But wait… there’s more.
So, I’m $200 up and spend it on another iPhone - this time at $399 - making me now $200 down. What could help?
With my new purchase of an iPhone, Apple threw in a month free of their One2One service that includes an hour of free training for my wife on how to use the iPhone, worth $99. Now I wasn’t actually going to buy this, however in compensating for my serious anger just two weeks ago - it’s a nice final touch.
I must mention that the buying experience of an iPhone at an Apple store is infinitely superior to what I had to endure at an AT&T store back in June. There is no comparison - Apple wins hands down.
Will I ever buy a brand new Apple product ever again? Absolutely not. Never.
Will I buy another Apple product in the future? Yes, probably. I am hopeful that they won’t make the same mistake again.
Okay…. $100 store credit from Apple. Thanks Steve (I still think you should have done more though). Another $100 back from American Express (above and beyond guys - phenomenal response). I’m $200 up. What will I do with my $200.
My wife has solved that problem: now she wants an iPhone. Since it’s only going to be $200 ($399-$200), that’s cheap - isn’t it?
So here’s my wifes new iPhone:
I received a really nice note from American Express today. Last week I placed a complaint for investigation with them about the iPhone price drop. Here’s their response:
Dear X XXXXX:
Thank you for choosing to use your American Express Card for your purchases. Your recent claim with American Express does not fall within the normal terms and provisions of the Purchase Protection Plan. However, as we very much value and appreciate your Cardmembership with American Express, we have approved your claim as an exception to the program guidelines. Your payment of $100.00 has been processed as a credit to your American Express Account. If you have any questions, please call your Purchase Protection Plan Customer Service Department at 1-800-322-1277. A representative is available to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition to the Purchase Protection Plan there are many other retail, travel and customer service benefits available to American Express Cardmembers to provide piece of mind on purchases and travel with the American Express card.
Thank you again for using your American Express Card!
Sincerely,
Your Purchase Protection Plan Claims Examiner
Now there’s a company who knows how to treat a customer properly!
They left it as long as they could this week, and it’s finally here…
Apple Store Credit
I stumbled across this on macrumors.com, and haven’t actually been notified by email or on the Apple site (main or iPhone pages). You have to register your iPhone by the end of November.
That’ll give me enough time to wait for my American Express price protection refund to be approved or declined.
Okay Steve, “Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week.”.
It’s next week now, a full nine days since you dropped the iPhone price. Where’s the details? Or were you just yanking our collective chain?
Apple is now offering a $7000 in-store credit for early purchasers of the Apple Lisa.
BBspot.com
In the analysis of last week’s iPhone debacle by the media, it seems unanimous that Apple messed up pretty big.
From a polite Baltimore Sun reckoning ‘Apple is not alone in feeling PR pain‘ to the downright accusatory PC World asking ‘Is Apple the New Microsoft?‘.
All arguments aside - the unquestioned trust that Apple built up with their new and existing consumer base is virtually gone, and that will long outlive the current wave of attention they’re drawing to themselves.
If you have an iPhone… have you tried to view the keynote speech from Sep 5? Try it: Keynote
It doesn’t work. Apple introduces a $200 price cut on the iPhone, however if you have an iPhone you can’t watch the video telling you this.
Steve… what are you up to?
Called Amex Purchase Protection a few moments ago.
Purchase Protection is at 1800 322 1277, press 1 then 2. You’ll need the company name where you bought your iPhone, what date you got ripped off bought it, how much it cost and what the tax rate was where you bought it (if applicable).
They’re still experiencing a high number of calls from unhappy Apple customers. Seems Steve’s $100 in-store discount isn’t sufficient recompense for many. Exceptionally helpful staff though. Couldn’t do enough to assist.
I’ve filed my claim. Could take up to two weeks before the $214 is returned to my account.
The timing of yesterdays events seem suspicious to me. This is just a theory, however…
On Macrumors.com and Apple’s forum, news was given by a number of people posting on how they managed to receive a refund via America Express for the now ‘missing’ $200 on an iPhone.
When you sign up to be a merchant accepting American Express, you agree to a number of things. One of these is that you’ll take a hit when an Amex cardholder files a complaint on a transaction and it’s deemed valid by American Express.
So in the matter of hours Apple was being inundated by all those people reading on forums who had phoned American Express to get their $200 back. The Apple accounting department raised a big red flag. Steve turned to his PR folk and… dadaaaah… a $100 in-store voucher for all our ‘friends’ who bought an iPhone before September 5. PR henchmen say ‘we are taking care of our friends’. Accounting department breathe a sigh of relief.
Stopped the bleeding there Steve, didn’t you?