Apple Store Customers Targeted With Creative AirDropped Ad Campaign to Promote 'Cheaper and Greener' Refurbished Devices

[MacRumors]

Apple Store customers in Paris, Berlin, and London shopping for a new iPhone were recently presented with a unique and creative surprise when they saw an AirDrop message appear on the devices that aimed to convince them to purchase a refurbished iPhone instead of a completely new model.

The ad campaign by Back Market, a website that specializes in selling refurbished consumer electronics, consisted of sending an AirDrop message to iPhones on display in Apple's retail store that led to a webpage that promotes refurbished devices.

"Quick! Security isn't looking... It's time to go refurbished with a cheaper and greener model," the webpage read. "Did you know this iPhone is available in white, black, blue, and greener?" it added.

Back Market offers a wide range of refurbished devices for sale. Back Market offers a wide range of refurbished devices for sale, with prices varying depending on model and condition. Back Market says that a "refurbished phone represents 176 lbs off of our collective carbon footprint. Manufacturing a new smartphone produces about 191 lbs of CO2e. Refurbishing? Just 15 lbs. Lose the weight: no extra effort, just extra savings."

Apple does have its own refurbished program, but unlike Back Market, it's only currently offering the iPhone 11 Pro from three years ago for $919.

Article Link: Apple Store Customers Targeted With Creative AirDropped Ad Campaign to Promote 'Cheaper and Greener' Refurbished Devices

 

[japanime]

Oh, I'm for sure gonna click on an AirDropped link from somebody or something I don't know. 🤣

"Creative surprise"? Is that what you really think this is, Sami?

 

[ruka.snow]

Well there is a company to strike off ever doing business with. It is completely unacceptable that they feel they are allowed to send messages to my or anyone else’s phone.

 

[rorschach]

This is why my AirDrop stays off or on "Contacts Only".

 

[FSMBP]

Actually very creative...and creepy.

 

[coredev]

I call this a very cool stunt. I read in the article they targeted the display devices in the store, not the customer's phones, right?

 

[antiprotest]

This looks like regular Airdrop spam. How is it "unique" and "creative"? Is there something different that I missed?

 

[bLackjackj]

Even better,..they managed to dupe MacRumors into advertising them for FREE! 🤦‍♂️

 

[bLackjackj]

This looks like regular Airdrop spam. How is it "unique" and "creative"? Is there something different that I missed?

Nope. But they did score on a MacRumors article.

 

[headlessmike]

Back Market offers a wide range of refurbished devices for sale. Back Market offers a wide range of refurbished devices for sale,

Saying it three times will make Back Market magically appear.

 

[coredev]

Even better,..they managed to dupe MacRumors into advertising them for FREE! 🤦‍♂️

A company that knows how to get publicity.

 

[bLackjackj]

Well there is a company to strike off ever doing business with. It is completely unacceptable that they feel they are allowed to send messages to my or anyone else’s phone.

No different to junk email. You have the choice to stop it.

 

[antiprotest]

Nope. But they did score on a MacRumors article.

True. That gives them many times more the visibility than the AirDrop spam itself.

 

[bLackjackj]

Back Market is popping the champagne now,..they just scored the golden ticket for publicity.

 

[robd003]

Why would anyone ever care about CO2 emissions? Such a dumb point to bring up in sales…

 

[contacos]

Is that even legal? Especially in places like Germany

 

[bLackjackj]

Why would anyone ever care about CO2 emissions? Such a dumb point to bring up in sales…

Because it's the "in thing" at the moment

 

[japanime]

The more I think about the term that Sami chose to use -- "creative surprise" -- the more I get the feeling he simply rewrote a press release sent to him by the spammers.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Can’t seem to decide if this is creative or creepy. Hopefully customers don’t think they’re being stalked.

 

[mikethemartian]

I call this a very cool stunt. I read in the article they targeted the display devices in the store, not the customer's phones, right?

That was my understanding reading the article.

 

[torontotim]

Well there is a company to strike off ever doing business with. It is completely unacceptable that they feel they are allowed to send messages to my or anyone else’s phone.

Really? Then best turn AirDrop off on your phone. If Apple makes it possible for anyone to ping anyone else with an AirDrop, then you're open to anyone in proximity to you doing the same.

Surprised this hasn't been happening en masse since AirDrop was a thing. Wouldn't take much to sit outside an Apple store or anywhere else there were expected high concentrations of Apple devices to spam them with AirDrop notifications.

 

[ruka.snow]

Really? Then best turn AirDrop off on your phone. If Apple makes it possible for anyone to ping anyone else with an AirDrop, then you're open to anyone in proximity to you doing the same.

Surprised this hasn't been happening en masse since AirDrop was a thing. Wouldn't take much to sit outside an Apple store or anywhere else there were expected high concentrations of Apple devices to spam them with AirDrop notifications.

It is switched off. There is no reason for anyone to send me a message on AirDrop or otherwise.

 

[MrENGLISH]

Well there is a company to strike off ever doing business with. It is completely unacceptable that they feel they are allowed to send messages to my or anyone else’s phone.

Exactly! I'm also cringing at the idea that articles like this are also giving them all this free marketing exposure. I find all of this disgusting.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Oh, I'm for sure gonna click on an AirDropped link from somebody or something I don't know. 🤣

"Creative surprise"? Is that what you really think this is, Sami?

Most people actually turn off AirDrop I’d say probably a higher percentage of females because guys keep sending their unit pics?!

More than likely the same phenomenon still works as if your phone‘s ring you’ll always pick it up you do look but you curiosity cold kills the cat it’s like the movie phone Booth somebody’s always gonna pick up the phone or that message

 

[RowellE]

I don’t understand why some of them are laughing when reading the air dropped messages… I don’t see anything funny about the messages or the situation in this video. I’m guessing the entire video is staged and everyone reacting in the video are plants?