Apple Retail Stores Begin Price Matching iPhone Discounts from Carriers and Major Retailers

[MacRumors]

With a number of retailers and carriers beginning to drop prices on the iPhone as the introduction of Apple's next-generation hardware approaches, Apple has officially continued to maintain standard on-contract pricing of $199/$299/$399 for the iPhone 4S, $99 for the iPhone 4, and free for the iPhone 3GS.

But a source has now revealed to MacRumors that Apple's retail stores have been given authorization to match these discounted prices from approved major retailers and carriers. In all cases, Apple will discount iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models by $49.01 upon request to bring pricing down to $349.99/$249.99/$149.99 for the iPhone 4S and $49.99 for the iPhone 4. As with most price matching offers, consumers will likely need to cite the source offering the lower pricing in order for Apple to honor the price match.

Notably, the price matching policy applies only to Apple's retail stores and is not available for orders through the online store.

Article Link: Apple Retail Stores Begin Price Matching iPhone Discounts from Carriers and Major Retailers

 

[BornAgainMac]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

Cool. Glad we're focusing on things Apple can control.

 

[monkor]

Probably should have instated this policy a long time ago.

 

[charlituna]

Apple has been price matching for awhile. But only brick and mortar offers on exactly the same specs and time period in the same area. So I can't bring an offer from Sprint that is only good in Chicago to an Los Angeles store to get $50 off a Verizon store.

And you either have to bring in dated proof or they will have to verify the offer from the source

 

[Anki]

Let the madness begin...

 

[ajcadoo]

Time for trollin!

 

[charlituna]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

Send a letter to Al Franken. He seems hip to cell carrier games. I'd start with the EFF reductions and how we don't get a discount after we finish our 24 months.Then hit text message plans and work down the list

 

[KPOM]

Probably should have instated this policy a long time ago.

My guess is that they want to keep this as restricted as possible. Part of Apple's success to date is that they haven't gotten caught in the race to the bottom on pricing. They haven't matched Best Buy's relatively small discounts on Macs, for instance, and they aren't likely to do so. With the iPhone, everyone paying attention knows a new one is coming out next month, and those who are really interested even have a pretty good idea of what it is going to look like. I can see Apple bending on this one. Some people just plain need a phone and can't wait the month or two until the new one becomes readily available. But they know the new one is coming and want that reflected in the price.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

Buy an unlocked iPhone directly from Apple and get a T-Mobile value account.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

So you would like $480-720 discount on your cellular bills over the course of 2 years, but You still want an iPhone that has been subsidized by $450...

Carriers aren't angels... but really... they need to make SOME money off of you.

 

[Roessnakhan]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

Get an iPhone and go on StraightTalk.

 

[2bikes]

Great! Let`s empty those phones that were stocked before the next one!

 

[east85]

It's definitely weird that they waited this long to do something as simple as price match.

 

[macmastersam]

shut up and take less of our money, apple.....!

 

[Eduardo1971]

Steve would have never allowed this.

 

[willmtaylor]

If I can only get VZW to drop their prices so I can get Apple to match it!

 

[alent1234]

I would like to see the monthly bill reduced instead. Maybe $20 or $30 less per month.

except for the data, it's been the same for over a decade and the carriers have added more/unlimited minutes, texting, etc

 

[topmounter]

The competition from Android and Windows Phone must really be getting to Apple!!1!

 

[iLikeTurtles!]

well .....good thing i bought my iphone 64gb 4s outright at 799.00? LOL

though im enjoying my 23 dollar monthly bill

 

[applesith]

well .....good thing i bought my iphone 64gb 4s outright at 799.00? LOL

though im enjoying my 23 dollar monthly bill

What network? What do you get for $23/month?

 

[BC2009]

The competition from Android and Windows Phone must really be getting to Apple!!1!

Wouldn't they be advertising these prices if they really cared? They are price-matching, not lowering the price. You have to ask for the lower price and cite a competitor that has it. When I see Apple doing an advertised discount then I will know that they are trying to compete on price. Honestly, I think discounting the iPhone in an advertised "back-to-school" promotion would be brilliant timing if they keep to the September launch schedule annually.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

What network? What do you get for $23/month?

T-Mobile has a nice 100min/5GB data plan for $30.

 

[willmtaylor]

The competition from Android and Windows Phone must really be getting to Apple!!1!

Hah! Sure. It must be all of the Windows phone competition!

Huge sales figures.

Plus

3.2% market share

and

Devs leaving the market

So

Somehow I don't think Apple is worried.

 

[silentbob007]

T-Mobile has a nice 100min/5GB data plan for $30.

Of course, you will probably be stuck without 3G with the current and past versions of the iPhone.