Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Recall
- Thread starter stphnman20
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Predicting a mass giveaway or discount of sort...
Similar to the initial iPhone discount, I am predicting that Apple may just come out and give everyone a free bumper or some type of compensation.
I really don't have the energy to call Apple and yell at them for ~$30.
Similar to the initial iPhone discount, I am predicting that Apple may just come out and give everyone a free bumper or some type of compensation.
I really don't have the energy to call Apple and yell at them for ~$30.
Considering the primary purpose for the bumper is to prevent skin-on-metal contact, and considering it's so incredibly ludicrously cheap to manufacturer (if it costs even a quarter I'd be really surprised) this is a potential outcome but it still doesn't address the most basic issue at hand:
Defective by design...
Defective by design...
It makes sense if Apple continues to give out free stuffs because people complain.
Remember the initial iPhone launch? Apple discounted its price few months after the launch and credited users who bought them before the discount. The scenario is not quite the same, but I do believe it is possible.
Remember the initial iPhone launch? Apple discounted its price few months after the launch and credited users who bought them before the discount. The scenario is not quite the same, but I do believe it is possible.
Not to be rude, but you people obviously do not know business. Apple is in the marketplace to make money, not lose money. By offering a discount or offering freebies to everyone who is experiencing these glitches would not make Apple bankrupt by any means, but they would be losing lots of money. Of course customer relationship is one of the most important things when it comes to Marketing, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that Apple is one of the world leader's in marketing their products.
Do you realize that there are millions of others out there who are amazed by this devices capabilities! Apple is not going to issue a refund or freebies just to satisfy a small percentage of the their customers when the majority is happy and shocked by the performance and quality of this product. Though I can assure you that Apple is a trustworthy company and they will offer a software fix that most likely will correct the antenna issue.
And it's all your faults for having to deal with the flaws. We all know that the first batch of any product is going to have some sort of problem, because the manufacturer rushes to get their products on the market in a timely manner instead of thoroughly testing the finished mass-produced items, this is definitely true for Apple. Having to deal with temporary flaws is the price each and everyone of you pays for being impatient and not waiting for the second, third and so on batches of iPhone 4s to arrive. So be happy with what you got and within time, the problems will be fixed
Do you realize that there are millions of others out there who are amazed by this devices capabilities! Apple is not going to issue a refund or freebies just to satisfy a small percentage of the their customers when the majority is happy and shocked by the performance and quality of this product. Though I can assure you that Apple is a trustworthy company and they will offer a software fix that most likely will correct the antenna issue.
And it's all your faults for having to deal with the flaws. We all know that the first batch of any product is going to have some sort of problem, because the manufacturer rushes to get their products on the market in a timely manner instead of thoroughly testing the finished mass-produced items, this is definitely true for Apple. Having to deal with temporary flaws is the price each and everyone of you pays for being impatient and not waiting for the second, third and so on batches of iPhone 4s to arrive. So be happy with what you got and within time, the problems will be fixed
TarHeel, I think it might be you who doesn't understand business. Apple knows that their reputation is a lot more important than $30 discount, hence the reason why I believe they will do this. Plus there has been precedent from Apple on similar issue.
Business aside, if they do make any gesture - free bumper, a discount on something etc. then they are acknowledging that there is a problem with their product.
That opens them up to all sorts of PR and legal nightmares that they wont want to deal with.
Case by case concessions are a different story.
That opens them up to all sorts of PR and legal nightmares that they wont want to deal with.
Case by case concessions are a different story.
Very true, but I am still hoping. Plus we let Apple slide last time on their "software fix" for 3G reception.
Really, are you going to tell me I don't know business? That's a joke. In business, not everyone is always happy. You cannot please all your customers. Apple has a big enough fan base that if they lose complainers like you who cannot move your finger tips 1mm so that the antenna is not effected, then the phone would work. Believe me, I'm calling it now! Apple is not providing EVERYONE of you with a free accessory or partial refund for your stupidity. If you don't like Apple products, I'd suggest you switchover to a BlackBerry or some other smart phone. Because for the 2% of you that don't, there' 98% who are perfectly fine with Apple products and the new iPhone 4. Whether or not they lose you or say 20,000 customers, they still have the largest market share. Apple is a monopoly, no one can compete with them, so deal with it!
Calm down buddy, we're "discussing". But hey, if it's that important to you to be right, then go ahead.
There is already a lot of negativity surrounding this reception issue, and it's no longer an isolated minor issue. Apple has always been known for their quality products, hence I suggested that $30 is very little in comparison to the their reputation.
We can go on and on about this discussion, but please try to keep it civilized.
There is already a lot of negativity surrounding this reception issue, and it's no longer an isolated minor issue. Apple has always been known for their quality products, hence I suggested that $30 is very little in comparison to the their reputation.
We can go on and on about this discussion, but please try to keep it civilized.
I respectfully disagree. I work in a B2B work environment and I think that Apple will do something if the software fix doesn't work. While I agree that they wouldn't do a mass rebate, they may do something of the like if the media keeps up with the coverage. Apple has a lot of loyal customers, but they won't attract new ones with the overwhelming negative press coverage. Especially when the CEO says something as dumb as he did.
And I don't think we are to blame. There are many products that go to market and don't have the level of problems the iPhone 4 has had. This is especially true if it is a hardware problem because then it's negligence on Apple's part. There's nothing wrong with customers expecting a quality product at launch. Of course, there will always be bugs, but this problem is potentially much bigger than a software bug. If it's a hardware design flaw, this will be one of Apple's biggest embarrassments.
By the way, I love Apple products and I'm just really shocked how big of a problem this may be. If it's just a software bug, then I think it will be no big deal for Apple. If it's a hardware bug, or recall, or only alleviated by giving free bumpers, then I think this would be extremely embarrassing. Just my two cents.
Cost to manufacture a bumper: more than likely under $.20 USD - that's less than 20 cents.
Retail price set on bumper: $29
Effective potential profit: 14,400%
Loss by giving consumers a bumper at no cost if that's what they want: Nothing at all.
The bumper probably is 20x less costly to provide free of consumer charge than the damned earbud-mic is so...
THAT is the true non-issue here.
Spoken like a true Cult member...
Retail price set on bumper: $29
Effective potential profit: 14,400%
Loss by giving consumers a bumper at no cost if that's what they want: Nothing at all.
The bumper probably is 20x less costly to provide free of consumer charge than the damned earbud-mic is so...
THAT is the true non-issue here.
TarHeelBorn88 said:
Spoken like a true Cult member...
I agree. I say we just wait till Monday or Tuesday instead of speculating. We can speculate all we want, it's not going to make a difference in the decision that Steve Jobs is going to make regarding this issue.
There has been a lot of controversy with the launch of the iPhone 4, but we'll never know the truth surrounding the issues. And quite honestly it would not make a difference. The truth as others have mentioned would hurt Apple's PR and Media Relations.
For example, I keep seeing Apple iPhone 4 Whites everywhere and they had an abundance of samples from all the photos that surfaced after WWDC. They had two at the London launch, Walt Mossberg has one and CNN.CN has the full OEM body of both white and black iPhone 4s. So I'm not buying the whole "manufacture challenge", but it doesn't make a difference what I think or you think because the decision is in Steve Jobs hand.
There has been a lot of controversy with the launch of the iPhone 4, but we'll never know the truth surrounding the issues. And quite honestly it would not make a difference. The truth as others have mentioned would hurt Apple's PR and Media Relations.
For example, I keep seeing Apple iPhone 4 Whites everywhere and they had an abundance of samples from all the photos that surfaced after WWDC. They had two at the London launch, Walt Mossberg has one and CNN.CN has the full OEM body of both white and black iPhone 4s. So I'm not buying the whole "manufacture challenge", but it doesn't make a difference what I think or you think because the decision is in Steve Jobs hand.
Yes, but it took a class action lawsuit. It was for the original iPod Nano screen being prone to scratching too easy. I received a check from them, I forget the exact amount, but it was around 35-40 dollars.
It also took many many years for it to happen. So long I fact, I was no longer using the iPod at the time I got the check.
Yes. I got a free pair of $79 apple in ear headphones plus $100 off my iPhone for apple related problems
Seems different to me regarding the rebate for the first gen customers. That was a specific population and didn't apply to future customers.
If apple now gives free bumpers to people who own the 4th gen, they will have to do it for all purchasers. Either that or redesign it, as I don't believe a software patch can fix this.
My guess is we will see a software patch that applies to the changing signal bars. Then if people actually complain, they will get a bumper.
But I have been wrong before...
If apple now gives free bumpers to people who own the 4th gen, they will have to do it for all purchasers. Either that or redesign it, as I don't believe a software patch can fix this.
My guess is we will see a software patch that applies to the changing signal bars. Then if people actually complain, they will get a bumper.
But I have been wrong before...
Wow man get your nose out of Apple's ass for one second. You do realize that because Apple's primary goal is to make money (I totally agree, by the way, and anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded), should they deny that this issue exists, when respected blogs and review sites have already made note of this problem, will only LOSE iPhone sales from here on out? Can you imagine how many people out there, who have phones that drop calls constantly, when asked by their friends whether or not they should get an iPhone 4, will say "Yeah, it's a great phone, but if you actually want to make calls, don't buy it, it's a piece of ****" and then quickly demonstrate the issue right then and there? Yeah, I know what you're going to say, that scenario accounts for a tiny percentage of iPhone sales, the vast majority will buy them regardless. But from Apples standpoint, which is worse? Losing iPhone sales (and the inevitable app store/itunes revenue that accompany them) and getting bad press for ignoring these obvious software/hardware defects, or giving out 600,000 rubber bumpers that cost pennies to produce? I really hope Apple has enough sense to do the latter.
