Apple ends $100 iPhone rebate?

December 3, 2007 By

Maryam went into the Stanford Apple Store tonight and wanted to get her $100 rebate. She was told that the rebate had ended three days ago and that she wouldn’t be able to get her $100. Drat. This happen to anyone else? I’m sure it has and that Apple is banking on it.

Filed Under: April Fools
  • Dave

    Didn’t she ever think to, you know, do something like go online to obtain it? Took me all of 5 minutes to obtain mine back in September.

    The key word here is “obtain” Robert. That $100 coupon has no expiration date. But sure, Apple was VERY upfront about an expiration date for getting it.

    Oh, and they made it very very easy to imply go to their online store and reserve it for use anytime/anyplace.

    I’d have thought ‘net savvy people like you two would have found 5 minutes to do that.

  • Dave

    Didn’t she ever think to, you know, do something like go online to obtain it? Took me all of 5 minutes to obtain mine back in September.

    The key word here is “obtain” Robert. That $100 coupon has no expiration date. But sure, Apple was VERY upfront about an expiration date for getting it.

    Oh, and they made it very very easy to imply go to their online store and reserve it for use anytime/anyplace.

    I’d have thought ‘net savvy people like you two would have found 5 minutes to do that.

  • Guest

    I used mine the day after Thanksgiving but I went to

    http://www.apple.com/iphone/storecredit/

    after the announcement in early September and got my code. I’d hope that most would have done that by now. I would say to some degree Apple knew many wouldn’t take the time to get their refund just like companies sell gift cards with the idea that many won’t get used.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,237278,00.html

  • Scott

    I used mine the day after Thanksgiving but I went to

    http://www.apple.com/iphone/storecredit/

    after the announcement in early September and got my code. I’d hope that most would have done that by now. I would say to some degree Apple knew many wouldn’t take the time to get their refund just like companies sell gift cards with the idea that many won’t get used.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,237278,00.html

  • Angel

    I believe it was listed on the main Apple page for months….I don’t own an iPhone and I knew it was ending last week.

  • Angel

    I believe it was listed on the main Apple page for months….I don’t own an iPhone and I knew it was ending last week.

  • http://mickeleh.blogspot.com/ Michael Markman

    Sorry you missed your chance. BTW, a couple of months back at my local Apple Store I made a purchase and asked what I needed to do to get the iPhone rebate.

    The guy at the counter asked, “what’s your phone number?” Then he punched a few keys and clicked, I got a text message on my iPhone, read it to him and got a hundred bucks off my purchase. That’s about as painless a rebate as I’ve ever had anywhere.

  • http://mickeleh.blogspot.com Michael Markman

    Sorry you missed your chance. BTW, a couple of months back at my local Apple Store I made a purchase and asked what I needed to do to get the iPhone rebate.

    The guy at the counter asked, “what’s your phone number?” Then he punched a few keys and clicked, I got a text message on my iPhone, read it to him and got a hundred bucks off my purchase. That’s about as painless a rebate as I’ve ever had anywhere.

  • http://www.geise.com/ PXLated

    Gift Cards are similar (have expiration dates) and huge money makers for the merchants. I just saw a kiosk in the grocery store with cards for at least 200 (probably more) different merchants. About the only thing missing were cards for dental or medical services and I wouldn’t be surprised if that isn’t next.

  • http://www.geise.com PXLated

    Gift Cards are similar (have expiration dates) and huge money makers for the merchants. I just saw a kiosk in the grocery store with cards for at least 200 (probably more) different merchants. About the only thing missing were cards for dental or medical services and I wouldn’t be surprised if that isn’t next.

  • Wanderley

    To be fair, Apple was really clear since the beginning that you had until November 30th to go get your rebate.

    It says: “Requests for the $100 credit must be submitted by November 30, 2007.”

    It’s still in Google’s cache if you care enough.

  • Wanderley

    To be fair, Apple was really clear since the beginning that you had until November 30th to go get your rebate.

    It says: “Requests for the $100 credit must be submitted by November 30, 2007.”

    It’s still in Google’s cache if you care enough.

  • Alijah Green

    Snooze you lose.

  • Alijah Green

    Snooze you lose.

  • Ron

    Nice attempt at link bait. But seems to have made you look out of touch

  • Ron

    Nice attempt at link bait. But seems to have made you look out of touch

  • http://www.lit-fuse.net/blog Caryn

    That sucks, but pretty typical as a few other (non-snarky) commenters here have mentioned. The reality is that if Apple was really worried about doing the right thing, they would have sent a certificate to every registered consumer.

  • http://www.lit-fuse.net/blog Caryn

    That sucks, but pretty typical as a few other (non-snarky) commenters here have mentioned. The reality is that if Apple was really worried about doing the right thing, they would have sent a certificate to every registered consumer.

  • http://www.gadgetguy.de/ Frank Koehntopp

    Come ooon, Robert- why didn’t she go for it when it was announced? How long does Apple have to accept requests before you deem it appropriate..?
    Pleeeese….

  • http://www.gadgetguy.de Frank Koehntopp

    Come ooon, Robert- why didn’t she go for it when it was announced? How long does Apple have to accept requests before you deem it appropriate..?
    Pleeeese….

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Frank: we own three iPhones. Two of which got the rebate. It just didn’t cross my mind. I’m glad to hear you all are so perfect and remember every date and do everything when you’re supposed to.

    Apple could have emailed us a reminder. They know our email address (my receipts come to the same email address) and they knew when we purchased our iPhones.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Frank: we own three iPhones. Two of which got the rebate. It just didn’t cross my mind. I’m glad to hear you all are so perfect and remember every date and do everything when you’re supposed to.

    Apple could have emailed us a reminder. They know our email address (my receipts come to the same email address) and they knew when we purchased our iPhones.

  • pauroberts

    This was widely reported when they announced it. Sorry, but that’s a baddie on your and Maryam’s part. Yeah, they could have emailed you, but they were pretty clear about it. It’s not like there not in the business to make money and they follow their own rules, not yours.

  • pauroberts

    This was widely reported when they announced it. Sorry, but that’s a baddie on your and Maryam’s part. Yeah, they could have emailed you, but they were pretty clear about it. It’s not like there not in the business to make money and they follow their own rules, not yours.

  • http://www.constantskeptic.com/ the constant skeptic

    I am waiting for the 3g iphones due early next year ( probably second quarter 08)

  • http://www.constantskeptic.com/ the constant skeptic

    I am waiting for the 3g iphones due early next year ( probably second quarter 08)

  • Tosh

    Remember folks, Apple is the company that made a video player that requires one to pay $10 just to be able to play videos full screen (they finally ended that disgusting policy just recently).

    So I’m not surprised that Apple would hide the expiration date of the rebates in fine print.

  • Tosh

    Remember folks, Apple is the company that made a video player that requires one to pay $10 just to be able to play videos full screen (they finally ended that disgusting policy just recently).

    So I’m not surprised that Apple would hide the expiration date of the rebates in fine print.

  • Kirk

    Tosh: Big print at the top of the rebate page isn’t exactly “fine print”

  • Kirk

    Tosh: Big print at the top of the rebate page isn’t exactly “fine print”

  • Kris in houston

    Well I bought my 4GB Iphone on “Opening Night”—I was aware of the rebate, but “assumed” that I needed to go to the store I purchased the phone.
    When I went in Dec — of course I was told “too bad, so sad…”
    Well Apple has ALL my info…I get emails once a week — a courtesy email or two about the rebate would have helped those of us who are not glued to the apple website. I am very jaded about the company now.

  • Kris in houston

    Well I bought my 4GB Iphone on “Opening Night”—I was aware of the rebate, but “assumed” that I needed to go to the store I purchased the phone.
    When I went in Dec — of course I was told “too bad, so sad…”
    Well Apple has ALL my info…I get emails once a week — a courtesy email or two about the rebate would have helped those of us who are not glued to the apple website. I am very jaded about the company now.