Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Official iPhone Refund Policy Tomorrow?

whinners whinners OMG a nation of cry babies.... I waited in line for how many hours it be and didn't get the damn phone until the next day and I bought the 8G to that and don't regreat a single minute of it. Actually the price drop is better if God forbid I screw up my phone for some reason.

;) :apple:
 
ibwb said:
I understand the emotional component, as emotional analysis tends to be based on comparisons of counterfactual scenarios, but you can't seriously tell me that a corporation's price strategy should be based on how people "feel" about it.
Click to expand...

To be fair though, businesses do base some of their pricing structure on emotional components. Product development and marketing are far more complex than finding some point on a supply/demand curve. For example, restaurants will price menu items that they know not many people will order (some weird octopus soup) at a very high price simply so that they can raise the price on items which people are more likely to order (fried calimari, or shrimp pasta) and make even larger margins on those items. The same goes for fashion labels that continue to produce very high end items (and make virtually nothing on them) so that people will feel like they are getting a deal on a mass produced Calvin Klein shirt and twice the price of the unbranded item.
 
MovieCutter said:
You've gotta be kidding me. You're willing to drop $600 "at one time" for an iPhone, but a price drop of $200 "at one time" is going over some line?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is. I could have re-sold my iPhone on eBay as "barely used" for probably around $450 or so, before the price drop, but now I'd be lucky to get $300. So Apple's price drop took away a lot of value in something I purchased.
 
unconcious said:
whinners whinners OMG a nation of cry babies.... I waited in line for how many hours it be and didn't get the damn phone until the next day and I bought the 8G to that and don't regreat a single minute of it. Actually the price drop is better if God forbid I screw up my phone for some reason.

;) :apple:
Click to expand...

Seriously, if I bought my iPhone on launch day I wouldn't be very pissed at all. But I bought mines 3 weeks ago, so I feel a bit slighted that I was a few days away from the 14-day refund policy.
 
I feel that the short time frame leading up to the price-cut shows that it must have been know at the time of initial release. The original price was a deliberate and dishonest attempt to cash-in the media hype. This action lowers my opinion of Apple to being on-par with that of e-bay scalpers.
 
Just posted to the Apple front page...


To all iPhone customers:

I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.

First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone 'tent'. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.

Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.

Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.

Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.

We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.

Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
 
I dont know how many iPhones have sold, but the number outside of 2 weeks x $100.00 refund would cripple the company.

But APPLE really stepped in the doo-doo: now this is the fodder of newscasts of hopping mad buyers, and probably jokes on Leno and Letterman.

Not sure what they should have done, except discontinue the 4gb, and wait a few months to lower the price on the 8gb-they wold have made more money, and had few if any complains.

those who bought the first HD players had to pay $1000 or more- a few months later you can get the HD version, at least for under $200
 
maniacmedia said:
Just posted to the Apple front page...


To all iPhone customers:
[snip]
...Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
Click to expand...

Wow, good for them! That should make 90% of people feel better...the rest are going to want Steve to personally deliver a $200 gold coin to their doorstep.
 
I purchased two iPhones with AmEx, and this morning a call to the company verified that I will be credited $400+ sales tax within 24 hours. Thank you, AmEx!!!
 
seashellz said:
I dont know how many iPhones have sold, but the number outside of 2 weeks x $100.00 refund would cripple the company.
Click to expand...

Uh, we're only talking about a few hundred thousand phones here. That's a few tens of millions of dollars in store credit which goes back to Apple anyway. Call it a marketing expense.

I think Steve Jobs did the best possible thing. It's not a total reversal of the price protection policy but it'll keep his best customers happy and that is why people are Apple customers to begin with...Apple products make them happy.
 
seashellz said:
I dont know how many iPhones have sold, but the number outside of 2 weeks x $100.00 refund would cripple the company.
Click to expand...

No it wont, it will increase revenue. They arent giving cash they are giving a store credit. They didnt have to do anything this proves again what a good company apple is.

I will use the credit towards the purchase of Leopard.
 
This a fair peace offering and I'm glad Apple stepped up the plate on this. Also, thank you to everyone who voiced their frustration to Apple to shed the deserved light on the subject.
 
err404 said:
This a fair peace offering and I'm glad Apple stepped up the plate on this. Also, thank you to everyone who voiced their frustration to Apple to shed the deserved light on the subject.
Click to expand...

X2
I think this is very fair and I am satisfied with the in store credit. I may change my mind and consider Apple for my next purchase.
 
Obviously, I can't speak for everyone. Yes, I'm annoyed that those who called yesterday got some satisfaction and those of us who called today didn't. But Apple has stepped up here and admitted their error in judgment. I appreciate that.

Since in many instances the store credit with either go unclaimed, or be used for something more expensive than the $100, the company will not really feel the pinch. But they will buy a whole lot of goodwill.
 
AMEX credit

Uh, It depends on which bank issues the AMEX card. Mine dropped the price protection coverage. Your mileage may vary.

I think Apple's response to this is RIGHT ON! Apple IS customer centric. Thanks Steve.
 
Demand A $200 Credit From Apple If 8gb Owner!

Hey guys, I just called Apple AND wrote to them, upon their suggestion, because I think we stand-in-line first day 8GB IPHONE owners should be given a $200 credit or refund, not just $100. $100 should be given for the now defunct 4GB version.

The price drop is 40% in only 10 weeks, which is a borderline scam. Technology costs drop in ever decreasing time frames, but let's be reasonable here. What's the last piece of technology you bought that dropped that fast? A pet rock? Who WOULDN'T have waited until now, had we known?

Make sure you post this demand everywhere, the more they see it, the more likely they'll honor it. Also let them know that if we don't get this restitution, that we will not be buying any future Apple products anywhere near their release date. We'll wait 10 weeks and save a fortune instead. Let's see how their stocks do for that 10 weeks. :mad:
 
DRM4GOD said:
Hey guys, I just called Apple AND wrote to them, upon their suggestion, because I think we stand-in-line first day 8GB IPHONE owners should be given a $200 credit or refund, not just $100. $100 should be given for the now defunct 4GB version.

The price drop is 40% in only 10 weeks, which is a borderline scam. Technology costs drop in ever decreasing time frames, but let's be reasonable here. What's the last piece of technology you bought that dropped that fast? A pet rock? Who WOULDN'T have waited until now, had we known?

Make sure you post this demand everywhere, the more they see it, the more likely they'll honor it. Also let them know that if we don't get this restitution, that we will not be buying any future Apple products anywhere near their release date. We'll wait 10 weeks and save a fortune instead. Let's see how their stocks do for that 10 weeks. :mad:
Click to expand...


WOW! They dont owe you a damn thing. Be glad you are getting $100 store credit and move on.
 
Help a poor bloke out

I accidently purchased two iPhone (what I mean to say is that I forgot to cancel my direct fulfill). Apple and AT&T at every point has refused to take this phone back. It is absolutely in mint unopened condition, even still in the original box it was shipped in. But because my life is as busy as everyone else's and I let more than 14 days go buy neither Apple nor AT&T will help out this long term Apple customer and fan.

That means that I am now stuck with an extra unopened phone that isn't even worth what I paid for it. I have tried to sell the iPhone on eBay to try to at least recover some funds twice now, but iPhones on eBay are wrought with fraud and three attempts to sell now have each been fraudulant buyers in spite of the many settings and protections that eBay has in place. One was a scam from a buyer wanting it shipped to Africa and another was a person who did not pay because she claimed that she received conflicting emails from eBay about the end of the auction.

And now I am guaranteed to loose at least $200 even if I am able to successfully sell this thing!

I love my iPhone, it is one of the best purchases I have ever made even at $600 dollars, but like it or not I have a hard time controlling my frustration over the fact that what it turns out that I could have had for $399 has now cost me over $1200!

Anyone want to call :apple: for me and help me plead my case? ;)

macfyffe@mac.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back