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Official iPhone Refund Policy Tomorrow?

Quick question for the launch day buyers:

If the iPhone had been released in March and you had still bought in June, would you still be wanting the $200 back?

By my calculations it cost you less than $4 per day for being an early adopter. The iPhone was released 68 days before September 5th, and the last 14 days will get the new price. That leaves 54 days where people are inelligible for the new price. Why do you all think you're entitled to $200 back? Shouldn't you really get $4/day after launch you bought it so that the people who bought 16 days ago and only had a couple weeks use before the cut are given more of a rebate since they essentially got more screwed than someone who bought it at launch?

Did you get $4/day worth of enjoyment out of your iPhone? If you did, suck it up, and realize that companies are all going to charge as much as the market will allow for any product at a particular time and place. Do drug companies owe me a boatload of rebates since I could have gotten all of my prescriptions cheaper in Canada? Does DirecTV owe me rebates since Sunday Ticket is cheaper in Mexico?

When deodorant goes on sale at Target for $1 off a $3 stick do you go to their customer service desk and demand a rebate for the 33% difference?

Apple's policy has always been 14 days, sure it sucks when you bought 15 days ago, but if you give concessions to the 15 day purchasers, what do you do for the 16 dayers? or 17, 18? Where do you draw the line? Apple drew it at 14 days and really should stick to their guns on this and hold their ground. I'm actually willing to bet that a lot of the people complaining would have still gladly paid $200 extra to have it for these past 68 days even if Apple had announced that they were going to slash the price 2 months after launch. What are you going to do when at&t start offering subsidies on the iPhone and you can get it for $200 with a 2-year contract?
 
surprised?? definetly

i was shocked last night when i saw the price cut on the iphone. i wouldn't be surprised if steve would have made some improvement on it or made some announcement regarding the iphone... but just saying that they were cutting the price was a big slap in Apple customers' face. I totally agree with the statement that technology is what it is, but I've never seen anybody slashing a price of a brand new product without improving it. The ipods got a slashing price as well, but they are totally new, same thing with the macs. When I bought my ibook G3 12" back in 2001, two months later they came out with an improved version of the same computer with a bigger screen and bigger HD and the cd-burner for the same price. That made me mad, but it made sense. This one i don't get it.

fortunately i moved to the UK the week after the iphone came out otherwise i would be pissed by now because i would have bought it on the opening day.

now i really don't know if hoping to come here soon when it will probably cost £399.

i still love apple despite of all this, but now i'm curious to see what's going to happen in the near future.
 
bruk201ib said:
but just saying that they were cutting the price was a big slap in Apple customers' face. I totally agree with the statement that technology is what it is, but I've never seen anybody slashing a price of a brand new product without improving it.
Click to expand...

I've seen the iPods and computers get price cuts without improvements before, even from Apple. This is not unprecedented.

As I said before those who bought opening day paid only $4/day for the privilege of having the iPhone early, that's less than the cost of a beer at the bar in a lot of places. If I had bought opening day and they had improved and slashed the price I'd be more pissed than a simple price cut. At least for my $4/day now people wouldn't be getting something with more storage/features than what I already had.
 
shrimpdesign said:
Painful but true. Technology moves fast, sometimes faster than you expect. People shouldn't have gotten an iPhone unless they thought it was worth it the money they paid for it.
Click to expand...


That wasn't Apple's view when they put 4 year old mobile radio technology in it.

atszyman said:
Quick question for the launch day buyers:

If the iPhone had been released in March and you had still bought in June, would you still be wanting the $200 back?

By my calculations it cost you less than $4 per day for being an early adopter. The iPhone was released 68 days before September 5th, and the last 14 days will get the new price. That leaves 54 days where people are inelligible for the new price. Why do you all think you're entitled to $200 back? Shouldn't you really get $4/day after launch you bought it so that the people who bought 16 days ago and only had a couple weeks use before the cut are given more of a rebate since they essentially got more screwed than someone who bought it at launch?

Did you get $4/day worth of enjoyment out of your iPhone? If you did, suck it up, and realize that companies are all going to charge as much as the market will allow for any product at a particular time and place. Do drug companies owe me a boatload of rebates since I could have gotten all of my prescriptions cheaper in Canada? Does DirecTV owe me rebates since Sunday Ticket is cheaper in Mexico?

When deodorant goes on sale at Target for $1 off a $3 stick do you go to their customer service desk and demand a rebate for the 33% difference?

Apple's policy has always been 14 days, sure it sucks when you bought 15 days ago, but if you give concessions to the 15 day purchasers, what do you do for the 16 dayers? or 17, 18? Where do you draw the line? Apple drew it at 14 days and really should stick to their guns on this and hold their ground. I'm actually willing to bet that a lot of the people complaining would have still gladly paid $200 extra to have it for these past 68 days even if Apple had announced that they were going to slash the price 2 months after launch. What are you going to do when at&t start offering subsidies on the iPhone and you can get it for $200 with a 2-year contract?
Click to expand...

Yes, Directv does, but that's another topic. However, Apple is now no differnet from Microsoft and crap companies like Directv.
 
This is ridiculous, I'm not buying an Apple product again until they figure this problem out.

How could Apple do that to their early adopters?
 
I think AT&T is much more flexible than Apple. I bought my 8GB iPhone back in July and called AT&T to see what they can do. They said they usually don't offer any credits but since I've been with AT&T for so long (4 years) they credited me $120. Good luck everyone!
 
Desire

You ran out and bought a product enthusiastically upon it's release. Sure, many say they've been waiting for a product like the iPhone for years, but I doubt that many if any can say that they absolutely NEEDED it. Great convenience and convergence, but not a necessity.

Sure, the price drop came faster than many other electronic devices, but this does happen. Many have said, and it does sound a bit cruel, but no one was forced to be an early adopter. Sure, most of us would like to get the best deal on products, but there's a risk when you assume the role of an early adopter. The price may drop. The product may not live up to the hype. It may also fail commercially and fade from the market. (Rather have an iPhone at a premium price than a Zune any day.)

Desire drove people to want to be first in line to buy the iPhone. Desire made the product worth $599 at its release; more to some who subsequently purchased it on eBay. You bought the iPhone because you wanted it. You answered the call of a desire, not a need. Even after a $200 price drop, the iPhone is still not a necessity. Again, great convenience and convergence, but not a necessity.
 
Get over it...

Oh boo hoo. Apple doesn't owe you anything. The price of every Apple product will eventually come down (original iPod 5GB= $499, New nano with 8 GB= $199) as well as every cell phone on the market. Sure it was surprising that they did it this soon, but come on.

If you're crying foul over spending $599 instead of the $399, what's the big deal? If you're that desperate for a refund or compensation with free Leopard or iTunes credits, why the heck did you spend $599 on a phone to begin with? :rolleyes:

It's not Apple's fault you're over zealous, impatient, fanboys who HAD to have the iPhone before anyone else. I am an Apple fan boy too, and wanted the iPhone ASAP as well, but I wasn't as eager as all of you were to shell out 600 bucks right away. You bought the product because you wanted it, were happy with what it did, and because you didn't mind the price. It's your own fault.

Besides, if you bought it in the last 2 weeks, Apple's policies already say you get a refund. That's the only case that warrants any of you deserving anything back.

Apple isn't "acting like Microsoft" now, they're just acting like any other competitive company with a retail electronics product. It's called business; if you feel so violated, stop buying things right when they come out because you need them ooooohhh soo badly.

I suppose since the new car I bought in April as a 2007 model, which has since gained a few more standard options and a better financing rate, I should go ask for the difference back. Or maybe the 5.5G iPod with video my girlfriend bought me for my birthday/college grad in May... does apple owe us 50GB more because they just upgraded the $249 price point? Nope. :rolleyes:
 
I'm at exactly 30 days on an 8GB iPhone. Since day 1, my phone has exhibited the crashing problem that some have complained about. On average, it crashed out of Safari, Mail, & iPod 10-12 times a day. I went back to the Apple Store Michigan Ave where I bought it, and spoke to reps twice regarding my problem within my 14 return. I was assured it was a software glitch and that I just needed to 1) power cycle it, then 2) restore it. Didn't help.

After another week, I called Apple Support because the issue didn't go away. I spoke to a guy that told me they could send me a phone replacement for $29 or I could go back to the store to replace it. I went to the store SUNDAY to replace it. This was after an hour in the store and having to get a manager involved because at no point did anyone tell me I needed to have an appointment to see a genius. I got my new phone and haven't had a problem. Yet.

I've owned Apple products going back 15 years since the days of the Performa 450. I have a certain level of expectation or customer service and I've worked retail so I can even accept a certain level of incompetence. What I can't accept is ' That's technology ' . I totally understand why people who purchased their phones would be upset but this 33% reduction. Apple has never dropped the price of a new product that much that quickly. They can try to hide behind their 14 day policy, which in itself is not standard in the retail market. The fact is that the people they are hurting with this are the most diehard of Apple fans in most cases. If you bought your phone and the $200 doesn't bother you, great more power to you. It bothers me.

If you don't agree and you haven't purchased the phone, really just shut the hell up. This isn't your problem. 'I told you so ' and 'stop whining ' are just bs. You don't agree, move on. You're not going to change anyone's mind that this was unfair. Personally, I feel like I just got my phone Sunday given all the run around I've had. This $200 is just salt in the wound of a bad overall experience. A $200 Apple credit may be OK, but I didn't pay them with an MDiddy credit, so I want my scratch back.
 
Another question:
Would you rather have had an update at the same price points (3G 8GB and 16GB for the 4GB and 8GB prices)?

At least with the price cut you still have the biggest/baddest iPhone and you've had it for x days of enjoyment before the price cut. At least you're still playing with the same tech and not a slower/smaller device.

Sure it came quick, but for any price cut there will be people who bought 15/30/68 days ago who won't be eligible for the new price, why should it make a difference when the product was launched?
 
Gouged

I feel like I got gouged for Apple and it's investors profit, and so did a lot of early adopters and loyal customers. The price drop really is unprecedented for Apple. If Apple wants to keep loyal customers, those willing to tolerate risk and some pain, they are going to have to do a better job then this. Their marketing spin by Jobs in USA today of "that's technology" is not the way to develop/keep loyalty. I guess it might not matter with a rapidly growing customer base, but you will also lose a lot of previous customers. Maybe even to the darkside. How's that going with porting OS X onto non mac hardware?
 
MDiddy said:
Apple has never dropped the price of a new product that much that quickly. They can try to hide behind their 14 day policy, which in itself is not standard in the retail market. The fact is that the people they are hurting with this are the most diehard of Apple fans in most cases. If you bought your phone and the $200 doesn't bother you, great more power to you. It bothers me.

If you don't agree and you haven't purchased the phone, really just shut the hell up. This isn't your problem. 'I told you so ' and 'stop whining ' are just bs. You don't agree, move on. You're not going to change anyone's mind that this was unfair. Personally, I feel like I just got my phone Sunday given all the run around I've had. This $200 is just salt in the wound of a bad overall experience. A $200 Apple credit may be OK, but I didn't pay them with an MDiddy credit, so I want my scratch back.
Click to expand...

You're right, Apple has never dropped the price of a product so quickly. Apple also has never been the new guy in an already well established, incredibly large, and incredibly competitive market like that of the cell/smart phone industry. It's not like the Mac line where you buy a computer, knowing Intel will come out with new chips every 6 months, but you're fine with the fact that you have a less "powerful" computer for the same price as a new one, since it does what you need it to. It's also not like the iPod, where you can almost pinpoint how often they will get updated, and also that the iPod is the overwhelming winner in the market; Apple doesn't need to play catch up for market share. With the iPhone, it does. It's a little tactic called gaging the market demand.

If all of you schmucks would buy the iphone at $599, then hey, imagine how many people would buy it at $399!! Its the same with any other cell phone, carrier-subsidized or not. You pay $300 at release for the newest cell phone, then 4 months later, with rebates and other discounts, they charge $150 or $200...its just how a phone stays competitive in a market with such a relatively short turn over period.

An you know what, I haven't purchased an iPhone, and yes, I think people should stop whining, but I'm not going to stop expressing my opinion because you aren't going to change your mind. I'm not going to change my mind, so are you going to stop expressing your opinion? Nope. And you're right, it isn't my problem, because I didn't run out and buy the phone right away, I waited and now look what I get: I get to pay $200 less than you did! I'm sorry that you're phone has been having problems, and that you've gotten the run around trying to deal with it (seriously), but that's just as likely to happen with someone who buys one at the new $399 price, so I really don't think this adds to your dilemma. Like I said before, I've paid for things at one price, only to have them drop in price or get new features added shortly thereafter, and yeah I was a little upset that I paid more/got less. But I dealt with it, because I CHOSE to buy the product/service when I did, no one made me.

I suppose in a couple months or however long it is before the iPhone gets another price cut or spec bump (it will, its a given down the road) we'll get people complaining that they paid $300 for the phone, and now it is x-amount of dollars less or has these features X, Y, and Z. :rolleyes:
 
choke said:
Got my iPhone 8GB on Aug 14 at the Apple Store in Cambridge, MA. I called the 1-800 Apple line but gave up when I read that if you bought your iPhone from a store, you had to deal with the store. I called the Cambridge store around 4pm EST and was told that they cannot do anything for me if the "14 day policy" has passed. I said, "Look, I would even settle for store credit." No dice. I even called my credit card company for price protection... no dice there too (thanks Bank of America).

Then, I emailed a friend of mine who works for an Apple Store (not Cambridge). He told me: (1) go to the store; (2) ask for the store manager; and (3) tell them you want a price adjustment refund. Seemed simple enough, but after all I read on here, I didn't think it would work.

So, I went down to the Apple Store with receipt in hand. I initially spoke with a sales rep and asked for the manager. The rep told me he could try and help, so I told him my story and he asked me where did I hear about 'price adjustment policy', and I told him "I have a friend who works for Apple." At the point, he went and got the manager.

Long story short, the manager credited my card back $210 (5% tax in MA). I didn't want to settle for store credit, so I didn't even bring it up. I also heard the manager speaking to another "price adjustment" person saying on the phone "if you come in by Friday, I can take care of it." Then the manager did the same thing for the guy behind me.

I don't know if every Apple store is doing this. It seems like some are and some are not. Maybe it's up to the individual managers and/or stores.

I am still peeved that I had to waste an afternoon going through all this, but $200 dollars is nothing to sneeze at.

So don't give up. Go down to your local Apple Store and ask directly for the manager. And if you live in Boston, go to the Cambridge store!
Click to expand...

From my local discussions you can get your money back if you purchased within the last 30 days.
 
and by the way...

I may disagree with everyone thinking the price drop was unfair, but by no means do I frown upon actually getting the refund. If you can, thats great, I'd personally love the $200 back if I had bought one. It's just that if you can't, then thats life, so goes capitalism.
 
I'm not going to get into whether or not apple screwed almost 1 million early adopting customers but I will say that as one of those 1 million, I do feel a bit screwed.

I think Apple pulling an Aperture and offering customers who bought a $600 iPhone a $200 (or heck, even a $100) gift card would go a long way in easing the hearts of its customers.
Heck, it'd even bring in some extra revenue as I'd put it towards a 160gb iPod Classic asap!

But I'm with AIMFIRE and DAFTUNION in saying that I'll deal with it. Its still sad for me and my wallet though.
 
It bothers me when people accuse early adopters, saying "you just HAD to have it before everyone else!"

That had NOTHING to do with my purchase. Apple had convinced me that the phone was worth $600. Obviously, they knew it was only worth $400, as they intended to drop the price.

When I bought the iPhone, I bought it on day one not to have it before everyone else, but to ensure that I would get the most value out of it.

Then this happened. This was no price drop, this was a price plummet. Not only that, but they knew about it before the iPhone even went on sale June 29th.


Now lets consider something:

When the original MacBook Pro was announced, they had set the specs and prices. Many people placed their orders. However, when it came time for the item to be shipped, to the surprise of all MacBook Pro purchasers, the product specs had been upgraded. Somewhere between the announcement and release, Apple upgraded the specs and everyone who preordered got the upgraded machine.

Now what if Apple would have kept that upgrade a secret, only to release it two months later and say "Yeah, we had it planned before you even bought the original."

Because that's what they just did to us.
 
iphone marketing bolognes-booooooooo

no whining - but i don't care what people say about the depreciation rate of phones, apple has set a new standard for their depreciation rate and has announced a sort of BUYER BEWARE at this point. It's sad when the company that so many loyal customers comes to the decision to attempt to raise stock so much by a date and in the process shafts their initial investing consumers without a care. I think that Apple has officially reached Microsoft'ness in the fact that they have a product that they're willing to disregard their user who has brought them back into the market. We brought them back in, we can take them back out.

I mean talk about a severely overpriced product!

I understand I'm a small fry and nothing can be done when it's just one person, but I am not alone in this disappointment. I'm not mad, or upset, I'm severely disappointed in the marketing scheme they decided to enter. It IS based on principals and ethics when it comes to business, it's not "just business" because as soon as a company comes to that attitude, the cost goes from "it's nothing personal, it's just business" to NO STEVE JOBS!- it's nothing personal, sure, but what you failed to realize is that it's MY BUSINESS you're losing. And everyone else that you have shafted.

I've invested in apple products even this year and none over the term of their come back have depreciated this much this fast. Like I keep saying, my new Ford hasn't depreciated THIS FAST! THat's sad. I shoulda bought a zune except for the fact that microsoft ... well.. we'll leave it at that.

I don't care what they say their policy is, it comes down to Apple care, and I think at this point they need to switch their name to Apple (doesn't) care (that much anymore).

Fine, Apple's big, they're rich, but they can go stick it in verizon's corner because neither of them will see a penny out of my pocket!

Enjoy rolling in my $400 this Christmas, Steve. It won't happen again.
 
I have to say that if this price drop happened 3 month, 6 month, or a year later I wouldn't be upset. But come on, lets be reasonable, and Jobs smug replies in that article pissed me off. I love Apple, I recommend it to lots of people, I have switched a ton of people over. I have bought lots of products I would guess nearly 10,000 or more in the last 5 years. Atleast one computer a year, and don't know how many iPod products for myself, or gifts. To ruin all that over $200.00 doesn't make a lot of sence to me.

Of coarse I'll still buy Apple products, and enjoy them but will always have that ***** taste in my mouth. If Jobs is gonna be an a$$hole about it, I can easily "SWITCH" back.

Hey Jobs, weather you give the money back or not don't be a jerk about it. And step up, and do the right thing man.

P.S. You can open a billing dispute with your credit card company, and they might offer some type of Purchase Protection Plan. So check with them too.

Chris
 
thank you!

I'm not going to get into whether or not apple screwed almost 1 million early adopting customers but I will say that as one of those 1 million, I do feel a bit screwed.

I think Apple pulling an Aperture and offering customers who bought a $600 iPhone a $200 (or heck, even a $100) gift card would go a long way in easing the hearts of its customers.
Heck, it'd even bring in some extra revenue as I'd put it towards a 160gb iPod Classic asap!

But I'm with AIMFIRE and DAFTUNION in saying that I'll deal with it. Its still sad for me and my wallet though.
Click to expand...

Don't fully agree with the Aperture comparison as the mobile phone market is is a different and often ridiculously unforgiving beast, but I like your attitude. I think you represent the vast majority of people out there who bought the iPhone at a higher price, but aren't lighting up message boards with threats of lawsuits or never buying another Apple product. Sure you feel a bit let down and would love some sort of compensation, but thanks for your clear-headed statement.
 
portland1137 said:
I bought an 8gig phone on day 1 and I full expect a credit of some kind...I am kind of shocked at alot of people's views on this.
Click to expand...

I am kind of shocked at alot of peoples views on this as well, those who expect a refund. Apple owes you nothing.

I can understand being bummed about it, or hoping that there might be some sort of compensation for being an early adopter. But there are quite alot of people claiming they are "owed" something, and are honestly acting like children with this whole situation and it is absolutely absurd.
 
A lot of you guys just don't get it. I, like many, are fine with the price drop. Sure it came as a shock, but that's technology. A little extreme in this case, but it can happen. The reason we have the right to complain now is because there are many early adopters who ARE in fact getting refunds from apple. This isn't fair. Apple should have planned for this and made it clear too all the stores and support on the policy. A lot of us aren't pissed about the price drop itself. It's that some of us get a refund and others don't. That is what's not fair. If apple gave Joe Blow his money back, I want mine back too.
 
Hell yeah if some are getting it outside the 14 day policy why not all of us. If none where getting it I could live with it all be it stew in it for a few days.
 
My ears are starting to hurt, because the silence comming from Apple over this is deafning! Do they have to rent the Moscone center and get a big stage set up, and hire some B-level performer first?

Right or wrong, they need to come out and say what is what, and tell everyone what their policy is. The fact they have issued some refunds has totaly screwed any policy they have in place now.

I filed a price match claim with my bank card, and will get my refund that way, but the people that have no claim should at least be told something.
 
I called my AT&T store this morning and said I bought my iPhone less than 30 days ago (its about 25 days now) and I said what can we do about a price adjustment so I don't have to return it and rebuy it elsewhere. Girl said this is my name, and just come in with your receipt and we'll take care of the difference. Couldn't of been any easier. I am sure AT&T is getting bombarded.
 
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