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Thanks Steve, it wasn't necessary, but a nice gesture.
Thanks also to all the whiners here that made this gesture possible... please remember that only Apple would answer the way it did.
 
Parky said:
He has read my emails before and personally replied, he even got someone to call me from Cupertino. I helped them fix an issue with the iTunes store in the UK, sent me a £100 music store voucher to say thanks.
That makes atleast two reponses in this thread, Ian andd me. I didn't get a voucher but did get the info I needed. Steve thanks for caring about us little ones.

I helped him out as well. I remember hearing talk at one of his Keynote speeches a while back. He looked me in the eye (kinda strange I thought since I was 20 rows back, but what the heck) and said "I think you're really gonna like this iPhone. It's the best iPod we ever made. You're gonna want to go out and buy you one of these . . . ." So I did. I bought one . . . . 'cause I felt like he wanted me to. That's it.

So I went home and told my mom "Hey mom, I helped out Steve Jobs today!" And she said "That's nice. You want to invite you're little friend Stevie over for dinner?"

Never heard back from though.
 
It does not have to be a one or the other. "Caring" about costumers has proven to be good for long term profit for a great number of companies. I would argue that long term success is more likely for companies that care for their customers as much as they do their balance sheets.


I'll take it a step further. Successful companies care about keeping customers, but they don't really care about customers. IF Apple truely cared about customer then when the Apple execs got together to discuss the price cut they would have asked "how will the early adopters feel?," and would have PROactive rather than REactive on this issue. But except for medical companies, business are not in business to care how customers "feel." They just need to keep them happy while they extract as much $ from them as possible.
 
Thank you Apple...we really weren't owed anything...but this was the right thing to do...I love this company because of things like this...Leopard is already almost payed for!:D
 
Oh yeah. And don't forget iPhone owners, even after the credit you still paid $100 more than the ones who wait... Ah yes, an old proverb comes to mind: Patience is a virtue. Or something like that...

Hey, I'm not complaining ... for the last two months I've had the coolest phone on the planet ... and now I'm getting a rebate. Early-adopter fee of $100. Definitely worth every penny.
 
I have to say this made my day. Although I wasn't that upset about this all I can now afford Leopard. :D Thanks Jobs u da man
 
OMG......being an Apple customer is like being in a soap opera! lol. You guys and Apple/Steve play each other like a fiddle! lol Hype builds up about products, Apple makes them, people go crazy in love with them, price drops/upgrades, arguments and complaints, Apple kisses and makes up, and everybody lives happily ever after another day, lol. They might as well call this whole ecosystem "As the iPod Turns"......lol lol
 
Kellen: Didn't you get money refunded to you yesterday?

Didn't you get money refunded to you yesterday?

Bought two on release day, two months ago. Just today they were both credited 200 each. This was under the apple store manager orders at lynnwood, wa. If a pic of my receipt will help sway your manager, let me know.


I think they expected it, but were gambling it wouldn't cause such a hastle. When it did, they just put their plan b on to release the credit.

Just droppin the price and infuriating customers would cause alot more publicity then announcing a refund for current customers.

Just wonder what stipulations are going to be tied to the gift card. Does the total have to be over a certain amount?

Just have to wait and see.

Both mine were returned as shown on receipt (no tax as I bought in OR), then reapplied to new 399 price. I had to pay tax, but still made back 165 per phone. These were phones bought on release day as well.

Another good note about this, says my warranty is good until Sept. now! Seems like the return and resell reset the warranty! Awesome!

Heres my receipt:

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff157/mypcturs/IMG_0439_500.jpg

Done today with two 8 gig phones bought on release day in oregon (no tax). They had to charge me tax, but better getting the 165 back, then fighting and possibly being shot down for it all. I just wanted to get it and get out before corporate or someone else called to stop it.

The way I see it, if they are willing to give it back, I will take it. However if they didn't I would have lived with it, although I wouldn't be all that happy about it. But I did pay 600, so I am not entitled to a refund. I feel that apple did the right thing, as they generally do.

Thanks apple.
 
Thanks Apple, you didnt have to, but its certainly a nice gesture. You'll get it back plus more, as I'm buying a new MBP to replace my MB.

Class act them kids over there.

Just for posterity, as it was posted yesterday:


Hahahaha. I knew it! And yet I still couldn't make myself wait to buy one. You win this round Jobs, you magnificent bastard.
 
Not to bust your bubble but this was planned..

Anybody remember the last quarterly conference call where they said due to a "transition" profits would be lower for the Sept. Quarter? ;)

Might not be the case. All the Apple stores in colorado are closed until Saturday due to remodeling. Something is brewing. This could be what they meant.
 
Thanks Steve - That Sounds Fair

I was an early "adaptor" - stood in line, got on the news, and spent the next 2 months happily selling the iPhone to all who were interested in seeing it - not that selling it is difficult, mind you.:rolleyes:

I got a 4 GIG 'cause I didn't see the need for 8, and figured I saved myself a hundred bucks on iDay. Happy then, happy now, great device, ZERO problems, all is good.

Felt like a bit of a sucker when the price dropped DRAMATICALLY in such a short period of time - no matter what you say, such a drop for this kind of tech. after only 2 months and a few days was a bit of a shock. I figured I gave Apple 50 dollars a month for the privilege of using an iPhone - pure profit, to be sure. Also figured I'd just eat it - wasn't out-of-my-mind upset, but did feel quite miffed.

One day later, he makes nice with 100 bucks worth of Apple product. For Me. For the guy who did stand in line all day and promote the iPhone and even helped sell more of 'em - no commission here, Apple! So now how do I feel?

Everything I did was MY choice - the price was high to begin with, and I knew that. I also knew I had to have it. No screaming to the high heavens from me after the price drop - but I do admit that, clever campaign or not (and we may never know how far Steve will go to escalate the RDF, but I hesitate to call him an out-and-out shyster-crook,) I'm pleased to see his just-in-time response.

A very interesting 2 days, to say the least - it made us all forget the exciting news that the Shuffle comes in new colors. We now return to our regularly scheduled worshipping....
 
I am sorry. But you wanted it first, so No iPhone customer should get a rebate. you always pay more for things if you want them first. everyone that got the iPhone, stop your wineing because it is cheaper now.
 
To all iPhone customers:

I have received hundreds of emails... etc etc

Steve Jobs
Apple CEO

Wow! I don't even own an iPhone (being, as I am, in the 3rd world backwater known as England), but that's pretty freakin' impressive!

A quick bit of maths says to me, $100 x est. 1,000,000 buyers since launch day = $100 Million!

Then 'Wow!' seems a little inadequate. 'F**K ME!' seems more suitable :D
 
Heh, a very nice gesture I might add. I guess you couldn't really hope for much more.
 
Didn't you get money refunded to you yesterday?

Yeah I did. Guess I got lucky. I couldn't get the credit even if I tried (not going to), as they did a refund and reapply, so it reset everything, even my warranty. Its like I bought it yesterday. However I am a little worried that they may just "undo" what they did and try to give me 2 100 dollar gift cards. Just waiting and want to know either way.

I have friends who couldn't get a refund and want to know as well. Plus its nice to know apple taking care of their customers.
 
I read the news on my iPhone

While out running errands today I ran into a fellow MacRumor member/iPhone owner who immediately told me the news. I promptly jumped to MR on my iPhone, found the link to Steve's "Open Letter" and read it, smiling all the while. :)

It's fair of Apple to make this gesture and I am glad that they're doing it for all of us who have bought, loved and praised the iPhone from Day One. I was a customer who was an early adopter of Aperture, too, and who received a credit at the online Apple store after the price on that software was dropped just a couple months later, so this move doesn't surprise me a whole lot; the precedent had been set with Aperture. I'm very pleased at Apple's response to this current situation.
 
Just for posterity, as it was posted yesterday:

Hahahaha. I knew it! And yet I still couldn't make myself wait to buy one. You win this round Jobs, you magnificent bastard.
You have just violated my intellectual property. Even though "that's what happens in technology," you owe me $100. I accept gift certificates.
 
The Whiner Fan Boy Song

" I'm so special, I'm so special...
See my iPhone, see my iPhone?
I'm so special, I'm so special...
See my iPhone, see my iPhone?
I love Apple, I love Applie

You don't have one, you don't have one...
See my iPhone, see my iPhone?
I'm so special, I'm so special
See my iPhone, see my iPhone?
I love Apple, I love Apple

What the price dropped?
What the price dropped?
Waaaa waaa waaa
I hate Apple! I hate Apple!
Waaa waaa waaa "

I thought the people who lined up to buy them were losers before, and this just re-inforces that even more. Hasn't anyone learned a lesson about technology before? New products are obsolete the day you buy them. Prices drop. New models get introduced.

I love Apple & their products, but I learned my lesson with the 128k Macintosh. Remember that one? $3000 for a machine with a black & white screen, no hard drive, and only 128k of memory. Shoot, Apple owes me big time for that. If I had not paid to be one of the first ones to own one, there may have never been an Apple still around to create an iPhone. Where is my rebate? Waaaa

Big baby prima donna whiners..
 
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