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Apple states NO CASH Sales for iPhones, plastic only

DVNIEL

DVNIEL

Cancelled
Original poster
Oct 28, 2003
949
579
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071026/apple_iphone.html?.v=2

I did a search on the forums and didn't see this story yet. I can't believe this move.

Honestly, this discriminates against those that don't have a credit card, a bank account, have bad credit, or those that just dont wish to have credit. I know you need to have a phone, but not necessarily, you can pay a deposit or go prepaid.

I don't know, whats your take?
 
discriminates ? how
You can go to a AT&T store buy the phone cash, buy more then 2 phones.
You can "buy" a credit card from most any store and "load it" with $$$
You can pay with check, money Order, travelers Checks.
 
You mention those who don't have a bank account.....what century is this? i am sorry but if they can afford a iphone then i bet they will have a bank account. :eek:
 
Well... why do people who like cash have to go through that? Why do they have to buy something in order to buy something else? that doesn't make sense.

So people who dont have accounts or plastic dont deserve an iPhone? There are plenty of people in this world who make it without using plastic.
 
Completely illegal. Did they even check with their lawyers before they did this crap?
 
villanova329 said:
Well... why do people who like cash have to go through that? Why do they have to buy something in order to buy something else? that doesn't make sense.

So people who dont have accounts or plastic dont deserve an iPhone? There are plenty of people in this world who make it without using plastic.
Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with what you deserve.

It has to do with how Apple is willing to do business with you if you want to do business with them.

Cash is effectively untraceable, while credit cards are not.

If someone goes into a store and plops down $10k for iPhones they'll have no idea who he is or how often he does it.

If you use a credit card, there is a paper trail with names and addresses and banks.
 
A credit card or equivalent is required to set up a plan for iPhone. There may be security reasons, not that I think it's a good idea.
 
Sobe said:
It has nothing to do with what you deserve.

It has to do with how Apple is willing to do business with you if you want to do business with them.

Cash is effectively untraceable, while credit cards are not.

If someone goes into a store and plops down $10k for iPhones they'll have no idea who he is or how often he does it.

If you use a credit card, there is a paper trail with names and addresses and banks.
Click to expand...
Succinctly and accurately put.

Same rules apply in the U.K.
 
Most people pay with credit cards or debit cards anyway so i dont think that will be such a big deal, you really dont see too many people carrying around that much cash to walk into an at&t store or apple store to purchase an iPhone.
 
They are doing cards only on the UK launch day, it makes sense really on launch day, as it means the shops tills won't be bulging with cash, and encouraging theft.
 
ventro said:
Completely illegal. Did they even check with their lawyers before they did this crap?
Click to expand...

It's not illegal - they can do business however they want.

While frustrating for people without a credit card, most UK residents have access to at least a debit card like Visa Delta/Visa Debit, Electron, or Switch/Maestro.

O2 stated the same a while back, iirc.

I understand your problem, OP - I hate plastic too. But for those without even a bank account, there are alternatives available here and here and here and here. A few friends at uni have them to assist them with the whole 'not running up too much debt' thing. They take about 10 days to arrive and work just like Mastercard/Maestro cards. Just load them up and go. I'm tempted to ditch my cards for one :)
 
Sobe said:
It has nothing to do with what you deserve.

It has to do with how Apple is willing to do business with you if you want to do business with them.

Cash is effectively untraceable, while credit cards are not.

If someone goes into a store and plops down $10k for iPhones they'll have no idea who he is or how often he does it.

If you use a credit card, there is a paper trail with names and addresses and banks.
Click to expand...

Why should they care where the money comes from? It's not like Apple are an ethical company ! (Queue fanboy blood rush)
 
mrfrosty said:
Why should they care where the money comes from? It's not like Apple are an ethical company ! (Queue fanboy blood rush)
Click to expand...

Actually accepting cash and not accepting cash has nothing to do with ethics. Its the law that can accept what they want for goods sold. If they said they only wanted cash, that would acceptable. http://www.treas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.shtml
More proof, pull out a dollar bill, its for debts only.

Also, I work in a Department for Business Ethics at a college, and given what I see from many other companies, Apple is pretty darn ethical.

Finally, if you want to pay cash, why not just go to the local ATT store. Their souls have been long gone, could probably get it for cash there.
 
If it's not obvious to anyone reading this thread yet about why Apple is doing this, it's because they want to identify persons who export and unlock iPhones.

They may eventually follow up with legal action or are simply making an effort to record and keep track of this data for future business reference.

And to anyone who's rights feel violated, I empathize with you but this is simply not illegal.
 
drater said:
Actually accepting cash and not accepting cash has nothing to do with ethics. Its the law that can accept what they want for goods sold. If they said they only wanted cash, that would acceptable. http://www.treas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.shtml
More proof, pull out a dollar bill, its for debts only.

Also, I work in a Department for Business Ethics at a college, and given what I see from many other companies, Apple is pretty darn ethical.

Finally, if you want to pay cash, why not just go to the local ATT store. Their souls have been long gone, could probably get it for cash there.
Click to expand...
You link shows that whereas there is no federal law, states could have laws. I am willing to bet a few states will have laws requiring retail stores to accept cash.
 
skubish said:
You link shows that whereas there is no federal law, states could have laws. I am willing to bet a few states will have laws requiring retail stores to accept cash.
Click to expand...
True. So, best look to the state before crying foul. Most people cmpletely think it begins and ends with the words "legal tender". For those that don't want to click through, I doubt the Fed will mind me reposting their answer.
http://www.treas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.shtml#q1
QUESTION: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

ANSWER: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
Click to expand...
Which means, unlockers need to immediately start familiarizing themselves with the law... find the stores are in states that require acceptance of cash (if such states even exist) and bring charges against Apple. --Or they could save everyone a lot of time and just buy pre-paid credit cards and gift certificates.

~ CB
 
If a companies policy (in this case taking card purchases only), disproportionally has a negitive effect on a minority group it could be considered to be indirect discrimination and unlawfull.
 
anybody have any doubt that apple only do business with rich ppl? or poor ppl save their lunch $$$ to act rich on gadget?....lol

whats the point, if apple is great at design (which is only thing great about apple I will ever admit, and frankly, true), apple is holding design as hostage for its dirty business (well, its true, every big business is dirty...)...

so, iPhone, costs $400.00, personally, I don't think its safe to carry that much money in pocket after all. but again, Im not rich, and im not trying to act rich...:)
 
ventro said:
Completely illegal. Did they even check with their lawyers before they did this crap?
Click to expand...


Wrong. A store can choose to accept any type of payment they choose.

It's just like a store that says "no checks" or "no bills over $20".

Apple could say that they will only accept pebbles in exchange for an iPhone.

I love people that think that major corporations don't have legal departments that check and double check just about every single policy or procedure to help prevent lawsuits. If you don't know that you are naive.

I wish that major stores would stop taking personal checks, period. It is so annoying when some person from the 20th century starts writing a check. Get a debit card!

clevin said:
anybody have any doubt that apple only do business with rich ppl? or poor ppl save their lunch $$$ to act rich on gadget?....lol
Click to expand...

Quite honestly, you are right. Or, at least, the people with much more disposable income. Apple's marketshare will never go above a certain point simply because you could go to the Dell Outlet website and get a dual core, 2MB, 320GB with wireless and Bluetooth desktop for $400.
 
Completely illegal. Did they even check with their lawyers before they did this crap?
Click to expand...


Did you even check what is and is not illegal before you posted this cr? stuff?


Walk into a liquor store and try to pay for a pack of gum with a 1000$ bill.

Then can refuse it. Upheld in a court case which I will let you look for.
 
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