Nope. That goes back to what I said. Look up the definition of "debt". In this case, check the US Treasury site that's been linked to repeatedly in this thread for their use of the term. Pulling an item off the shelf is not incurring a debt. If you hand me a piece of merchandise, then you've given me something for free. If I say "I'd like to have that merchandise over there" and you respond "Sure. That'll be $500", I still haven't incurred a debt. Regardless of the instrument I use to satisfy that sum, I haven't incurred a debt with you to make the purchase. You could argue that maybe we agree to some sort of financing terms, but that's outside the purview of a private business making a sale or performing a service.
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Apple Axes 'No Cash' Policy for iPad Sales
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Yet AGAIN (from http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/currency/legal-tender.shtml):
"Question: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?
Answer: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."
This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy."
Took less time to google than it took you to post.
"Question: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?
Answer: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."
This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy."
Took less time to google than it took you to post.
$30 off at time of purchase - good deal.
Still only backs up certain things, and only if you have an internet connection for it to sync with. Even that doesn't protect you from someone deleting a contact they need and syncing it out of existence. Yes, you can then argue that this hypothetical person has a pen and paper address book. That's beside the point. I can counter that the person uses Stanza or another ereading app and lost hundreds of books they'll have to download and/or repurchase. Regardless of what medium you're storing your data on, redundant backups are always recommended.
Still only backs up certain things, and only if you have an internet connection for it to sync with. Even that doesn't protect you from someone deleting a contact they need and syncing it out of existence. Yes, you can then argue that this hypothetical person has a pen and paper address book. That's beside the point. I can counter that the person uses Stanza or another ereading app and lost hundreds of books they'll have to download and/or repurchase. Regardless of what medium you're storing your data on, redundant backups are always recommended.
Step 0: Don't tell anyone WTF you are doing or why.
Step 1: Release next version/big thing
Step 2: Let entertainment "news" media handle it
Step 3: Set ridiculous policy
Step 4: Profit
Step 5: Receive bad press
Step 6: Profit
Step 7: Reverse ridiculous policy, hand out free gadget to eldery, crowned as saints
Step 8: Let entertainment "news" media handle it
Step 9: Profit
Step 10 : Profit some more
Step 11: Release next version/big thing
Step 12: Return to step zero. Profit.
iPad connection
I think it's great she got her first computer? But, what can she really do with it without at least a WiFi connection?
How does she get on line with her new, free, iPad?
3G costs at least $15 a month. Maybe she uses a neighbor's WiFi?
I think it's great she got her first computer? But, what can she really do with it without at least a WiFi connection?
How does she get on line with her new, free, iPad?
3G costs at least $15 a month. Maybe she uses a neighbor's WiFi?
Yep. Once i saw it on HuffingtonPost I knew a free iPad was forthcoming.
I think people are assuming that fixed income means welfare and consequently that she shouldnt have an iPad. Specious logic but what can you do
Indeed, with OS 4 around the corner she better pray an apple store will upgrade her on one of their machines lol.
Bullseye.
Not everyone wants to hold onto a bank account like that.
This was on my local news as well, and she discussed being on a very limited income. Apparently she had saved for a very long time to obtain this device.
That being said, before my family and I were fortunate enough to hold enough income to pay for our current home, none of us had a bank account. We were in an apartment where we paid the landlord cash every month, a pre-paid cell phone plan, and cars were purchased used.
Especially for those individuals not tied to a bank, such as those without a loan or any sorts, may not have a bank account.
Either way, just because you use something, it doesn't mean everyone has to.
~~~~~~~~
I LIED, someone fixed my question~
doobs22 - There are coffee shops, restaurants, fast food joints, colleges, libraries, and cheap internet. Perhaps she tied with the $15/mo 3G now that she didn't spend her $600 on the iPad, or perhaps she just sits in the library or whatever to enjoy it. Really, public wi-fi is so readily accessible that it's very easy to get by without paying for your own internet.
+1. There are all walks of people in life, whether or not she has a debit card it's her life- obviously she has found a way to get by.
As a general policy, it doesn't make sense from a consumer's standpoint to have to pay with a credit or debit card, when you actually have cash to pay for something. I don't really care what the laws are, I think Apple made the right choice to figure out a solution without making it harder for people to buy their products.
Finally, if its her first computer then a netbook is probably not the best choice. Regardless, it's her decision. She probably wants something easy and convenient to browse web sites and have an email account. For that, an iPad is actually a great choice for a computer novice. I would've gone with a used laptop myself, but am probably going to set my mom up with an iPad for many of the same reasons (she's basically computer illiterate as well.)
Okay to all the people who are hating, need to chill,
if she actavated her ipad with apple, really she don't need a computer at home, if she wants music & movies she can download it right from her ipad, duh, she just gotta buy a iTunes gift card, other then that I hope she has wifi!
I don't think apple gave her the ipad 3g.
So in other word, no computer is really needed unless she wants to upgrade the os, but ipad next upgrade is in the fall, so she can have fun with she first computer/ipad,
if she actavated her ipad with apple, really she don't need a computer at home, if she wants music & movies she can download it right from her ipad, duh, she just gotta buy a iTunes gift card, other then that I hope she has wifi!
I don't think apple gave her the ipad 3g.
So in other word, no computer is really needed unless she wants to upgrade the os, but ipad next upgrade is in the fall, so she can have fun with she first computer/ipad,
I certainly don't mean to insult you so please take this as no harm intended, but it pains me to see posts like yours written with such ignorance.
Buying a product from a retail store is not settling a debt. They won't give you the product to take home and then you owe them later. In this fashion it's actually your credit card company that you owe a debt to. Buy it on your credit card, Apple gets the approval number, they are paid, you have your iPad. But then you owe to a debt created between you and your credit card company.
If you're going into the Apple store with cash to buy an iPad, there's no debt that needs to be settled. They are not handing you the iPad to take home without you paying for it in full first. In fact, they won't even give you the box to hold until they hand over your receipt after you pay them so there's no debt involved. You only owe to a debt when you already have the merchandise in hand and you have to pay later. You're getting "cost of merchandise" and "debt" mixed up, they are not the same thing.
They do accept cash for all their products, except to discourage overseas resales on certain devices. So this changes nothing, they didn't do this for security concerns at their stores.
Yet another person who jumps at the opportunity to shout someone down. Why bother responding if you don't know the answer? My question is what an "older black woman in an urban neighborhood, on a fixed income and without access to a credit card" wants with an iPad. Don't get all defensive and paranoid about it. Companies do this all the time, they find out the demographics of the people who use their products. Is that such a crime? Curiosity? Why do you insert this idea that I don't think she needs an iPad? My comment was simply my not understanding the desire of the product for someone like her. What will she use it for? If you don't have an answer, don't waste your breath, and don't get yourself all worked up about it.
What the hell is wrong with you people?
No
Oh, I read your post okay. I just consider that none of us have a right to question anyone else's needs.
But since I have now sat down and thought about it, I think it likely Diane Campbell probably worked out that an iPad [an easy to learn and use device that allows her to get on the net for free] was her best passport to the world of computing.
My instinctive response was to say good luck to her, and not be judgmental.
I find the best way to understand the world is to employ a small amount of empathy. I've been in that place where I needed to save up for things, and I never criticise anyone who does so rather than go into debt with any form of credit.
So, no, I will not consider myself the mean spirited one. But thank you for the thought!
Oh, I read your post okay. I just consider that none of us have a right to question anyone else's needs.
But since I have now sat down and thought about it, I think it likely Diane Campbell probably worked out that an iPad [an easy to learn and use device that allows her to get on the net for free] was her best passport to the world of computing.
My instinctive response was to say good luck to her, and not be judgmental.
I find the best way to understand the world is to employ a small amount of empathy. I've been in that place where I needed to save up for things, and I never criticise anyone who does so rather than go into debt with any form of credit.
So, no, I will not consider myself the mean spirited one. But thank you for the thought!
I thank you for your response. I guess the very nature of my question/comment was of a judgmental tone. Clearly, that wasn't my intent, as I was merely curious.
Perhaps you can think of a way to rephrase my initial question in a way that won't come off sounding.. as it did.
I mean that completely seriously.
Thanks.
its getting ridiculous the amount of bad press Apple is getting lately. its very opportune time as well. Of course they still have home OS as a small share but as a tech company they are nipping at Microsofts Heels...what I think is this, Apple has never changed...think back 10 years ago with your first imac, no disk drive, only a couple of ports, your freinds said it was a failure, it ended up being considered the pioneer in getting rid of the floppy disc standard for storage. thats just one story of millions.
i think apple is getting huge (as they deserve to be) and we are seeing a large shift of users leaving or trying OS X and Macs for their first time and they are, "whoa this is different" ...meanwhile we knew that all along. Thats why we love them not loathe them.
I stand firmly behind Apple and a renegade and pioneer. I'm not going to sell them out now as a user because its the cool thing to do.
I feel a little like a dumb... What are they talking about? Cash-free policy and apple account? This is the first time I hear about.
They had to cancel this policy when going international. I'm living in Switzerland and it is absolutely normal that people here pay with cash, 100, 200 and even with 1000 Bills. Most payments with palstic do not even belong to the usual suspects like Visa, MC, Amex, ... they are rarely used here. There are other cards and I'm not sure, Apple would allow them.
Wonder how this will turn out. This whole activation process will not please to many people I suppose. But I've been wrong before.
They had to cancel this policy when going international. I'm living in Switzerland and it is absolutely normal that people here pay with cash, 100, 200 and even with 1000 Bills. Most payments with palstic do not even belong to the usual suspects like Visa, MC, Amex, ... they are rarely used here. There are other cards and I'm not sure, Apple would allow them.
Wonder how this will turn out. This whole activation process will not please to many people I suppose. But I've been wrong before.
What an ignorant statement.
There are many, many reasons why one may not have a credit or debit cardthis being 2010 notwithstanding. Most of the elderly people in my family don't use eitherthey don't trust them; people who did not grow up with certain technologies tend not to trust those technologies, especially where money is concerned. My mother thinks her parents are nuts for not using any cards, yet she will absolutely not even look at her financial statements online. I try to explain secure sites, strong passwords, the fact that she won't be held responsible for anything unauthorized, etc. but she just doesn't trust it.
I think it's great she got her first computer? But, what can she really do with it without at least a WiFi connection?
How does she get on line with her new, free, iPad?
3G costs at least $15 a month. Maybe she uses a neighbor's WiFi?
Why do you care?
Maybe she lives in a community that provides wifi. Maybe she spends time at places that have wifi. Maybe she visits her kids, and they have wifi. Maybe she lives with her kids and they have wifi. Maybe she just wants to play Scrabble against the computer.
What differences does it make to you?
Sheesh.
Just a heads up to anyone who has a paypal account...
They now offer:
- Time Limited
- Amount Limited
- Single Use or Multi-Use
Visa (MC?) credit cards!
Most _amazing_ thing ever.
I only have AMEX and wanted to by DVD2ONEX and their online story didn't have AMEX or PAYPAL. Searched for a solution that didn't require me to sign up for a 'real' visa card that I didn't want... I pay my credit in full every month and amex all but forces me to and didn't feel like I wanted to change that. Someone tipped me off to the service in one of the DVD2ONEX forums (I think).
Anyway it was like 10pm on a SUNDAY NIGHT and said... yea this AINT gonna work.
Went to paypal and signed in... found the 'visa card service' (kinda hidden back when I did this) and did the following:
- Single Use VISA
- Expire 7 days from the current date (I think)
- MAX change $10 more than the software was selling for.
I got a VISA account number in SECONDS (along with that 'security code' most sites ask for .. iirc)!
Went to the DVD2ONEX order page and was NOT very hopeful...
Entered in my info and BAM the site came back with 'amount approved' and a few seconds after that I was reading an email with the DVD2ONEX serial number that I needed to use to register the software!!
Oh and BTW... the order processing site for DVD2ONEX is somewhere in Europe and this was on a Sunday at around 10pm ET!!
I was truly amazed at how fast everything happened! Couple minutes later I logged back into paypal and it showed the card was USED the correct amount was SENT and the card was then flagged EXPIRED!
I still can't believe the system worded as seamless and speedily as it did.
All at NO FEE (maybe this might change? ... but at the time it was a free service)!
Totally amazing!
I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything about "socialized" anything. Actually, I use credit cards and I pay them off in full every month. I carry a $0 balance. I'm pretty sure I'm contributing more to taxes than you, regardless, I have no problem with taking advantage of the system that I've already paid for. You judged her you jerk, I didn't. You said, to the effect "who hasn't done something dumb with money before" you assumed she did something, you assumed she was frivolous with her funds. Learn to read, work on your reading comprehension, and stop being revisionist.
How did I become the crazy right wing conservative in this discussion, I was pointing out that YOU were being ridiculous. And your statement to the effect of "she messed up, but who hasn't" was ridiculous. I KNOW A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION IS NOT A DEBT, that is why I said you were wrong after everyone else already pointed out the exact opposite of what you said. Don't edit your post, read it. You said, they have to take cash for debts, that's true... and irrelevant.
I swear, people lose their reading comprehension skills pretty quick after high school or college. Don't even bother responding to this post, if I read it, I won't agree with you, you'll make something up, or decide the past is different in your world. Done.
