Steve Jobs gives us $100 back — regardless!
Steve Jobs just posted an open letter on Apple.com, and we applaud you, Steve!
"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"
Disappointed. Store credit is fine, but it’s not the same as a rebate or partial refund. I’m darn near offended by this one:
“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.”
No retailer, particularly a retailer with such a price premium and devoted consumer base, plans obsolescence as quickly as Apple does. It’s very frustrating as a consumer and near offensive to hear him say, “[that's] life”.
At apple expo, look for $499 & $599 iPhones with a larger capacity.
I’d rather buy a zune. May various points were made
Appl overprces carap loyalista ar suckas who don’t read the fine print. All this to boos plaumting sale thata ll it is. Ipity the ifools who think apple will chang there ways.
Galvatron, buy your zune and be happy.
how about a $100 itunes card? They are still working out the details on the $100. Interesting to see how it works out. Good move by apple.
Gal, D for spelling and F for content. better luck next time.
iTune card would not be bad at all. Especially just for the movie download possiblities for your iPhone.
No offense and I know I will get flamed but you all think this is acceptable? Wake up fanboys!! you were still forced to spend $100.00 with Apple!! Would you have spent that money in the store the day you bought the phone if they announced a instant $100 price drop the day of launch? Heck no. You would have said “Steve Jobs is the man” put your money in your pocket and rolled out. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid fanboys. You were overcharged to begin with, your God Steve Jobs gives you a store credit, keeps another $100 of it and you are happy? Come on Fanboys take the red pill and wake up.
i dont think its just fanboys, i think most people just wanted Apple to recognize that these people were pissed. $100 is pretty good considering its been 2 months for some people. Some people are just using this as an other excuse to bash and thats their right but $100 is $100, their are alot of good products to choose from. As i said $100 iTunes card would be good to me.
OK now I know I’m gonna get hammered by everybody for this but even though this might’ve been the right thing to do, I don’t think jobs should’ve done it because if you buy an iPod Touch and in two months the price drops to something more reasonable, you probably aren’t going to get that difference back and even though this probably was the right thing to do since this is such a popular device, it just doesn’t make sense to do this. I mean this is how technology works and there’s no way around it. Prices change and usually you don’t get any part of the difference of the new price.
Excellent news for the early buyers, like us. Something is something. Now, I can get my wife a new iPhone with the $100 rebate.
i fully expect apple to neither cut prices or offer rebates for anything anytime soon. They will not risk this ever again if possible.
**unless they make big money from the whole ordeal**
@&$? 100 gift card. Give a the unlock code for the iPhone
They won’t be doing that, be realistic
Btw –posting from my new 8gb iphone
and so far I am very impressed, coming from my blackberry 8800
Funny how we have people complaining about the $100 credit. I’m sure if you bought the iPhone early, you would take the offer in a heartbeat.
A side note, I see a lot of techies are the biggest whiner out there. Maybe most of them spend too much time with their toys they forgotten common sense.
after all it might be part of Apple marketing plan…
Nice gesture. I am definitely happy.
No commen sense is rare in general an test is a gripping apple fanboy. Apple customers =suckas
Gal, B- on spelling and a D on content.
I have been a loyal Blackberry user for 3.5 years. I have been using mac laptops for 12 years. I like both, they both make good products its not a either or type of thing. Like most things in life people try to make everything a black and white choice when you can like both and enjoy both. Sorry, no Gal.
iPhonies are so stupid it is almost unbelieveable! Hey morons, he took $100 of your money even after he gave you $100 back! And you’re all falling over yourselves bragging how great this is. LOLOLOL! No wonder you fools picked the iPhone! You can’t wait to get taken and can’t even recognize it when you are!
iPhonies are so stupid it is almost unbelievable! Hey morons, he took $100 of your money even after he gave you $100 back! And you’re all falling over yourselves bragging how great this is. ROTFL! No wonder you fools picked the iPhone! You can’t wait to get taken and can’t even recognize it when you are!
First of all most early adopters expect the price too drop… The issue is the 2 month duration. This is unusually short for something like this. Kudos to apple In doing something.
If apple ever thinks about dropping the price on something again for its customer’s…they will think twice and keep the price high. “They got pissed the last time I dropped the price, let them eat cake!!!”
jeff hit the nail on the head… even pc components prices last longer… but who cares… halo3 will be out sept 25th
Ok… Ok.. So, you get a $100 bait for Apple store? What can you get there for $100? And what about the second $100? First their phone does not sell well, then they have a PR disaster. They had no choice, and even then they merely gave you a bate. Nice one Apple! Very clever.
@JJLO
> “They got pissed the last time I dropped the price, let them eat cake!!!”
They didn’t drop the price because they wanted to or because they just could. No. Apple is not a charity and they will not cannibalize their profit margins all for nothing. They dropped it because they want to reach certain milestone and the product was just not selling well enough. Cost reduction and volume? Right. That’s what they want you to think. We’re so nice. We’re passing savings onto consumer. Bullsh*t.
I pity the fool who thinks apples gonna give them a good deal an give them back $100. They are still suckas.