Some iPhone users get refund, some don't.

Apple seeks to calm irate early iPhone buyers - Yahoo! News

 

I'm sorry, but all of this is funny and idiotic at the same time. The people that bought this phone at the original prices should just deal with it.

Did Motorola offer refunds for those of us who purchased RAZRs at full price when it first came out? NO.

iPhone owners need to get over it and stop whining.

 

I agree Mike, they should not be entitled to any refund at this point. So now they got rid of the 4GB models does that mean these people should be given the 8GB phones? I Don't Think So.

These people had to jump on the "I got to have it" bandwagon & that's how all new devices work, 1st out higher price after time it goes down in price.

 

I LOL'd real hard after reading that...

Basically Steve Jobs said STFU nubs and gimme yo monies. $100 in store credit... hahhhahaaa

 

Waiting for their $100 credit:

 

Waiting for their $100 credit......... ROFL.. nice one

 

I can hear Jobs saying this. Serves them right!! :rant:

 

I actually think this is quite generous. As others have pointed out, Apple didn't have to give them anything. There is a premium you pay for being the first on your block and everyone knew the iPhone price would drop eventually. Apple just chose to drop prices before the holiday buying season so they could stay on top in high-end smartphones.

What other hardware company would have given a credit like this? They have sold close to 1 million iPhones, so that's $100 million in credit. It's not exactly giving away an actual $100 million, but it's not too far off.


SW

 

I totally agree. You do pay a premium to be the first to have something. If it was worth it for you to pay $600 for the iPhone then that's that. Someone may be upset that the price came down a month later, but customers could have also waited an extra month too. Everyone knows the price of a new model comes down after a bit. Did Motorola give rebates to those who paid $600 for the original V3? nope. I can understand giving credit to those who purchased in the past week or 2, but not to the people who camped out to be the first to have one. They deserved to pay $600.

-Jay

 

Yes, I absolutely agree with you and all others that have said that that is the "premium you pay for being the first on the block". Since i am one of those, I have paid the penalty many times, probably the most recent and the most drastic was the Blackjack. Yes apple did not have to give any refund and by doing so they have gained quite a few marketing points and have also set a precedence.

In my opinion it is immaterial in what form the credit was since one shouldn't have expected any in the first place.

Just my most humble 2 cents.

 

I just think that if they wanted to sell it for $500, they should have introduced it at that price. I'm sure Apple's shareholders aren't pleased that the company is slashing its own profit margin like that.

This move will definately have an impact on Apple's P/E ratio.


-jay

 

i could not agree more. just get over it, suckers.

 

Very true...To tell you the truth, they may actually end up giving apple more money in the end. Outside of software/accessories, and the iPod shuffle, there isn't much in the apple store for about $100. I think Jobs is hoping you use that credit to buy a macbook or maybe a shiny new iPod. Either way its win-win for apple. It keeps most people from complaining. and the money will go directly back to them.

 

That's why I lol'd real hard at the notion of $100 in credit at the apple storre.

 

I think they were testing the market, I am not so sure that Apple's shareholders are going to be unhappy, not only are they coming across as generous being the first ones (in cell phones) to ever offer anything due to a price cut, also as pointed out they are going to sell more Apple products with that store credit. Overall quite a successful marketing ploy in my opinion.

 

LOL


Wasn't the purpose of the iPhone so you wouldn't have to carry multiple devices???

-Jay

 

Jay, I go to a tech school, and i've seen more people flashing their iphones...yet still carrying an iPod cause the iPhone "cant hold their entire music collection." It doesn't make any sense to me either. :headscrat...fanboys will do whatever it takes to be 1st on the block with new technology.

 

I agree with everyone here. They made a decision to buy the iPhone so soon, now they should deal with the consequences. It was their choice. Apple didn't put a gun on anyone's head on June 29th to be standing like a homeless outside AT&T stores.

 

At least (so far) all of us are in agreement that early iPhone owners are now reaping what they sewed. I'm glad they're only getting a "$100 in store credit". I would be ticked if these whiners got real money back. Thankfully they won't.

PS - I got my T-Mobile MDA for $299.00 in February, it was on the T-Mobile site recently for about $149.00. Where's my refund??? Just because the Wing is out doesn't mean I shouldn't get my $150 back, I mean it's so unfair. Life sucks. I think I'm going to sue for $150,000,000 for severe emotional distress and lost wages, not to mention to recoup my $150...:crying:

 

Actually shareholders were very unhappy with this move by Apple, their stock went down right after he announced the lowering of the phones price & giving the refunds.
I know today has been a down day on the markets but Apple is down 3% since this announcment.

 

I think the new iPods will improve their numbers. It can't hurt. iPods are what put Apple back on the map.

I've been waiting for the 6th gen iPods to come out anyway, but I'm probably going with the iPod Classic because the iPod Touch isn't large enough to hold my collection.

 

Well, for that matter my parents bought a Stereo HI-FI VHS VCR in the mid 80's for $800. Now you can buy one for $50. I'd like the $750 please.

-Jay

 

Sorry, I meant in the long run not immediately after, should have clarified it better. :O

Yes, absolutely.

If I got money back for everything I have bought immediately after it hit the market (lack of patience kicks in everytime), I could have retired by now, oh well I will be happy with the $150 that Samsung will be refunding me in the form of store credits. Yeah right.....:

 

I never took Marketing in college but I am sure the real results of a rebate like this are well known. Some people will go in and get a $99 item that they would never have bought otherwise. Some people will use it as a discount on something bigger, that they may or may not have bought. I am sure the percentages on these things are studied and documented, so Apple has already calculated the outlay.

But it is incorrect to say that "the money will go directly back to them". If Apple gives you a $100 item, they are at least losing the manufacturing and distribution costs on the item. Same thing goes for giving a $100 discount on a $3,000 item. I don't know what Apple's net profit margins are, but gross margins are thought to be around 30% on hardware, meaning if they give you a $100 rebate they are giving up $70 actual dollars - it's still real money that affects the profitability of their business.

From what I heard on the news yesterday, Jay and Fire are correct that the combination of the rebate and prospects of lowered margins on the iPhone did not sit well with Wall Street. Apple is choosing unit sales over margins in this case. They want the iPhone to be a success and to be seen as a success. As Charlyee indicated, Apple is taking a longer term view where Wall Street almost always takes a short term view.


SW

 

I smell a class action lawsuit.

 

The problem I had prior to this was that Steve Jobs admitted a new iphone or different options would be available at the end of this year. When people buy something new, of course you're going to pay a premium. Does your phone work less because you paid more for it to get it first?

 

Well said, zamboni! I couldn't agree more.

 

Thanks for the positive reinforcement...looks like our teams the angels and yankees are going home early.