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post #81 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:23am
Jobs is exactly right. I am an avid Apple fan, I own a large amount of their common stock, and many Macintosh computers, iPods, and of course an iPhone. I knew I was taking a risk in buying any first generation Apple Product. It could have been a complete dud. It is not though.

Prices of technology fall, dramatically sometimes. I think the company saw that the pricing structure was just too high to hit its targets. Oh, well. I paid too much money for an I item I still enjoy. As an economist, I understand that I would still be willing and able to purchase and iPhone at the $599 price point, if it were still at that price. All Apple has done was "create" a larger consumer surplus for many people including myself. So, when I purchase my next iPhone I will see it as more of a bargain. Some people have been complaining that their iPhone has depreciated by $50 per week since launch. This is correct; but do you get less satisfaction from knowing that the price is now lower? Do you like your iPhone less? Well if you do, then sell it. Remember the $599 price is a sunk cost and should not be influential in future decisions. Basically what I am saying is get over it! It is just money.
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post #82 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackSummerNight View Post

Bullshit. If you purchased the Razor phone out of contract, it was still $399.

The Blackberry Perl has been out for a while and the BB Pearl2 is about to be released.

Go check the prices of the high end phone at Cingular, and you'll see that darn near all the smartphones still cost %100 of their release date price without a contract.

I'm not sure what your point is.

You are ostensibly buying the iPhone 'under contract', whether you buy it from AT&T or an Apple Store, as it is only usable on the AT&T network. As such, the price drop is not comparable to buying a Razr (or another smartphone) out of contract.
"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so." - Bertrand Russell
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"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so." - Bertrand Russell
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post #83 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:31am
I bought two phones on launch day. The iPhone is one of the best electronic devices I have ever owned. I do not regret my purchase.

I do have one request though.

I would like a bronze plaque emblazzoned with all the names of iPhone buyers prior to Sept. 5, 2007 and posted at each of Apples retail stores.

Here is how it would read:

"To all our loyal customers, we at Apple would like to thank all of the individuals below for your purchase of the iPhone prior to 09/05/2007. You all "took one for the team". And for this, we are grateful.
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post #84 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:37am
People foget that the iPhone specs and price were determined 6 months before launch (due to the requirement for licensing). Its perfectly reasonable to suppose that component and manufacturing costs have dropped significantly since then.


Apple are going to sell a shitload of them in Europe with the lower price. Wayhey!
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post #85 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pt123 View Post

I think Apple's initial price was set for the fanboys that would pay through the nose. Once those people paid, the $399 price was adjusted to target the next category of consumers. Apple cares about their customers but they care about their income statement a little more. Apple knows the fanboys will complain but they will spend when the next great product comes along.

Well said. 100% correct.

I think Apple is going to sell a bunch at this price. I came into the office this morning to discover that 2 colleagues along with their spouses had purchased iPhones last night. I was very happy for them and Apple. I cheerfully showed them the little intricacies of the UI that I love so much to demo.

I really don't mind at all that Apple lowered the price, I think it's great. But that's just me, apparently some people are just wired a little differently.

There are a couple of interesting and relevant Bible verses starting at Matthew 20:1 which clearly shows that human nature hasn't changed any in 2000+ years. Good read. I'm not saying that you should read the Bible, but this particular set of verses is a really funny in light of all the recent iPhone complaints.

m

Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

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Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

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post #86 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:40am
Early iPhone adopters need to get over it. Ok, I pulled the trigger yesterday on a 16gb iPod Touch: I know that, at any time, Apple could very easily come out with one having a high capacity HD (just to appease those that are crying fo one right now). They could release that high capacity between the time I receive mine and xmas and cash in on it big time. Will I scream and yell foul? No! Will I feel cheated? No!

Why not? Because it was MY decision to be an early adopter KNOWING that Apple could very easily trump my new toy with an even better one....even within a couple of months of my purchase. It IS the nature of business just as Stevie says.
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post #87 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:42am
Poll needs one more option:

"I live in Canada, can't even get the damn phone even though it would work fine here, and think anyone who got to buy one the day it came out should suck it up."

Or, as John Gruber put it, "if you didnt think the iPhone was worth $599, you shouldnt have bought it. Thats how supply and demand works."
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post #88 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdkennedy1 View Post

I think almost 1 million people learned a valuable lesson about impulse buying.

Not at all. A lot of us were grownups and knew the situation going in (Apparently not all of us, though, judging from AppleInsider's poll results). We knew prices would drop, and we knew later models would add features. Well, one of those two things just happened. Fine. Who DIDN'T think the price would drop with the initial rush was over? I hope Apple sells a trillion of these things. I'm not in competition with anybody else, and it doesn't hurt me that you might be able to buy something cheaper today than I did 2 months ago. I got to have my iPhone from the beginning, and I'm delighted with it. That's my compensation. Frankly, I'd have preferred a price drop to something like introducing an 80GB iPhone at the old price. Now THAT might have hurt!
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post #89 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:44am
People need to get over it. Cell phone price drop fast. I have bought phones for $200 which drop to $-50 after rebate (yes, they pay you) in a couple of short months.

I won't be surprised if iPhone end up $100 in one year, and $0 or negative in two years.
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post #90 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by msantti View Post

I would like a bronze plaque emblazzoned with all the names of iPhone buyers prior to Sept. 5, 2007 and posted at each of Apples retail stores.

Here is how it would read:

"To all our loyal customers, we at Apple would like to thank all of the individuals below for your purchase of the iPhone prior to 09/05/2007. You all "took one for the team". And for this, we are grateful.

LOL. Seriously, though, I bought an iPhone on day 5 or so. I didn't "take one for the team." I did it for myself, and I have no regrets.
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post #91 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:49am
Sorry kids, but I have to agree. This is why I don't buy new Mac products the day they come out. I dig Mac & all the Apple wares and I like to get my grubby paws on all the new goodies...just not on Day One.

Anyone following Apple for more than a month knows that they drop their prices in the months following a new launch. Always have.

I feel bad for the early iPhone adopters...I wanted one, too. But, this is exactly why I waited. You can't be surprised the price fell before the Holiday season.
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post #92 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:50am
I'm not sure what your point it. Cingular is subsidizing the other smartphones not the makers. So comparing it to other smartphones out of contract is correct. You DO NOT have to sign a new contract to get the iPhone at it's current price.
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiopollution View Post

I'm not sure what your point is.

You are ostensibly buying the iPhone 'under contract', whether you buy it from AT&T or an Apple Store, as it is only usable on the AT&T network. As such, the price drop is not comparable to buying a Razr (or another smartphone) out of contract.

Not that I care, but people are acting like this is so common for a ~33% price drop in 3 months.
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post #93 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by socokid View Post

You trusted Apple to set the price for you? What happened to personal responsibility? Holy bejeezus batman!

To all that are angry about this... You agreed to purchase the iPhone for the price it was listed at at time of purchse. By handing them the money you agreed that it was a price you were willing to pay, at that time, for that device. End of freaking story. If you thought the price was too high, or couldn't afford it, then you shouldn't have purchased one. This is very simple.

You are all pissed off that others now can buy the same phone for a cheaper price. Get over your jealousy, and live with the fact that you agreed to the price as it was previously when you purchased it. My god you all sound like a whiny 4 year olds.

Grow up and get over it. You shouldn't have handed them the money if you didn't think it was worth it. Period. Whatever happens to the price in the future is completely inconsequential.

Example: if they hadn't dropped the price so that others can now afford it, you would be just fine, not angry?! That makes absolutely no sense at all. It's called jealousy, and it's a bad thing.

Dropping the price $200 after 10 weeks wasn't decided yesterday.

They obviously took advantage of the goodwill I had toward their company by overinflating their price at launch. I'm not bitching, I am merely stating that I will never show them any goodwill again, and will no longer be making any unneccasary purchases from them ever again.

Losing out on any further business from me, and any future iTunes purchases I might have made, is also the "tough luck of technology."
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post #94 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:52am
Hey iPhone early buyers!

I have bought many Mac computers over the years. I remember in the '80s I bought a Mac Lisa for $5000 in 1980 dollars. Within a few months they even dropped support on it and it was TOTALLY worthless.

I still buy MACS and will forever because I like the wonderful technology efforts the boys up there in Coopertino put into the products.

I look forward to them lowering the price of high end Pro desktops so I can sell my G5 dual 2.5ghz. I may even pop for a iPhone someday too.

Hail Jobs!!
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post #95 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MAC4U View Post

Steve's responce is compleat is wrong in so may ways and to those who say they saw it coming; show me one thread on this or any other news or fan site that talk about a $200 price drop within 60 days of launch day.

No other device in recent history has seen such a deep price reduction this quickly. Not the Razor, PSP, or xBox Unfortunate reality of the cut-throat technology world BS!


This is a classic case of price gauging.

Did Apple's cost to make the iPhone suddenly drop? No.

Did Apple drop the price to increase sales? No.

At nearly 1 million sold in two months, the iPhone is quickly on its way to becoming the best selling smart phone in history.Or maybe not, because now Apple has about 1 million pissed off customers who feel like theyve been ripped off.

The reality I see is how cut-throat Apple can be in dealing with its loyal customers.

So pleased to see you have such strong OPINIONS.

Would be nice if you actually had ANY FACTS.
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post #96 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:54am
I'm trying to think of it as costing me $3 a day for the months of July and August to own my Iphone, when put that way, it is a bit easier to stomach. I spend more than that a day on red bull and cigarettes. I still have my Iphone to show for it!
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post #97 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac~N~Cheese View Post

Anyone following Apple for more than a month knows that they drop their prices in the months following a new launch. Always have. You can't be surprised the price fell before the Holiday season.

They usually upgrade the product at the same price. They do not have a history of knocking 33% off the price of an item 10 weeks after launch.

Calling Spetember 5th the holiday season is also a stretch.

I've never bought any new product in this price range that suddenly magically becomes 33% less in value after 2 months.
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post #98 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:57am
It's supply and demand, folks. Supply and demand.

Apple knew how many iPhones they'd have opening weekend and then estimated how many people would want to buy one that weekend. They priced the phones accordingly to keep demand as far DOWN as possible.

Imagine the demand if these suckers were $399 on June 29.

I do think they should have introduced a 16GB version for $599 Wednesday. That might have lessened the sting a bit.
Living life in glorious 4G HD (with a 2GB data cap).
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Living life in glorious 4G HD (with a 2GB data cap).
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post #99 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdkennedy1 View Post

I think almost 1 million people learned a valuable lesson about impulse buying.

Okay, I don't think it's fair to call everyone who bought this phone an "impulse" buyer. Remember, the Apple faithful had been waiting for this phone. It was going to be the BEST phone ever. That's why I bought it; not on impulse. And aside from a few shortcomings that I can live with, this is the best phone I have ever used and owned. I actually like to carry my phone with me now.
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post #100 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by onceuponamac View Post

So if the group that paid $499 or $599 is really upset why not act together to show apple our frustration. Assuming we had the discipline we could not purchase any new apple products for 12 18 months. Presumably, the 300,000 or so of us that acquired iPhones and arent within the window to obtain a refund are mostly early adopters Im the owner of a variety of mac products including a g5 iMac, intel core duo imac, core2duo 17 macbook pro, many airport expresses, several airport extremes, a mac mini, each generation of ipod (including a nano and a shuffle), several apple TVs and, of course, an iphone. If we exercise our power as a group we might get more respect from Apple. Think about it this way there must be a lawyer among us shouldnt there be a legal argument under a construct of bad faith that apple and ATT violated their commitments and promises to us by not introducing promised upgrades (based on public statements by Apple and ATT to be distributed shortly after the introduction of the iPhone) hence, allowing us to void our contracts with ATT with no further obligation for a contract breakage fee? Apple has demonstrated by its price decrease today that the period to meet commitments is something less than 3 months it hasnt provided any meaningful upgrades that dont require a separate purchase (new iLife). Probably a smart lawyer among us could develop a legal basis for canceling our contracts with ATT even without Apple and ATTs failure to meet their promises of service and device upgrades, given we paid in full for our devices and received no other meaningful consideration from ATT in exchange for entering into our contracts. If 300,000 (or even 170,000 of us) cancel our ATT contracts and acquire the hack to use the devices on other networks we would demonstrate the organized power of the consumer and gain some attention given the lost revenue to ATT and Apple would be a multiple of the contract commitments that they failed to meet their commitments on. Of course, our nature as early adopters, suggests the discipline to punish Apple for a year or more is difficult but as a group we have substantial purchasing power simply aggregate our ATT contract commitments for two years times some number between 170k and 300k. My own view (which is that of a layman, but close follower of Apples product developments) is that Apple has over diversified its line up of ipods I doubt the hard disk ipod will garner much in new sales the iTouch may sell but not if they introduce a 3G iPhone in the next 60 days. My own experience is that I use the extended features of the iPhone when Im within distance of a wifi connection but dont use them on the GSM network because its painfully slow Ill be much more upfront about this with other potential consumers given Apples act of bad faith yesterday.


Or you could learn to use paragraphs...
Progress is a comfortable disease
--e.e.c.
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--e.e.c.
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post #101 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:59am
There are ways to get some of your money back if you've had it over the 14 days and under a month. LOL@the saps that bought the 4G models. hehehe. I wonder did they have this planned, seems odd for cingular to only offer 14 days to check out the phone, when all other phones get a 30 tryout time frame.
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post #102 of 167
9/6/07 at 11:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelf Life View Post

Dropping the price $200 after 10 weeks wasn't decided yesterday.

They obviously took advantage of the goodwill I had toward their company by overinflating their price at launch. I'm not bitching, I am merely stating that I will never show them any goodwill again, and will no longer be making any unneccasary purchases from them ever again.

Goodwill? You people sound like your iPhones were taken from you and you have nothing to show for your $600 spent. \
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post #103 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:01pm
I remember when I was a kid, and I my mom was on the phone, cooking, and doing the dishes all at the same time. She had the audacity (or so I perceived it at the time) to ask my eight year-old self to help with the dishes. I threw a fit, and didn't do them. She tried to explain how busy she was with everything, but I was too stubborn. She was cooking my food, and washing my dirty juice cups, yet I was too self-absorbed to understand. It was all about me. Me, me, me.

I believe this situation echoes my past, and the immaturity in a lot of apple customers. I have difficulty understanding why customers believe they were victims of price gauging, when we knew 3 days prior to the launch that Apple's iPhone manufacturing costs were at least rumored around $260 (US). I am confused as to those who claim that some magnanimous purchase from Apple reflected their good-will to bring a company up in sales. Was it really for Apple, or was it all for you? You, you, you?

Can we at least be honest here? In my opinion, early adopters are disgruntled that other, less hard-core customers got a better deal. This behavior is a product of the last couple of hundred of years of culture. It's not that complex. Or maybe it is, maybe that's why no one can calm down this crowd.

The iPhone price drop is an unfortunate, but expected matter with any highly anticipated product launch. I think as "fanboys" we should realize that apple always releases new products, and its going to anger those purchased the older ones 15 days prior. Apple always stirs up some spirit (good and bad) with every product launch. In the end, it comes down to business. And I truly believe Apple ends up stirring more good vibes than bad. Can you honestly say you will never purchase from Apple again?

It really boils down to maturity, if you poured your savings into buying an iPhone and then the deposit for the service plan, then its an issue of poor judgement. Of course you're going to be frustrated by such a large price drop! You probably stress about money on a daily basis to make you feel this way.

The best way to get over it is to think and remember the first time you opened your iPhone. How happy did it make you feel to plug it into your computer, and see it activate for the first time? How good did it make you feel to see comrades wet their pants at the pure sight of your amazing phone?

It felted damned good for me. I couldn't put a price on it.
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post #104 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmoNut View Post

It's supply and demand, folks. Supply and demand.

Apple knew how many iPhones they'd have opening weekend and then estimated how many people would want to buy one that weekend. They priced the phones accordingly to keep demand as far DOWN as possible.

Imagine the demand if these suckers were $399 on June 29.

I do think they should have introduced a 16GB version for $599 Wednesday. That might have lessened the sting a bit.


You are right. Apple could not have waited for more supply before the launch. Makes sense to not want demand.
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post #105 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackSummerNight View Post

I'm not sure what your point it. Cingular is subsidizing the other smartphones not the makers. So comparing it to other smartphones out of contract is correct. You DO NOT have to sign a new contract to get the iPhone at it's current price.

Your iPhone, as purchased at an Apple Store, is useless unless activated.

Guess how you activate it? With AT&T. On a new 2-year contract (or pay-as-you-go, if not credit-worthy or not a fan of 2-year contracts).

Either way, $399 is a subsidized price. Apple are kicked back from AT&T a percentage of monthly billing (which percentage varies depending on which report you read). Lowering the price to $399 will increase the residual payments to Apple, by sheer volume of new customers, while reducing their initial profit from the sale of the phone.

From the AT&T website:

Quote:
Q. How much does iPhone cost?

A. There are currently two versions of iPhone available. $299 for the 4GB model (while supplies last) and $399 for the 8GB model. Both prices require a 2-year service agreement.

If you are a current customer, you still need to 're-up' for the 2-year term.
"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so." - Bertrand Russell
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"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so." - Bertrand Russell
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post #106 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:05pm
Jeezus - what a bunch of whining craybaby pussies these guys must be !

At least you can frikkin' buy a frakkin' iPhone in your country. I'd happily pay $599 one, even now.

These people are just making you American's look like spoilt children. Get over it. The #1 rule of technology purchasing - what you buy today will be cheaper and better tomorrow.

Why don't you try living over here, where every Apple product is 10-20% more expensive than what you pay (and Adobe products 100% ) ?
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post #107 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by freeny View Post

True, but on what grounds?

Hurt feelings?
"you will know the truth, and the truth will
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"you will know the truth, and the truth will
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post #108 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:09pm
Oh - and a quick lesson in economics. It's called 'supply and demand' - if the demand is high, you raise the price to control the demand (and to make as much profit as the market can bear)

If Apple had NOT charge $599 for the iPhone and could have done, they would have had an even more irate, and more justified, group of people baying for blood - their shareholders.
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post #109 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:09pm
Well Jobs has been corrected... by Jobs.

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/openiphoneletter/


$100 apple store credit...
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post #110 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelf Life View Post

Dropping the price $200 after 10 weeks wasn't decided yesterday.

They obviously took advantage of the goodwill I had toward their company by overinflating their price at launch. I'm not bitching, I am merely stating that I will never show them any goodwill again, and will no longer be making any unneccasary purchases from them ever again.

Losing out on any further business from me, and any future iTunes purchases I might have made, is also the "tough luck of technology."

As above - OPINIONs are nice FACTS are better.

Do you have any? (FACTs that is)
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post #111 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:09pm
The totally funny thing is that if Apple had raised the price by $50 or $100 due to the popularity of the iPhone, all of you early adopters would have been braggin' your asses off about how smart you were to stand in line.

I don't understand your logic that you were abused by the price cut, because you weighed the total value of the iPhone before you paid for it, and willingly plopped down your $600. But you knew (or should have) that Cingular could have reduced service in your area the very next day, leaving you with nothing. Or a fatal flaw in Apple's marketing plan might have caused the phones to become extinct in less than a year (leaving you with a $600 iPod Touch+).

But the iPhone you bought is still yours, you're still getting to use it. It's not like they changed carriers, and now your phone doesn't work. So, better luck next time. After all, it's 200 bucks. If that's a really big deal to you, maybe you shouldn't be out buying a $600 cell phone. (Gee, if you had bought $600 of APPL stock instead of an iPhone that day, you wouldn't be crying about the price cut today, would you?)

I don't understand the surprise at the rapid price change, either. These people must either walk everywhere you go or completely rely on public transportation. People who drive cars and buy fuel face these kinds of price swings every day. I don't know how many times I've seen gas fluctuate by 12% - 20% OVERNIGHT (usually right after I fill up only to see it 25% cheaper at the next exit). I can easily lose $200 in two months by not watching and timing where and when I buy gas. It's all speculation.

Another example: I buy CoffeeMate(R) creamer regularly. The small grocery store down the street from my office charges me $2.75 for a bottle, but the big one closer to home always has it for $2.35. But frequently another store has it at 3 jugs for $5 at the same time I'm paying $2.75 apiece just for proximity convenience.

I guess I should write hate letters, and try to convince people to boycott the small store. Or maybe I could just learn to do without creamer & drink coffee black while I wait for CoffeeMate to go on sale. Ask your girlfriend... timing is everything. (She's the one who likely pays $200 to get her hair done, even though she knows it's gonna grow out in a month.)
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post #112 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrjoec123 View Post


Knowing what I now know about the price drop, if I could go back in time I still wouldn't wait ten weeks to buy an iPhone. I'm guessing most other iPhone users would say the same thing.

$200 is a night or two out at a nice restaurant. I'll take ten weeks of iPhone ownership over that any day of the week.

Oh really?! Well, how about I rent my iPhone to you for $100 a month? How about that since you think it's such a bargain.

Price drops were expected, but not just two months after a brand new product intro. This is almost unheard for a product like the iPhone. For most people, $200 is a lot of money, it certainly is for me. I bought my iPhone on the first day but held it unopened for almost two weeks trying to decide if I was really going to be an early adopter. I finally succumbed to the allure of the iPhone but I figured I'd have at least 5 or 6 months of use before being taunted by Apple with an upgraded version or a cheaper price. Had I known anything like this was possible from Apple (which is masterful at squeezing the last possible dollar from the tech that they sell) there is no way in hell I would have purchased the phone. It's fine that Apple has reduced the price of the phone in such a short time, but it's not okay to just shaft those people who just purchased the device.

Job's statement to the effect that this is the way the tech world works and no consideration is to be paid to initial customers is complete B.S. That's like saying that since we live in an imperfect world, Apple shouldn't be upset at the theft and vandalism they endure at their stores.

This situation is not analogous to buying a Mac or any other established line of electronics that Apple sells. This is a brand new market segment for Apple...their proposed treatment of their early supporters is shameful.

Given the two year contract we are tied to with AT&T a simple and cheap way out of this problem would be for Apple to credit our wireless accounts with the price difference we paid for the phones (or close to it).

Geesh! I'm steamed.
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post #113 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bacillus View Post

We are the few, the proud, the iFools. Its not the money, its the idea that we iPhone early adopters were played like a fiddle; like lemmings we were.

[CENTER][/CENTER]

Well... I *did* have the opportunity -- for the first time EVER -- to go to Europe and have a drool-inspiring piece of mobile technology that wasn't yet available there.

Before the iPhone, the situation had been exactly opposite.

Besides, an argument can certainly be made that *all* early adopters of *anything* are essentially lemmings.
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post #114 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by audiopollution View Post

Your iPhone, as purchased at an Apple Store, is useless unless activated.

Guess how you activate it? With AT&T. On a new 2-year contract (or pay-as-you-go, if not credit-worthy or not a fan of 2-year contracts).

Either way, $399 is a subsidized price. Apple are kicked back from AT&T a percentage of monthly billing (which percentage varies depending on which report you read). Lowering the price to $399 will increase the residual payments to Apple, by sheer volume of new customers, while reducing their initial profit from the sale of the phone.

From the AT&T website:



If you are a current customer, you still need to 're-up' for the 2-year term.

That's my problem. I would never buy anything form ATT. I remember how they gouged us on our landline phone costs when they were in total control of our nations phone system before the breakup. They suck! You would think they would help the process by doing a iPhone all inclusive plan and undercut other carriers for the service by 20 bucks a month to get the market share but Nooooo. They go by American profit standards which rip consumers. Apple/Jobs understands this an is hedging by cannibalizing the touch-screen for ipods and expanding his music download base. I think it's brilliant!!!
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post #115 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:12pm
Zanshin, Blurp., Promethias, Timeline...

try READING the posts ahead of yours before you complain more.

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/openiphoneletter/
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post #116 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by desarc View Post

Well Jobs has been corrected... by Jobs.

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/openiphoneletter/


$100 apple store credit...

<waits for annoying chorus of whining to begin about the 'other' $100>
"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so." - Bertrand Russell
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"Many people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so." - Bertrand Russell
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post #117 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:14pm
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
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post #118 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shelf Life View Post

Dropping the price $200 after 10 weeks wasn't decided yesterday.

They obviously took advantage of the goodwill I had toward their company by overinflating their price at launch. I'm not bitching, I am merely stating that I will never show them any goodwill again, and will no longer be making any unneccasary purchases from them ever again.

Losing out on any further business from me, and any future iTunes purchases I might have made, is also the "tough luck of technology."

"Unneccasary" - I assume by this you mean "as long as you can control your impulses."
"you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free."
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"you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free."
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post #119 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bageljoey View Post

Or you could learn to use paragraphs...


why are people in the blogosphere so paragraph centric...

if we don't do something active to evidince our collective irritation we are sheep... soon to be apple's shearling coats (i.e., not just shaved, but slaughtered and worn).
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post #120 of 167
9/6/07 at 12:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cory Bauer View Post

Goodwill? You people sound like your iPhones were taken from you and you have nothing to show for your $600 spent. \

How exactly do I sound like that?

I sound like I resent the obvious price-gouging, and I'm merely stating that I will no longer be spending any money at Apple that isn't completely necessary.

33% of $599 plus tax is a lot of money for such a quick "adjustment" in 10 weeks.

I love the iPhone, I'm not in love with the company making me feel gouged.

I'm also not in love with spending a lot of money on a product and getting "you got burned you fool" taunts as a result. Thanks, Apple.
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