8GB iPhone Price Drop, 4GB iPhone Discontinued

[Fastshutter]

People who put themselves in the position to get the best price on consumer goods NEVER buy first. C'mon, you want the best price on a car, you don't buy the brand spakin new model the day it comes out.

The iPhone was over-priced (maybe still is) and yet people lined up for it, ready to shell out an ungodly premium for it. Now you're mad because the price dropped? If you feel that you paid too much for your iPhone today, than you paid too much for it when you bought it. Nothing about it has changed, the value you saw in paying $600 for a phone is still there. In fact, with the added features like ring tones and a download service you got more functionality today, which should increase your value in it, not diminish it.

You're all upset because you paid for a product during the part of it's lifecycle when it would be the most expensive.

Duh!

 

[tibbon]

What are you pissed about?

Seriously.
Tech items drop in price. This has been the way things have been since the invention of the transistor, or even earlier.

Things get smaller, things get cheaper.

Early adopters will always pay more. Being on the bleeding edge is rarely a smart business move. You do it to either encourage innovation, because you like it, or because you want to show off.

If $200 makes or breaks you, then you shouldn't have bought an iPhone in the first place. Half of the guys in my co-working loft have iPhones and not a single one of them was complaining today about the price drop. They all make enough to actually own one, and accept that well... technology isn't stable.

If you were wanting to make money off the iPhone you'd have bought Apple (AAPL) stock.

All I can say is, "Duh". Did you think the price was going to stay up there forever? Are you kicking yourself too about spending $20K on a 42" Plasma that you can now grab for a grand at CostCo?

I made a post to my journal on Slashdot a while ago that was titled, "Stop Whining about upgrades!" because of you people. You want innovation, and want to be bleeding edge, and every time the price drops on an item it's nothing but complaining.

Face it. If you're whining about the price drop, then you didn't have the money to begin with, but wanted to get the iPhone to show off (which you did). The reason you were standing in line wasn't for sane reasons, but again because you wanted to be the 'cool kid'. And now you're complaining because it slapped you in the ass. I could have told you that the price was going to drop on this before it even came out.

After a company recoups it's initial R&D costs and is certain that the product will be a success, they often drop the price as to open it up to a larger potential market.

 

[greenstork]

i hear ya man but there's a lot of insulting going on these days anyway....as many care to point out, i was one of those dumb early adopters after all.

all i want is some damn nice update to ease my pain....is that too much to ask?! I'm sure i'll get it 2 months from now, but I don't think it's right for a friggin ipod to have flash capabilities while my $600, umm, sorry, $400 dollar iphone does not.

Seriously, you're griping over an update. It will happen soon enough, just be patient. Apple has designed the whole iPhone platform around updates and addiing features. While it would have been nice to ease our pain, it's coming soon.

 

[sblasl]

Sorry buddy, the 4GB iPhone was always a very limited part of the overall sales of iPhone product line. That is why it has now seen the end.

JUST ORDERED MY 4GB iPHONE IN THE CLEARANCE STORE!!!!!!

WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Apple!!!

Can't wait to see what the cellphone industry % point is next month! iPhone will probably be up to 5% with the vast majority being 4GB model owners.

 

[irun5k]

The CNN article indicates that part of the market is viewing this as a negative, because Apple got overzealous and thought they could move the iPhone for $600 and now they are correcting for this.

Perhaps the sales were lower than expected. I guess we won't ever really know.

 

[pixlnet]

The people who are saying iPhone buyers are whiners are the ones who don't own them. I bet its amusing for them now. If Microsoft started selling the Xbox 360 for 40% less within two months of release you would have a TON of pissed of Xbox 360 owners. A 20% drop within 6 months is fine...people can swallow that. But not something like 40%! You can get a 4gb iPhone for 249 right now...thats half the price you paid yesterday!!! It makes absolutely no sense.

This was a BS move by Apple. They know the prices, they know when products are rolled out. If they don't take care of the customers who forked over an arm and a leg and then got burned....then its really gonna come back and bite them in the ass. It'll leave a bad taste in everyones mouth, except the people who don't have an iPhone.

As for me, if I don't get a nice credit or a free exchange for an 8gb iPhone, let's just say that Apple software won't cost me a penny. Burn me and I'll burn you right back. I hate to be harsh and I love Apple products....but this was really a slap in the face. And it doesn't help hearing all the people with Nokia's saying HA HA.

 

[Gorilla72]

Life

We all have our Crosses.

Hey I said it sucked..so Agree with you!

 

[Plutonius]

As an Apple stock holder, the price drop is not good news. The only reason a company drops the price on anything is to increase sales. This could explain why APPL is down almost $5.00.

The price drop is to keep the iPhone price in line with the iPod touch pricing.

 

[jettredmont]

Again, is this necessary? C'mon, just because you don't agree with the people who are frustrated doesn't mean you should disrespect them. The RAZR and Chocolate weren't $599, as they were much cheaper with a contract. I believe I paid $49 for mine when I signed over to Cingular last year from Verizon.

At that point, how long had the RAZR been out?

I'm not good with the time spans involved, but it seemed like the RAZR went from $399 with contract to $99 with the same contract over the course of a few months. Note that that price drop is not only more significant in absolute terms than the iPhone price drop, but also in percentage terms (would be equivalent to a $150 iPhone!). As you said, it was half that last year, and I'm pretty sure I've seen it as "free w/contract" lately.

The point is: technology prices drop. Cell phone prices plummet. If you're looking for a "good deal" on a phone, you have to buy one which has been out for at least six months to a year. That's the world cell phone buyers have been living in for the past decade and change. While the iPhone has a pretty solid "base" (I wouldn't expect to see it much cheaper than the equivalent iPod touch), you can expect to continue to see price drops on it, just like with all other phones in the marketplace. If you're buying before next January, you are paying - significantly - for the exclusivity factor and will by definition be subject to the early adopter tax.

 

[Methodman1977]

Yeah write something like this

"Dear Apple, we are all whinging idiots"

Why don't you go smash you're iphone in revenge.. to prove your point... Oh wait, You already agreed to pay X for it, and now you don't know Y

HA!

No, I won't do that because I love my phone.

The only point that I would want to make to Apple is that this is not how you should treat the early adopters of a product. This was a mistep on Apple's part (my 2 cents). This announcement should have been made whenever the 16gig (or whatever the next size will be) iPhone is released. Just dumping the 4gig and slashing the price on the 8gig 2 months after their release does nothing for the early adopters other than piss them off, which is stupid since many of the early adopters are true Apple fans. As many of the logical posters have already mentioned, Apple has a cult-like following and has this type of following because they are very customer-oriented.

Considering you are in AU, I would excuse yourself from this discussion since you most likely do not even have the device we are talking about.

HA!

 

[greenstork]

The people who are saying iPhone buyers are whiners are the ones who don't own them. I bet its amusing for them now.

I own a $600 iPhone and I think this thread is full of a bunch of whiners. I just don't have a sense of entitlement that Apple owes me something. I got what I paid for.

 

[NewSc2]

The CNN article indicates that part of the market is viewing this as a negative, because Apple got overzealous and thought they could move the iPhone for $600 and now they are correcting for this.

Perhaps the sales were lower than expected. I guess we won't ever really know.

I think the CNN article also alluded to this big price drop as a dent in Apple's pricing strategy. Now iPhone fanboys who waited in line for it will think twice when the next big Apple thing comes out, because it might drop in price shortly.

So Apple's glow as a "luxury" electronics maker isn't as hallowed as it used to be.

 

[macford]

I can understand being angry with this but I do have to laugh at all the people saying they will never buy an Apple product when it first comes out ever again. Uh huh, right. You just shelled out $600 for a phone. You'll be the first one in line whenever Steve releases whatever wonder toy is up his sleeve right now. Reminds me of the woman at work who said she would move to Canada if Bush got re-elected. Funny thing is that I see her every day at her desk. Must be one hell of a commute from Canada.

 

[jettredmont]

The people who are saying iPhone buyers are whiners are the ones who don't own them. I bet its amusing for them now. If Microsoft started selling the Xbox 360 for 40% less within two months of release you would have a TON of pissed of Xbox 360 owners. A 20% drop within 6 months is fine...people can swallow that. But not something like 40%! You can get a 4gb iPhone for 249 right now...thats half the price you paid yesterday!!! It makes absolutely no sense.

Well, I don't own an XBox either, so I can't relate there. However, since you want to equate game machines, I'll put in that if Nintendo started selling the Wii for $175 today I wouldn't bemoan the $250 I spent on it when I bought it. Heck, if they were selling them for $50 today I'd actually be overjoyed because then I could talk a lot more of my extended family into getting their own ...

 

[Ino]

There's a big opportunity for Apple here...imagine if they did end up showing the early adopters (myself included) some consideration (notice I didn't say compensation), they could essentially build a fearlessness of early adopting/brand loyalty in the future.

There'd likely be another round of bickering about what constitutes good consideration, but I imagine that it'd be far better than all the negative commenting that's been thrown around in the last few hours.

 

[Project]

Welcome to the mobile phone business, lol

 

[mpw]

First, apple doesn't do price drops like this...

Oh, okay I stand corrected...

...Today was the first and is atypical of them...

...Oh wait, so they DO now? I stand proudly correct again...

...so i'm not wrong, they don't historically do this...

...er, yes you are. They have done this, you're (possibly) right they didn't before, but past performance is not an indication of future performance YMMV. Apple usd to make pretty reliable computers too, but that's another issue.

...Second, 2 months and 1 week is damn close to 2 months. I rarely am that literal and I'm glad you don't live near because I can't stand people like you.

Aww that's too bad, I kinda like you. You make me feel good about myself 'cause I know that I'm not the dumbest person in the room

...Third, I don't care about 3 G and I don't care about the Europe launch.

I also agree that the iPhone launch in europe is pretty 'meh', europe produces proper smartphones like the Nokia E90 so I'm not really bovvered by a souped up iPod.

 

[fanboy]

JUST ORDERED MY 4GB iPHONE IN THE CLEARANCE STORE!!!!!!

WOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Apple!!!

Can't wait to see what the cellphone industry % point is next month! iPhone will probably be up to 5% with the vast majority being 4GB model owners.

You should wait 9 more weeks, maybe you can get another 30% discount.

 

[greenstork]

There's a big opportunity for Apple here...imagine if they did end up showing the early adopters (myself included) some consideration (notice I didn't say compensation), they could essentially build a fearlessness of early adopting/brand loyalty in the future.

There'd likely be another round of bickering about what constitutes good consideration, but I imagine that it'd be far better than all the negative commenting that's been thrown around in the last few hours.

I could see them doing this if they felt like they were going to lose a lot of loyal customers but the question is, are you going to stop buying Apple products as a result of this price cut? If not, then I'd say don't hold your breath for any special treatment.

 

[offwidafairies]

wow that is awesome. almost makes me want to buy one now
although... i live in australia
maybe another price drop before they are released here

 

[billywhitelegs]

Im starting a club... you all are invited to join... its called the I'M ******* PISSED ABOUT MY IPHONE DEAL club... dont worry... memberships are free for life... as you already paid $200 to Apple to beta test something for them.

Our first order of business... im protesting until everyone gets a $200 gift card...

Sign me up!

However, I did just have a phone crap out on me, they sent me a "loaner" for $29.00, and I just got word (the same day they received mine) that it was beyond repair and they are sending me a new phone.

Maybe my clock starts over and I'll get my $200 with the new phone! HA!

 

[bulletproofBlak]

You guys are out of control!

Guys, you're all insane. I can't believe this backlash. Has no one ever heard "good things come to those who wait" or "patience is a virtue"? Even the most obsessed and loyal Apple fanboy knows not to buy a brand new Apple product immediately. You wait! Duh!

I cannot believe the juvenile responses to this price cut, as though Apple has intentionally done it to alienate its loyal early-adopting fanbase. Please! This is great news for Apple, as they will be putting iPhones in the hands of more and more consumers, certainly many of them Windows/PC converts!

I completely understand the frustration of spending a lot of money on a product that basically loses value and can be purchased for less within weeks of your buying it. That sucks, but you should have known. I wanted an iPhone so bad; I had my money ready and everything. But I waited because I know how Apple works! EVERYONE KNOWS! Did you expect the iPhone pricing and specs to remain the same forever, to honor the value of your hard-earned (or not) money versus the next guy who was smart enough to wait?

So, your impatience cost you a couple hundred bucks. Don't make the same mistake next time. Didn't you guys read Gizmodo's no-BS iPhone review? It was one word:

Wait.

 

[fanboy]

I could see them doing this if they felt like they were going to lose a lot of loyal customers but the question is, are you going to stop buying Apple products as a result of this price cut? If not, then I'd say don't hold your breath for any special treatment.

No, but I'd wait at least 9 weeks after another new Apple product announcement before I buy.

 

[Demps13]

the little **** at the 1-800-my-iphone could only say about the significant price drop that "...sorry you should have waited till today to buy..." Apple better seriously consider some kind of credit or rebate or my plans to buy a MBP are in doubt

 

[ISMPlus]

Ok, I don't have time to read 28 pages in this thread... I left off on page 3, I think. I just want to say that I kind of understand people being upset about the price reduction on the 8g iPhone. But isn't it always that way in the tech industry? Most of you guys were so happy to spend anything on the iPhone, just have it in your hand, now it isn't worth it? Money wasn't an issue then... That part I don't understand. They apple didn't gyp you. You saw the price and you were willing to dish out the $$$, went ahead and bought it. Someone on freakin' eBay sold one for $15k!! There's no need to set up a protest club or anything... that's just the way the tech biz is. You should've known (esp. if you come here) this could happen any second and there's no law against that. Sorry...