Apple different, and why I was disappointed in the reduction. They did a good thing by giving away iMovie 6 with iLife 08, and this is another reason why Apple "gets it."
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Keith said 3:44PM on 9-06-2007
I think this is great. I was upset over the lost money, but I am too happy with my phone to complain. Now with this credit, I am going to buy a better pair of earbuds.
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cHUCK said 3:45PM on 9-06-2007
Before you go jumping on Apple's alleged offer, be sure to check with your own Credit Card companies for Price Protection. This could potential net you back you $200.00 (wonder if that means you get your tax back?) American Express is apparently honoring Price/Purchase protection. Word Up SJ!!!
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Geek To Go said 3:43PM on 9-06-2007
Ok, I like my iPhone again.
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Fritz Laurel said 3:43PM on 9-06-2007
@10 -- dude, chill. He said you're going to get $100 back, so you're going to get $100 back no matter what some store manager tells you. Print out the letter, keep it under lock and key until next week if you're worried.
$100 back is totally reasonable to put this to rest.
But, like I said before, I just won't be an early adopter ever again...
Cheers,
FL
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djSyndrome said 3:44PM on 9-06-2007
"So far she has not returned CALLS to me."
I wouldn't return calls to you either. You sound like a psycho.
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artifex said 3:44PM on 9-06-2007
You're still a bunch of whiners.
And now I think Steve's angering stockholders to appease you.
Hey, Emrys, you keep going, make sure everyone in New York sees what a whiner you are :)
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cHUCK said 3:45PM on 9-06-2007
Uhm............does anyone understand POST No. 10?
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Aron Trimble said 3:45PM on 9-06-2007
What a gesture. I am impressed.
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