Apple Retail Staff Drilled to Recommend iPhone 15 USB-C Charging Accessories at Point of Sale

[coredev]

It's like you think everything will last forever. lol.

No I don't. But if your device/cable/charger is broken and that's the reason for getting a new one, why is it then Apple’s fault that there is e-waste?
The argument here in t thread seems to be that releasing a new iPhone with USB-C (which is by the way not even Apple’s choice, but forced by regulators) produces a huge pile of e-waste. This is simply not true.

 

[bluespark]

I don't understand the point of this at all. There has been no charger in the box for years now. The cables that came with the last 3 (?) iPhone generations connected to USB-C, so for anyone upgrading from a recent phone, they would need no new charger at all.

Also, there are no "existing Lightning chargers", there were never any Lightning chargers, only chargers with USB-A port and Lightning to USB-A cables. But those were not used for iPhones since several years.

Yeah, something doesn't quite track with this story. Maybe Apple Store employees are being "drilled" to ask customers if they need additional USB-C cables or accessories?

 

[Gasu E.]

Kinda strange to me that they don't have some kind of charging recycling program where you can bring in your old usb A plugs to get a couple bucks off a new apple certified usb-c one.
That way unnecessary e-waste is reduced and everyone has what they need to use their phones

Good thinking; but those older chargers would end up being trashed anyway, so it wouldn't really reduce net waste.

 

[robbietop]

Major law firms now licking their lips.

Lawsuit: "Apple intends to sunset their old devices by making people buy new phones with USB-C charging capability. People are not gonna fall for this obvious planned obsolescence."

Apple: "The God damned European Union demanded we either change to USB-C or be import banned. If you have a problem with this overreach in power, please redirect your suit to the voting citizens of Europe who seem to think they own the planet and everything on it and not Apple, Inc. This behavior is normal for Europe, it's why they have never stopped fighting each other over who gets the Alps or Africa."

 

[jml1982]

This is ridiculous, they should have to include a full charger for your phone!!!What electronic charging product do you buy where they don't include everything in the box for you to use it?

 

[theluggage]

With iPhone 15 prices expected to increase, many customers in the market for a new model this year will also therefore have to brace themselves for the additional financial burden of replacement chargers and cables.

Hmm, lets see...

- I take my new-ish Pixel 7A phone with USB-C charging
- I grab my ancient ancient iPad 3 charger
- I dig out an Amazon Basics USB-C to USB-A cable
- plug it all together and *ding* charging...

Not at full speed - but my point is that a 10-year-old Apple charger will still give a 2023 USB-C phone a basic charge with a £6 cable. A USB PD standard for faster charging (c.f. the minimum USB 2.5W) has been around since before 2016 and there's no technical reason why it couldn't have been implemented on chargers with USB-A sockets.

Apple chargers have had USB-C sockets since about 2019, in which case you won't even need a different cable - and if those don't support USB PD that's pretty shameful for Apple.

The EU directive wasn't just about the shape of the plug - it was also making sure that phones supported the standard protocol for faster charging.

Yes, there are some Lightning accessories bound for landfill (camera adapters etc.) but the flipside is that new iPhones should be able to use the same USB-C hubs/dongles/cables as Macs and PCs. This suggestion that people are going to need new chargers and cables is hugely exaggerated.

 

[psac]

also if people, which I assume have stock USB-C chargers at home (other devices than an smartphone do exist) I don't think Apple will sell that much

I consider myself an average technology user, and the only USB-C chargers I have at home are ones I've bought the last couple of years for USB-C to Lightning charging. The only actual USB-C to USB-C cords I have are for my work laptop (the one from the power brick and the one out from my monitor to plug the laptop in there.) My wife is due for a phone upgrade, so we're in the crowd that will have to buy extra USB-C cords to have the normal surplus, as they're pushing. However, I'll likely just go for Ankers as opposed to Apple cables...

 

[Jordan4613]

This is pretty much standard at any retail job. Being trained to suggest add-ons. This isn't news-worthy.

 

[psac]

This is ridiculous, they should have to include a full charger for your phone!!!What electronic charging product do you buy where they don't include everything in the box for you to use it?

It's actually becomming a lot more common NOT to include the charger. I bought a new Norelco electric razor, and they had used a proprietary charger forever, but this year it switched to a USB-A cord, with no charger.

 

[mrochester]

They do recycle for free yes.

But it'd be nice if they incentivized people to do it, by offering a discount off the new cable. I mean if they actually cared about the environment like they said. Because without a discount, a lot of people will just toss that old cable into the garbage.

Translated - unless someone pays me, I don’t give a **** about the environment. And it costs Apple money to handle and dispose of that waste.

 

[Steve121178]

Why exactly does the new iPhone make old cables redundant? (And again, there are no Lightning chargers)

Well if you buy a 15 series then your old cables won't work.

 

[Gasu E.]

Yep cause removing the charger was a purely profit motivated move. An easy extra charge. They said it was for the environment but it wasn’t.

Personally, this didn't affect me, as I tend to prefer chargers with multiple slots and the fastest charging speeds possible, over whatever minimal thing Apple would have supplied in the box. Apple chargers I have from the old, bundled, days just got thrown in a box. I'm surprised this decision by Apple has ended up costing you any money, as I would have expected people posting on this site who buy Apple gear would actually prefer to buy more versatile, non-bundled chargers, anyway.

 

[BGPL]

I have two dozen usb-c cables in the house, Apple isn't getting a dime from me for their cables.

 

[NightFox]

I mean if you're buying a new iPhone and you don't know what USB-C is, you have serious issues.

Why? I'd imagine a very significant amount of iPhone buyers have no actual interest in technology.

My wife and two daughters have iPhones that they've had since new. I almost guarantee that if I mentioned Lightning or USB-C to them I'd just get a blank stare or rolled eyes in return.

 

[Gasu E.]

This is ridiculous, they should have to include a full charger for your phone!!!What electronic charging product do you buy where they don't include everything in the box for you to use it?

Actually, including a charger in the box is illegal in the European Union, unless you also offer a cheaper option that doesn't include a charger. The whole point of the EU rules is to make whatever you think everyone should do, not happen.

 

[coredev]

Well if you buy a 15 series then your old cables won't work.

Yes, if you buy a new device, it works with the cable that comes with it. Old cables still work with your old device. Where’s the e-waste?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

our most courageous iphone ever

It should also say, "our most courageous charging cable ever".

 

[jicon]

Suspect one item that will be in demand are USB-A splitters. When one of us in the household switches to a USB-C phone, that leaves one port in the car to get Carplay working, and likely a fair bit of cable swapping each time one of us wants to use the phone in the car.

 

[ix.heart]

I’ll buy, but NOT from apple.
also have my block and cable from iPad Pro.

Bingo, been using Anker devices which perform and charge all Apple devices much faster. This is all about profit for Apple.

 

[coredev]

This is all about profit for Apple.

Keep telling yourself that if it makes you happy. The change to usb-c is due to regulatory demands by the EU, as stated multiple times here on MR.

 

[Kiwamu]

I consider myself an average technology user, and the only USB-C chargers I have at home are ones I've bought the last couple of years for USB-C to Lightning charging. The only actual USB-C to USB-C cords I have are for my work laptop (the one from the power brick and the one out from my monitor to plug the laptop in there.) My wife is due for a phone upgrade, so we're in the crowd that will have to buy extra USB-C cords to have the normal surplus, as they're pushing. However, I'll likely just go for Ankers as opposed to Apple cables...

You know, examples such as mine are painted with a broad brush. I am certain we will find other exceptions to my example that casts a wide net of people. Though thank you for sharing!

 

[nab0kov]

I don't understand the point of this at all. There has been no charger in the box for years now. The cables that came with the last 3 (?) iPhone generations connected to USB-C, so for anyone upgrading from a recent phone, they would need no new charger at all.

Also, there are no "existing Lightning chargers", there were never any Lightning chargers, only chargers with USB-A port and Lightning to USB-A cables. But those were not used for iPhones since several years.

I believe it's because prior to this switch, customers could've continued using their chargers and USB-A to lightning cables that they've had for years and years. Only now would they truly have to give that up.

 

[iStorm]

This applied for the 12, 13, and 14 series though, too. The cable in the box has been lightning to USB-C, so people still would’ve needed to get a new USB-C charging brick the past 3 years without Apple employees telling them that.

Not necessarily. Many people continued to just use their old USB-A to Lightning cables along with their old USB-A charging bricks and didn't even bother using the new USB-C to Lightning cable. The main problem now is that there is no USB-A to USB-C cable, at least not from Apple, so they have to get a new charger now (or a different cable elsewhere).

This is also probably to warn them that their USB-A to Lightning cables they use in their car won't work either. (Most cars on the road don't even have USB-C unless you bought a new one within the past few years.) I wonder if Apple will release an official USB-A to USB-C cable, or if we'll have to use third party cables.

 

[jlc1978]

I mean if you're buying a new iPhone and you don't know what USB-C is, you have serious issues.

I suspect many users aren’t aware of the differences, they just use and charge their phones. Making sure they have a charger that will work is simply a good practice.

Why would they? Apple want to make money out of you. As much as possible. They don't care about anything else.

If they cared they'd be a simple $2 dongle in the box allowing people to utilise their existing Lightning accessories with the bundled USB-C cable.

And people would complain about it being a dongle and not cable…

How many pounds of oats would one USB-A stick cost?

African or European?

I bet they are - imagine how much money is made by Apple selling lightning cables and licensing their tech to 3rd party vendors. Its going to hit their bottom line.

I’d bet they are a rounding error in Apple’s P&L and more to ensure accesories work properly and do not vause any damage.

You know if you just, you know, INCLUDED THE CHARGER IN THE BOX INSTEAD OF MAKING PEOPLE BUY IT SEPARATELY, you wouldn't have this problem. Or if you're gonna not include the charger, then give people a charger for free.

You only have yourself to blame Apple

No, they merely are complying fully with the EU directive, which requires unbundling the two; so if Apple included one they’d have to sell the iPhone without one as well. From a supply chain perspective that makes no sense vs. just leaving it oit and selling seperately.

Wasn't the whole point of this (EU) law to reduce duplication & waste, & to encourage one standard?

No, it was to establish one minimum standard while allowing manufacturers to add features beyond the standard as long as they include the required standard capability.

So why is environmental-caring Apple encouraging people to buy another charger that they probably don't need and will create more waste?

If you have one no need to buy it, if you don’t being told you’ll need one ensures you be able to charge your phone.

Why does Apple get to have "MFi-certified USB-C" with additional features?

The regulations specifically allows that.

Apple is doing the "embrace & extend" strategy that worked so well for Microsoft back in the day. This should be illegal. If a company wants to improve a standard, then you make it part of the standard, not just pin-compatible.

If the EU wanted that they would not have written the spec the way it is written.

Otherwise, we have exactly the same amount of e-waste as before.

Not going to happen; the EU boffins have assured everyone it will result in less e-waste.

Suspect one item that will be in demand are USB-A splitters. When one of us in the household switches to a USB-C phone, that leaves one port in the car to get Carplay working, and likely a fair bit of cable swapping each time one of us wants to use the phone in the car.

I have a dual USB-C and USB-A ports, Mophie I believe. Well made from aluminum.

 

[ksec]

I guess it will be part of their KPI again.