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FTC Complaint Filed Against Apple re Mac Pro

T

Torster

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 30, 2010
43
0
Folsom, CA
I just filed this complaint against Apple with the Federal Trade Commission:

Apple Inc. is engaged in deceptive marketing practices and false advertising specifically regarding their flagship computer, the Apple Mac Pro.

The current Mac Pro was released in July 2010:

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//#Mac_Pro

However, Apple is still engaged in marketing the Mac Pro as a "new" product. There is nothing "new" about this nearly two-year system and advertising this item as "new" is patently false and deceptive.

You can see that Apple is actively marketing this item as "new" on one of the largest Apple-centric sites here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1359788/AppleFalseAd.jpg

MacNN receives 2,390,000 page views per month and the deceptive ad is on page one.

Apple needs to stop deceiving consumers regarding this old piece of technology.

For reference, its FTC complaint 36302883

TL
 
Torster said:
I just filed this complaint against Apple with the Federal Trade Commission:

Apple Inc. is engaged in deceptive marketing practices and false advertising specifically regarding their flagship computer, the Apple Mac Pro.

The current Mac Pro was released in July 2010:

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com//#Mac_Pro

However, Apple is still engaged in marketing the Mac Pro as a "new" product. There is nothing "new" about this nearly two-year system and advertising this item as "new" is patently false and deceptive.

You can see that Apple is actively marketing this item as "new" on one of the largest Apple-centric sites here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1359788/AppleFalseAd.jpg

MacNN receives 2,390,000 page views per month and the deceptive ad is on page one.

Apple needs to stop deceiving consumers regarding this old piece of technology.

For reference, its FTC complaint 36302883

TL
Click to expand...

You need to get out more. Don't you have better things to do with your time?
 
Come on, the FTC has better things to do. I could think of many more pressing matters I'd rather see the FTC concentrating on than an errant ad.

Whywecanthavenice2.png
 
let me get this straight.

You wrote FTC regarding apple products?
flower delivery and fruit,, interesting.

Well the fruit part fits.

Now its going to cost more to buy apples and have flowers delivered :D
 
This is the reason the FTC exists in the first place. Fight the good fight.
 
They should at least lower the prices to keep current with how much it costs for the parts.

This has been standard Apple practice for a long time on their Mac line.

iOS devices are different since they keep being updated once a year.
 
Boy I misread the title of this thread. I thought the FTC was actually getting involved and then I read the OP and realized it was just another joe nobody complaining that there hasnt been an update to the Mac Pro and actually thInks the FTC cares about his opinion....
 
Sad that anyone would defend false advertizing like this. "New" is a relative term, but by any comparison that doesn't apply to the Mac Pro now or in years.
 
Torster said:
You can see that Apple is actively marketing this item as "new" on one of the largest Apple-centric sites here:
Click to expand...

When did the retail meaning of new change? Last I checked it meant not used when applied to purchasing products. New cars, new boats, and new underwear can and often all sit for years at the store and are legally sold as new products. Once sold to a customer all these products become used. You should pick at least one of these items to always buy new.

'A reasonable person' can see the ad shown doesn't say anything like 'new technology', just new. New Technology would have changed the meaning completely and have been closer to the assumption made by the person with the complaint.
 
glutenenvy said:
When did the retail meaning of new change? Last I checked it meant not used when applied to purchasing products. New cars, new boats, and new underwear can and often all sit for years at the store and are legally sold as new products. Once sold to a customer all these products become used. You should pick at least one of these items to always buy new.

'A reasonable person' can see the ad shown doesn't say anything like 'new technology', just new. New Technology would have changed the meaning completely and have been closer to the assumption made by the person with the complaint.
Click to expand...

Actually it says "The new Mac Pro" not "A new Mac Pro". I can see how someone not familiar with the Mac Pro line (like a Windows user looking for a change) might think its a new release. Not sure it's worthy of FTC intervention though;)
 
Last edited:
Torster said:
I just filed this complaint against Apple with the Federal Trade Commission:
Click to expand...

Let us know how it turns out - Maybe they will change their advertising - seems like a waste of tax dollars to me unless you have been actually been harmed by their advertising
 
I don't think it will change anything. I also don't think that it will force Apple to update. Interesting idea though filing an FTC complaint, just not sure what good its going to do for anyone.
 
It is technically a new Mac pro there is no legal time limit on how old it has to be before it is no longer "new" there is not a newer version of the computer therefor it is still the new Mac pro. You can complain all you want that they haven't refreshed it but the FTC won't do anything about it. If they had updated it last summer would you also be the same one to cry and complain that it wasn't a "worthy" update? Do you really think apple would release an update if the hardware they want isnt ready?
 
At least Apple didn't say new & improved.

Hey, whatever happened to the I'm a Mac ads?
Hello, tap tap tap, is this thing on?
 
I, for one, REALLY LOVE Torster for doing this!

Torster, thank you for finding this creative way to get Apple's attention. I've called Apple and written feedback on their site numerous time asking for a sliver of professional respect and have never received a response.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
This case really does not have any merit because of the price of the goods and the nature of those who buy the MacPro.

The FTC (or a court of law) would consider the customers and the likelihood of confusion (and for this complaint to have merit the confusion would have to be a deciding factor for why a customer would purchase the MacPro, and its falseness would have to cause the consumer damage).

So what do we know about MacPro consumers?

1. Not children, as children typically do not have the cash to spend on such machines, and they are not advertised to children ( yes, on the performance page under "Graphics" it does list Call of Duty 4 and Portal performance; but there are no pictures of the characters and none of the front pages list anything gaming related: http://www.apple.com/macpro/performance.html ).

2. They are spending a lot of money; lowest priced option is $2.5k, by it costing so much it is more likely that someone spending that amount of money would do some research into the quality of the product on the marketplace compared to other computers with similar specifications.

3. Professionals; Design/Features/Performance/The Environment/Tech Specs, looking at the language of the advert pages, and what is being focused on, it is clear that they are targeting professionals with technical knowledge - these are the types of customers who are not confused by terms like "new."

Show through statistically significant polling that 10% of MacPro buyers are actually only buying the machine because they think it is "new," and that they think "new" means it has only been on the market place for a short while (months?), and maybe there is a reason here for the FTC to get involved.
 
You should be ashamed of yourself, you're wasting taxpayer money and the courts time. This whole thing just screams of massive immaturaity.
 
Red bull gives you wings and the 2010 Mac Pro is new.

Nothing will happen, but maybe stuff like this can open Apple's eyes a bit more

Someone should start a online petition, like we did back when the 8800GT was released but not for Mac Pro 2006. we made a petition that got like 50 000 signatures or something, and the 8800GT came a few months later.
 
Unless a lot of people that have purchased a Mac Pro think they were mislead by the advertising the FTC will do absolutely nothing.
 
Seems a bit of a stretch to say the least, but I guess the point was to make some noise, like all these other threads. It's frustrating.
 
Groanan said:
So what do we know about MacPro consumers?

1. Not children
2. They are spending a lot of money
3. Professionals
Click to expand...

Right on all three--so they can stop with the marketing nonsense.

They can sell the current Mac Pro for the next 10 years. Just don't call a 2-year old product new. They just need to change the ad. Problem solved.

TL

----------
CLuv said:
Enjoy your busted ass Dell sir.
Click to expand...

Who's using a Dell? You? Definitely not me.

I'd rather have a truly new Mac Pro. In the absence of that, they just need to stop marketing the current one as "new" because its not.

The iPhone and iPad are updated every 12 months. Those are new. The Mac Pro is not.

TL

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Glen Quagmire said:
Don't you have better things to do with your time?
Click to expand...

Took me about 10 minutes at the FTC website.

TL
 
milbournosphere said:
the FTC has better things to do.
Click to expand...

No, they don't.

Consumer protection is why they exist.

TL

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paulrbeers said:
just another joe nobody complaining that there hasnt been an update to the Mac Pro and actually thInks the FTC cares about his opinion....
Click to expand...


I guess everyone here who cares about the Mac Pro is a joe nobody.

If that's the case, why are you here wasting your own time?

TL
 
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