Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Weird apple cant get people to pay $1149+tax+applecare. huh
Ultimately this is why i didnt upgrade this year even though i originally intended too. It isnt so much about money, got that in the bank, rather it is the desire to avoid a ripoff. I dont shell out cash for nothing and need real justifiable value.

To put it another way no cell phone can justify a $1000 price tag. I simply dont have the use case thar such a waste of money would ever make sense.

I use my ipads far more and still wouldnt pay that much for one.
 
Saying stupid things about a company is not illegal, nor is it market manipulation (but even if it was there is no crime called market manipulation). And in the US at least, we have something called the first amendment that protects the freedom of speech.

Market manipulation was made explicitly illegal with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You could look that up. But you are right about one thing: it isn't illegal to express an opinion, and that's all these analysts are doing.
 
Can you honestly not see the difference here? I'm paying $672 for a ten month period instead of a twelve month period. Over the twelve month period September 2017-2018 I'm paying $784. That is how you budget. I did not budget for that increased cost. Can I cover it? Easy-peasy-lemon-squeazy. But that's not the point. It's about them potentially screwing over their best customers who pay them annually at launch for the most expensive iPhone they make.

Of course I see the difference, it's pretty basic math. But then it's also pretty simple to see it's YOUR choice to have it that way. A change of release date is always a possibility and a risk with spreading the cost like this. It's happened before with iPhone (even before the X when they shifted from a June/July release to a September/October release and it will no doubt happen again. And what's to say all the new iPhone's don't land later this year? Nothing is certain.

And finally, Apple's best customers? You're having a laugh right? Schemes that allow you to spread the cost aren't reward programs! They're designed to make things more affordable for those that wouldn't typically be able to drop $1k on something in one go. And customers on those schemes certainly aren't Apple's "best" customers! That's ones coughing up that $1k cash in one go regardless of release date.

But, a little glimmer of hope in the terms and conditions may de-stress your evening. You can upgrade at 11 months and just re-adjust your payments based on the cost of the new phone. Though if you choose to exit the scheme entirely, you have to cough up the remaining balance of your credit, which may be 9 x your monthly payments (at 11 months) as the plan is over 20 monthly payments, not 12 months (based on the UK scheme at least).

Anyways, this potato is off to the pub to get mashed.
 
Last edited:
You can have the latest phone. Just not necessarily on launch day.
Did the people already on the upgrade plan have to pay two extra payments last year before getting their X? I would think Apple would take that into consideration. If they made 14 payments while they had an iPhone 7, I would think 10 payments while they had an iPhone X would kind of even things out.
 
Did the people already on the upgrade plan have to pay two extra payments last year before getting their X? I would think Apple would take that into consideration. If they made 14 payments while they had an iPhone 7, I would think 10 payments while they had an iPhone X would kind of even things out.

Probably not. When you take out the scheme, you're essentially spreading the cost of the iPhone over 24 (20 in the UK) monthly payments. After 12 months you can upgrade if you want to, but you don't have to and could just continue paying the original monthly fee for the remaining months and the phone is yours. If you choose to upgrade, you must trade in your original iPhone (in good condition) and use its trade in value to pay off the remaining credit of your original agreement, and then start a new 24/20 month plan... which resets you upgrade counter too.

People can upgrade early, but they have to still have to clear their existing credit agreement first.
 
Obviously there is a smaller market for more expensive products since fewer people can afford them. Fiat sells 8,000 Ferraris a year, but nearly 200,000 Fiat Pandas. Comparing sales across product lines is meaningless if they are not comparable products.
[doublepost=1528491658][/doublepost]

Saying stupid things about a company is not illegal, nor is it market manipulation (but even if it was there is no crime called market manipulation). And in the US at least, we have something called the first amendment that protects the freedom of speech.

Being a citizen of the States, I’m well aware of the Bill of Rights. Regardless, knowingly and falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre wouldn’t be protected under the 1st amendment, and neither should knowingly and falsely creating hysteria in the market that affects people’s retirement or livelihood.
 
Did the people already on the upgrade plan have to pay two extra payments last year before getting their X? I would think Apple would take that into consideration. If they made 14 payments while they had an iPhone 7, I would think 10 payments while they had an iPhone X would kind of even things out.
The upgrade program is all about upgrading your iPhone after 12 payments are made. It's not about what phone is available at the time. After all, you don't have to upgrade to the newest phone on the program. You can get the cheapest one available. If the phone you want isn't available yet and you keep the one you have, you have to pay each month to keep it. It's not like you're paying for nothing, you have a phone. I don't think Apple ever promised exact release days exactly 12 months apart every year.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: az431 and HowardEv
Did the people already on the upgrade plan have to pay two extra payments last year before getting their X? I would think Apple would take that into consideration. If they made 14 payments while they had an iPhone 7, I would think 10 payments while they had an iPhone X would kind of even things out.
Wishful thinking, dude. Not in this Galaxy will today's Apple under Cook give you a "Mulligan".
(I know, I know... You are not alone on this wishful thinking.)

Do not want to offend, but have you read the Terms and Conditions that you signed? Well. here is the relevant section:
  1. Conditions for Upgrade Option. You become eligible to exercise your Upgrade Option to purchase a new eligible iPhone, under all of the following conditions:
    • Payments. You have paid the equivalent of at least twelve (12) installment payments;
    • Installment Loan. Your account with Bank is in good standing under the terms of your Installment Loan; and
    • AppleCare+. You have continuously maintained AppleCare+ with your Financed iPhone.
    • Eligible iPhone Availability. Upgrading to a new eligible iPhone is subject to its release and availability at the time you exercise your Upgrade Option. Depending on the eligible iPhone model chosen, your monthly installment payment may change.
Double Whammy, dude.
  1. You will cough at least twelve installment payments, and
  2. The new eligible phone has to be readily available at the time you exercise the upgrade.
Oops! Apple delayed to-market your selection?
Sorry dude
You will cough up as many installment payments, beyond twelve, until the phone's market date is announced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: az431 and DCINKC
I totally agree this could be market manipulation, and it should result it prison time for the offenders. Apple has, in the past, legitimately, not been able to keep up with demand. Though Apple doesn’t release the numbers of iPhones sold, so we will never know, but the X didn’t sell as many as previous iPhones from years. The price was more than average people could stomach. It’s not like Apple did terrible, I see and know a lot of people that chose an 8, purely on price. I rarely see X’s out in the Wild, and I live in a pretty affluent area. I’m really hoping the rumored lower priced models is true. I think it will start the next super cycle and era for the iPhone.
Apple does release iPhone unit sales overall and has stated 2 quarters in a row that the iPhone X was the best selling iPhone of all and THE best selling phone in China.

I live in an affluent area and see dozens of iPhone X per day, not that it matters. The facts don't like. $800 ASP in Q1 didn't happen because it struggled to sell well. The iPhone revenue the last 2 quarters has been $100B, an all time record for 2 quarters.
 
Perhaps prices for the next generation iPhones with Face ID will be higher than analyst have guessed they will be? Either that or they know the can quickly ramp up production if they underestimate demand. Early reports indicated the iPhone X would be hard to get your hands on after launch. I got mine within a few weeks and didn’t preorder until about 3:00 PM Eastern on the day preorders began. My wife ordered hers the week mine was delivered and got hers about a week and a half later.
 
I just hope that if they launch the new iPhone X in September that they allow iPhone Upgrade Program members to upgrade "early" without penalizing us because they were behind last year.
Or you just wait 2 more months. No big deal. I’m sure you are a big boy and can wait that long for a phone!
 
People paying a premium for mediocrisy come pretty close to that qualification
The Galaxy 9 is around $900.00. It's not cheap either. The Pixel 2 has cheaper models but they don't have as much memory- $750 for a 64 GB phone. You want 128 GB and a larger screen and you're back up to 950.00 list. You can get deals from service providers for all of these phones, so most people aren't paying that much for any top of the line phone.

I'm not a do or die Apple fan. Someone comes out with a better AND more secure (Link) phone and I'll switch. My first phone was an Android- the Droid. 2 year contract, and in less than a year I couldn't install updates for the OS. Not only was the phone itself not physically 2 years old but the model wasn't either. Hardware and software passed it by that fast. I've only owned 2 iPhones in the years since then. iPhones aren't perfect, and the OS and feature list isn't either. Neither is any other phone. The practical thing to do is probably buy the cheapest smartphone not made by a Chinese company. In the US and Europe, there evidently aren't a lot of practical people. Including me, every 3 to 5 years I want a few bells and whistles.
 
Smartphones are now a commodity. What separates them is now mostly marketing BS and weak minded users that think buying and iPhone makes them popular.

With Android there is the poor OS. With the iPhone much better design features, but poor implementation software/hardware quality and lack of care about what users want. Apple can only copy Samsung for so long, til people get wise and go straight to the source.
 
That’s not what they advertised. Latest iPhone forever is what I understood it to be.

And how is that not what they’re offering or any different to what is being advertised?

You’re getting an interest free loan from Apple, free AppleCare, a guaranteed trade in value assuming you look after the phone, plus the latest handset on the 12 month anniversary of your agreement. What more do you want?
 
Apple does release iPhone unit sales overall and has stated 2 quarters in a row that the iPhone X was the best selling iPhone of all and THE best selling phone in China.

I live in an affluent area and see dozens of iPhone X per day, not that it matters. The facts don't like. $800 ASP in Q1 didn't happen because it struggled to sell well. The iPhone revenue the last 2 quarters has been $100B, an all time record for 2 quarters.

Best selling because of the higher cost to the consumers, but it’s not the best selling in volume.
 
That’s not what they advertised. Latest iPhone forever is what I understood it to be.

I didn't buy one last year, but I asked about this program. I was told you had to make 12 payments from whenever you bought it. This would be at the Apple Store in Omaha. I don't recall anything about a new phone whenever a new model came out, it was a new phone after 12 payments.

Now, since the iPhone 10X had a late release, I am not sure how they are handling that as far as people who pre-ordered one in September. I have never pre-ordered or for that matter I have never bought a new model in the first couple of months of release, although I usually buy-if I'm going to- within 3 months. So I don't know when the pre-ordered phones first payment was. Did they have to put something down on order? Was their bill skewed to make 12 months worth of payments in 10? Don't know.

But the Apple rep I talked to made it very clear it was a new phone every 12 payments.
 
And finally, Apple's best customers? You're having a laugh right? Schemes that allow you to spread the cost aren't reward programs! They're designed to make things more affordable for those that wouldn't typically be able to drop $1k on something in one go. And customers on those schemes certainly aren't Apple's "best" customers! That's ones coughing up that $1k cash in one go regardless of release date.



Anyways, this potato is off to the pub to get mashed.
I’m not having a laugh. I’ve spoken several times with members of the AOS Executive Relations Team who directly interface with customers and the executive team at Apple. Yes, that executive team. They have meetings with he big dogs. I’ve helped push forward issues such as being able to order iUP online and have it delivered to home with a return box, among another topics. And you probably just think I’m some random on the internet trying to win an argument, but this is 100% true. They agreed that we are some of their best customers because we buy iPhones like a subscription service and have been for over a decade, often buy lots of other Apple stuff, and they were genuinely interested in my feedback which is why they reached out to me after I had a discussion with someone on the regular customer service line about it. I even go back with them to August 2008 when I spoke with Steve Jobs in an email and he put me in touch with a senior iTunes engineer to help solve a problem with iPhone OS 2.0 and syncing too many App Store apps. I also did a brief stint at 9to5Mac way back in college. I’m more connected than some random internet guy. I’ll talk to the people I know about this and hopefully get it sorted on how it will work.

Anyway, enjoy getting mashed by your mates at the pub. You want to talk about a waste of money? LOL. You’re literally pissing it down the drain. Make sure to give that head a wobble for me and always drink responsibly.
 
Best selling because of the higher cost to the consumers, but it’s not the best selling in volume.
Yes it is, according to Tim Cook since the X was released. It’s THE most popular model.

You have zero evidence to counter this since it’s not available. Not sure how you formed such a ridiculously wrong opinion, but nevertheless, I try to set it straight.
 
And how is that not what they’re offering or any different to what is being advertised?

You’re getting an interest free loan from Apple, free AppleCare, a guaranteed trade in value assuming you look after the phone, plus the latest handset on the 12 month anniversary of your agreement. What more do you want?
There is no free AppleCare. It’s baked into the monthly payments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: az431
Weird apple cant get people to pay $1149+tax+applecare. huh
What’s weird is that people like you still ignore facts like Cook telling us the X has been the most popular iPhone every week since release, the most popular phone in China, $800ASP, record iPhone revenue in Q1 and Q2, and $100B in iPhone revenue in 2 quarters, also a record. Oh and record profit and all time high stock price.

Now tell me Apple can’t get people to pay for the X and how you came to your conclusion?
 
Having the iPhone X, there is no need to upgrade to this year's iPhone X2. 2019 iPhone X3 will be the one to upgrade to. This year's will be more of an S upgrade.
Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s called the 10s and 10s Plus unless Apple decides to call it X 2018 Edition, X Series 2 or something like that.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.