To provide some context here, I actually ended up purchasing an iPhone. The SSH problem I had concerns with was resolved by the new set of software that’s come out by third parties. The iPhone legal rant was adequately rebutted by my friend, Phil.
But that’s not the big news. The big news is that Steve Jobs just announced the iPhone price was being dropped by $200. And, we knew in our heart of hearts that was going to happen sometime, but early adopters who wanted the iPhone to be a success, paid the expensive price.
Now that Apple’s benefited, the real question on the table is: Are the early adopters going to get screwed.
My take is no.
On the surface, I’m not too happy about having a 3-week old phone, which is less than a month old, yet one week past the return point.
Yes, I made the decision to buy it then, so I do take responsibility for that. But, on the other side, Apple also didn’t provide me with data that could have made me make a more discriminating purchase plan. (And, one can argue, why should they?)
Apple now has an interesting choice. Because of all these early adopters, their phone is a success. However, pissing them off would do some serious damage. One, those people are never going to buy into an early adopter program again and are going to spread negative comments. Two, non-early adopters are going to view this as a model of how Apple treats its customers.
THAT SAID, -twice- in the past, when I have purchased expensive software (about the same cost as the iPhone or more), Apple has dropped the price, and upon doing so, wrote me a Snail Mail telling me they appreciated my business and enclosed was a check for the difference. Unprompted.
I’d like to think that Apple will have the foresight to do that now, and the amount of good will this would result in would more than make it up.
At the moment, I have -one- iPhone. My wife is on the fence. If I get a refund from Apple, she’ll be having an iPhone too (and being realistic, if Apple produces a better version with more memory, I’ll be buying the higher end model for myself).
If I’m to eat the difference because of a single week, I don’t have the right to complain, but I’m going to take it out of Apple’s future sales by not upgrading, not early adopting, not evangelizing, and not buy multiple machines. And, let’s be honest, Apple knows this.
Incidentally, I’m following the live coverage for this. Other news sites are experiencing similar comments.
There seems to be too camps.
Apple lovers who are saying, “How could you do this to us? We supported you!”
And, Apple haters, who are saying “Ha! You made the decision, now live with it.”
The problem is, they’re both right. But here’s the difference. If Apple released a NEW iPhone, I’d happy because I did get in on something good.
However, what’s causing the disturbance is that someone else is buying the identical product, for a cheaper price, from the same place, in part because of a risk someone else was willing to take for them.
Apple has done this before, and Apple’s made good before. Already their feedback and forums are being swamped. And, given that any press is good press, I suspect Apple will come out smelling like roses when they decided to reward the early adopters.
My bet? There will be some $200 only-good-at-the-Apple-store coupons mailed to existing iPhone customers before today. I’d only be more surprised if those were already in the mail.
And here we have it, an open letter from Steve Jobs to all iPhone customers.
“…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…”
Apple is meeting iPhone customers half way. We’ll be getting $100.
That’s fair.
It’s also fair that I’m not going to run out and buy a second iPhone, nor one of those new iPods. Not until the price drops on them by the other $100.
AMEX scores a big win in the customer service and satisfaction department.
Those who purchased an iPhone are finding their AMEX price protection plan kicking in.
Talk about a way to turn Apple’s bad press into gobs of dedicated customers. What a reason to switch from Discover, Visa, and MasterCard to American Expression.
Called AMEX myself. Interesting developments on AMEX’s dealing with the iPhone refunds!