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Official iPhone Refund Policy Tomorrow? [Updatedx2]

Wednesday September 5, 2007 7:30 pm PDT by Arnold Kim
Apple's unexpected $200 iPhone price drop caught many of the iPhone's early adopters off guard and has generated a lot of animosity across ours and Apple's forums.

Those of you who have bought an iPhone in the past 14 days are eligible for a price protection guarantee... but if you bought before then, you may be out of luck.... or are you?

According to Veronica Belmont, she was told by a friend that they were able to get a $200 refund from his local Apple Store despite purchasing his iPhone 2 months ago. This was, of course, after spending an hour on the phone.

Of interest, he was also warned and that as of tomorrow there would be an official policy in place regarding iPhone refunds... which sounds like they'll lock down the 14 day refund policy, so if you want a refund -- now's the time.

MacRumors forum users have had mixed success with their efforts to receive a $200 refund for iPhones older than 14 days.

Update: USA Today posts a Q&A with Steve Jobs, and asks directly if there will be rebates for users who have already paid the $599. Steve indicates that Apple is sticking with Apple's stated retail policy of 14 day price matching.

That's technology. If they bought it this morning, they should go back to where they bought it and talk to them. If they bought it a month ago, well, that's what happens in technology.



Update 2: One reader calling tonight got escalating offers up to a free Bluetooth Headset after complaining.
[ 260 comments ]

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nismo
Posted: 58 months ago
hopefully this will make a lot of people happy if they refund everybody.
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rikers_mailbox
Posted: 58 months ago
yes please! I'm feeling a bit burned by Apple. Is this how you treat devoted follo... err, i mean ... loyal customers?
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jt2ga65
Posted: 58 months ago
At this point, I would be surprised if it was not a big middle finger at the early adopters. Hey, I'm still willing to be converted to an Apple fan again, but I'm stinging at the extra $100 a month for the iPhone.

-jt2
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coolbreeze
Posted: 58 months ago
Um, they are not going to refund everyone who bought on launch day, weeks ago, etc. If any, maybe those within the 14 return window, since they could just return/rebuy/cause a stink if Apple doesn't accept a return.

If AAPL refunded everyone's money, that would set a dangerous precedent. Any time a price falls on a product, there will be mobs of people saying "well I paid $400 last month and now it's cheaper, etc." No way Apple will open this can of worms.
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rikers_mailbox
Posted: 58 months ago

If AAPL refunded everyone's money, that would set a dangerous precedent. Any time a price falls on a product, there will be mobs of people saying "well I paid $400 last month and now it's cheaper, etc." No way Apple will open this can of worms.


Actually, it wouldn't hurt AAPL's bottom line (I assume you were referring to stock price). Don't forget that iPhone sales are recognized under subscription accounting on a straight-line basis over a 24-month period. A price refund would NOT negatively impact past earnings, only future.
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aerospace
Posted: 58 months ago
you do realize that refunding 1million phones for 200 each is 200 million dollars

apple may be nice but for 200million they should just let people be mad a couple of days
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Bjerre
Posted: 58 months ago
Maybe Mike Tyson will be $200 richer leaving him only in $9,999,800 debt.:D
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technicolor
Posted: 58 months ago
Hmm this is interesting.
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longofest
Posted: 58 months ago

If AAPL refunded everyone's money, that would set a dangerous precedent.


The precedent has already been set.

you do realize that refunding 1million phones for 200 each is 200 million dollars

apple may be nice but for 200million they should just let people be mad a couple of days


Personally, I don't think Apple needs to refund the entire $200 per iPhone. $100 would go a long way to soothing people. Assuming they go with $100, if they do what they did with Aperture and they give the "refunds" as Apple Store gift certificates, the bottom line would be less than a $100 million loss, because Apple would be making money on the purchases bought on the gift certificate.

Either way, it may be a necessary cost for Apple to take, given the reaction people are having. In the end, Apple's profits are extremely high on this product, and they will still make a ton of money. $100 million or there abouts may seem like a lot, but they are probably going to make close to if not over $1 billion this quarter.
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hard-case
Posted: 58 months ago
Well, if you read the actuall post from Veronica Belmont, it sound like the 'policy' will be nothing more than a restatement of the 14 day price policy, or at the very, very most a codifying of the 'August 1st/4th or later' as has been floating around the forums.

C'est la vie!
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