Official iPhone Refund Policy Tomorrow?

[MacAerfen]

People have the right to be upset about something a company (or anyone) does. You're just trying to tell people how to think. That's called "elitism", look it up.

Actually I am not trying to tell you how to think, im not sure in your case that would even be possible.

If you do not like being called a whiner, and that you are behaving like a spoiled brat then perhaps you should try not behaving like that. You won't find too many people really sympathize with you. Again you buy a product for the price you think its worth when you decide you no longer want to wait to own one. I still have yet to buy an iPhone. Would I like to have had one on launch day. Absolutely. For my purposes though the ammount of use I would get or the "elitism" of having the newest tech first isn't worth the price. You thought it was when you bought yours and now you are whining because you think that somehow others should be responsible to look out for your best interests over theirs. I am sorry but whining and crying, throwing little tantrums at stores and with support agents because you didnt get what you want doesn't fly, it doesn't get much sympathy when a todler crys becuase mommy wont give them the candy when they want it either.

 

[103734]

why should people who purchased the iphone months ago be eligible for the rebate. They were too anxious to wait for the iPhone so they paid the more expensive price, but they couldn't wait for the price cut. But now, since the price cut occured, people are bitching. Sometimes I don't understand people. Patience is virtue, remember that. I knew the price cut was going to happen sooner or later and I think that Apple is doing the right thing with the 14 Day Price Protection, but for the people who exceed that and are complaining, you shouldn't be getting anything if I had anything to do with it.

if I knew a price drop was coming in 6 or less months I would have gladly waited

 

[LimeiBook86]

Well I'm glad some people are getting a refund or some credit. Unfortunately I bought mine at an AT&T store. I don't think they'd really be willing to help me.

I'd be happy with a refund of course, or even an upgrade to an 8 GB iPhone. I can dream, but realistically I doubt it will happen.

We were all pawns in Job's game of chess, and everything went perfectly as planned for Apple.

 

[MacAerfen]

if I knew a price drop was coming in 6 or less months I would have gladly waited

So please name me a company that sells technology that advertises when it releases something that its going to drop the price within 6 months. I would love to see the sign on the store page "Announcing the New Gizmo! 499 today 299 tomorrow" Get real. Noone advertises a price drop is coming. You play your cards you take your chances. You bought the iPhone on the assumption that you would have to wait 6 months before getting it cheaper. You decided that getting it then was worth the chance that it might be cheaper in a while. You made an assumption, it was wrong. Thats not the companies fault.

Again you don't deserve a penny. You decided you wanted the phone sooner than waiting till it was a price you wanted more. You can have one or the other. You dont have a right to both.

 

[*Spitfire*]

Karma

I think it will be good for my soul to be ridiculed by all those formerly covetous people who remembered my smug June demos of the iPhone. We early adopters could all use a little shot of humility now and then, coupled with a pointed reminder that perhaps we didn't actually design, build, and market the thingees ourselves. On the other hand, smug really, really felt good while it lasted. There--admitting it is the first step toward recovery.

And the Silver Lining Search Patrol did discover that a huge installed base would lead to more, better and cheaper software design support for the iPhone. That's a good thing, huh?

Okay, time to rend my clothing and sprinkle ashes, but....hey, did somebody say there was a supercool 160 Gb iPod that just came out?

 

[SFlawgirl]

Rebates

I bought an 8gb on 8/15 through the online apple store. I called customer care tonight and after a bit of dancing around, the rep gave me a "good faith" offer. He said he could not give me the entire $200 because I was passed the 14 days but that he could give me a $150 on my credit card. No confirmation number was provided so I will believe it when I see it but if it works out the 40 minute wait time will have been worth it.

 

[portland1137]

I bought an 8gig phone on day 1 and I full expect a credit of some kind.

People who are saying that "this is the price you pay for being an early adopter" don't appreciate this particular situation. Typically, a new, better, cheaper product replaces the one you bought. I fully expected this with the iPhone. I didn't expect the price to drop by 1/3 69 days after I bought it (on the first day it was availible).

It is stunning that Apple would not take this into consideration. I know those that didn't buy yet are excited about the lower price. But Apple should realize that some of their best customers, who stood in line, would feel taken advantage of if they are not compensated in some way. A $200 fee for two months of use is not right. People know this. I am looking at buying a MacBook, but if Apple doesn't do right by me, I'm not going to buy it. People do have options. I know that alot of people here are Apple customers to the death. I'm not one of them (and most people aren't). As far as business goes, Apple needs to do something. Losing me and other people as customers far outweighs the $200 in pure profit that was skimmed off of my purchase.

(And to those who say they needed to recoupe their development costs - That is done over the life of the product, not simply in the first 69 days. They obviously are still making money off of each phone at the new $399 price point)

Anyway, this is my first post. I just feel very strongly about this and I am kind of shocked at alot of people's views on this.

 

[filman408]

Losing me and other people as customers far outweighs the $200 in pure profit that was skimmed off of my purchase.

As stated in The Office (RIP from iTunes), it is 10 times more expensive to gain a new customer then to keep a current customer. Hence why customer service and respect is so dang important.
In this situation, they could have alientated atleast half a million* customers - not a good amount of people to alienate.

* I say only half a million because not everyone is alienated - but most are.

 

[robd003]

Why would you complain??

I *really* don't get it... You were willing to pay $599 when you purchased the iPhone, you've obviously enjoyed having it early since you didn't return it and now you're peeved that Apple cut the price to let the mass market get at it??

Here's a simple lesson in markets people, early adopters will pay anything. Why shouldn't Apple get an extra $200/person while they can? The elite can feel elite for two months then they'll release it to the rabble and the stock price will soar. Seems to make sense to me...

I picked up my iPhone one week after it was released and I knew they'd be doing a price drop, it's just that it seemed so useful that I'd rather pay the premium than sit around with an old Blackberry. It definitely *has* paid for itself entirely during the two months I've had it so I really can't understand people bitching about $200.

 

[GTiPhone]

If Apple does not offer SOME sort of refund to all current iPhone customers, it will be the last time they have early adopters show up in droves for a new product. Why ever buy an Apple product, its just going to be better and cheaper in 45 days.

 

[MacAerfen]

People still don't get it. You bought a product at a price you felt was justified for when you bought it. Why should a company not be able to change their price without getting harassed by people because heaven forbid they paid more by wanting to have it before everyone else. With the manufacturing prices going down (and you can say but this is original stock all you want) Apple made the decision to lower the prices to increase sales. Thats what a smart business does. Yes it might be sooner than expected, so much the better. With the prices on components going down, Apple is able to gain more profit on the individual phone over the period of time. Most companies set an expectation on how much profit they will make in a given period of time, otherwise you would see prices jumping all over the place just about every day. So in six months Apple expected to make X amount of dollars on the iPhone. Decent sales, coupled with lower costs for future production means they can afford to lower the price earlier than otherwise expected, therefore opening the market wider for others who found the initial price inhibiting. Believe me, the increase in sales for people who will now look at the iPhone as a much better investment will more than compensate for it.

If the natural course of the technology industry makes you not want to buy from a company, then don't. Call it a lesson learned and leave. Apple will still continue to make outstanding and innovative products that are superior to much of their competition. Those that enjoy their products will no doubt continue to enjoy the new ones while you are stuck using inferior items or moving from company to company every time you do not get your way.

 

[maccies]

you just don't get it do you

It's not even about the money any more. its the princinpal. Buying an apple product has been for the longest time an experience. A community, when everyone else was saying PC, PC. We Maccies stuck with and lived as outcast, devoted to our macs. We gave Steve Jobs a brand loyalty and for him to betray us like this. Obivious I was willing to pay extra to even cancel my old plan, and for him to string us along and screw us over. its the principal of not giving back to his loyal brand followers, not caring enough to even say, we'll give you some kinda credit..it the "oh, too bad attitdude that hurts the most, yeh so what I gonna crush my "$600" phone, what's it too you. I'm standing behind principal. Obivious you don't get that.

 

[slidingjon]

I am surprised to have not seen this argument yet:

Had to pay for the Apple employees free iPhones somehow, right??

 

[illitrate23]

If Apple does not offer SOME sort of refund to all current iPhone customers, it will be the last time they have early adopters show up in droves for a new product. Why ever buy an Apple product, its just going to be better and cheaper in 45 days.

no it won't - it won't change a thing
have you not bought any piece of new tech straight after release before? this always happens. it happened with the Xbox. it happened with the PS2. and yet all the same early adopters of those pre-ordered and queued up for their Xbox 360s and their PS3s.
if you're going to buy a new product within the first few months of its release, you've got to be expecting the price to drop within a few weeks of your purchasing it. its the way the market works

 

[DaftUnion]

At first I was extremely angry that they knocked down the price so soon, then I guess got over the initial shock and am DEALING with it. One things for sure though, I will never wait in a line again for a new Apple product after this.

Other than that, I'll live with the extra I payed for it.

 

[aimfire]

At first I was extremely angry that they knocked down the price so soon, then I guess got over the initial shock and am DEALING with it. One things for sure though, I will never wait in a line again for a new Apple product after this.

Other than that, I'll live with the extra I payed for it.

I'm with ya - my feelings exactly.

I started out using Macs back in 1993 for years, then switched to PC/Windows for about 8 years... This year I became a born-again Apple fan, got a new MacBook, an iPhone on launch day, and have been telling everyone I know what a great company Apple is... and with this 30% price drop in 2 months, I feel like I just got the middle finger.

As someone else pointed out, it's not just about the money - it's the principle behind it. I'm not expecting any $200 cash refunds, but I hope Apple makes this right by at least giving out iTunes or Apple Store credits....

 

[Peligro]

I actually thought a price drop wasn't due for awhile longer. iPod's haven't really dropped in price. Why would this? I was expecting maybe a boost in memory around January or something. I told everyone my plan. My friends my co-workers. My family...

I caved about 16 days ago. I could not resist. I told everyone that it is the coolest phone ever. I still do.

But I that didn't stop me from feeling a little dumb about it. Now I feel a lot dumber. Thanks Apple!

 

[aimfire]

I know a lot of us are upset right now, but I still have some faith left in Apple and am hoping they will "do the right thing" and offer us early adopters some kind of "reward" in the form of a iTunes and/or Apple Store credit.

I really like my iPhone, but it is not perfect and still has several short-comings... however, I've been able to overlook this and patiently await the updates in the future. Apple really needs to make things right here...

If Apple does not offer any type of compensation, then I will definitely hold off on buying Leopard in October... and will urge others to do so. I really hope it dosn't come down to that.

 

[DaveClarkOne]

2 cents

As one who waited in line to spend $600, I felt the iPhone had value at this price, or I wouldn't have purchased it. Simple enough.

From a business standpoint, however, Apple should be concerned about the ill-will it creates with this price-correction, due more to supply and demand than commodity pricing of its components. The early-adopters will likely think twice about jumping in early for any future, premium-priced item. Not exactly what Wall Street wants, nor its shareholders.

I'm fine with the new, lower price, but the pricing of Aperture may offer a clue to what Apple does. And I think Apple was right to offer a store credit to its faithful. I am not expecting a credit, but history has shown Apple to be mighty protective of its goodwill w/customers. Perception is reality, and a smart Company doesn't want its customers feeling they paid too much (for whatever reason).

 

[ichii]

I don't think the early adopter like myself are angry with a price drop, everything drops in price, but it's usually after 6 months or more. It is also weird because Apple don't usually drop or reduce the price of their products, they upgrade it like their computer and ipod line.

 

[jellomizer]

Your fault for getting into they hype.

I am not sure why you are angry at the refund. You didn't get scammed. You agreed to pay the price for the phone when you got the phone you were happy with it right. Why can't you be happy with it now?

It is actually an interesting pricing scheme for it you take look at the supply and demand curves. You sell a smaller supply to the people who is willing to pay the high price (what you get is bragging rights to be the first) Then you lower the price for the rest of your population... Also I would suspect that in that after the new iPod touch many of the parts became cheaper to build iPhones because of economy of scale. Being able to buy more same parts cheaper to make more units.

Now if you were an early adopter don't be mad that you spent an extra $200 it was the price of bragging rights. Much like getting a 2007 model car this week and in a month or so the same car new will be $1000.00 cheaper so the can get the models out for the 2008 lineup.

 

[Wilbah]

A point is being missed here

I've been lurking here forever; this debate has gotten me hot enough to sign up and post.... it's NOT about what the price was on June 29th.. for me, its that Apple and At&T USED me, and others like us, to sort out their launch, and in effect charged us $200 / phone to do so. If the price were $399 at launch, there would have been many more "early converters"; making AT&T's dismal launch performance even more unpalpable.... at the $599 price, it sort of limited sales to crazy Apple fans, or people with alot of disposable income.

My iPhone experience since June 29th has been less than steller.... on June 29th, I purchased 3 8G iphones.....

Get home and cant get ONE activated through AT&T to port my numbers from Verizon, So At&T customer support advises me to start up three "new" accounts while I wait a week for the dust to settle. After nearly a month it all finally gets sorted out, (numbers got ported) only I had to return two of the phones (one twice) for various reasons... (one wouldn't charge, the other touch screen was dead).

A few weeks later I get a thousand (literally) pages in bills from At&T, who now have me registered for SIX iphones and have a bill of over a thousand dollars! -They never cancelled my "temporary" accounts and rolled them into my ported numbers! -after they promised me they did! Yep! activation fees, the whole nine! Took me endless calls, and lots and lots of aggravation to get this sorted out....

When I finally did, my iphone stops working (the bottom row on the touch screen is dead when I am in phone mode) - so manually dialing a number - a bare necessity if you are in business, and need to call someone not in your contacts list- is impossible!

I now have to wake up at midnight to schedule an iphone "genius" appointment, or deal with the attitude laden kids at my not so local Apple Store - Oh... and for all this, I got to pay $200 EXTRA so that Apple, and At&T could learn how to market, price, activate and service this device, but they needed me and the others who got raped here, to be the early adopters (and made us pay for it) so they could figure this out.

My first mac - in a long line too long to post i my sigs - was a "Mac SE" in 1987.... I had the first powerbook -(the 100); had Newtons... you get the idea... I KNOW Apple... I know their business practices... been upset before when prices drop and lines get discontinued in favor of improvements... all that before was normal... BUT THIS IS A RIPOFF!

I HAVE LOST FAITH! APPLE IS SCREWING OVER THEIR MOST LOYAL, MOST CHAMPION CUSTOMERS WHO CARRY THE FLAG FOR THE BRAND AND RECOMMEND APPLE PRODUCTS TO OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.

This is unacceptable, and anything less than a $200 credit at the Apple store (which is easy to do, because you KNOW we will buy more than $200 worth of Apple products in the next 6 months) is unacceptable in my book!

 

[leviut]

price drop

Come on people! We all KNEW there was going to be a price drop at some time. When you want the latest and greatest, you are going to get burned on the price. That's just the way it goes. Pay more and enjoy it now, or wait and save a few bucks later. I wanted it sooner. $200 drop? Meh, I've enjoyed it $200 worth. If you are upset over it, maybe have some restraint on your purchases next time.

i knew there would be a price drop, but my phone is so fresh, i hardly know everything about it. and wtf-- why was it being sold at such a high price if it is profitable at $399?

are apple products a rip off?

the price drop is like a damn slap in the face. and if apple won't man up, and reward(blue tooth, ringtones, a gift check???) those of us who waited in line... he's pissing a lot of loyalists off. KARMA is a bitch.

I'm pissed-- because I look stupid and people at work can now laugh in my face.

thanks steve.

the company has lost s

 

[suneohair]

i knew there would be a price drop, but my phone is so fresh, i hardly know everything about it. and wtf-- why was it being sold at such a high price if it is profitable at $399?

are apple products a rip off?

the price drop is like a damn slap in the face. and if apple won't man up, and reward(blue tooth, ringtones, a gift check???) those of us who waited in line... he's pissing a lot of loyalists off. KARMA is a bitch.

I'm pissed-- because I look stupid and people at work can now laugh in my face.

thanks steve.

the company has lost s

I wouldn't call someone who bought an Apple product early and then whined about a price drop a loyalist. Loyalists know better!

 

[gburbidge]

Still Love It

Are people only apple fans becaue of price points? It's bizarre to me that people are going to stop buying apple products because of their plan to do a price drop. I would bet they set their price points based on supply. They knew tha come launch they could only supply to customers paying a premium price, so rather than having the phones backordered for three months, they charge a premium until they could build enough stock. If they would have asked me in June if I was willing to pay an extra $200 to get one then I would have happily have done it. If they offered me the new OS now for an extra $200 I would probably jump on that too... I hope all the kids saying they won't wait in line anymore are serious. That'll make the line so much shorter when the new OS comes out.

gb