Apple Limits iPhones Sales to Two per Person, No Cash
Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:39AM EDT
See Comments (23)
The iPhone will be a hot item this holiday season, but if you plan to buy an iPhone for every member of your family, you're going to face some obstacles if you need more than two. According to the Associated Foreign Press, Apple plans to limit the number of iPhone sales per customer to two in order to prevent illegal trafficking. On top of that, the company will not accept cash as payment for iPhones, so you'll need to break out the plastic to help Apple track iPhone sales.
The reports have been confirmed by Apple, who already has this policy in place. So why the sudden limitations? Apparently, Apple wants to "ensure enough iPhones will be in stock this Christmas for people shopping for gifts or themselves," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. But the truth is the company estimates that of the 1.4 million units sold, over 250,000 iPhones may have been unlocked to work on unauthorized networks, so this is just another way to restrict resellers and unlocking activity.
Since the price on the iPhone dropped back in September, the number of unlocked iPhones has increased. It's been reported that some people had been buying up to five phones at a time, modifying them with unlocking software, then reselling them to folks overseas. Apple released an iPhone update last month that rendered unlocked iPhones unusable, but hackers found a way to restore some of its functions—and so the battle rages on.
What do you think? Should Apple be taking such extreme measures against unlockers?
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2 Posted by tjd_purplecrazy_84 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:34AM EDT Report Abuse
why would apple really care if people unlock their iphones? apple will still sell, or even sell more, of their phones. the people that should be caring is AT&T
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3 Posted by vochoa0371 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:15AM EDT Report Abuse
I do not own an iPHONE but the big mistake is that Apple only decided to go with one carrier. TJD_Purplecrazy_84 hit the point right on the money. The only one to worry would be the carrier AT&T not Apple. In any event, wish everyone the best who has an iPHONE and trying to unlock it. Hope it does not cost you too much money and problems.
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4 Posted by dbsdammit on Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:20AM EDT Report Abuse
Yes, I feel it is very neccessary. 250,000 out of 1.4 milion is way too high of a statistic for this brand new product. Apple is going to enforce this regulation in order to reduce the number of unlocked phones; but...mind you, this will not stop the unlocking from happening.
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5 Posted by akioohtori on Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:45AM EDT Report Abuse
I don't really see what the big deal is. Kiehl's has a 3 item limit, but nobody gets their panties in a knot because they can't buy four bottles of shaving cream. Neiman Marcus only accepts American Express and cash, but no one "takes them to task" for it. If Apple wants to say they'll only sell you an iPhone with a credit card if you stand on your head with a clown nose while chewing jerky, I'm pretty sure people will do it if it meant getting an iPhone. People will buy them if they want to buy them, regardless. But the people buying the unlocked phones better think about getting an additional warranty or insurance from the reseller, since Apple has all but said that they won't support unlocked phones.
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1 Posted by powrescue143 on Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:20AM EDT Report Abuse
I don't think the "no cash" rule can be enforced. US currency is "....legal tender for all cebts, public and private". It will be interesting to see if someone takes a merchant to task over this.