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Shenanigans Apple!

al256

al256

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 7, 2001
972
948
shenanigans | sh əˈnanəgənz|
plural noun informal
secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering
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Background:
I wanted the iPad. I planned it out and saved up the money and bought a gift card in the exact amount. I was first inline to buy the (reserved) iPad at my local Apple store. Bam! My local TV station interviewed me when I was the first out the door with an unboxed iPad. So I enjoyed my time with the iPad and purchased over $100 in apps for it all while waiting for the 3G 64GB. Before I even purchased my gift card, I had a friend willing to buy my wi-fi iPad off of me.

Present:
I sold my iPad on the 23rd and used that money plus other saved up money to buy another gift card. Did I see any problems with this? No, it's not a subsidized iPhone; there's no contract with an iPad. Well, I read this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/907211/ Wham! It hit me, Apple's not going to take my gift card. I drove to my Apple store and asked if this true. Yes, and Apple won't accept any partial payment from gift card either. For a moment, I felt like punching Apple in the face. I calmed down and the manager agreed to refund my gift card if I can't use it tomorrow. That doesn't help, who knows how long it will take to get a refund back on a debit card Friday? I left the store.

I called the person I sold the iPad to and explained the situation. I drove to my client's house while she chatted with Apple's online sales staff. They informed her that yes all of this true and they can't really comment about retail policies. Yes I can use my gift card to buy an iPad online, and wait seven days. Ugh.. I get to my client's house but he's a no show. I drive back to the Apple store with a plan.

After spending some of my morning post on this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/907002/. I got the idea to return my original iPad. This worked out for the person who bought my iPad because she also wants a 3G now. So I will give her money back and get more money for my troubles. I spoke to the same manager who informed me of the grim news and told him my situation. I asked if they would take back the iPad. Yes they will. No restocking fee, just do this return before the 5pm launch. He finally admitted that he found out about this three days ago; days before I bought that gift card.

So now I have to wait for some Fedex delivery guy on the 7th to get my 3G iPad. My friend now gets a 3G as well. I get all my money back from launch day and also got to use my iPad past its return policy :p. I tried to do everything by the book but Apple's secret and dishonest policies prevented me from purchasing their iPad how, where and when I want. The extra $135 dollars will go to an Airport Extreme I've wanting.
 
How is any of this Apple's fault? They need to limit the number of ipads. Sold to customers or whatever. You deciding to rent your iPad wifi for a month then return it for a gift card because you can't control your own spending or whatever the reason, none of this is Apple's fault. And the part about getting extra money for your troubles is hilarious. What trouble? The trouble of not being able to resist buying the latest and greatest? Yeah you deserve a restock fee or at the least to wait 7 more days for your new toy.

Poor you. And you're not saving $135, that's nearly the difference between the iPad 3G (32 gb) and the 32 gb wifi. Math is fun.
 
Am I the only one getting sick of the way Apple implements these asinine policies?

I'm hoping this is a temporary thing to try and limit the amount of iPads people try to buy for the sole purpose of reselling.

Also wondering, is this every single store or just those near the US/Canada border?
 
Why are you rewarding Apple by buying an Airport Extreme after they have been dishonest with you? Vote with your wallet man!
 
kloan said:
Am I the only one getting sick of the way Apple implements these asinine policies?

I'm hoping this is a temporary thing to try and limit the amount of iPads people try to buy for the sole purpose of reselling.

Also wondering, is this every single store or just those near the US/Canada border?
Click to expand...

It's every store and it's a good policy.
 
i dont mind the cash thing but not taking your own gift cards its absolute BS. you want his name? make him put atleast $10 on a debit card but take the flipping giftcard.
 
kloan said:
Right, sure it is. Care to explain why you think this is a good policy, or should I just take your word for it?
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Well considering you have no proof of it being a bad policy ... sure, i'll entertain. *******s on eBay buying them up to resell making it impossible for someone who just wants one to use and not resell, that's point one.

Smug is cute on you.
 
So I guess it's a good idea for me to deposit all the money I made by selling 4 iPad Wifi directly into my bank....

But I really wouldn't think of anything else... especially NOT putting money into Apple giftcard or Macy's or GAP or Banana Republic or Bestbuy or ANY giftcard knowing I will use the money myself in which I can just swipe my bank debit card for anything!

I am confused... :confused::confused::confused:
 
jessica. said:
Well considering you have no proof of it being a bad policy ... sure, i'll entertain. *******s on eBay buying them up to resell making it impossible for someone who just wants one to use and not resell, that's point one.

Smug is cute on you.
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Umm, hello? That was the example I had in the post you quoted me -> "limit the amount of iPads people try to buy for the sole purpose of reselling".

People can just as easily do that with credit cards.

But thanks all the same... I think you're cute too.
 
jessica. said:
How is any of this Apple's fault? They need to limit the number of ipads. Sold to customers or whatever. You deciding to rent your iPad wifi for a month then return it for a gift card because you can't control your own spending or whatever the reason, none of this is Apple's fault. And the part about getting extra money for your troubles is hilarious. What trouble? The trouble of not being able to resist buying the latest and greatest? Yeah you deserve a restock fee or at the least to wait 7 more days for your new toy.

Poor you. And you're not saving $135, that's nearly the difference between the iPad 3G (32 gb) and the 32 gb wifi. Math is fun.
Click to expand...

I never "decided," to "rent," the iPad. I bought the wi-fi version and sold the wi-fi version. I do find humor in the fact that before any of this happened, I defended Apple's flexibility in their return policy. That iPad has been in someone else's hands for a week now. The money for that iPad has been in Apple's bank account for a week now. Can you still sit back and tell me that it's been "rented"? I'm lucky this worked out for the buyer and me.

As for the "latest and greatest," remark, I made it through college with my four year old iMac. I now have a job that's paid for the iPad and a new, bottom-of-the-line iMac. Yes, I will be trying to enjoy this post college life.

I sold the wi-fi iPad below its return value to help that person out. She now has a new job that enabled her to get a 3G. The $135 is the amount I forwent by selling it and not returning it. Of course, this all changed today.
 
Zazoh said:
I don't know how old you are but surely you have heard this ...

Fool me once shame on you.
Fool me twice shame on me.
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Yes I will never buy another Apple gift card again. This will be my first and last bad experience with this facet of Apple.
 
kloan said:
Umm, hello? That was the example I had in the post you quoted me -> "limit the amount of iPads people try to buy for the sole purpose of reselling".

People can just as easily do that with credit cards.

But thanks all the same... I think you're cute too.
Click to expand...

I think Apple is trying to cut down idiots from buying the iPad.
 
rasputinj said:
I think Apple is trying to cut down idiots from buying the iPad.
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yeah, except this won't work. lots of people have high limits on their credit cards.

if anything, this is just a way to track people's purchases. perhaps they're linking serial numbers to people's IDs so that if they are resold, and the buyer registers it, they can track it. of course that wouldn't account for people who buy them for others, such as me who doesn't have credit cards. but if they buy in quantities, and then different names are showing up, then they'd see it.

even if that's the case... then what?? there's nothing in any of Apple's policies that says people aren't allowed to resell them.

again, i think this policy is BS.
 
jessica. said:
How is any of this Apple's fault? They need to limit the number of ipads. Sold to customers or whatever. You deciding to rent your iPad wifi for a month then return it for a gift card because you can't control your own spending or whatever the reason, none of this is Apple's fault. And the part about getting extra money for your troubles is hilarious. What trouble? The trouble of not being able to resist buying the latest and greatest? Yeah you deserve a restock fee or at the least to wait 7 more days for your new toy.

Poor you. And you're not saving $135, that's nearly the difference between the iPad 3G (32 gb) and the 32 gb wifi. Math is fun.
Click to expand...

I have no opinions about anything said in this thread but as soon as I read the bold sentence above I couldn't stop laughing. I like that.
 
This sounds more like a minor annoyance than an awful deceit. This also seems to be built on a series of decisions that weren't thought out in advance by every party involved except Apple.
 
kloan said:
yeah, except this won't work. lots of people have high limits on their credit cards.

if anything, this is just a way to track people's purchases. perhaps they're linking serial numbers to people's IDs so that if they are resold, and the buyer registers it, they can track it. of course that wouldn't account for people who buy them for others, such as me who doesn't have credit cards. but if they buy in quantities, and then different names are showing up, then they'd see it.

even if that's the case... then what?? there's nothing in any of Apple's policies that says people aren't allowed to resell them.

again, i think this policy is BS.
Click to expand...

It is unfortunately quite simple. You need a credit card to get the 3G service plan, so apple requires you have a credit card to buy the iPad.
 
tacoshell said:
It is unfortunately quite simple. You need a credit card to get the 3G service plan, so apple requires you have a credit card to buy the iPad.
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Possibly, but you're not required to sign up with a plan at the time of purchase.
 
I know this is rather unamerican to say but here it goes. You are not entitled to be able to buy an iPad.

Apple is a business offering a product. If you want said product you must follow the rules set fourt by the seller.

Maybe we should get obama involved. It's just not fair one cannot buy an iPad the way he/she wants.

Get over it and play by the rules. If you don't like the rules you don't have to play.

Maybe go by a Best Buy card next time.
 
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