Nothing wrong with the phone - it's last years 5 in a cost effective case. The pastel colors aren't to my personal taste but ... tastes differ, and I can believe others will like it.
What's wrong is it's overpriced. Not massively so. But it's just too near the 5S, I'm not surprised we're already seeing discounts.
That's the price the iPhone 5 would have been had they not removed it and that model has worked out amazing well for Apple. Sure, the case is a little cheaper but it also adds some new HW and features the previous stepping didn't have. Considering that most of the "high-end" Android phones also have plastic cases and cost more than the 5C I'm not that's going to be hurt Apple's sales if selling the previous two years of iPhone as-is didn't hurt sales.
I would not be surprised if demand for IPhone 5C will drop. I know there are the initial lines, etc. but when the dust settles, I don't think the 5C will do well. And yes, I do think that Apple after such a great streak of success can make mistakes. I know the general sentiment on this forum, but as a longtime Apple fan, I'm disappointed in their decision with the 5C and with IOS7. I don't like where they went with them. You and Tim C. can say all you want that they don't care about market share. They do, and it's important to keep the ecosystem in place, users locked in, and developers coding for it. You can't do that if you don't have a certain critical mass of market share. And this is something forward-looking. You can't wait until it actually starts happening and developers code for Android first and iOS second. That will be too late. Hope Apple doesn't make the same mistake as Ballmer did. Oh, iPhone is a rounding error, oh we don't care about market share, we care about usage share...
Considering iOS has never had a majority market share with smart phones, it hasn't hurt them too much.
You just compared Cook to Ballmer? Apple has the #1 phone and is always moving fwd.
Thats stupid reasoning. Walmart discounted the 5C at $79 BEFORE LAUNCH. How can Walmart be overstocked BEFORE the phone was released? Its just a promotion.
The price is fine. The 5C was never meant to be the volume seller. Its an addition phone for those who just want a basic iPhone without the high tech stuff and a $100 cheaper price tag (or $150 since you don't need a case). Kids absolutely love these phones.
also, the pricing on the 5c allows for more discounting... it's more profitable for the big box stores (and in china and japan). As long as they only run it as promotions, I don't think Apple has an issue with it (they get the same amount in the end).
OK I'm confused. When the 5C was announced for pre-order Walmart (and I think) Target offered it at a discount. But now we're supposed to believe Best Buy is doing so because sales are soft? In the United States where the subsidized market is still quite popular?
Thats stupid reasoning. Walmart discounted the 5C at $79 BEFORE LAUNCH. How can Walmart be overstocked BEFORE the phone was released? Its just a promotion.
The price is fine. The 5C was never meant to be the volume seller. Its an addition phone for those who just want a basic iPhone without the high tech stuff and a $100 cheaper price tag (or $150 since you don't need a case). Kids absolutely love these phones.
I don't think we can say for sure if the price is fine or not. But like you mention Walmart discounted the phone before launch and some carriers have discounted it as well. My guess is its to drive business more than anything.
According to ABC News, Best Buy will be offering the plastic-shelled iPhone with a $50 gift card applicable to the handset's retail price of $99, effectively bringing the out-the-door cost down to $50.
Excuse me, ABC, I presume you did not graduate 5th grade.
Because a 5th grader knows that $99 - $50 = $49. Effectively. Not $50.
Except in California, where it takes an 8th grader to know.
Patently false. Its price is identical to what the iPhone 5 would have been, and that wouldn’t have received complaints.
There’s plastic and there’s plastic.
Fact is plastic is cheaper, so people think iPhone 5C should stand for iPhone 5Crappy case, but it in the end is probably only $10 difference making the 2, I think if apple made the 5 and 5S come in all the colors and never made the 5C, it would have been less work (correct me if I'm wrong), less complaints, similar liked opinion.
If only the retailers would be willing $0, American cellular providers obviously would not change there 93% profit to 91% so that won't work.
Fact is plastic is cheaper, so people think iPhone 5C should stand for iPhone 5Crappy case, but it in the end is probably only $10 difference making the 2, I think if apple made the 5 and 5S come in all the colors and never made the 5C, it would have been less work (correct me if I'm wrong), less complaints, similar liked opinion.
If only the retailers would be willing $0, American cellular providers obviously would not change there 93% profit to 91% so that won't work.
The iPhone 5C was never meant to be a cheap, low cost phone. That was a rumor the internet made up and everyone went with it. The one thing I would have changed though is not gone with plastic and use aluminum, but keep the design so it would actually look a lot like their iPods. It would be more expensive that plastic, but I think it would make the 5C more popular.
Interesting to see if Apple will sell the 5C at a lower price pre Christmas. No huge shame in getting pricing wrong as the original iPhone was overpriced.
I find it interesting that Apple continues to heavily push the 5c on their web site. For the last three weeks when you visit their home page you get the 5c in your face. If you pause you will see the 5s but I would have thought they would want to promote their top of the range phone first.
The iPhone 5C was never meant to be a cheap, low cost phone. That was a rumor the internet made up and everyone went with it. The one thing I would have changed though is not gone with plastic and use aluminum, but keep the design so it would actually look a lot like their iPods. It would be more expensive that plastic, but I think it would make the 5C more popular.
You don't know if that is true, or if they decided that they couldn't get the margins and abandoned the cheapest model 5C for now, using the 4S instead. It seems odd to have developed a new model in plastic, and then to keep the 4S. Nobody was expecting that because it didn't make sense - it turned a new strategy based on selling a this year's cheaper model rather than last years model, into the same thing as before except last years model is now plastic. And the 32 bit connector continues in one model only.
I doubt if that was the original strategy. However in Summer when they looked at the figures for production, they probably thought that they would get lots of orders for the 5C anyway from Japan and China, and other new markets and there was no need or available capacity, at least in the run up to Christmas/Chinese New Year to sell the 5C at the lower price - which would mean the price of the 4S. Or they have a newer product to come early next year. Or both.
However they now have a pricing model where you pay $100 for more storage in the 5C, or $100 for a faster chip, 64 bit arch, M7, touch screen, faster GPU etc in the 5S. I bet sales of the 5C higher end model are low.
( the very existence of that higher end model indicate, that - unlike what TS thinks - this is not the same strategy as before with added plastic).
Patently false. Its price is identical to what the iPhone 5 would have been, and that wouldn’t have
Yes, that's the point. It's the identical price to what "last year's" flagship has always been. Except ... it's a cheaper plastic version brought to you at no saving whatsoever.
I'm not having a go the phone itself (I really liked my plastic 3GS). Just the price.
Yes, that's the point. It's the identical price to what "last year's" flagship has always been. Except ... it's a cheaper plastic version brought to you at no saving whatsoever.
I'm not having a go the phone itself (I really liked my plastic 3GS). Just the price.
Then don't buy one. Problem solved.
The fact is that Apple followed the same practice as earlier phones. Good, Better, Best. Each year, there's a new Best and the previous Best drops to Better. The only difference this year is that the new Better is not exactly the same as the previous Best - it has a new case, and somewhat improved internals. Unless you're working in Apple's finance department, you have no idea what the cost difference is. In the end, they decided that the added features (better camera, color, and other improvements) justified keeping the price the same.
Not to mention, of course, that price is not determined by manufacturing cost, but rather by what the market will pay for an item. Even the most pessimistic reports are that Apple sold 2 M of the 5C model on opening weekend - which is probably the best launch ever for a phone using year old technology.
Mike, promotions like this happen to get rid of stock. You may not like it, but this is another sign that the 5C is overstocked.
Nonsense. People offer promotions for all sorts of reasons. One of the big ones is simply to get people into the story.
Think about Black Friday. It's quite common for companies to offer products at huge discounts in very limited quantities - simply to drive store traffic. Heck, there were companies offering discounts on the Wii back when they were in incredibly short supply everywhere. And, as someone pointed out above, Walmart announced discounts on the 5C before it even launched, so your premise is flawed.
The 5C is selling like hotcakes compared to every other smartphone in the market except one, the 5S.
Look at web traffic and activations.
Sorry to those who are rooting for Apple to fail.
So very very sorry.
We don't know that for sure since there are no actual figures. However, when even the most pessimistic estimates put 5C sales at 2 M in its first weekend, it's likely to be selling well.
I find new conveniences and features everyday, and it is so much more beautiful and functional than previous iOS'.
The 5C is simply overpriced for what's offered, but at this point it is too late for Apple to backtrack on the price. The one benefit I see is that the 5C is driving 5S sales. People no longer have the option to settle for last years "good enough" iPhone. Now there is a clear distinction and people are deciding to pay up the extra $100 to get the higher end iPhone.
Upsale is good, and the 5C seems to appeal to some customers as well. It's not the break out success it could have been, but it seems to be serving a purpose.
How is it too late to backtrack on the price? They could silently drop the 4s and put the base 5c in the "free"/$450 slot if they want to. They probably won't do this so quickly after launch, but they might in January or March. Apple's done this before. Heck, they dropped the price of the original iPhone by 1/3 just 74 days after release. Most recently, they dropped the prices of the rMBP line in January 2013, just 4 months after releasing the 13" model.
Oddly, if the analyst data on activations is remotely correct, the 5c is doing better in the US and UK than in emerging markets. My guess is what's happening is that the 5c is selling in similar numbers to what the 4s did last year, or what the 5 would have if Apple had stayed true to form and just made it the "mid-range" phone. Apple probably hoped repackaging it and introducing it as a "new" model might spur some growth, but that doesn't seem to be happening. $100 probably isn't a big enough price different. But maybe $150 would be.
Comments
That's the price the iPhone 5 would have been had they not removed it and that model has worked out amazing well for Apple. Sure, the case is a little cheaper but it also adds some new HW and features the previous stepping didn't have. Considering that most of the "high-end" Android phones also have plastic cases and cost more than the 5C I'm not that's going to be hurt Apple's sales if selling the previous two years of iPhone as-is didn't hurt sales.
Patently false. Its price is identical to what the iPhone 5 would have been, and that wouldn’t have received complaints.
There’s plastic and there’s plastic.
Considering iOS has never had a majority market share with smart phones, it hasn't hurt them too much.
You just compared Cook to Ballmer? Apple has the #1 phone and is always moving fwd.
Yah... as long as you use bb gift card
Oh right...thanks. We never go to BB. They sell to much plasticky crap products!
The $50 can be used to buy your next iPhone5s;-)
Thats stupid reasoning. Walmart discounted the 5C at $79 BEFORE LAUNCH. How can Walmart be overstocked BEFORE the phone was released? Its just a promotion.
The price is fine. The 5C was never meant to be the volume seller. Its an addition phone for those who just want a basic iPhone without the high tech stuff and a $100 cheaper price tag (or $150 since you don't need a case). Kids absolutely love these phones.
also, the pricing on the 5c allows for more discounting... it's more profitable for the big box stores (and in china and japan). As long as they only run it as promotions, I don't think Apple has an issue with it (they get the same amount in the end).
I don't think we can say for sure if the price is fine or not. But like you mention Walmart discounted the phone before launch and some carriers have discounted it as well. My guess is its to drive business more than anything.
Excuse me, ABC, I presume you did not graduate 5th grade.
Because a 5th grader knows that $99 - $50 = $49. Effectively. Not $50.
Except in California, where it takes an 8th grader to know.
http://articles.latimes.com/1997-02-28/news/mn-33443_1_math-skills
Look at web traffic and activations.
Sorry to those who are rooting for Apple to fail.
So very very sorry.
If only the retailers would be willing $0, American cellular providers obviously would not change there 93% profit to 91% so that won't work.
Fact is plastic is cheaper, so people think iPhone 5C should stand for iPhone 5Crappy case, but it in the end is probably only $10 difference making the 2, I think if apple made the 5 and 5S come in all the colors and never made the 5C, it would have been less work (correct me if I'm wrong), less complaints, similar liked opinion.
If only the retailers would be willing $0, American cellular providers obviously would not change there 93% profit to 91% so that won't work.
You can't be serious!
The 5C is selling like hotcakes compared to every other smartphone in the market except one, the 5S.
Look at web traffic and activations.
Sorry to those who are rooting for Apple to fail.
So very very sorry.
I can't find those stats. Could you provide a link, please.
The 5C was never meant to be the volume seller.
I didn't see anything from Apple execs that said this. Link please.
I find it interesting that Apple continues to heavily push the 5c on their web site. For the last three weeks when you visit their home page you get the 5c in your face. If you pause you will see the 5s but I would have thought they would want to promote their top of the range phone first.
The iPhone 5C was never meant to be a cheap, low cost phone. That was a rumor the internet made up and everyone went with it. The one thing I would have changed though is not gone with plastic and use aluminum, but keep the design so it would actually look a lot like their iPods. It would be more expensive that plastic, but I think it would make the 5C more popular.
You don't know if that is true, or if they decided that they couldn't get the margins and abandoned the cheapest model 5C for now, using the 4S instead. It seems odd to have developed a new model in plastic, and then to keep the 4S. Nobody was expecting that because it didn't make sense - it turned a new strategy based on selling a this year's cheaper model rather than last years model, into the same thing as before except last years model is now plastic. And the 32 bit connector continues in one model only.
I doubt if that was the original strategy. However in Summer when they looked at the figures for production, they probably thought that they would get lots of orders for the 5C anyway from Japan and China, and other new markets and there was no need or available capacity, at least in the run up to Christmas/Chinese New Year to sell the 5C at the lower price - which would mean the price of the 4S. Or they have a newer product to come early next year. Or both.
However they now have a pricing model where you pay $100 for more storage in the 5C, or $100 for a faster chip, 64 bit arch, M7, touch screen, faster GPU etc in the 5S. I bet sales of the 5C higher end model are low.
( the very existence of that higher end model indicate, that - unlike what TS thinks - this is not the same strategy as before with added plastic).
Yes, that's the point. It's the identical price to what "last year's" flagship has always been. Except ... it's a cheaper plastic version brought to you at no saving whatsoever.
I'm not having a go the phone itself (I really liked my plastic 3GS). Just the price.
Then don't buy one. Problem solved.
The fact is that Apple followed the same practice as earlier phones. Good, Better, Best. Each year, there's a new Best and the previous Best drops to Better. The only difference this year is that the new Better is not exactly the same as the previous Best - it has a new case, and somewhat improved internals. Unless you're working in Apple's finance department, you have no idea what the cost difference is. In the end, they decided that the added features (better camera, color, and other improvements) justified keeping the price the same.
Not to mention, of course, that price is not determined by manufacturing cost, but rather by what the market will pay for an item. Even the most pessimistic reports are that Apple sold 2 M of the 5C model on opening weekend - which is probably the best launch ever for a phone using year old technology.
Nonsense. People offer promotions for all sorts of reasons. One of the big ones is simply to get people into the story.
Think about Black Friday. It's quite common for companies to offer products at huge discounts in very limited quantities - simply to drive store traffic. Heck, there were companies offering discounts on the Wii back when they were in incredibly short supply everywhere. And, as someone pointed out above, Walmart announced discounts on the 5C before it even launched, so your premise is flawed.
We don't know that for sure since there are no actual figures. However, when even the most pessimistic estimates put 5C sales at 2 M in its first weekend, it's likely to be selling well.
I LOVE iOS 7 honestly.
I find new conveniences and features everyday, and it is so much more beautiful and functional than previous iOS'.
The 5C is simply overpriced for what's offered, but at this point it is too late for Apple to backtrack on the price. The one benefit I see is that the 5C is driving 5S sales. People no longer have the option to settle for last years "good enough" iPhone. Now there is a clear distinction and people are deciding to pay up the extra $100 to get the higher end iPhone.
Upsale is good, and the 5C seems to appeal to some customers as well. It's not the break out success it could have been, but it seems to be serving a purpose.
How is it too late to backtrack on the price? They could silently drop the 4s and put the base 5c in the "free"/$450 slot if they want to. They probably won't do this so quickly after launch, but they might in January or March. Apple's done this before. Heck, they dropped the price of the original iPhone by 1/3 just 74 days after release. Most recently, they dropped the prices of the rMBP line in January 2013, just 4 months after releasing the 13" model.
Oddly, if the analyst data on activations is remotely correct, the 5c is doing better in the US and UK than in emerging markets. My guess is what's happening is that the 5c is selling in similar numbers to what the 4s did last year, or what the 5 would have if Apple had stayed true to form and just made it the "mid-range" phone. Apple probably hoped repackaging it and introducing it as a "new" model might spur some growth, but that doesn't seem to be happening. $100 probably isn't a big enough price different. But maybe $150 would be.