| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 951 | Anonymous | |
| 952 | Anonymous | I purchased my 4GB iphone less than 60 days |
| 953 | Robert Ross | My brother-in-law works for Apple and has long been trumpeting the virtues of your product line. I had an iPod Nano which I liked very much, but didn't see any strong correlation between it and Macs.
Embedding some of the OS X into the iPhone was a great move as it highlighted some of the usability features that many claim, "Make Apple...Apple."
I'm not a wait-on-line kind of guy and I try not to build up consumer debt. So about a month after the iPhone launch, I had made sure the iPhone could be bought w/o crimping the family budget, and began my OS X experience with your phone.
There were a few glitches but they were minor and seem better after the first two patches. I found the device elegant and intuitive. I was a fan. I recommended it to others. I started reading some Apple sites and blogs. I began to make arrangements to purchase a Mac Pro when new processors and graphics were released.
All that changed yesterday. Previously, I never even knew Apple events happened. Such was my new interest in your company and products, that early yesterday afternoon I read through TUAW's account of what happened.
I was first greeted with the headline "Apple screwed you: So now what?" What? This from The Unofficial Apple Weblog, a bastion of Apple support and supporters. I read on to get the details and couldn't believe it. My 32 day old iPhone had just been discounted to the tune of 33%.
Surely, I thought, there must be some mention of a plan for those that waited in line for hours and helped the hype that drove iPhone sales. Surely, I thought, there must be some plan for folks, like me, who purchased their phone only four weeks earlier. Nothing...no mention.
Steve Jobs does mention the high customer satisfaction ratings from people, like me. I can assure you, my satisfaction rating is now significantly lower. Further, his comments to USA Today, were not helpful, "...that's what happens in technology."
Without going off too far on a tangent, that isn't really what happens with technology, and according to employees I've talked to, it's unprecedented at Apple. Prices will drop, that is the nature of technology, but a 33% devaluation that "officially" affects folks who have owned their devices from 11-60 days is not.
Case in point, several credit card companies have complementary "price protection" programs for 90 days. Dell price matches itself for the first 30 days. If a 33% devaluation were commonplace neither credit card companies nor the largest PC manufacturer could afford these policies.
Returning to my central point, these first 800,000+ iPhones were purchased disproportionately by a combination of Apple evangelists and those seeking an "Apple" experience that contrasted starkly with Windows Mobile, Blackberry, etc.
The former group helps build buzz and provides those priceless PR video clips of folks waiting patiently in line and then getting high-fives after purchasing their new $600 device. Will these folks second guess the wisdom of doing so next time? Will they fear another 33% devaluation is only two months away?
The latter group represents the halo that Wall Street talks so much about. I fall into this group. Will I get enamored with the OS X experience and purchase a Mac Pro with Leopard. Speaking only for myself, that was, indeed, my plan.
Was. That plan is now in limbo.
As I told my brother-in-law, "Listen, I've just about made it to Vista SP1 and things are pretty stable. If I want to help a company launch their product and then get screwed for doing it, I'll stick with Microsoft. At least that way, I'm used to it. You told me Apple was different."
He responded, "They are. Listen, I have faith they will do the right thing." The words were right but he didn't seem so sure, and he always refers to Apple as "we." Not this time.
The ridiculous thing here is all this could have been avoided. Clearly some market research went astray and the 4GB iPhone should never have been manufactured and, while current sales were high, the desired volume for iPhones was higher. Basic economics...lower the price of something you want more of. Want more iPhone sales, lower the price. I get it.
What is Apple's internal cost for iPhone AppleCare?
What is Apple's internal cost for iTunes content?
What is Apple's internal cost for some select iPhone accessories, e.g, bluetooth headset?
If Steve Jobs had concluded this section of the event with something as simple as, "...and don't think we've forgotten the nearly million of you who helped make this the most successful phone launch ever. Everyone who has a activated their iPhone and is outside the 14 day return window will be receiving complimentary AppleCare and a $50 credit to their iTunes account. We know our early adopters are our solid foundation and our new adopters are the engine for our growth, so we are excited to demonstrably show that today!"
How much real cost would that have entailed. Not opportunity cost mind you because, yes, some of those folks would have purchased AppleCare...etc. etc..
Maybe $25? Contrast that with the fact that the second most "Dug" story on Digg.com with nearly 5,000 diggs is this story. How do you quantify the value of bad press and disappointed customers? I don't know, but I'm betting it is greater the $25 referenced above.
In conclusion, while it is the nature of technology to have new devices released at lower price points. It is not its nature to execute a 33% discount within 60 days of a very successful product’s launch. This is even more of a surprise to Apple customers who are accustomed to relatively stable pricing until new models are released. Please, Apple, offer me an olive branch so I can see the win/win scenario here. |
| 954 | J. Vitale | this is seriously a joke if Apple does not do the right thing and compensate its most loyal customers for paying the full $600 price. |
| 955 | David Diala | I'll think twice before buying any apple product again |
| 956 | Jason Rogers | i'd take something...a gift card to the Apple Store would be nice. Even if it's not $200, something out of good faith, but they credited the Apeture purchasers when they dropped the price of it. |
| 957 | Anonymous | We should be compensated. I was 11 days out of the return period. |
| 958 | Chuck Smith | Its not about the money, they KNEW they were going to use all the loyal fans for a $200 premium..
I loved apple products, I would eagerly await the press conferences, and look forward to the products.
Its a real shame they did this, I should be excited about the new products announced but now I dont care |
| 959 | Anonymous | |
| 960 | Casey Fender | At this point I will never buy a apple product again. I will also discourage every one I know to never buy apple again. |
| 961 | Glen Kimmel | |
| 962 | Michael Diep | Can't believe they discontonued the 4gb version after a mere 2 months. |
| 963 | Jeff Carmichael | Its sad that I have to have .mac at the end of my email address. Had I known that Apple was going to do something like this, I would have NEVER bought from them. |
| 964 | Greg Goss | |
| 965 | Anonymous | |
| 966 | RIchardsrj | I am disappointed with Steve Jobs. The fact that the Iphone price was dropped is not the problem. The fact that it was dropped only 60 days after the release is disturbing. Also, the fact that Steve brushes us off to the side and says such is life is what really hurts. That I think was the straw that broke our backs. It is bad enough to club us down to the ground, but do you have to kick us in the side too before we get up? |
| 967 | Abraham Dabbah | I will never again buy another apple product. |
| 968 | Anonymous | As a new Apple customer; I am not impressed with the timing of this price. |
| 969 | David Hallman | This isn't fair. I cannot believe I was ripped off like this. |
| 970 | Kyle Reilly | |
| 971 | emrys Joseph | Bought Apple IPHONE for $599.00 in good faith been Apple user for 25 years and Apple has now dropped the IPHONE to $399.00. Went to store where I bought it at APPLE and they don't care. Went to Manager and he said corporate Apple said they don't care. Allot of other people are in the same situation and have been ripped off. The apple forum on Apple IPHONE APPLE is being purposely deleted by APPLE about the complaints. I had Bought my unit at Walt Whitman Mall Huntington. I also called Megan Alexander at 631 912 9494 and she has not returned calls from APPLE East Coast.
Can You Help Me:
Emrys Joseph |
| 972 | Cy | It's Apple's decision to reduce prices: they're a big company, and they will take whatever steps they want to increase profit. Good on 'em.
That said, it's my prerogative as a consumer to get really annoyed when a company makes decisions I don't agree with. I can mouth off about how much I don't like their policies to my friends and family, and I can say that I will certainly not be giving any more money to Apple unless they take steps that -- to me! -- makes things right. Being an Assassin for a product/company is a time-honored tradition, after all.
No, not everyone agrees with me, and hey, that's okay too. Though, I'm the one who just shelled out big bucks for an Apple product, I'd like to think that maybe they should consider doing the Good Customer Service thing to make their existing customers happy.
Hey, they did it for Aperture, right? Same deal: released at price point A, then reduced the price $200 a short time later... and offered a $200 voucher to the early adopters. What's different about this situation? |
| 973 | Anonymous | I bought two at $599 each. Could I afford it? Yeah, but if I knew that I could save $400 by waiting two months I would have. Let's see how well Apple's next big product launch goes with this in mind. Nice PR move Apple. |
| 974 | Norbert P Schwartz | In the past 3 months I have purchased a iPhone,MacBook,IPod,
and a IPod Nano. I was going to purchase a IMac in the near future
but I may change my mind. I am a first time
Mac user . T hope Apple rectifies this unpleasant situation. |
| 975 | Kham Ornta | Way to go! I love having money taken away from me! /sarcasm. I will never buy an apple product again...you over priced P.O.S. |
| 976 | Anonymous | I can understand 1 yr or 6 months... but 2 months is too soon. It's a slap in the face to loyal Apple customers. Even if I am not refunded $200, I would expect some kind of compensation. Apple store credit, iTunes giftcards.... something! |
| 977 | Anonymous | i would love to spend my wasted $200 on more apple products... |
| 978 | Mike Han | |
| 979 | Anonymous | I bought my iPhone 20 days ago... and now 6 days after I can return it - you drop the price $200. That is a SIGNIFICANT amount of money, and I feel completely taken advantage of for being an early adopter. The phone has been out for 2 months... I just can't believe that Apple, of all companies, would ever do this. |
| 980 | Eric W | 200 dollar price break -- thats crazy for a 3 month time period. |
| 981 | Anonymous | Sorry Steve/Apple...you say "that's technology", but I say it ought to be a crime.
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/09/06/jobs-on-iphone-price-drop-thats-technology/ |
| 982 | Anonymous | |
| 983 | Sherry Kallingal | Apple screwed up in its price estimation, and the early adapter's are paying for this. This is a very bad experience. |
| 984 | Chuck Messman | I would like to see Apple compensate early adopters of the iPhone through a refund of the difference in purchase price or by store credit that could be use for future hardware or software purchase (not iTunes!). |
| 985 | Doug | You are always going to pay a premium to be an early adopter, but a $200 premium to be one of the first to own an iphone for 2 months is a bit of an insult. We are the one's who made the iphone successfull and the reason others will be buying them now. (After seeing ours.) I would expect a price drop perharps at 6 months, but 2 months? Really? Is full compensation in order? Probably not, but something from Apple to say, "hey thanks for supporting us and making this a successfull product" is in order. Come on Apple, help those who help you. If you don't, you're next product launch might not be as successfull. |
| 986 | James Williamson | This is just bad business practice.
From a marketing perspective, you have to look at the core Apple consumer. They have a perceived, very personal relationship with Apple. Apple has been great at nurturing this up to this date. It is a very strong Plus from a marketing/brand viewpoint. For special brands, such as Coke, Apple, etc. the brand is not really "owned" by the company, but by the customers. Yes, the hardware and the buidlings are possessed by the companies, but the "brand" is "owned" and supported by the patrons.
I expected the price of my iPhone to drop, but not after two months! A $100 a month premium on being a first adapter is too steep. Apple is starting to erode their most valuable asset, customer loyalty. That's a slippery slope to start down. |
| 987 | Anonymous | |
| 988 | Anonymous | |
| 989 | Anthony Hernandez | No comment needed. This petition is for a reason, and that reason is stated in the petition. |
| 990 | Anonymous | This whole thing was because they released their iTouch ipod. I had thoughts of buying my daughter one. But now I think I'll wait and see what the price will be in 2-3 months from now. I'm guessing there will be the iPhone2 about that time and the price of a iTouch will be 33% cheeper. Maybe I'll buy Zune they just cut their price $50. Maybe I won't ever buy an Apple product again. Good job Apple screwing me. So SCREW YOU! Never again! |
| 991 | Anonymous | I feel very betrayed. Picked iPhone over Blackberry despite many iPhone deficiencies. As a proud owner of an iPhone, I've decided to live with all of its problems and deficiencies, hoping Apple will someday rescue me. Then this... It hurts. It really hurts. The effect of betrayal is uncontainable... |
| 992 | T. Baird | |
| 993 | Anonymous | Do the right thing...Even in store credit.... |
| 994 | Hillary Lindsay | I am mostly concerned because i was assured by Apple employees that it would not go down within six months. If they could not promise it then they should not have stated it. I will take a credit to my iTunes account if that is an issue. I just dont want to feel that I am getting ripped off by a company. And I was going to go buy a mac this weekend, forget that! |
| 995 | Anonymous | Here is a question:
I purchased one for my wife on August 14. Do I still have time to return it (and pay restocking fee) and buy a new one and thus net about $130 savings? |
| 996 | Anonymous | |
| 997 | Anonymous | Apple, you have to know that you've done your loyal customers a grave disservice and insult, by this ill-timed and drastic iPhone price reduction. You need to make it right. |
| 998 | David Mendoza | |
| 999 | Anonymous | Worst thing they could do to their hardcore fans as well as new ones. |
| 1000 | Anonymous | An apple store credit would make me feel better. |