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If you already bought the $600 iPhone, buy another one for $400 and then the price on both will even out to $500...then it won't feel so rough.

Buy 2 more, then the price evens to $466. Christmas is right around the corner...so you can give them away as gifts...


;-) (externally laughing, but internally disappointed with apple right now)



-Yagrax

A $600 iPhone user, and darn proud to be a beta tester!


haha, yes!

in fact, if you buy approx infinity of the new iphones, your average price will approach 399!!
 
"Prices do get adjusted over time. But a 35% adjustment 2 months later is not a reduction. It's a 'correction.' It's Apple stating "In our eyes, this brand-new product that is not yet obsolete or dated, is not worth 600 dollars in our belief."
You know, there were some of us who purchased the ACD 22 inch for around $4,000. Then the ACD 23 was introduced and the ACD 22 price dropped to around $2,500.

Was I pissed? No.

Did I wish that I had waited a few more weeks to purchase? Yes.

But hey, that is the way things work. And my ACD still works fine today -- over 5 years later. I made a good purchase, it has served me well and I expect it to keep working for many more years.

Those who purchased the iPhone when it was knew understood that they were at the bleeding edge of technology. Things change quickly in that area as we saw today.

It all boils down to the individual making the decision to purchase a device. At the time of purchase, the cost must be worth it to the individual which causes them to pull the trigger. No one was forcing them to purchase the iPhone. They did it because they wanted to have the device. And now, 2 months later, the landscape has changed. Apple has reacted to the market. Obviously, the 8GB version was selling well -- better than the 4GB version. And Apple wanted to take advantage of the upcoming holiday season.
 
You think you feel bad, I live in the UK, and I paid £390 ($788) for my iPhone - which doesn't even work here yet - and I can't get any sort of rebate as the cost of a plane ticket would render that useless.
However, it's not Apple's fault that I'm a moron.
 
I bought mine on June 29th so I dont feel bad at all - If I would have purchased one 15days ago I would be pissed.

Apple sold almost 1 million iPhones with this $200 premium - if they hadn't done so they could not drop the price so drastically today. Apple made $200,000,000 off of the launch hype and we all bought into it because it was worth it. cant cry about it now.
 
Day 1 Purchaser

Everyone ease up. I was happy with my phone yesterday, I'm happy with it today. Apple has not wronged me by dropping the price, in no way. They delivered on what they promised me. If they want to drop their prices for the same product, well that is none of my business. If they offer (and I was ask for one) rebate of any kind I will take it and thank them. If they don't I will be a little disappointed but my life will go on just fine.

For me the only surprise for the price drop was how much and how fast it came.

Oh, I did not wait in any line, I don't want anything that bad.
 
Offical Apple Policy

I've read a few posts where people who bought an iphone after the return date are getting money/store credit back. But has anybody heard of any official policy from Apple?

AT&T is having problems with exchanges and some people will want to get that $200 off their credit cards or back in their bank account rather than credit against their bill.

Apple clearly will need to do something since with all the stories I'm hearing and my own experience only getting my phone a few days ago people who didn't think they had a chance at some satisfaction will try and have plenty of firepower to back up their claim.

I never complained about the price since I love the phone more than my T-mobile Dash but I can see how people will be a bit salty regardless when they bought their phone esp considering how soon after it came out.
 
Fanboy tax indeed.

This does happen frequently with mobile phones, but still it's little consolation to those who wished to be out there first with the new toy. Won't say 'I told you so' or cast too many stones because the excitement nearly had me outh there with you. The refurb'd 4GB going for $399 almost got me, but I'm glad I waited. Still, I think most of us have felt burnt the same way at one time or another.

If nothing else, your early adoption may have proved the viability of the product and is part of the reason for the success and ultimate price drop of the iPhone. (that and possibly Apple's need to keep the iPhone attractive in comparison to the iPod Touch.) If any of you were personal frinds of mine, I'd at least offer to buy you a drink or two . . . hundred.
 
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ChandlerXJ said:
wow, this is utter ********. not only is it 200 cheaper, that means ******* APPLE was making at LEAST 200 per phone.

there is going to be the biggest turmoil. 200 to the average american... thats a big deal.

No it doesn't mean they were making 200 per phone. 1) they may have gotten a cheaper wholsale price on parts for the next million batch of iPhones or 2) the monthly revenue they get from att can reduce the ARPU of the units.

I dont know why people are complianing so much. it's like they've never bought anything in their lives. price drops for consumer products is nothing new.
 
Price Drop

All you people who think the price drop is no bid deal and that this is the price you pay for being an early adopter is retarded. When has Apple ever released an iPod and dropped the price on it WITHOUT RELEASING A NEW VERSION of the product? NEVER!! When has Apple ever dropped the price on a computer WITHOUT RELEASING A NEW VERSION of the product? NONE that i can think of! So this $200 price drop is BS for people that stood in line for hours and paid $650 (tax included) for a phone that Apple now thinks is only worth $400. Whether or not the phone is worth $600 to you is pointless!!! Sure technology changes daily and the value of what you buy goes down but not without replacing the product with a superior one for the same price. A 2008 vehicle is going to cost what it does today a year from now or until it's replaced with a superior 2009 model. No one knew this was coming apprx. 60 days after releasing the phone so all you people that claim we should have known is also full of it. This isn't the way apple should treat their loyal customers that purchase more from them than a phone or an MP3 player.
 
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No it doesn't mean they were making 200 per phone. 1) they may have gotten a cheaper wholsale price on parts for the next million batch of iPhones or 2) the monthly revenue they get from att can reduce the ARPU of the units.

I dont know why people are complianing so much. it's like they've never bought anything in their lives. price drops for consumer products is nothing new.

AND they will save now from sharing some parts with the touch iPods that are bigger sellers. So that also attributes to the great price drop. Hey touch pods. Sound like some sort of Vibrator. :p
 
You know, I would bet that there are those in places where the iPhone does not work that would gladly pay $600 right now just to be able to have an iPhone.
 
Apple's New Ideology

It is clear that Apple has changed their ideology of making better products than their competition. To something that seems to be coming straight out of Microsoft's way of thinking, Sell, Sell, Sell and who gives a **** about the consumer.

They have excluded the users of G4's systems that still run great, from being able to use the new iMOVIE 08, even though I hear it is crap!

And now they piss away their core of loyal costumers by saying, you **** heads payed $650.00 (tax included) for your iPhone when you could have waited to buy it for $399.00. SUCKERS! but thanks for being our ginny pigs!!!

I think Apple is becoming to big for their own good and every day that goes by I think less and less of a company I have known and trusted for over 20 years.

It is sad to see how capitalism changes people.
 
It actually does, if you step back and think about it.

A company offers a product for a price. When you BUY that product, you are saying to the company "the features of this product are worth the price you have set." You are, in effect, voting with your dollars. The company offers a product, you deem it worth the price they set, you buy it.

If you didn't think the phone was worth $600, you shouldn't have bought it. You should have waited until its price was more in line with its features.

Once you HAVE bought a product, that's the end of it. You've said to the company "that product was worth the money I spent, that's why I bought it." From that point on, no one is beholden to ANYONE to keep that price. Why should they be? You've already voted. The fact that it's now $200 cheaper is irrelevant.

Yeah that's pretty much what I learned in macro economics class. Now if I go to micro economic class, which I never will cuz I'm engineering major, I'm sure they have different story. Marketing strategies dont end when customers bought products at certain price. For example, car dealers only need to garranty what they say they would, but if you go to Acura dealer, they will really try to fix everything for you even outside warranty. Why? Not because japanese are nice, but because they care about their "brand name" to compete in american market. And they think that would give the company more profit at the end. So i hope Apple agree that they should care about "brand" also.
 
When did you buy the phone? A little more info??

Maybe the Mods should make two separate threads about refund solutions. One for Apple Store purchases, and one for AT&T store purchases. Each post would have what the solution was, and how that person got it along with details of purchase date and what not.


Bought the 4gb July 31st. At first they said they'd give me 100 and I said no, it cost me 200 and he gave me 200, pretty simple really, just don't be a butthole
 
Just called 611- the AT&T credit program is only good for purchasers prior to Aug. 14th. Sounded pretty definitive, like it wasn't worth pursuing if you bought after that date.
 
Maybe a $100 price cut today and $100 price cut in a few months would have been a smarter move by Apple - A little less drastic and a lot less backlash
 
Tax implications

I'm sure someone brought this up....
For the people who have received a refund of $200, is it a flat $200 or is it adjusted for taxes (e.g.: $216.25, inclusive of estimated NY sales tax)?

Theoretically - say that Apple gives you a flat $200 refund without refunding the proper tax adjustment, they could claim the remaining tax dollars to the SEC/U.S. Government and say that they "issued a refund" and could receive a tax break on sales of the original iPhone price. Basically, I am saying that you should have received more than $200 for tax-adjusted purposes.

Estimation (NY Based):
100,000 iPhones sold in NY (could be higher/lower, but I'm not too sure of exact sale numbers - using 10% (decent assumption) of 1,000,000 total units sold to represent sales figures in NY)

X-amount of iPhone users x $16.25 (tax that you paid on that $200) = claim amount

100,000 X $16.25 = $1.625mn Apple netted in illegal tax-benefits (theoretically).

I am not making a FUD proposal, I own an iPhone (bought it on iDay) and I also am an Apple stockholder.

Any thoughts on this...?
 
....... Just bought an iPhone 4G a week ago.. n now.... what the... :eek:

I bought a 4G on 8/22. Just returned from the Apple Store where they credited the difference to my bank card. There's a link on your receipt that details how you can get a refund if the price drops within 14 days of purchase. You have 14 days from today to get your refund.
 
I've read a few posts where people who bought an iphone after the return date are getting money/store credit back. But has anybody heard of any official policy from Apple?

AT&T is having problems with exchanges and some people will want to get that $200 off their credit cards or back in their bank account rather than credit against their bill.

Apple clearly will need to do something since with all the stories I'm hearing and my own experience only getting my phone a few days ago people who didn't think they had a chance at some satisfaction will try and have plenty of firepower to back up their claim.

I never complained about the price since I love the phone more than my T-mobile Dash but I can see how people will be a bit salty regardless when they bought their phone esp considering how soon after it came out.

Bought two on release day, two months ago. Just today they were both credited 200 each. This was under the apple store manager orders at lynnwood, wa. If a pic of my receipt will help sway your manager, let me know.
 
Bad business is when you make less profit. This will make more profit. They will make up the difference in volume. they will then lower the price when sales are stagnant. There are so many things where people get different prices: Plane tickets, hotel rooms, cars, extended warranties, furniture, paychecks. There are whiners and doers in this world. The doers forget about it and move on. Will I ever buy an Apple product again? If they release the best product for me I will. If they release a product that is below another competing product I won't.

iPhone was not worth $599 to me, it was to the eraly adopters. iPhone is worth $399 to me, but may not be to some others. When it drops to $199 it will be worth it to even more people and so on. Thank god most of you aren't running a company because you might want to mix in an economics class to understand why any company does this. If sales were just as strong as day 1 this price drop would not have occurred. The fact is a declining sales curve needs to be combated with a price drop.

I disagree this will make more profit. If the margin before was 50% (or 20% as has more recently reported, in which case their great margin has completely evaporated in this genius move) then the margin now is significantly smaller. That means that they will probably have to sell 4-5 more iPhones to get the same profit as before, hence the stock price drop today since all the analyst had assumed that margin would have been in place for at least six months and none expected it to take this haircut in two! I believe they could have easily have dropped the price by $100 and had a significant surge in sales, then drop it by another $100 in six months (or even in another two months), they didn't need to do this all right now. There is no way that anyone could be certain about sales trend based on two months data, this is an insane argument (made even more insane given the recent iSuppli report). Normally I would say that Apple management is the smartest on the planet when it comes to pricing, but the smart guy must have been on vacation the day this decision wa made. It's about the dumbest thing Apple has ever done.
 
I just bought my iPhone from the AT&T Store in Bellingham so I'm heading back there on Saturday to return the iPhone and get the 8GB for even cheaper!
 
I'm sure someone brought this up....
For the people who have recieved a refund of $200, is it a flat $200 or is it adjusted for taxes (e.g.: $216.25, inclusive of estimated NY sales tax)?

Theoretically - say that Apple gives you a flat $200 refund without refunding the proper tax adjustment, they could claim the remaining tax dollars to the SEC/U.S. Government and say that they "issued a refund" and recieve a tax break on sales of the original iPhone price. Basically, I am saying that you should have recieved more than $200 for tax-adjusted purposes.

Estimation (NY Based):
100,000 iPhones sold in NY (could be higher/lower, but I'm not too sure of exact sale numbers - using 10% (decent assumption) of 1,000,000 total units sold to represent sale figures in NY)

X-amount of iPhone users x $16.25 (tax that you paid on that $200) = claim amount

100,000 X $16.25 = $1.625mn Apple netted in illegal tax-benefits (theoretically).

I am not making a FUD proposal, I own an iPhone (bought it on iDay) and I also am an Apple stockholder.

Any thoughts on this...?

I got the percentage of tax I paid on the $200 back from Apple in the refund (8.9% in WA!)
 
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