Apple Now Promoting iPhone XR and iPhone XS Trade-Ups With Monthly Payment Option

[HappyIntro]

This seems so desperate. Anything but just lowering the price I guess.



Europe is not here for this whole pay everything off monthly BS. Either you can afford something right away or you just don’t.

(I sound like my german mother)

Ha! Well OK, maybe on the consumer side of things. But many European countries seem to be on the edge of bankruptcy every few years due to continuous huge deficit spending, so I think Europe knows a thing or two on borrowing today to be paid off...maybe never. Of course Germany is usually the exasperated responsible country with their lower debt levels compared to their peers.

 

[JPack]

Just a question from someone who lives in a country where buying Smartphones in this way is common:

Does this can be considered a extreme move by apple to try to push sales of those models? Because as far as I know, dividing the total value of the purchase in small montlhy payments is not a common practice on USA (Correct me if i'm wrong) so I consider it to be a "last resource" way of pushing sales up, I am right? (or I am doing a wrong assumption?)

Here i'm my country, Brazil, where everything is so expensive, it's common practice to buy electronics, house utensils (TV, fridge, sofa, stove, beds etc...) and almost any item on this scheme, normally every store acepts credit card and allow you to divide the purchase in up to 12x, and a lot of places offers the option to pay montly even without a credit card.

Even apple here allows you to purchase things in their site in up to 12x using 2 credit cards!!! Even trough nobody does that as they're toooo expensive and people end buying in the grey market. (Ex. the new 64gb 11" ipad pro, costs the equivalent of 1800USD!!!!! on apple.com/br) but they offer the option. So for my reality here, this don't see like a big deal, but I imagine this would be a really uncommon move here.

Financing is extremely common in the U.S. Most Americans use financing for large purchases. Smartphones are typically financed through carriers. What's unusual here is Apple themselves offering trade-ins and financing on the newest iPhones.

What's even more unusual is Apple offering this same financing promotion in China. Most consumers in China buy smartphones outright without credit.

 

[Mizouse]

May consider a 256GB XS Max if I could trade in both my 128GB 6 Plus and 256GB 7 Plus.

That’s about $500 off

 

[oneMadRssn]

While totally anecdotal, it's a bit telling that there are far more used iPhone XS for sale in the Marketplace forum than iPhone X.

 

[kakinc]

Here’s something I don’t get. Back in the days of the 2-year carrier contract Apple always showed prices as $199/$299/$399.

Then when carries went away from that and Apple started the iPhone upgrade program Apple started showing the full price on stage.

Yet go to AT&T or Verizon and it’s the monthly installment shown in big bold font and the retail price is in much smaller non-bolded font. Why did Apple switch to showing the full price of the phone? People went from seeing $199/$299/$399 to $749, even though most people still aren’t paying full price upfront.

Why doesn’t Apple show the iPhone Upgrade program price instead? And if you say that’s deceiving, well was showing the 2-year carrier contract upfront price deceiving too? I just think because most people aren’t buying their phone outright and are paying for overtime why show the full price? Just show what the monthly fee would start at for the base model. Automakers don’t advertise the MSRP, they advertise what a monthly lease payment would be. What’s the difference?

Neither me nor you represent anyone. Everyone i know buys iPhones outright to avoid lock in with a contract.

Having people tight/stuck in a contract so they can get what they couldn’t afford is more of a North American thing.

 

[Zwhaler]

iPhone 7 gets you $250? Meh

 

[gbc204]

Monthly payment only make sense if you plan to upgrade every year. If you use your phone for 2 years, it’s a waste of money.

This is why I switched to the monthly payment. Got a drawer full of old iPhones I never use. And if you have the option to upgrade every year, why wouldn't you? This was there's also no buyer's remorse, never any "should I wait for the next one?" My payment stays the same and I get a new phone. works for me.

 

[thadoggfather]

Good lord Apple, have some self-respect! Sheeeesh

 

[one more]

Only in America apparently.
Why not in Europe?

Apple do it slightly differently here. In France, for example, you can currently get a 0 interest rate Apple loan for up to 12 months on any order worth between 249€ and 5000€:

https://www.apple.com/fr/shop/browse/finance/loan

I remember seeing similar things in the UK as well. However, if you choose to spread your payments over a period longer than 12 months, they will charge you a 9,47% interest rate, so it is less enticing. On the plus side, you do not need to trade anything in to benefit, which I guess evens it out.

 

[dazz87]

How sad..........

 

[Starship67]

It genuinely is refreshing to see someone with such common sense. It blows my mind that people squander money each year on 1k+ devices. I'd much rather spend it on my mortgage or going on holiday.

Good for you. There are some people who don't have mortgages anymore or ever. And some who don't care to travel anywhere.

 

[erinsarah]

It genuinely is refreshing to see someone with such common sense. It blows my mind that people squander money each year on 1k+ devices. I'd much rather spend it on my mortgage or going on holiday.

Agreed. In a house with 3 iPhones (excludes the one I use, paid for by work), I haven't bought a new phone since the 4. Everything else has been hand-me-downs, craigslist, Gazelle, or purchased from a friend. Currently both kids are rocking used 8-plusses and the wife on a 6s...and all is well with the world.

 

[ineedamac]

This is a fine option for those that have a device that they want to trade-in. What about those that do not have a device that they want to trade in or if the device is not listed? It would be better to just have a sale for say $150 off.

 

[wdwpsu]

I'm sorry. This $xx/month and "Get a phone for $449" with fine print seems very un-Apple.

 

[Think creative]

I'm glad I don't live near an apple store... because i'd be tempted to walk in and grab an XR for $20ish a month. I'm still rocking a 6S+

 

[Starship67]

It's False & Mis-leading for AAPL to call it a "Trade-Up" from the 7+ (OR 8+) !

I've kept my 7+ since getting my XR on Oct 26th.

I'm a camera app developer & have done ALOT of testing on both.

When using the camera framework, my 7+ has SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER PERF than my XR !

My 7+ acts like a "true" 3 GB DRAM device ... my XR does NOT !


AAPL should decline to sell the XR to 7+ & 8+ owners ! <----- KEY POINT !

NO ONE should be surprised if there is (ultimately) SIGNIFICANT "Backlash" over this ... as more discover what I know.

As an EE turned software developer, I am extremely puzzled as to how AAPL's VPs of Hardware & Software "signed off" on the XR !

NO WAY would this ever get out the door under Jobs !

It is a MAJOR Black Eye just waiting to happen.

AAPL should have made a single lens version of the XS, offered that with a MUCH lower price, & with 3-year monthly terms.

The XR should is a fine choice for those transitioning from any 2 GB (or less) iPhone, but NOT 7+ & 8+ owners !

Backlash is coming your way Cook ! ... another example of a Total Lack of Basic Common Sense by Cook & his team !

What a bunch of nonsense.

 

[Lancetx]

These trade-in values are seriously not even worth the effort. If they really want to get serious, they're going to have to discount these at least another $200. There's absolutely no way that I would trade-in my perfectly good iPhone 8 and still pay $449 for the XR.

 

[lamerica80]

Good for you. There are some people who don't have mortgages anymore or ever. And some who don't care to travel anywhere.

And there are those who can afford to pay off their mortgage, travel AND buying a great phone. If one is in the position where a few hundred bucks (new phone cost minus old phone second hand value) make such a difference that year, I'm not sure "traveling to Europe" is at the top of their list anyway. Its probably more of a "how do we pay the rent this month" situation.

 

[ChrisMoBro]

Good for you. There are some people who don't have mortgages anymore or ever. And some who don't care to travel anywhere.

And I pity them all (except the people who are rich enough to buy houses upfront)

 

[jelloshotsrule]

These trade-in values are seriously not even worth the effort. If they really want to get serious, they're going to have to discount these at least another $200. There's absolutely no way that I would trade-in my perfectly good iPhone 8 and still pay $449 for the XR.

well, for my iphone 6, which is seriously lacking (even after the battery replacement), i can now get $150 towards an upgrade. a quick ebay sales check for a 128 gb iphone 6 shows they are selling for less than that, so for the first time apple's trade in value (after doubling obviously) would be worth it. i could see not wanting to go for it when you have a more recent model though, for sure.

 

[ACG12]

What happened to brick and mortar stores offering discounts on these phones without trading in a phone? I remember Best Buy used to heavily discount the phones if you upgraded through your carrier. I can’t remember the last time that happened.

 

[ChrisMoBro]

Every year is silly indeed. However with the decent second hand value the cost of upgrade isn't too bad.

For me, its all about the camera. You can't travel back in time and re-shoot videos/photos with a better camera. And the phone is great for immortalising all those small, every day memories. The dinners with friends, the decorating of a new home, the casual videos of elderly relatives. These are gold ten years later when you feel like looking back at your life and memories.

I have friends literally documenting their kids growing up with 6 year old phones because they "work just fine". I just don't get it.

I totally agree, the camera is the main aspect for me too. I have a 7 month old daughter and documenting that on an 8 Plus makes a huge difference. When I get a chance though I use my DSLR to take the really beautiful photos.

 

[Starship67]

And I pity them all (except the people who are rich enough to buy houses upfront)

I never needed a mortgage personally. Im sure most others on here really don't need your pity. But your tone is holier than thou. So welcome to the list.

 

[GIZBUG]

Seems Apple is becoming desperate to sell these phones, practically giving them away! Low sales numbers must be catching up......

Apple wants people who can’t afford an iPhone to still have one.

 

[jtinch]

I have never seen a more desperate Apple.