Called it! $100 iPhone rebate
The price drop on iPhone was shocking. I was all set to buy a new Nano, but the idea that my iPhone now costs one-8GB-nano less has me waiting. This seems like a big enough PR blunder, or setup, that Apple will followup with some easy goodwill. I’m still going to get a new nano, but I’m going to wait at least until the weekend.
Today Apple does it again: To all iPhone customers
…[W]e 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 with our actions in moments like these.
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week. Stay tuned.
We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.
I think they fully expected this reaction having done something similar to quell outrage after dropping the price on Aperture last year. It’s a win-win for Apple, if there was no outrage, then eh, they just sell more phones. If there is outrage, as there was, Apple wins, probably more.
The intial news cycle only lasts so long, Apple got some press for the new iPods yesterday, then got more as the media picked up on all the iPhone owners who felt robbed.
All publicity is good publicity.
Apple waited just long enough for things to die down a little, then grabbed everyone’s attention again with a remarkable conciliatory, gesture of goodwill. Happy customers, more coverage. The initial news cycle stretched two or three times what it was and ends on an undisputed high note.
It’s called public relations for a reason. How much does it cost to grab people’s attention? How much to stay at the top of the news cycle?
Apple is playing the game masterfully.
And my new iPod nano is suddenly half off.