I think another part of this discontent is that due to Apple's nature as a computer/music company, people have grown used to their update cycle. They hear the rumors about updates coming months away, and they're ready for these things. Like others have said, the phone industry moves very differently than the computer or MP3 player market does. But since the people that read (and write for) these sites aren't looking at the iPhone from the perspective of the mobile market, this really blindsided them. People have become so dependent, and so in sync with, the rumors that actually getting surprised by something that Apple did pissed them off.
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8GB iPhone Price Drop, 4GB iPhone Discontinued
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I'm a Treo owner waiting to go to an iPhone.
I learned my lesson a few years back when i jumped right on board with the then new Treo 650. Gosh it was buggy and I paid big bucks at the time to be a Beta tester for Palm.
My 2 cents, never pay a lot of $$ to be a beta tester. Always wait till 2nd generation. If you buy 1st gen, buyer beware! Lower price, bugginess, product drop, etc..
I have tried the iPhone several times and I think I can say that those of you who bought at $600 have a solid device. Right? So, that is a good thing.
Side note: Is Apple doing this to woo people away from their carriers? The $200 ETF with Sprint was making me gun shy, but now....
I learned my lesson a few years back when i jumped right on board with the then new Treo 650. Gosh it was buggy and I paid big bucks at the time to be a Beta tester for Palm.
My 2 cents, never pay a lot of $$ to be a beta tester. Always wait till 2nd generation. If you buy 1st gen, buyer beware! Lower price, bugginess, product drop, etc..
I have tried the iPhone several times and I think I can say that those of you who bought at $600 have a solid device. Right? So, that is a good thing.
Side note: Is Apple doing this to woo people away from their carriers? The $200 ETF with Sprint was making me gun shy, but now....
If so 31 days is normal return policy.
I feel bad for early adopters and just watch how normal consumers will react to a cell phone company called Apple: 14 days only return compared to 31 days to test a service? No brainer to me and why I didn't buy an iPhone. You need 31 days to see if AT&T service in your area is good enough. 14 days is really pathetic and a pure grift to lock people into 2 years and an underpowered phone.
Do you understand now why people are angry and others have no bought the iphone?
It will not matter how cheap you sell it for, the 14 days trial is a deal breaker for most serious cell users when all the other manufacturers are willing to let AT&T offer 31 days.
When this becomes common knowledge watch the stock drop like a stone.
I feel bad for early adopters and just watch how normal consumers will react to a cell phone company called Apple: 14 days only return compared to 31 days to test a service? No brainer to me and why I didn't buy an iPhone. You need 31 days to see if AT&T service in your area is good enough. 14 days is really pathetic and a pure grift to lock people into 2 years and an underpowered phone.
Do you understand now why people are angry and others have no bought the iphone?
It will not matter how cheap you sell it for, the 14 days trial is a deal breaker for most serious cell users when all the other manufacturers are willing to let AT&T offer 31 days.
When this becomes common knowledge watch the stock drop like a stone.
Question
I don't know if this has been mentioned before in this thread, but is this price drop permanent? I have been waiting to get the iPhone because of the $200 ETF from T-Mobile, but I'm wondering if this pricing is going to be permanent so I can wait until my contract runs up next june and save $200. Thanks in advance
I don't know if this has been mentioned before in this thread, but is this price drop permanent? I have been waiting to get the iPhone because of the $200 ETF from T-Mobile, but I'm wondering if this pricing is going to be permanent so I can wait until my contract runs up next june and save $200. Thanks in advance
So then just ignore it, move on, don't read the thread. If you don't like it, don't fan the flames.
All of you people that say phones start at 300 bucks and then are free in two months are totally incorrect. They STILL have a hard cost. The phone companies subsidize the price giving you a discount for signing up for 2 years. I've bought plenty, some at launch and the rebates/incentives go up, but the hard cost remains at least on the receipt to customers.
Apple doesn't allow this subsidization to happen. That's the whole reason it was 600 bucks to begin with. Or so they said. Now they are going to drop the price just as fast as the phone companies set up massive rebates etc...?
Apple didn't want the phone companies devaluing their phone and yet they devalue it themselves. And devalue doesnt mean bringing the price down. It means making the hardware seem like it has less of a value and could refresh any minute or be replaced etc. It was a bad decision charging 600 to start with. They knew the IPod Touch was coming. They knew they were going to drop the price going into it.
Apple doesn't allow this subsidization to happen. That's the whole reason it was 600 bucks to begin with. Or so they said. Now they are going to drop the price just as fast as the phone companies set up massive rebates etc...?
Apple didn't want the phone companies devaluing their phone and yet they devalue it themselves. And devalue doesnt mean bringing the price down. It means making the hardware seem like it has less of a value and could refresh any minute or be replaced etc. It was a bad decision charging 600 to start with. They knew the IPod Touch was coming. They knew they were going to drop the price going into it.
Thanks, its 14 days.. maybe a little too short.
That was a good move for microsoft, however, they didn't have to do that.. but they did.
Some people have been successful in getting some sort of rebate - whether its $200, $100 or BT headset... those who are complaining on here should **calmly** go into their nearest Apple store and explain their position, cite other rebates and see what happens.
You all need to get a grip. They've lowered the price of a two month old product by 50%. People have every right to be pissed off. People saying "this happens all the time" are idiots because it DOESN'T happen all the time. Maybe a year later they drop the price, but TWO MONTHS? No, Apple has screwed over iPhone early adopters (the people who make the products succesful).
Please show me a single other product that has had it's price significantly lowered (by 50%) within two months of launch with no rebate.
Just Got a Call Back from the WillowBend (Plano) Manager
He was very professional and understanding, but indicated that Apple Corporate is allowing them to issue refunds only back 20 days on the $200. This actually irritates me more than staying with the standard policy. It should 14 days or nothing. 30 days is a bigger slap in the face. 16 July purchaser.
He was very professional and understanding, but indicated that Apple Corporate is allowing them to issue refunds only back 20 days on the $200. This actually irritates me more than staying with the standard policy. It should 14 days or nothing. 30 days is a bigger slap in the face. 16 July purchaser.
Yes the price drop is permanent.
The current iPhone is $399 for 8GB of flash memory.
If you wait until next June, the iPhones will have more flash memory and other improvements by then. I would expect to see a 16GB model introduced after the first of the year for $499. By next summer, we may see 16GB and 32GB models for the same price points ($399 and $499).
Then again, June 2008 is a long ways off so who knows what will be available by then.
I feel sorry for people who were first in the world to get an iphone but paid extra for it. Tough, sorry have a little cry and move on with your life, that's life. I can give many examples of this happening to me with new gadgets.
The reason apple dropped the price is because of the ipod touch. They know it will canibilise some iphone sales so they had to bring it in line.
Maybe they are antipating this google phone which is suppose to offer very low cost calls but they flood the phone with adsense.
Maybe they just want more people to buy it and ATT are more than happy with the revenue it's earning them.
The real question I and the millions outside the US is do I get the ipod touch (I could have it in a couple of weeks maybe..) or wait next year for iphone??
My wife won't let me buy an ipod touch but says I can get an iphone.
The reason apple dropped the price is because of the ipod touch. They know it will canibilise some iphone sales so they had to bring it in line.
Maybe they are antipating this google phone which is suppose to offer very low cost calls but they flood the phone with adsense.
Maybe they just want more people to buy it and ATT are more than happy with the revenue it's earning them.
The real question I and the millions outside the US is do I get the ipod touch (I could have it in a couple of weeks maybe..) or wait next year for iphone??
My wife won't let me buy an ipod touch but says I can get an iphone.
Thank you. Thats what I was thinking anyways, so I think I will hold off until June 2008 and see the iPhone 2.0
Please calm down.
Those of us who have been on the bleeding edge have seen things like this before. Here in Japan for example, many electronic products change much quicker than in the states. Many of these products cannot be purchased outside of Japan.
The cell phone market is even more volatile here. How would you like to purchase a cell phone for $400 plus then about 3 weeks later have that phone worth about a penny because a new model has been introduced. Oh, and the last model lasted maybe 2-3 months.
Bottom line, is that when you purchase an electronic device you make a decision that the price point is worth what you decide to purchase. There are no guarantees on future prices, features or availability. Companies drop and change products all the time.
Planned price cut makes me a lab animal
As the New York Times reports today:
"On Wednesday, Apple executives insisted that the price cut had been planned long ago and that the strategy had been conceived in part to keep the iPhones pricing in line with its new iPod Touch, a music player that looks like the iPhone but lacks the phone-calling ability."
This is what makes me so mad: I have no problem with the price drop per se, I have a problem with the fact that Apple has been planning to screw over their most devoted customers from the get go: we payed 200 bucks more than what they sell for a mere two months later; we stood in line, manufacturing a media event for Apple; we spent the last two months explaining to people why the iPhone is NOT overpriced - and now we look like idiots (contrary to what many seem to believe, I tended to hide the phone, so I wouldn't have to explain all the time). Great, thank you very much, I feel used.
Those who can't empathize with this, just shut up. Enjoy your schadenfreude and go your own way. Don't add insult to injury, which is what Steve Jobs did in his USA Today interview. I'm in my late 20's, still a graduate student, and have owned half a dozen macs in the last few years. I do pay a premium for Apple's products, for precisely the reasons all of us who frequent these forums do - but I don't have money to spend for being a beta tester.
I convinced close to a dozen people to switch to the mac, Apple's 'do business different' history was one of the reasons I stressed. That's over now, it seems. Along the way to becoming Bill Gates, being nice to your customer base was a good idea, now that we have domination of a market segment we can screw being sentimental. Great.
September 5th is the day that made me an Apple cynic.
As the New York Times reports today:
"On Wednesday, Apple executives insisted that the price cut had been planned long ago and that the strategy had been conceived in part to keep the iPhones pricing in line with its new iPod Touch, a music player that looks like the iPhone but lacks the phone-calling ability."
This is what makes me so mad: I have no problem with the price drop per se, I have a problem with the fact that Apple has been planning to screw over their most devoted customers from the get go: we payed 200 bucks more than what they sell for a mere two months later; we stood in line, manufacturing a media event for Apple; we spent the last two months explaining to people why the iPhone is NOT overpriced - and now we look like idiots (contrary to what many seem to believe, I tended to hide the phone, so I wouldn't have to explain all the time). Great, thank you very much, I feel used.
Those who can't empathize with this, just shut up. Enjoy your schadenfreude and go your own way. Don't add insult to injury, which is what Steve Jobs did in his USA Today interview. I'm in my late 20's, still a graduate student, and have owned half a dozen macs in the last few years. I do pay a premium for Apple's products, for precisely the reasons all of us who frequent these forums do - but I don't have money to spend for being a beta tester.
I convinced close to a dozen people to switch to the mac, Apple's 'do business different' history was one of the reasons I stressed. That's over now, it seems. Along the way to becoming Bill Gates, being nice to your customer base was a good idea, now that we have domination of a market segment we can screw being sentimental. Great.
September 5th is the day that made me an Apple cynic.
Like I said, this doesn't happen in two months and never has. I can't think of a single consumer product that this has ever happened to. The closest is when MS dropped the price of the Xbox within months of it launching, but they gave early adopters two free games and a controller.
I find all the people laughing at the early adopters cruel and pathetic. They got a bum deal, they have been treated unfairly and people are getting enjoyment out of it.
Its how the cell phone market works, its the nature of the beast - and Apple is not immune. Cell phone manufacturers wouldn't be profitable if they started giving rebates to their customers when the phone reaches its EOL after 3 months.
Yes, it sucks, iPhone users may feel cheated, but thats the way of the cell phone market.
DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND BUSINESS?
The day you paid Apple your $ you entrered into a contract with them and you completely agreed to those terms.
1) You agree to pay $600 for an iPhone.
2) You agree to 2 years of service
3) You agree that you have 14 days to return it for whatever reason you want and no matter what happens after that 14 days you will abide by that agreement
4) You agree that Apple cannot and will not charge you more than they did after those 14 days or refund you anything should they lower the price after those 14 days.
I love how no one answered my question if Apple raised the price and asked you to come in and pay more would you? If not, why not?
The idiots who say no one has ever done this before or Apple has never done this before, SO FREAKING WHAT. Apple has never had a cell phone before. Should they never have made one? I never put my right sock on before my left. Does that mean I can't do it now if I choose?
BTW here: This was found on another site
10 reasons for the price cut
1. Sales are slowing, and a price drop will re-invigorate them.
2. Other smartphones are entering the market and a $399 price tag kicks those where it hurts.
3. iPhone is a classic platinum turkey -- a high-end phone that sells a million units rapidly but then quickly loses momentum.
4. The new iPod touch was likely to undermine iPhone sales.
5. Apple early adopters would have paid any price. $600 was just short term profit maximization for the launch.
6. Apple has reached a milestone that can justify a price cut. Development costs have been recouped. (It'll be a lot cheaper to produce the next million iPhones than the first, so Apple hasn't given away its margin.)
7. iPod Touch and iPhone share certain parts, thus bringing manufacturing costs down for both products.
8. Apple promised AT&T the price cut if they could offer the iPod touch this holiday season.
9. If Apple learned anything from the Mac war with Wintel, it was that maintaining hardware margins at the expense of marketshare was a mistake.
10. Clearing out inventory to make way for a 3G iPhone ASAP.
Since when did phones reach their EOL in three months? My K810i is more than 3 months old, but it's still top of the range.
Not true, in the UK if you get a phone on the day its launched with a contract you will pay a lot of money for it, 3 months later the same phone with the same contract, you get it for a lot less and usually for free.
Possibly different in other countries, but thats how it is in the UK, so not totally incorrect, probably just talking about a different market.
