It is very sucky indeed, but it's the mobile phone market, very different from iPods and computers. Prices nose dive quickly.
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8GB iPhone Price Drop, 4GB iPhone Discontinued
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Oh for crying out loud, this has been discussed over and over.... there are xxx million mobile phone users outside the corporate world, and only xx million reachable within the enterprise sector. Check iPod vs. Blackberry number of units for fun and you get the idea.
btw you can already use it with Exchange, there are third party solutions to do this.
I totally understand people being angry, upset, frustrated, but there isn't anything you can do about it. Jobs has already said 'thats technology' when asked what he would say to those who had bought at the higher price.
Although pretty much unique in having such an amazing fan base in the business World - I would say only companies like Ferrari have a similar fan base with people happy to wear the t-shirts when they cant afford the actual products - but do remember they are just a company. They exist to make money, to make profit, to grow, and to please their shareholders.
Do of course try for a refund but do try and do it in an adult style, some of the posts on here would go straight in the bin if you wrote to Apple in that style. If you put a mature reasonable case forward you have a chance they might look at it - a slim one I'm sure, and I bet they knew this was coming and have already decided that its not something they will be worrying about. Some of you might stop buying Apple and might go to Linux or MS, but we all know the majority will stay - the other options just don't look good!
On a different note (I apologise for not reading every post on all 32 pages so this may have been discussed already) I am interested in the way Apple have priced up the iPhone and the 16GB iPod Touch. Apple has never had trouble shifting its high end iPods, the 16GB Touch is the same price as the iPhone now - as you al well know - and I bet the thinking is that if you are in the store or about to click and buy online a 16GB iPod Touch you would seriously consider losing 8GB of memory but gaining all the phone features. yes you would have to take out a phone ontract, but that would be a second place decision, I think the choice would be simple and the iPhone will win in many instances. This immediately bumps up the sales of the iPhone, it is going to outsell so many of the top phones in the coming months. The real winners here are the shareholders.
Although pretty much unique in having such an amazing fan base in the business World - I would say only companies like Ferrari have a similar fan base with people happy to wear the t-shirts when they cant afford the actual products - but do remember they are just a company. They exist to make money, to make profit, to grow, and to please their shareholders.
Do of course try for a refund but do try and do it in an adult style, some of the posts on here would go straight in the bin if you wrote to Apple in that style. If you put a mature reasonable case forward you have a chance they might look at it - a slim one I'm sure, and I bet they knew this was coming and have already decided that its not something they will be worrying about. Some of you might stop buying Apple and might go to Linux or MS, but we all know the majority will stay - the other options just don't look good!
On a different note (I apologise for not reading every post on all 32 pages so this may have been discussed already) I am interested in the way Apple have priced up the iPhone and the 16GB iPod Touch. Apple has never had trouble shifting its high end iPods, the 16GB Touch is the same price as the iPhone now - as you al well know - and I bet the thinking is that if you are in the store or about to click and buy online a 16GB iPod Touch you would seriously consider losing 8GB of memory but gaining all the phone features. yes you would have to take out a phone ontract, but that would be a second place decision, I think the choice would be simple and the iPhone will win in many instances. This immediately bumps up the sales of the iPhone, it is going to outsell so many of the top phones in the coming months. The real winners here are the shareholders.
some people on this forum never cease to amaze me. but not always in a good way. If you have a partner, I feel sorry for that person.
It may be different in the US but in the UK you pay top money for the latest phone, 3 months later everyone else is getting it for free with a new contract or for £50 on a PAYG tariff. People gave up worring and moaning about it years ago, it happens every time!
Perhaps they have now created room for next gen 3G IPhone with GPS coming in at $499 price point?
Now that would be an interesting development.
If the iPhone changes like the phones here in Japan have changed, then:
- GPS will be added
- Camera will get better (more pixels, better lens, etc.)
- Other features will continuously be added.
I am sure you can just buy phone from Apple Store and then... that's up to you!
Can our US friends help you?
This is a very good point.
The phone market moves very, very quickly, the lifecycle of a new handset model is measured in months. Like it or hate it, but if Apple stays in the mobile phone market, this is how it's going to be.
Couple of points, the first.. obviously business reasons why Apple made this price change:
1. The holiday season is coming up - Apple obviously wants to ramp up sales of the iPhone.
2. In all probability, the components/manufacturing process has become cheaper - as it always does with any highly marketed and popular device.
The behavior of people here absolutely surprises me.. but then again - the average consumer nowadays buys a BMW while barely making enough to make the payments on time. I wouldn't doubt it if most of the portion of consumers who bought an iPhone bought it for bragging rights.. "I need this thing - its just so cool" I know a friend who bought an iPhone simply because he wants it to be a part of his 'toys' arsenal. He doesn't even use the bloody thing that much!
I bought one for my wife last month - I saw the price drop today.. and went 'Oh well' I don't understand why people are going "I wanna kill Apple... losers.. they made us early adopters pay more.. etc etc"
If you felt the pinch paying $600 for the phone, then you should have waited. If you could easily afford it - then $200 doesn't hurt.
Maybe next time Apple releases a product they should put a "Early Adopter Warning" label on it.
1. The holiday season is coming up - Apple obviously wants to ramp up sales of the iPhone.
2. In all probability, the components/manufacturing process has become cheaper - as it always does with any highly marketed and popular device.
The behavior of people here absolutely surprises me.. but then again - the average consumer nowadays buys a BMW while barely making enough to make the payments on time. I wouldn't doubt it if most of the portion of consumers who bought an iPhone bought it for bragging rights.. "I need this thing - its just so cool" I know a friend who bought an iPhone simply because he wants it to be a part of his 'toys' arsenal. He doesn't even use the bloody thing that much!
I bought one for my wife last month - I saw the price drop today.. and went 'Oh well' I don't understand why people are going "I wanna kill Apple... losers.. they made us early adopters pay more.. etc etc"
If you felt the pinch paying $600 for the phone, then you should have waited. If you could easily afford it - then $200 doesn't hurt.
Maybe next time Apple releases a product they should put a "Early Adopter Warning" label on it.
Apple, perhaps, could have foreseen this reaction though, and played it smarter.
What if they'd reduced the iPhone price by 150 dollars, then given a 50 dollar refund (or Apple voucher) to every existing customer? Most new customers would be happy with a 150 dollar discount, existing customers would be happy to get money back from a purchase they were already happy with, and Apple actually makes more money.
When the original Xbox dropped in price a couple of months after I bought it, Microsoft gave me an extra controller and two free games. THAT'S how to win friends and influence people!
What if they'd reduced the iPhone price by 150 dollars, then given a 50 dollar refund (or Apple voucher) to every existing customer? Most new customers would be happy with a 150 dollar discount, existing customers would be happy to get money back from a purchase they were already happy with, and Apple actually makes more money.
When the original Xbox dropped in price a couple of months after I bought it, Microsoft gave me an extra controller and two free games. THAT'S how to win friends and influence people!
i just bought my iphone like 9 days ago. The 4gb version. Im gonna take it today and see if they can give me $200 back or ill just get the 8gb, since i still save $100. I got lucky, didnt get lucky with the ps3 as it went down the next month after i bought it.
I have no quarrel with Apple reducing the price of the iPhone by $200 if it's in line with reduced manufacturing costs and/or lets them meet their aggressive sales projections.
But I also think that Apple's decision not to provide early adopters with some sort of compensation is a bad business decision. Judging by what I've seen online since yesterday, the magnitude of the backlash is going to be greater than what Apple expected, and will have a negative halo effect.
The situation isn't helped by Steve Jobs' statement "If they bought it a month ago, well, that's what happens in technology." Apple's apparently inconsistent response to people who call for refunds only adds to the confusion and frustration. Jobs' may be technically correct, but it's sure not "thinking different."
I've been a strong Apple supporter since 1979 and bought an iPhone on launch day. While this episode won't make me switch, it does leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. Some sort of compensation from Apple (a store credit, say) would help wash that away. But their window of opportunity is closing rapidly.
Not as bad a business decision as giving back nearly $200 million. Wasn't that long ago Apple struggled to make that kind of money, most companies dream about it. Apple is a business, different because they are loved - most companies can't even get customers to have an element of loyalty let alone grow a fan base - but still a business, purely existing to make money.
What are they all going to do, switch? No, they will moan and rant and eventually let it go. if they want to switch I'm sure Apple won't lose sleep over it.
It is technology, even more so it is the mobile phone market, which is new to Apple and it seems new to many of Apples fans too. When the Nokia Nokia N95 was launched in the UK people were paying several hundred £ for it - so $600 plus, a few months later it is free - thats a price drop! But in the UK it happens all the time, usually with in 6-8 weeks the phones are free or cheap enough that most people could afford to pick one up on a PAYG contract if they wanted it. This is a new market for Apple and for the Apple fans, it seems to be a hard lesson people are having to learn though, and although I sympathise I don't believe Apple should give anything back. I think people should be grateful the iPhone was not reduced to 'free with a 18 month contract' - THAT would have upset people.
No, it is a very good business decision. Good business decisions drive profit and to needlessly refund $200 to each of the early IPhone customers is a bad decision. What happens when they come out the IPhone v2 in December? Should you get ANOTHER refund because it is not fair that there is a newer version?
I posted a few times about the coming updates of the IPhone and a price reduction (though I didn't think it would be this large) and was ALWAYS amazed at the response -"No, apple wouldn't anger the early adopters" to which I replied - huh? Apple's plan was:
1. Introduce it at a high price and get the early adopters big bucks.
2. Drop the price/increase storage and sell more.
3. Introduce V2 with MORE features and sell even more!
This is not rocket science. . it is how product development/sales works.
I love this "I have been a customer since. . .197x". Who cares? You have enjoyed many apple products during that time . . .you aren't a member of some special club.
Life is too short to get this pissed off over $200. If you like the phone on Tuesday you should like it today. Apple didn't hurt your or do anything wrong. They offered a product for $600 and you bought it. Today that product is $400 and many more will buy it.
Well said!
Yep, that's how it works.
Probably most folks on this board at one time or another have been on the bleeding edge of some technology only to see something similar happen to them.
The bottom line, is you get what you pay for regardless of future developments. For example, if I purchase a new iPod Nano with 8GB today, and a few months from now they introduced a 16GB version for the same price point...oh well. That's the way it is.
No kidding!
Lots of anger in this thread. I don't think Apple should give money back per se. I think they should maybe offer a gift card to either iTunes or the Apple store. That way the money comes back to them anyways, and people get the warm fuzzy that Apple "cares".
Why don't you spend your time trying to find away to make $200 more in this world than complain about it. I bought my Blackjack and paid $300 more than someone who bought it 60 days after me. So what. I also bought a 80GB video iPod 45 days ago and I want nothing from Apple. I agreed that $349 was a good price FOR ME for a 80GB iPod. If $200 was a big deal to me I would take the time I spent whining here and find a job that could pay me $200 to make up the difference. If $200 upsets you get a better job. I am happy that this allows the non whiners who couldn't afford the $600 price tag to possibly afford it at $400.
It sounds like some of you haven't bought a mobile phone before. They have very short product cycles, and go from hundreds of dollars to free (when subsidised) in just a couple of months.
e.g. Nokia released the N95 in March. They have already announced its replacement and it will ship in November.
e.g. Nokia released the N95 in March. They have already announced its replacement and it will ship in November.
Yes, Why should they?
Should Apple give refunds to Macbook Pro owners who bought their machine 2 months before a new Macbook Pro refresh?
Where does it end? Apple is a business and doesn't owe its customers anything. iPhone owners knew the price was $599 and where quite happy to buy at that price.
Apple has a 30 day policy, for this very reason... 30 days is adequate.
Anyone knows the cell phone market is very agressive and prices drop very quickly, and yes, that applies to Apple. Apple need to compete with the latest offering, at $599, the iPhone was very expensive and locked up with a contract. At $599 Apple just aren't going to compete very well with other phones that are way cheaper after contract.
$399 is a very good price for the iPhone. Apple will attract a lot of new customers who wouldn't otherwise shell out $599.
Thank you. I might have been a bit touchy last night, so my apologies, as well.
Aye. I don't think Apple "owes" me anything since I think my iPhone is amazing and that is why I bought it. And I do not agree with some of the stances my fellow iPhone users are taking on this issue. I knew it would go down in price. I didn't expect it to go down so much so quickly, but if I had to wait six months instead of two to pay $399, I'd have bought it when I did. Heck, if I had to wait four months, I'd have bought it when I did. It's that good.
They certainly are doing that. They just did it a good deal earlier then usual. But as you note, that is certainly their right. And it may very well be driven by the new cellphones and Windows Mobile 6 SmartPhones shipping soon at significantly lower price points. And, of course, the iPod Touch coming out so much cheaper then many of us expected (though we expected large HDDs).
Thanks again for a good discussion.
You mean 14 day policy. I bolded that word. If you can show me an iPhone that is selling for 599 that replaced [read: refreshed] the existing model then by all means please do.
I know Apple doesn't owe anyone but it's shareholders anything, and that is fine. If Microsoft can give away a free controller and 2 games to those in Europe when the XB price dropped 2 months after release (and this is Microsoft we are talking about) you would think Apple could do something similar.
As a day 2 of launch purchaser of an 8 GB iPhone, I too am amazed by the size of the price drop. And I have an emotional reaction, too!
I think the price drop is great!
This is a great technology device and I suspect that it will be even more widespread now at this new price point. That, plus the nearly equivalent iPod touch should expand the market for PDA-like apps that run on both machines.
There are risks to being in the first wave of early adapters, but that is something I fully recognized and accept. So no, I'm not pissed!
I think the price drop is great!
This is a great technology device and I suspect that it will be even more widespread now at this new price point. That, plus the nearly equivalent iPod touch should expand the market for PDA-like apps that run on both machines.
There are risks to being in the first wave of early adapters, but that is something I fully recognized and accept. So no, I'm not pissed!
a bit less sexy
now, that your older brother will buy himself one of those smart phones from apple you will look a bit less sexy and maybe a bit more stupid when your $600 iPhone rings with your favorite Police song that you already purchased once on iTunes but purchased again just to hear a snippet of it when your mom calls.
now, that your older brother will buy himself one of those smart phones from apple you will look a bit less sexy and maybe a bit more stupid when your $600 iPhone rings with your favorite Police song that you already purchased once on iTunes but purchased again just to hear a snippet of it when your mom calls.