Angela Ahrendts Says Apple Won't Try to Upsell Customers to iPhone X

Apple Store employees won't try to upsell customers to the iPhone X, according to Apple's retail chief Angela Ahrendts.

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Ahrendts, who is in Chicago today for the grand opening of Apple's new Michigan Avenue store, told CNBC that Apple recognizes each customer has different needs that may not require purchasing the most expensive iPhone model.

"Internally we said the tagline was 'an iPhone for everyone,'" she said. "I prefer that we ask you who you're buying it for. If they're 6 or 7 years old, what do they need? If it's someone who's leaning into something else, what do they need? We do that with Mac, we do that with iPad, why wouldn't we do that with [the] phone?"

iPhone X starts at $999 in the United States with 64GB of storage, while a 256GB model is available for $1,149. By comparison, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus start at $699 and $799 respectively.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a reputable Apple analyst at KGI Securities, recently said only 2-3 million iPhone X units will be available to purchase when the device launches. Pre-orders begin October 27 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related: iPhone X vs. iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 8 Plus

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Top Rated Comments

tkermit Avatar
101 months ago
If they're 6 or 7 years old, what do they need?
Probably not an iPhone.
Score: 86 Votes (Like | Disagree)
filmantopia Avatar
101 months ago
As a former Apple Store employee, this is how things always worked. The idea is to match the customer with the product which is truly right for them.
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TurboPGT! Avatar
101 months ago
And the tongue-in-cheek response: Yeah, you'd need to have them in stock in order to upsell.
Score: 48 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wags Avatar
101 months ago
6 or 7 years old. Really?
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dumastudetto Avatar
101 months ago
It's also a myth for people to suggest Apple is elitist and out-of-reach of the lower earners. The truth is Apple now has an incredible iPhone within reach of literally every budget. They have a fantastic range of awesome products.

You won't be disappointed whatever iPhone you buy. There is nothing better than iPhone.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tom2893 Avatar
101 months ago
I need the iPhone X. One week till the pre order.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)