Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
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.

Or maybe don't buy any giftcard altogether because swiping giftcard and debit card is the same... except debit card are accepted almost everywhere...
 
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.
That's great advice. Except, kind of totally inapplicable. We're consumers. We feed businesses. They should listen to us. It's OUR money that makes them survive.

I'd love to see how the rest of America would react to this kind of thing if more retailers started implementing this kind of policy.

The death of cash, gift cards and debit cards as we know it.

"Sorry, we only accept Credit Cards."
 
There are probably people in America who don't realize you need a debit or credit card to buy an iPad 3g, but are there any people on this forum who don't realize that?

A gift card is not a debit card or credit card. It's alike in that it has a magnetic strip. It's different in the important ways - a semi-permanent thing you use with your name on it that allows Apple to track how many iPads you've bought.
 
That's great advice.

I'd love to see how the rest of America would react to this kind of thing if more retailers started implementing this kind of policy.

The death of cash, gift cards and debit cards as we know it.

"Sorry, we only accept Credit Cards."

I'm sure Apple accepts debit card as well
 
illutionz said:
Except that's not the reason and some people may not even activate the 3G anytime soon ;)

And you believe that's not the reason why? I got my wifi at best buy. Did apple require credit cards for wifi versions?
 
I'm sure Apple accepts debit card as well

Oh, you sure? I thought someone said they were told credit cards only.

Debit/cash... man, they're basically the same thing. It really must be an identity thing and being able to track purchasers.

Whatever, I don't feel like going on about it... I'll find a way to get one. ****, considering how long it's going to take my Apple refund cheque to show up, the policy will probably be lifted.
 
Why would it be the reason? Buying the device doesn't require subscription to 3g. If Apple refused to sell it to you if you aren't going to get 3g service, they could easily structure the sale that way, and they went out of their way not to make the 3g service mandatory.

Apple is requiring a credit or debit card to track and limit each person's purchases, to prevent speculators from buying 50 and putting them on ebay at a markup that annoys customers without giving Apple any benefit.
 
And you believe that's not the reason why? I got my wifi at best buy. Did apple require credit cards for wifi versions?

Again because not everybody will even activate the 3G connection after purchasing or even use it anytime soon... and most probably Apple realized the rampant reseller on eBay capitalizing the delayed international launch (including myself) :rolleyes:

Requiring usage of CC or Debit card means they can track the number and name....
 
Oh, you sure? I thought someone said they were told credit cards only.

Debit/cash... man, they're basically the same thing. It really must be an identity thing and being able to track purchasers.

Whatever, I don't feel like going on about it... I'll find a way to get one. ****, considering how long it's going to take my Apple refund cheque to show up, the policy will probably be lifted.

Yeah like I mentioned previously, most likely this measure is to curb ebay reselling....

Check out the thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/907211/
 
Maybe go by a Best Buy card next time.

Bingo! Whether or not a person likes or agrees with Apple's policy in its own stores, Apple is still giving people a chance to buy the product in cash or in larger quantities at Best Buy (they may have a per transaction limit but I haven't heard of a per person lifetime limit for those bought in Best Buy stores). I am guessing there are more Best Buy stores that will sell the iPad than Apple Stores out there. While there are three Apple Stores within an hour or so of my house, I know that there are even more Best Buys carrying the same product. I also know that where I am now (up in IL) has no Apple Stores within two hours but a lot of Best Buy stores carrying the product.

Thus, if you're paying cash, just go to a Best Buy store. You won't be getting any different iPad, and I'm guessing if you take it into the Apple Store, they'll even help you learn how to use it - if that's the lure of buying from an Apple Store. It also sounds like the Apple Stores are willing to refund gift card amounts for those people who purchased Apple gift cards to buy the iPad.

Does anyone have an Apple Store by them but not a Best Buy that carries Apple products in the vicinity?
 
Straight answer because i got my wifi iPad at best buy. Did apple require credit cards for wifi iPad 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.

The rules were set three (3) days ago, the gift card was bought six (6) days ago.

I only posted this thread to share my experience, I am now content with the outcome. If anything should change, it should be Apple letting its consumers know the rules. Post it on the website, maybe let someone know before they buy a gift card.


"Get over it and play by the rules." Clearly you're ready for Obama's healthcare.
 
Yeah like I mentioned previously, most likely this measure is to curb ebay reselling....

Check out the thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/907211/

Yeah, I posted in that thread as well.

I get this is what they're trying to achieve, but in reality I don't think it will make a difference. Lots of people have very high limits on their credit cards.

The only thing they're going to achieve is the ability to link purchases/serial numbers with people's IDs. What they do with that information is anybody's guess.
 
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.
It's the exact same policy Apple used with the original iPhone to prevent people from walking in and buying 10 at a time for reselling, leaving legit purchasers like you frustrated because Apple is always sold out.

You can always tell when Apple's getting ready to update a product, as they'll drop restrictions (like how they no longer require that you have a valid AT&T account in order to buy iPhone 3GS for full price).
 
It's the exact same policy Apple used with the original iPhone to prevent people from walking in and buying 10 at a time for reselling, leaving legit purchasers like you frustrated because Apple is always sold out.

You can always tell when Apple's getting ready to update a product, as they'll drop restrictions (like how they no longer require that you have a valid AT&T account in order to buy iPhone 3GS for full price).

I remember that, but it's a little different as people were required to sign up with an AT&T account (if you didn't already have one at the time) when purchasing the iPhone.

I don't believe this is required when purchasing the iPad 3G.
 
I get this is what they're trying to achieve, but in reality I don't think it will make a difference. Lots of people have very high limits on their credit cards.
Their credit limit has nothing to do with this. Once you have purchased two iPads with that credit card, the next time you go to buy an iPad with the same card, Apple will not allow the sale to proceed.
 
I remember that, but it's a little different as people were required to sign up with an AT&T account (if you didn't already have one at the time) when purchasing the iPhone.
The original iPhone didn't require having or signing up for an AT&T account at the time of purchase. That was the one you took home and activated yourself. Exactly the same situation as the iPad 3G. :)
 
Their credit limit has nothing to do with this. Once you have purchased two iPads with that credit card, the next time you go to buy an iPad with the same card, Apple will not allow the sale to proceed.
Makes sense.
The original iPhone didn't require having or signing up for an AT&T account at the time of purchase. That was the one you took home and activated yourself. Exactly the same situation as the iPad 3G. :)

Ah, right..

Ok, I'm satisfied. :)
 
I just wish Apple would go a little further with this.

If you buy anything from Apple with an educational discount, they'll ask for a gov't issued ID number (drivers license, military ID, state ID) and track that to limit you to two educational discounts a year.

I think that if they did the same for the legit people looking to purchase iPads with cash, they'd save a few headaches for everyone! :)
 
I just wish Apple would go a little further with this.

If you buy anything from Apple with an educational discount, they'll ask for a gov't issued ID number (drivers license, military ID, state ID) and track that to limit you to two educational discounts a year.

I think that if they did the same for the legit people looking to purchase iPads with cash, they'd save a few headaches for everyone! :)

? They never ask me for anything when I buy with my student discount.....

Anyway yes, the limitation may suck but I am on Apple's side with this one. I used to work at Circuit City back in 2002 and I always remembered we had to limit quantities of anything popular and hand out vouchers because people would always try and buy up all the stock leaving the rest of the people in line empty handed.

If you want to see an example of why Apple's limiting policy is a good thing, look at the crap company "Stubhub" who buys up almost all the seats to any sporting event and charges you double or more to get them.
 
? They never ask me for anything when I buy with my student discount...
Before they can total your sale up and accept payment, the POS software won't proceed without them entering your school and ID info. If they didn't ask you, then they typed in bogus info for you. ;)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.