"Everyone knows?"
Congratulations, you just killed your own complaint. I hope the FTC doesn't see this thread, it might ruin your chances with them!
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FTC Complaint Filed Against Apple re Mac Pro
- Thread starter Torster
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"Everyone knows?"
Congratulations, you just killed your own complaint. I hope the FTC doesn't see this thread, it might ruin your chances with them!
They did. The text isn't even aligned right any more because the word is missing.
Well that's very... odd.
That's actually not a very positive sign. If there was a new Mac Pro coming, why bother cleaning up the old page?
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I completely agree. I think it's disgusting that Apple will advertise a product as "new" up until the moment a new one is released. Heck, the macbook pro is currently being called "The New Macbook Pro", even as Apple is running out of stock because new ones are being released soon.
"New" is definitely being used to describe its release cycle and not a quality of ownership in this sense. OP, I thank you.
Not effective, but cool none the less
Thanks, Torster! THe term NEW is supposed to be only used for 6 months or so; and given Apple's typical silence of product announcements (so we pros cant actually plan for anything), and the rumors that the MacPro may even be discontinued, Apple needs to be tweaked a bit on this sore subject.
The ads should say, "Nearly obsolete, and maybe the last of it's kind, but still pretty fast (and pricey) MacPro"
As to wasting gov money? Maybe some staffer will have to avoid the FTC office party saving taxpayers the cost of his $50 scones for breakfast.
Thanks, Torster! THe term NEW is supposed to be only used for 6 months or so; and given Apple's typical silence of product announcements (so we pros cant actually plan for anything), and the rumors that the MacPro may even be discontinued, Apple needs to be tweaked a bit on this sore subject.
The ads should say, "Nearly obsolete, and maybe the last of it's kind, but still pretty fast (and pricey) MacPro"
As to wasting gov money? Maybe some staffer will have to avoid the FTC office party saving taxpayers the cost of his $50 scones for breakfast.
I agree, I don't think the FTC gives a @#@# about this complaint. But it is interesting to note that Apple took action nevertheless.
Also on your earlier comment on why would they bother updating if they are going to introduce a new Mac Pro or not, I had the same thought. But there is a different leader now.
On the brighter side, it is encouraging to know that they do read these posts (complaints, concerns, ...)
My theory is as long as there is a MacBook Pro Category, there is a Mac Pro Category (however dumb the logic is), Of course, they can rebadge the iMAC as a Pro and then the rest will be history...
That's all I cared about. Glad they took action and changed it. If I ever get contacted by FTC, I'll let them know it was changed.
TL
UK site still says "New" as well.
http://www.apple.com/uk/macpro/
I bet the U.S. one was changed b/c someone at Apple is reading MacRumors.
So, unless they go and change every county site they have, they are still technically in violation.
I applaud the OP for doing this.
Oh, they also changed the copy in the 4-columns below the main pic.
UK version on the left..... Recently EDITED U.S. version on the right:
http://www.apple.com/uk/macpro/
I bet the U.S. one was changed b/c someone at Apple is reading MacRumors.
So, unless they go and change every county site they have, they are still technically in violation.
I applaud the OP for doing this.
Oh, they also changed the copy in the 4-columns below the main pic.
UK version on the left..... Recently EDITED U.S. version on the right:
Attachments
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In violation of what? Paris Convention Article 10bis?
RogersDA kindly submitted the relevant FTC Advisory Opinion, as well as a blogger's comment that the "6 month rule" has not recently been used as a basis of enforcement.
The reasoning within the FTC guideline is pretty clear; they believe that using the term "new" for products that are more than six months old would, without exceptional circumstances, cause consumer confusion and harm (note that this was is in 1967, and they were probably not thinking of items costing anywhere near a MacPro, that are being bought by professionals).
FTC Advisory opinions are not binding on courts, other governmental entities, private parties, or even themselves; they are like a cop telling you, when they pull you over, that they generally only pull people over who do more than twelve mph over the speed limit. It is useful for you, but you cannot rely on it, and it does not change what the actual law is.
The actual US federal advertising laws are those created by the Lanham Act ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanham_Act ).
The FTC is not an international regulatory body enforcing some treaty against signatories, it is an American administrative body enforcing American laws on American companies to protect American consumers; Apple needs to comport with the EU's advertising laws for its advertisements in the EU, the FTC may help investigate if requested, but an FTC advisory opinion on what the term "new" means has absolutely jack-all to do with the legality of Apple's EU advertisements.
The crux of the issue is whether or not the advertising is or will likely cause consumer confusion and harm, or if it is unfair to Apple's competition.
Thanks man. I'm glad at least a few people here get it...
If no one ever speaks, Apple will have no reason to listen.
TL
Just to educate you a tad bit.....anything you buy is NEW unless it's used. They are advertising NEW computers not used or refurbished computers.
Case closed, not go home to Mommy and ask her to rub your little tummy because I know that will make you sick .
Case closed, not go home to Mommy and ask her to rub your little tummy because I know that will make you sick .
No... The crux of the issue is to get Apple to wake up. It doesn't matter if you don't care about the future of the Mac Pro, but some of us care what Apple is thinking.
It's amazing in all the threads regarding the future of the Mac Pro this is the ONLY one that has succeeded in any sort of tangible response from Apple. And still people like to complain about it.
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Why do you even bother? This subject seems to divide people like religion and politics to the point of anger.
If what you say it true then every product on their site that's not refurbished should say "new" next to it. Your play on semantics is wasting everyone's time.
Now, is that really necessary????
Do me a favor - take your Apple apologist mentality somewhere else, because it's clearly not wanted here. Stay in the iDistractions threads.
I'm not going to claim that the word "new" wasn't an interesting choice, but I have better things to do with my time than go ADD on a single word on Apple's store page, especially when it's still using the newest Xeons on the market. I'd be more upset if it was a generation behind, but it wasn't.
I mean, seriously, I'm about 100 times more interested in a new Mac Pro than I am about Apple using the word "new" on a page.
I mean, seriously, I'm about 100 times more interested in a new Mac Pro than I am about Apple using the word "new" on a page.
If you want to complain, contact Apple directly: http://www.apple.com/contact/
Filing a petition with the FTC, which gets tons of petitions every day for actual consumer issues that actually need investigating (because they are actually causing harm), expecting them to then relay this information to Apple, is nonsense. (It will not happen for the reasons I explain above, there needs to be a likelihood of consumer confusion and harm, or an unfair business practice that hurts competitors).
This scheme is almost as bad as having everyone write a petition to the secret service, claiming that Apple stole their identity by mislabeling their workhorse product as being "new," causing internal space, time, and identity confusion.
It is a complete ignorance of the law, our systems of governance, efficiency, and rational thought.
It was a bad idea, and TL should feel bad for trying to waste taxpayer's money by making an empty claim, known to be empty from the start (as no one really believes the MacPro is new).
I have complained to Apple on (4) occasions. Twice by phone, both times I was told there was no way to process such a complaint, and once through their online form kindly asking for any sort of response which I never received.
Why do you people continue to troll this thread if you could care less? And what makes you so blind to the fact that this has been the only successful method which has gotten Apple's attention in the slightest bit?
Edit: I just complained again.
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Just another ******* thinking the gov't is the solution to all our problems...
I'm pissed about no new mac pros, but (wait for it...)
- I CAN READ-
and know what I'm buying, just as everyone else can do.
the gov't is NOT the solution, they are the problem. And apparently you are as well.
I'm pissed about no new mac pros, but (wait for it...)
- I CAN READ-
and know what I'm buying, just as everyone else can do.
the gov't is NOT the solution, they are the problem. And apparently you are as well.
^^^*******s built Apple. Only nerds that are conservative are the Zuckerberg type, who are really just dorks in need of identity. Get it right.
Because you like false advertising.
Because you do not want to understand it.
I'm sure you have a 100 percent proof for this assumption!
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That is a pretty good question!
Sorry, if it was an empty claim then Apple would not have wasted any time changing the ad.
If I ever get contacted by FTC, I'll tell them Apple changed the ad. That's a waste of...maybe...60 seconds of a bureaucrat's day, if that?
This didn't require a congressional investigation, bro.
TL
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Dude, I've spent over $3,000,000 directly with Apple over the last 8 years.
I think I've earned the right to vent a little.
TL