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8GB iPhone Price Drop, 4GB iPhone Discontinued
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I think that this huge price drop in 2 months (which btw is unprecedented for an Apple product) will not be soon be forgotten by a lot of people who paid $200 more than they had to. Those people in line, and who bought early are mostly people who have bought many Apple products before. The know from experience that the price doesn't usually drop so fast. Next time, Apple won't be able to rack as many early hight-margin sales because people will remember. Next time, the lines won't be so long.
I think that this huge price drop in 2 months (which btw is unprecedented for an Apple product) will not be soon be forgotten by a lot of people who paid $200 more than they had to. Those people in line, and who bought early are mostly people who have bought many Apple products before. The know from experience that the price doesn't usually drop so fast. Next time, Apple won't be able to rack as many early hight-margin sales because people will remember. Next time, the lines won't be so long.
They could have easily offered less features in an iPod Touch and kept the iPhone pricing differential...and they would have sold tons of both.
This really is a knockout blow though for PALM. Not quite a Blackberry and now dead in the water in the consumer smartphone market.
This really is a knockout blow though for PALM. Not quite a Blackberry and now dead in the water in the consumer smartphone market.
I don't understand why alot of early adopters are acting as if they didn't have a choice in the purchasing decision.
I am glad I waited.
I am glad I waited.
i see this as less of a price drop situation and more like an upgrade.
it's totally obvious to me that they're eliminating the 4gig and moving
the 8gig down a notch to make room for the inevitable 16gig model
which will be out sometime before christmas and will cost as much as
the top of the line 8gig model once did. it's simply being improved. and
that's to be expected with the developments in flash technology/pricing.
all you upset early adopters are just whiners. if the mandatory price
of heart surgery dropped right after your operation, you might have something
to bitch about. but you wanted the coolest phone on the planet as early as
you could get one and you paid the premium. the phone is just as cool now
as it was when you decided it was worth dropping $600 for. enjoy it and
stop whining. there are some really hungry people out there in the world
who'd probably love to throw a brick at you and your "problems".
it's totally obvious to me that they're eliminating the 4gig and moving
the 8gig down a notch to make room for the inevitable 16gig model
which will be out sometime before christmas and will cost as much as
the top of the line 8gig model once did. it's simply being improved. and
that's to be expected with the developments in flash technology/pricing.
all you upset early adopters are just whiners. if the mandatory price
of heart surgery dropped right after your operation, you might have something
to bitch about. but you wanted the coolest phone on the planet as early as
you could get one and you paid the premium. the phone is just as cool now
as it was when you decided it was worth dropping $600 for. enjoy it and
stop whining. there are some really hungry people out there in the world
who'd probably love to throw a brick at you and your "problems".
Excited!
For me, and I admit that I'm being a "late adopter" this go-round, this is a no-lose lineup. I can either get the new iPod Touch and (1) have enough space for my entire music collection plus a (compressed) video or two, and, (2) for an additional $20/mo. with my current cell provider, have wi-fi access at Starbucks and Borders; or I can compromise on the space and get the all-in-one iPhone at the new price (but probably not have such a good deal for wi-fi), and get down to one portable device. Either way, I think I'll be happy with my choice!
I wish the people complaining about the price drop could just enjoy this awesome new technology they hold in their hands. Yikes, who hasn't felt burned at one time or another by a tech price drop--it's the way the industry has been from the 1990's on.
You all sound like spoiled children!
For me, and I admit that I'm being a "late adopter" this go-round, this is a no-lose lineup. I can either get the new iPod Touch and (1) have enough space for my entire music collection plus a (compressed) video or two, and, (2) for an additional $20/mo. with my current cell provider, have wi-fi access at Starbucks and Borders; or I can compromise on the space and get the all-in-one iPhone at the new price (but probably not have such a good deal for wi-fi), and get down to one portable device. Either way, I think I'll be happy with my choice!
I wish the people complaining about the price drop could just enjoy this awesome new technology they hold in their hands. Yikes, who hasn't felt burned at one time or another by a tech price drop--it's the way the industry has been from the 1990's on.
You all sound like spoiled children!
Did somebody call the whambulance?
I think everyone needs to chillax.
Yes Apple dropped pricing and annoyed everyone, but I guarentee you they are annoyed at the NAND flash providers that turned around one day and said, "hey those 8gb chips you've been shelling out $$$$ for are now just $."
If you didn't want an iPhone, you shouldn't have bought one. I think a few hundred for the pleasure of having use for the last few weeks or months would have been worth it.
You don't see me running into the Apple store because I can get a 30" less then what I paid for my 23"..
Take pity on the countries that don't even have the iPhone yet, you ignorant people.
I think everyone needs to chillax.
Yes Apple dropped pricing and annoyed everyone, but I guarentee you they are annoyed at the NAND flash providers that turned around one day and said, "hey those 8gb chips you've been shelling out $$$$ for are now just $."
If you didn't want an iPhone, you shouldn't have bought one. I think a few hundred for the pleasure of having use for the last few weeks or months would have been worth it.
You don't see me running into the Apple store because I can get a 30" less then what I paid for my 23"..
Take pity on the countries that don't even have the iPhone yet, you ignorant people.
Why? Did you buy it to use it or did you buy it for bragging rights?
I'm sorry, but I can't sympathize with people who buy products for bragging rights. And if you bought it to use, then there's no problem - it still works, does it not?
Why is it important to you that the price remain high? Really think about that. If you didn't know about the price drop, would you be suffering?
That is so naive.
You really think Apple just decided this recently? Please. That is just plain naive. I LOVE Apple, but the fact that this happened so soon proves that they had this price drop planned before the launch. Which means they f'd us in the a.
Call me a crybaby all you want folks. But for the first time, I'm pissed at Apple.
Three months is too soon. Period.
You really think Apple just decided this recently? Please. That is just plain naive. I LOVE Apple, but the fact that this happened so soon proves that they had this price drop planned before the launch. Which means they f'd us in the a.
Call me a crybaby all you want folks. But for the first time, I'm pissed at Apple.
Three months is too soon. Period.
Yes, it would be nice, and unless we ask for something we are not going to get anything. In other words it does not hurt to ask, and if all of us grousing here would just write one email to customer service instead of replying to the thread, maybe just maybe...
Fingers crossed
That's a good point. Do you (or anyone) know what email address it should be sent to? I want to make sure that my opinion will be heard and not end up in some black hole somewhere. Thanks
I would have expected a $100 drop in 4 to 6 months, I could understand that and SUCKED it up no problem. I paid 1299 for a 20 inch apple monitor and they are selling for 599 now that doesn't bother me. If they had dropped $300 2 months after I bought it then it would have. I understand the whole price reduction thing in electronics so don't call me the cry baby it's just unreasonably soon and too much of a drop to take.
Everyone complaining about price drops.
Apple charged $599 for the iPhone.
You were happy, able and willing to buy the iPhone for $599.
They haven't screwed you over because at the time you were happy to pay that price for that item. It's how markets work...
Apple charged $599 for the iPhone.
You were happy, able and willing to buy the iPhone for $599.
They haven't screwed you over because at the time you were happy to pay that price for that item. It's how markets work...
It already is a PR disaster. Just what exactly will Apple do to correct it is the real question.
I just called the apple customer service line and i bought mine the first day, they phone wait was long, meaning that a lot of people were calling (probably about this) but in the end i ended up with a $100 credit coming via email withiin 24 hrs.
How do you get it you ask? First be dissapointed not PISSSED!!! Second express your customer loyalty (i've been a customer for 8 years). Third for good measure mention that you were one of the ones that got a lemon, a bad experience for a 600 phone. And finally don't ask for you money back, you won't get it. Ask for a store credit.
I paid $199 for the RAZR when I switched to Cingular, and less than six weeks later it was $49. if I could have waited, I would have, but that's the cell phone market.
But, you're right about the iphone. That's quite a hefty drop in such a short time period.
For the record, my earlier posts in this thread were "Hey, price you pay being an early adopter", so I am not whining about paying $600 a month ago.
However, while it is true that high-tech devices get cheaper on a regular and quick basis - Apple products historically don't.
That 17" Dell laptop you bought today for $2800 may very well be $2600 next month and $2400 a month from that.
But that 17" MacBook Pro you bought today for $2800 will very likely be $2800 in six months and will be unchanged in term of spec.
Apple's product refresh cycles are much longer then most of the industry, so pricing tends to stay stable for up to a year or more at a time. You can feel "safe" in buying an Apple product shortly after it is released because it is not going to be improved or drop in price within 90 days of that release date like most other technology does. MacRumors' own Buyers Guide bases it's recommendations on how recently an Apple product was released and two months after a new release they're not saying "Wait!".
I expect most - if not all - of us who own iPhones knew it would only get cheaper with the next refresh in six months to a year so they made their decision on that factor. We didn't want to wait 6-12 months for the next version, so we bought it.
If Apple was more like other high-tech companies, who change their product line every six months and prices every six weeks, then it truly would be a case of "you pays your money and you takes your chances".
But Apple was different. And that, I believe, is much of the source of frustration...
However, while it is true that high-tech devices get cheaper on a regular and quick basis - Apple products historically don't.
That 17" Dell laptop you bought today for $2800 may very well be $2600 next month and $2400 a month from that.
But that 17" MacBook Pro you bought today for $2800 will very likely be $2800 in six months and will be unchanged in term of spec.
Apple's product refresh cycles are much longer then most of the industry, so pricing tends to stay stable for up to a year or more at a time. You can feel "safe" in buying an Apple product shortly after it is released because it is not going to be improved or drop in price within 90 days of that release date like most other technology does. MacRumors' own Buyers Guide bases it's recommendations on how recently an Apple product was released and two months after a new release they're not saying "Wait!".
I expect most - if not all - of us who own iPhones knew it would only get cheaper with the next refresh in six months to a year so they made their decision on that factor. We didn't want to wait 6-12 months for the next version, so we bought it.
If Apple was more like other high-tech companies, who change their product line every six months and prices every six weeks, then it truly would be a case of "you pays your money and you takes your chances".
But Apple was different. And that, I believe, is much of the source of frustration...
Look at it this way...the lower the price the more people will buy them, the more people buy them, the more people Apple has to please, the more people apple has to please, the higher the likelihood of software updates that actually do more than "bug fixes", the more software updates, the better our amazing iPhone becomes, the better and better our iPhone becomes, the happier we are as owners
If Apple didn't lower the prices of the iPhone, the sales of the iPhone would have been cannibalized by the iPod touch (many of you even said similar statements when we were throwing rumors around, before its release). The casual person sees the new iPod touch on the shelf for $299/$399, ultimately looks the same/does the same stuff (minus the phone of course)...which one do you think they'll buy? They already have a MOTORZR phone that they're happy with or some other popular phone, so why would they shell out the extra money plus the $60 monthly fees?
It's simple business people. You can complain all day and night, but as hard as it is to believe, Steve Jobs does not give a **** about you. He's here to make money, just like we do every time we commute to work on daily basis.
Also, believe it or not, not everybody camped out the night the iPhone was released like a bunch of fanbois. Early adopters of first gen products do typically get screwed in some way (sorry if this is news to you). The "beta testing" joke is played out too. If you didn't expect a first gen product to not have bugs in it, you must be living under a rock. Hell, even the XBox 360 is still having problems and Microsoft is only just now addressing them.
It's ok to be angry, but it's not ok to start saying, "OMGOMG APPLE IS A HORRIBLE COMPANY, I'M NOT LONGER SUPPORTING THEM!!!1111 THEY ARE MEANIEE HEADZZZ!!" is just ridiculous. I, for one, think it was a great move and it helps bring the price point closer to something that I could see myself being able to afford (yes, even us part time-working, college kids would love to get some iPhone love too).
On a side note: just out of curiousity, does anyone know some online stores that are still selling the 4GB iphones?
It's simple business people. You can complain all day and night, but as hard as it is to believe, Steve Jobs does not give a **** about you. He's here to make money, just like we do every time we commute to work on daily basis.
Also, believe it or not, not everybody camped out the night the iPhone was released like a bunch of fanbois. Early adopters of first gen products do typically get screwed in some way (sorry if this is news to you). The "beta testing" joke is played out too. If you didn't expect a first gen product to not have bugs in it, you must be living under a rock. Hell, even the XBox 360 is still having problems and Microsoft is only just now addressing them.
It's ok to be angry, but it's not ok to start saying, "OMGOMG APPLE IS A HORRIBLE COMPANY, I'M NOT LONGER SUPPORTING THEM!!!1111 THEY ARE MEANIEE HEADZZZ!!" is just ridiculous. I, for one, think it was a great move and it helps bring the price point closer to something that I could see myself being able to afford (yes, even us part time-working, college kids would love to get some iPhone love too).
On a side note: just out of curiousity, does anyone know some online stores that are still selling the 4GB iphones?
..
We are mostly upset because this isn't par for the course for apple. Prices have been stable and apple products hold their value much better than most other electronic companies. If this happened 6 months from launch, I wouldn't blink. 2 months is taking a dump on those people that waited for hours for this phone. They are isolating their best consumers, the ones that fuel the hype machine that has lead to apples recent success. This may work out in the short-term with the masses, but it will backlash.
We are mostly upset because this isn't par for the course for apple. Prices have been stable and apple products hold their value much better than most other electronic companies. If this happened 6 months from launch, I wouldn't blink. 2 months is taking a dump on those people that waited for hours for this phone. They are isolating their best consumers, the ones that fuel the hype machine that has lead to apples recent success. This may work out in the short-term with the masses, but it will backlash.
While I don't think Apple did anything wrong here, I also think we should be understanding toward the people who are frustrated. Anyone would be, and this IS a surprise--I would never have predicted the drop to be so much so soon. (Nor would I have been certain it was impossible.) In time they will realize they still got a great device for a price they decided was worth paying. And they got it sooner than us!
Now, once the surprise is behind us, if anyone still actually intends to boycott Apple's low prices and pay higher ones for lesser products, then some company out there will be VERY glad to have you as a customer
As for when Apple decided to do this: it may well have been planned a year ago. Demand was insanely high, and the initial price may have been chosen accordingly--and yet was STILL better that the competition.
Good advice. The irony is that yelling at some innocent Apple (or any) employee makes it HARDER to get what you want. Be courteous but persuasive, not abusive. Punch a pillow for a while to get your emotions in check, and then see what Apple's policy may be Apple often does do things for people who bought within a few days/weeks of a big change. They may do so again in this case. (If you bought your phone longer ago than that, don't hold your breath. Sorry.)
Now, once the surprise is behind us, if anyone still actually intends to boycott Apple's low prices and pay higher ones for lesser products, then some company out there will be VERY glad to have you as a customer
As for when Apple decided to do this: it may well have been planned a year ago. Demand was insanely high, and the initial price may have been chosen accordingly--and yet was STILL better that the competition.
Good advice. The irony is that yelling at some innocent Apple (or any) employee makes it HARDER to get what you want. Be courteous but persuasive, not abusive. Punch a pillow for a while to get your emotions in check, and then see what Apple's policy may be
Apple often does do things for people who bought within a few days/weeks of a big change. They may do so again in this case. (If you bought your phone longer ago than that, don't hold your breath. Sorry.)transcript from livechat with apple today
* You are chatting with Jeff, an Apple Expert
Hi, my name is Jeff. Welcome to Apple!
You: Hey Jeff, I was wondering what plan you guys have in place for people who purchased the iPhone within the first 69 days and experienced the drastic price drop.
Jeff: Welcome! How may I assist you today?
Jeff: Hello
You: Hello?
Jeff: In general, should Apple reduce its price on any shipped product within 10 days of shipment, you may contact Apple Sales Support within 14 days to request a refund or credit. Would you like that contact information.
You: Well I purchased it the first day it came out... what are my options?
Jeff: There is no plan or exception for an iPhone purchased 69 days ago.
You: **** ** ******** ***** **** ****** ** ** *** *** **** Steve Jobs all day. Bet the stock holders are hurting too.
Jeff: I sympathize with you. This has come as a surprise to all of us.
You: Okay, thanks Jeff.
You: Have a great day.
Jeff: I'm happy to assist with that.
Jeff: Thank you.
Jeff: Thank you for visiting the Apple Store. We appreciate your business.
* You are chatting with Jeff, an Apple Expert
Hi, my name is Jeff. Welcome to Apple!
You: Hey Jeff, I was wondering what plan you guys have in place for people who purchased the iPhone within the first 69 days and experienced the drastic price drop.
Jeff: Welcome! How may I assist you today?
Jeff: Hello
You: Hello?
Jeff: In general, should Apple reduce its price on any shipped product within 10 days of shipment, you may contact Apple Sales Support within 14 days to request a refund or credit. Would you like that contact information.
You: Well I purchased it the first day it came out... what are my options?
Jeff: There is no plan or exception for an iPhone purchased 69 days ago.
You: **** ** ******** ***** **** ****** ** ** *** *** **** Steve Jobs all day. Bet the stock holders are hurting too.
Jeff: I sympathize with you. This has come as a surprise to all of us.
You: Okay, thanks Jeff.
You: Have a great day.
Jeff: I'm happy to assist with that.
Jeff: Thank you.
Jeff: Thank you for visiting the Apple Store. We appreciate your business.
Its not a perfectly good idea IMO. This is the free market buddy. And you better man up. Take Introductory Econ, and you'll learn that the perfect model for this kind of market is actually something called perfect price discrimination, where every consumer ponys up their valuation of the product, be it $999, or in this case $599 or $399. You paid $599. Good for you. Price has dropped, live with it!
Apple is being aggressive. I like it
First off, thats fine, your entitled to whatever opinion that may be. Secondly, your talking to someone who graduated from Rutgers University with a Masters degree in Economics. So don't lecture me on ways to capture consumer surplus. Especial as you've completely missed the point. If your an Apple fan you know this isn't the way things are done with them and they are one of the few firms out their who still thrive on brand loyalty and reward it. If this idea is lost on you I suggest the Microsoft forums else ware.
Completely Agree with You!!!
Stop wining you new this could happen and like said earlier in a previous post your all acting like someone made you buy the iPhone!!
You have nobody but yourself to blame and your great patience.