Apple is trying to placate early iPhone buyers angered by a 200-buck price cut for the top model. After being bombarded by hundreds of emails, CEO Steve Jobs has sent out a letter offering every current iPhone owner, who paid the full 599 list price, a 100-buck store credit. "We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers," he said. Jobs insisted that cutting the price for the 8GB iPhone to 399 is the right thing to do. "iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to ‘go for it’ this holiday season," he wrote.
The iPhone went on sale June 29th, with people lined up at many stores to be among the first to have the new device. While it is normal for the price tags to come down over time with new tech devices, the early adopters were shocked at how quickly Apple made a big cut in the iPhone price. All current owners are eligible for the in-store credit announced by Jobs. Apple and AT&T Wireless, which has the exclusive US cellular service rights, said they will give 200-buck cash refunds to people who bought the 8GB models within 14 days before the price cut and allow people who bought the 4GB model for 499 within that time frame to return it for a full refund. They can now buy an 8GB model and still have 100 left over. The 4GB model is being phased out.
RBR/TVBR observation: Don’t ya just love it the way people run to be first with a new gadget when common sense says it is just a matter of time for the price to drop as all manufacturers are preparing for the upcoming Christmas holiday now. Key remember now to start planning with advertisers for Christmas.
