Apple repeals no-cash policy, gives woman free iPad for her troubles
Diane Campbell lives on a fixed income, and saved up money to buy an iPad from an Apple store in San Francisco. But when she attempted to purchase the device with cash, she was denied, based on an Apple policy designed to ensure the product is fairly distributed as the hardware is in short supply.
"Mr. Jobs, give a sister a break, OK?" she told the KGO-TV San Francisco news station. "I'm not going to go sell my iPad."
After the station featured Campbell's story, Apple responded. Ron Johnson, Apple's senior vice president of retail, spoke with the newscast to reveal that Apple would no longer continue its credit-only policy.
"It came to our attention that Diane, through your story was very interested in buying an iPad with cash," Johnson said. "And we made a decision today to change that."
Apple's original intent was to make sure that its policy restricting iPad preorders to two per customer was properly enforced. Apple has faced strong demand and limited supply of the iPad since it first launched in the U.S. on April 3.
Now, anyone can pay for an iPad with cash, as long as they set up their Apple account at the store. The iPad must first be connected to a PC or Mac with iTunes to be activated regardless.
Apple also sent two employees to Campbell's home to personally deliver her an iPad, free of charge. She excitedly thanked Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
"I am just so excited," she said to the ABC station holding her brand new iPad enclosed in Apple's official case. "Words cannot explain right now."
93 Comments
Another example of free advertising from Apple. Great story, great ending!
A great PR gesture! I am seeing news reports of this all over. What a "feel good" story.
You could not buy this kind of advertising!
A great PR gesture! I am seeing news reports of this all over. What a "feel good" story.
You could not buy this kind of advertising!
Sure you can. For the price of an iPad. Obviously. :P
I went with my 12 year old nephew last week who cleaned out his savings account of good grade rewards, birthday money etc to buy an ipad. All cash. It was our second trip since the first time they were sold out and we had to sign up to wait for one.
I didn't know about the policy, but wasn't going to raise a fuss since I'm aware (from having done retail myself) that there's nothing illegal about the restriction. I was going to buy the ipad for him with my debit card and then go deposit his cash into my account on the way home.
But then I figured give it a shot and politely asked to speak to a manager. This by the way was an an LA store in an area that is rumored to get a lot of resellers trying to buy stuff.
I explained the situation to the manager who totally waived the rule and let Lucas buy his ipad himself, with cash. The manager even rang Lucas up himself, helped him activate the ipad and told him about a couple of games his son (who is about the same age) really likes.
Kind of makes me wonder if Ms Campbell actually spoke to a manager or just took her no and her indignation out the door and to ABC.
She should have asked Steve Jobs to sign it, posted on eBay and made an even bigger profit IMO.