Confusion Over Free Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter with iPhone 5 as Apple Errs in Online Store [Updated]

[MacRumors]

As noted by iPhoneinCanada.ca soon after pre-orders for the iPhone 5 went live earlier today, Apple's online store in several countries appeared to be noting that the company's Lightning to 30-pin Adapter would be included with customers' orders free of charge. The disclosure came in the form of an option to add an "additional" adapter as an accessory.

Your iPhone includes a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter for connecting 30-pin accessories to devices featuring the Lightning connector. Purchase this additional adapter to have a second adapter for your home or office.

Customers were only presented with the option to add the cable-equipped adapter and not the direct-plug adapter, and Apple's "What's in the box" documentation did not list the adapter as included, leading to considerable customer confusion.

After initially reporting on the inclusion of the free adapter, The Next Web followed up by asking Apple's online sales representatives about the issue. According to sales staff, the listing was an error in the Apple online store, and the adapter is not being included standard with iPhone orders. Apple has also removed listing from its store pages and no longer mentions the adapter's inclusion.

Apple's adapters are available for standalone purchase at $29 for the direct-plug version and $39 for the cable version, but they will not ship until next month.

Update 12:26 PM: Apple has issued a statement to The Loop confirming that the adapter is not included with the iPhone 5.

"The Lightning to 30-pin adapter does not come in the box with iPhone 5. It is sold separately," Apple spokesperson, Natalie Harrison, told The Loop. "However, the Lightning to USB cable does come with iPhone 5 for connection to AC chargers and other devices."

Article Link: Confusion Over Free Lightning to 30-Pin Adapter with iPhone 5 as Apple Errs in Online Store [Updated]

 

[Intarweb]

One adapter should have been included in addition to the new cable.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Aww schucks.

 

[jasonxneo]

I pre ordered the iphone 5 at about 3:30 am EST, I got the confirmation page saying my order went through. However i did not get an e-mail from AT&T. My credit card has a $1.00 pending transaction from AT&T so I am kind of sure it did go through, however i am not positive

 

[AppleFan115]

As a way of saying sorry, they should send the iPhone 5 to those people that already ordered on Thursday.

 

[Caliber26]

I pre ordered the iphone 5 at about 3:30 am EST, I got the confirmation page saying my order went through. However i did not get an e-mail from AT&T. My credit card has a $1.00 pending transaction from AT&T so I am kind of sure it did go through, however i am not positive

Come again??

 

[Zyphlon]

They should have included one as a goodwill gesture.

But then again hardly gonna entice people to adopt a new standard if they have a free adapter to use old gear.

 

[ECUpirate44]

I pre ordered the iphone 5 at about 3:30 am EST, I got the confirmation page saying my order went through. However i did not get an e-mail from AT&T. My credit card has a $1.00 pending transaction from AT&T so I am kind of sure it did go through, however i am not positive

Sounds good to me.

 

[newyorksole]

it really should include an adapter... but of course they wanna maximize sales for the holiday season

 

[nikhsub1]

One adapter should have been included in addition to the new cable.

Exactly especially since I assumed it was... I would have bought one if I knew it was not. Apple needs to send everyone that preordered an adapter.

 

[wickerman1893]

One adapter needs to be included. I understand this a shift every company usually takes, but $30 is quite pricey.

 

[JoeHemi]

Could always buy an adapter from those Goophone makers

 

[zorinlynx]

Damnit Apple, a free adaptor would have scored you a lot of points.

Of course that doesn't matter, as we are all buying the stupid phone anyway!

We are such lousy consumers.

 

[iParis]

Aww. I was hoping they'd give us a free one because of this. Kind of gives away that they were most likely planning to include it at one point then forgot to change this text when they decided to get as much money as possible.

 

[Dwalls90]

If it was "in there by accident" then obviously Apple intended to provided a free adapter at some point.

Must have backtracked

 

[GREEN4U]

Apple should honor the mistake for those who noticed it early. Several years ago when Perfect Dark came out for N64, it was advertised at Best Buy for $20. Clearly it was a mistake but they gave it to me for that price. Then 9/11 happened and everything sucked after that.

 

[rshanahan]

Shipping in Oct?

It's bad enough that almost everybody that gets a new phone/ipod with 'lightning' will probably need an adapter, and we need to pay for it, but not having 'enough' available at launch time makes no sense.

You would have thought that these would have been in the manufacturing pipeline for weeks. Fortunately I don't travel that much so until these are available (or a cheap knockoff is), I won't have to worry carrying my cable around with me. Feel bad for others that are on the road and need to move the cable from one charger/accessory to another.

 

[steph280]

if they can make $200mil selling a $10 cable for few months, imagine the revenue they will get for selling a $20 adapter!

 

[NewbieCanada]

it really should include an adapter... but of course they wanna maximize sales for the holiday season

I have no accessories. I'd like to have (and purchased) an additional cable so I can charge at home or work, but I don't want things included in the box (in other words, things I'm PAYING for) that not everyone needs.

 

[mabaker]

What's up with MacRumors today? It's like 40 mini news cut into tiny pieces of glitter and served every minute up to the front page.

 

[tigres]

Sorry, but count me as one who feels shafted by this as being greed; as we ALL need at least one of these to conform to our current apple ecosystem.

Nobody who owns a iOS device (i bet), will be able to survive without this adapter that is Overpriced. 9.99, ok- 30- pisses me off.

 

[Celf]

30 pounds is appr. 48 dollar....is appr. 10% of the price of an unlocked iPhone 4 .....
......FOR AN ADAPTER!!!!!!

 

[emvath]

Judas what a bunch of freakin cheapskates! I bet this thing costs Apple a penny for 5. I'm getting really sick of Apple nickle and dime'ing us for every little thing.

 

[furqan8421]

I have no accessories. I'd like to have (and purchased) an additional cable so I can charge at home or work, but I don't want things included in the box (in other words, things I'm PAYING for) that not everyone needs.

There's a large markup on everything (not just apple products). It's unlikely including one would have added to the retail price, it just would have taken some money away from apple

 

[Westyfield2]

Presumably they'll honour those purchases made when they said that they were included...