Apple Offers $30 iTunes Store Credit for Activation Delays

[MacRumors]

In an effort to compensate individuals affected by the delays in iPhone activation over the weekend, Apple has been sending out emails to affected customers indicating that they will be getting a $30 iTunes Store credit.

Dear Apple Customer,

Thank you for your recent Apple Store order. We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay in your iPhone activation.

We are still resolving the issue that was encountered while activating your iPhone with AT&T. Unfortunately, due to system issues and continued high activation volumes, this could take us up to an additional 48 hours to complete.

On Monday, you'll receive an email from Apple with an iTunes Store credit in the amount of $30. We hope you will enjoy this gift and accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this delay has caused.

Thank you for choosing Apple.

Sincerely,
Apple Online Store Team

Affected customers should receive the credit on Monday.

Article Link: Apple Offers $30 iTunes Store Credit for Activation Delays

[Schtumple]

Jesus really? Are people really that affected by it?

[jimmer-uk]

Originally Posted by Schtumple

Jesus really? Are people really that affected by it?

Our American cousins get upset by this sort of thing

[jaycebeasley]

$30 is a LOT for having to wait two days. I say kudos.

[Michael CM1]

Originally Posted by jimmer-uk

Our American cousins get upset by this sort of thing

Tell me about it. I an issue with a keychain error. After finding the problem via Google and then finding the fix -- create new account, activate phone on new account, logout and sync phone on old account -- I had no trouble. Maybe I should've called Apple tech support and gotten my $30 for a complicated piece of electronics equipment not working perfectly out of the box.

I swear, Apple/AT&T have really caved to the whiners when it comes to the iPhone. Complain about a price drop? $100! Complain that you had to live up to your contract? OK, price drop for you! Slow activation? $30!

[bruinsrme]

Originally Posted by Michael CM1

I swear, Apple/AT&T have really caved to the whiners when it comes to the iPhone. Complain about a price drop? $100! Complain that you had to live up to your contract? OK, price drop for you! Slow activation? $30!

What did people expect, with the release of the new phone.

The funny thing was I was going to get the phone for $499 regardless.
When they dropped the proce I decided to get my son one too.

[r88my]

Shame they didn't offer this last year when I waited 4 days to have mine activated

[DJ567]

i was affected my iphone cost £60 more than it does in america and i had to wait 5 mins for the guy in carphone warehouse to stop trying to sell me a contract lol... i wish mine had been delayed lol

[amemoryoncelost]

I'm still waiting for my 3G to work, this sucks. It worked for a good hour or two and then just stopped, it's pretty awesome when you call AT&T and they tell you to call Apple, you call Apple and they tell you to call AT&T. Such a runaround this weekend. Really hoping I can get some answers after work today...

[bob vansteel]

....I've been waiting 24+ hours, still not activated, and I never got an email!! does that mean I don't get $30? I'm not being greedy, but come on!

[Chrispy]

I think this $30 thing is BS. I have not gotten an e-mail and it seems nobody else has either. Oh well, just glad I got mine activated (after 5 or 6 repeated calls to AT&T).

[Shasterball]

Originally Posted by Michael CM1

I swear, Apple/AT&T have really caved to the whiners when it comes to the iPhone. Complain about a price drop? $100! Complain that you had to live up to your contract? OK, price drop for you! Slow activation? $30!

Ummm, I think the take home message is, don't let others roll you over and stand up for what you want -- you may get something in return. It's in our blood -- hell, it's how this country got started.

I really don't have a problem with this. Apple can decide how to spend its money. I would be annoyed if people started to expect compensation for every little issue and then complained if they didn't get it. Those would be spoiled customers...

[sychee]

First, apology for MobileMe problems, then delay of Push notification service. Now apology for iPhone 3GS activation delay and Push applications delay? I hope Apple can stop apologizing and start making things work for all of us

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by Shasterball

Ummm, I think the take home message is, don't let others roll you over and stand up for what you want -- you may get something in return. It's in our blood -- hell, it's how this country got started.

Unless you attended a Tea Party rally. Then this government and most of it's cohorts in the state run media and the Hollywood liberal elite, criticized you for taking a stand against this government, made fun of you by saying you didn't know what your were talking about, were called racists by those who really should not throw stones in glass houses, think you don't deserve to stand up for what you want and you should just let this government roll over you. In other words, bend over!

[.:R2theT]

Originally Posted by Michael CM1

I swear, Apple/AT&T have really caved to the whiners when it comes to the iPhone. Complain about a price drop? $100! Complain that you had to live up to your contract? OK, price drop for you! Slow activation? $30!

I was thinking the other day how AT&T and Apple must think iPhone owners are just a bunch of whiners.

But don't think for a second that both companies don't make this money back. Just by signing the 2-year contract I am sure they have at least $100 of play while still making loads of profit. The plans for these phones are very much a premium.

And remember, this is really on about $20 to Apple if you remove its iTunes Store markup.

Originally Posted by Shasterball

I would be annoyed if people started to expect compensation for every little issue and then complained if they didn't get it. Those would be spoiled customers...

Isn't that exactly what just happened with the subsidized pricing on the 3GS? People whined when they couldn't have the newest little shiny and AT&T/Apple changed the rules slightly to stifle some of the complainers. Sounds more than a bit spoiled to me.

[pavyaz19]

Originally Posted by jimmer-uk

Our American cousins get upset by this sort of thing

Wow, glad I'm not in Europe where apparently people love to shell out hundreds of dollars then become pushovers when they don't get what they pay for. Keep that attitude over there, that's fine by me.

[Master Chief]

Originally Posted by pavyaz19

Wow, glad I'm not in Europe where apparently people love to shell out hundreds of dollars then become pushovers when they don't get what they pay for. Keep that attitude over there, that's fine by me.

But wouldn't most Americans here sue for not getting what they payed for? I sure will.

For example: I'm not paying the full amount of my monthly fee for my iPhone contract, simply because the advertised speed is never reached i.e. I am just using all the possibilities I have. I would be stupid if I didn't.

[Kadman]

What was the source for this story? I didn't notice it when I read through it the first time, went back, and still can't find any source referenced.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by Schtumple

Jesus really? Are people really that affected by it?

probably not unless the issue was that their activation started so their existing phone was killed but the new one wasn't working either.

but Apple knows that some folks are going to gripe so even a token gesture is needed (like the token re: upgrade pricing) to stiffle the gripes.

i foresee that next year there will be no online orders and no standing in line outside of stores. you will have to do the web thing and make an appointment a la the personal shopping thing. that way they can meter the number of activations per store and not have this happen yet again.

[stephengiem]

That's nice of them.

[TranceNW]

A nice gesture from Apple, these delays are silly.

[iMikeT]

You lucky SOBs, I'm so jealous .

I'm still waiting to receive my income tax refund before I upgrade my gen1 iPhone to an iPhone 3GS.

[DELLsFan]

Originally Posted by iMikeT

You lucky SOBs, I'm so jealous .

I'm still waiting to receive my income tax refund before I upgrade my gen1 iPhone to an iPhone 3GS.

Still waiting? Taxes were done a long time ago here ... oh ... sorry ... I see you're from CA.



Never Mind. My condolences.

Nice gesture by Apple.

[iMikeT]

Originally Posted by DELLsFan

Still waiting? Taxes were done a long time ago here ... oh ... sorry ... I see you're from CA.



Never Mind. My condolences.

Nice gesture by Apple.

Ha! Actually, it's my FEDERAL tax refund that I'm still waiting on. Apparently, the IRS "never received my return". I received my STATE (California) refund a while ago. And yes, I did mail out my return, both state and federal, on time.

But yeah, my condolences too about the state. That however, is a subject for another topic.

[brjsg1]

Got my phone working by calling At&T sunday morning. These are the two emails I got when I checked my mail today.


Sunday, June 21, 2009 7:36:30 AM

Dear Apple Customer,

Thank you for your recent Apple Store order. We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay in your iPhone activation.

We are still resolving the issue that was encountered while activating your iPhone with AT&T. Unfortunately, due to system issues and continued high activation volumes, this could take us up to an additional 48 hours to complete.

On Monday, you'll receive an email from Apple with an iTunes Store credit in the amount of $30. We hope you will enjoy this gift and accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience this delay has caused.

Thank you for choosing Apple.

Sincerely,
Apple Online Store Team



Then on Monday at 9:44 pm got this.

Dear Apple Customer,

As described in the "Your Apple Store iPhone Order" email we recently sent,
enclosed please find your $30 iTunes Store credit: (has code here)

This credit can be redeemed on the iTunes Store via your iTunes Store account. We appreciate your business at the Apple Online Store and hope that you enjoy this gift.

Sincerely,
Apple Online Store Team


Have not tried to use it yet.