AT&T now limiting iPhone sales to one, requiring credit card

[AppleInsider]

AT&T in an internal memo to its retail department on Wednesday instated a couple of new policies regarding sales of Apple Inc.'s increasingly hard-to-find iPhone, primarily that customers are allowed to purchase only one of the handsets until further notice.

"Effective May 14, 2008, customers can only purchase one iPhone at AT&T stores," reads a copy of the memo obtained by AppleInsider. "The prior limit of three iPhones is no longer in effect."

The exclusive US iPhone carrier said all requests to purchase more than one of the touch-screen handsets must be approved by a director or general manager, adding that cash and checks will no longer be accepted.

"Customers may only use credit or debit cards to purchase their iPhone," the memo says.

The move comes amongst a growing shortage of the handset worldwide, as Apple is believed to have ramped down or ceased production of the current 8 and 16GB models ahead of a new version that will run on so-called 3G networks.

Over the weekend, both of Apple's online stores in the US and UK stopped accepting new iPhone orders. Availability of the device overseas has faired littler better, with UK wireless partner O2 having run dry of its supply last week only to return bearing just the high end model.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[SCOLLAND]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

and added that cash and credit cards will no longer be accepted.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

I think that's a typo, should be cash and checks.

[Cubert]

Simply amazing that they won't accept cash. I understand checks, but cash?!?!? U.S. currency is no longer an acceptable payment method?

Absolute crap!!!

[Eduardo]

As an aside-I can still make out the lettering that was suppossed to be blurred.

[Eduardo]

Originally Posted by Cubert

Simply amazing that they won't accept cash. I understand checks, but cash?!?!? U.S. currency is no longer an acceptable payment method?

Absolute crap!!!

Another sign of our weakened economy and weak U.S. Dollar!

[ktappe]

Translation:
"Uh oh, we ran out of iPhones earlier than we thought we would. Can't move the release of the new one up--Steve's got his WWDC keynote all worked out already. The dog & pony show must go on. What can we do? Oh! We can limit customers to one phone apiece. After all, we've got all those people rushing in to buy 17 at a time...."

[SpamSandwich]

Jeez, no wonder the stock just got hammered. Bad move, boys.

[Dogcow]

Originally Posted by Cubert

Simply amazing that they won't accept cash. I understand checks, but cash?!?!? U.S. currency is no longer an acceptable payment method?

Absolute crap!!!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/27/a...em-to-two-per/

Apple was not accepting cash for a while, now AT&T is not. Apple also limited people to two iPhones. Nothing really new.

[wilco]

What does this have to do with homosexuals?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by wilco

What does this have to do with homosexuals?

Yes, even gay customers are upset about this.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by Cubert

Simply amazing that they won't accept cash. I understand checks, but cash?!?!? U.S. currency is no longer an acceptable payment method?

Absolute crap!!!

As noted, Apple was doing this, but they had a limit of two and not one.

How many people in the US carry $400+ in cash around?

In this case, I think AT&T is trying to restrict sales so they don't all just go overseas. Their interest in the iPhone is to sell subscriptions, not just phones.

[sausage&Onion]

hey guys, you need to help these people blur their photos a bit better. I could clearly read the "to:" category. Give that a whirl before someone who cares sees it.

[JiveTurkey]

Originally Posted by sausage&Onion

hey guys, you need to help these people blur their photos a bit better. I could clearly read the "to:" category. Give that a whirl before someone who cares sees it.

Some region just got fired.

[jawporta]

It is strange, it may have to do with the combination of TRUST, people tend to steel cash, INFORMATION, when you use a CC they have your info which is great for their marketing department and finally the CC make more money, so maybe they give back to big companies now instead of charging them. Who knows, I'm sure it has to do with making more money.

Originally Posted by Eduardo

Another sign of our weakened economy and weak U.S. Dollar!

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by sausage&Onion

hey guys, you need to help these people blur their photos a bit better. I could clearly read the "to:" category. Give that a whirl before someone who cares sees it.

Wow. Back when it was blurred, I couldn't make out crap.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

How many people in the US carry $400+ around?

I remember a figure of $300 as being the average amount a person carries around with them.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

I remember a figure of $300 as being the average amount a person carries around with them.

The only number I could find is $75, in 1995.

http://www.walletpop.com/2008/05/12/...han-you-think/

I did find a lot of economics discussions elsewhere on how much someone should carry, some of it there, but the discussion takes some big assumptions. It seems like a moot discussion, the time spent doing a cash transaction vs. just using a debit card for same seems nearly negligible to me. The time to count currency seems to be about equal to or more than the time it takes look at a piece of ID, swipe the card, and handle a single piece of paper and sign it. I think I've gone to an ATM about four times in my life.

[Flounder]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Jeez, no wonder the stock just got hammered. Bad move, boys.

The NASDAQ was flat (up .1%) and apple wound up down 1.95%. Not a good day, certainly, but I'm not sure "hammered" is the best adjective.

The drop did occur at the end of the day, so it seems probable this policy did at least contribute to the drop.

[saminsocks]

Originally Posted by Cubert

Simply amazing that they won't accept cash. I understand checks, but cash?!?!? U.S. currency is no longer an acceptable payment method?

Absolute crap!!!

The CC only may be to prevent people from bypassing the system and getting more than one. Although the phone should be tied in with an account, I'm sure someone would figure out a way to work around that, maybe by opening up a pay as you go account. With a CC it's easier to track and tell whether or not someone has already bought one. That's my guess, anyway.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

I remember a figure of $300 as being the average amount a person carries around with them.

Seems QUITE high.

[anantksundaram]

So, what is the general take on: (1) Whether any/all of 8, 16, and 32GB models will be available in 3G; and (2) the likely price of each?

(My family is thinking of what an appropriately-sized Apple gift card would be, for Fathers' Day! )

[David Stevenson]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

How many people in the US carry $400+ in cash around?

Probably everyone who walks into an Apple or AT&T store with the intent of shipping/carrying an iPhone outside of the USofA.

[desarc]

if you're buying an iPhone right now, you're a fool.
the price [in the US] hasn't come down, and we all know an update is just around the corner.

LET them buy old tech.
let the channel run dry.
after it sells out:
tell them to come back in a month for a better iPhone.
boast about how huge day one sales were.


ohh, and i upgraded to 16gb in march because my 8gb was stolen.
both ATT and apple are absolutely no help in locating a stolen iPhone.
you'd think they'd want to help their customers-
nope, they want you purchasing more more more.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

So, what is the general take on: (1) Whether any/all of 8, 16, and 32GB models will be available in 3G; and (2) the likely price of each?

(My family is thinking of what an appropriately-sized Apple gift card would be, for Fathers' Day! )

What difference does the general take make? The general consensus has nothing to do with what Apple eventually does...

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by cameronj

What difference does the general take make? The general consensus has nothing to do with what Apple eventually does...

1) I would not have asked the question if it not make a difference to me - the fact that it does not to you makes no difference to me.

2) I'd say that many folks here have made some pretty darn good calls on capacities and price points of various Apple devices (iPods, laptops) during the time that I've been reading this forum. They are far too many for me to browse to give you links.

[David Stevenson]

Originally Posted by wilco

What does this have to do with homosexuals?

Since COO Tim Cook is gay and the supply buck stops with him, the iPhone shortage is obviously part of the "Gay Agenda."

[billin]

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know what Apple's current policy is about paying for an iPhone with gift cards? I just got a bunch of Apple gift cards for my birthday to aid in my purchase of an iPhone in June, but then I started seeing older articles about how Apple was refusing gift cards as payment for iPhones. Confusing the matter further was this link: http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/97327 which says you can use gift cards, but you have to put at least $20 of the iPhone purchase cost on a credit card.

What's the story nowadays - anyone know?

[jbh0001]

Originally Posted by Cubert

Simply amazing that they won't accept cash. I understand checks, but cash?!?!? U.S. currency is no longer an acceptable payment method?

Absolute crap!!!

Checks can bounce, and cash transactions are difficult to audit. Welcome to the 21st century, and chill out.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

1) I would not have asked the question if it not make a difference to me - the fact that it does not to you makes no difference to me.

2) I'd say that many folks here have made some pretty darn good calls on capacities and price points of various Apple devices (iPods, laptops) during the time that I've been reading this forum. They are far too many for me to browse to give you links.

The general consensus on a forum like this is going to be an average of all the rumors that have floated around, weighted by the perceived likelihood of those rumors. That perception is fed by the desire of fans who want to buy the best product they can imagine for a price so low Soviets in the USSR would blush.

None of the pricing information has ever been made public, even in rumor form, nor has the information about the capacity options. Any opinions you get are just going to be guesses... but whatever.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Flounder

The NASDAQ was flat (up .1%) and apple wound up down 1.95%. Not a good day, certainly, but I'm not sure "hammered" is the best adjective.

The drop did occur at the end of the day, so it seems probable this policy did at least contribute to the drop.

How about: Apple's stock 'floundered'.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by jbh0001

Checks can bounce, and cash transactions are difficult to audit. Welcome to the 21st century, and chill out.

Besides those reasons, it's part of the Anti-Christ's super new plan.

[probably]

Originally Posted by Flounder

The NASDAQ was flat (up .1%) and apple wound up down 1.95%. Not a good day, certainly, but I'm not sure "hammered" is the best adjective.

The drop did occur at the end of the day, so it seems probable this policy did at least contribute to the drop.

It was an eerily low-volume day and the 2% drop was really contained in the last half hour of the day, so it seems probable that some large holdings were shuffled.

You'd think Apple Stores switching to credit-only for the first iPhone unleash would have had a slightly more significant effect - but that phased no one.

[NasserAE]

Since online Apple store is out of iPhone and unlike AT&T stores Apple stores are not available everywhere, AT&T is trying to make the most of the current model to make sure that people actually use them with AT&T and not shipping them overseas. That is my guess.

[Flounder]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

How about: Apple's stock 'floundered'.

Indeed, I dare say that's a far more appropriate.

[BuzDots]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

"Customers may only use credit or debit cards to purchase their iPhone," the memo says.

Now I don't believe in stupid lawsuits, but here is one legal action that need to be undertaken.

It may and should be Constitutionally unlawful for anyone conducting business in the United States to refuse the "...LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE"

All this crap about cash transactions being difficult to audit, the dollar being weak, and how much cash some one should carry is completely friggin irrelevant.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by BuzDots

Now I don't believe in stupid lawsuits, but here is one legal action that need to be undertaken.

It may and should be Constitutionally unlawful for anyone conducting business in the United States to refuse the "...LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE"

An iPhone purchase is not a debt. Go try to buy a car using legal pennies and let me know how it works out.

[Galley]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

I remember a figure of $300 as being the average amount a person carries around with them.

Huh? I rarely carry more than $20. The only thing I use cash for is the vending machines at work and concessions at the ballgame.

[BuzDots]

Originally Posted by cameronj

An iPhone purchase is not a debt. Go try to buy a car using legal pennies and let me know how it works out.

Well, not a real good analogy.....
but, I bet if I walk in to ANY car dealership with 50,000 rolls of pennies (a mere $25,000.00) they will be damn glad to carry them to the bank!

All items become debts at the time you try to walk out of the store without paying for them.

[Footloose301]

Did you guys not realize that the ENTIRE reason AT&T is ONLY collecting credit and debit cards on the iPhone (Not any other phone), has NOTHING to do with the american dollar. It has everything to do with return policies. It is MUCH EASIER for them to give you $400 back on your card, than to have that much cash on hand when everybody returns their iPhones the day that the iPhone2 comes out. Imagine having 20 customers at each AT&T store wanting their $400 in CASH back! So thats why they are only taking credit and debit for the iPhone. Notice it is ONLY on the iPhone. You can still buy any other phone in cash.

Whats AT&T's return policy? That will give you an estimate as to when iPhone2 will be out. Not that it wasn't obvious enough already.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by Galley

Huh? I rarely carry more than $20. The only thing I use cash for is the vending machines at work and concessions at the ballgame.

You can find concessions at a ballgame for $20? Ah, you must mean little league.....