Paddy going to a retail store which has an independent pricing structure and mark-up, V -buying from the manufacturer is quite different.
If Ethan Allen and their own retail store, for example, releases a new design in spring, it would be reasonable for a consumer to speculate that the winter fabric and or design would be different, no doubt, but it would be unreasonable for the manufacturer to discount the Spring Stock in May and sell fabric with pictures of snow drifts and give away earmuffs with every purchase before the kids are out of school, because they want to get an early jump on the holiday frenzy. No one went to the Motorola store to buy a Razr, there are retail mark-up involved in your examples.
Lets say you just dropped $50 grand on a 2008 Infinity, would it be reasonable to assume the Infinity would discount the car 33% before 2008? Would it be reasonable of Infinity to offer a 2009 addition in November of 2007? NO ….Why, because we can use the industries trends to understand the release cycles and make intelligent purchases accordingly. We know new cars are released in August and September and would be foolish enough to buy last years model at full retail knowing that that next years model is on the floor at the same price.
I think Apple took their best shot at the faithful and lost. They used arbitrary excuses about the nature of the industry, bent their own marketing cycles, imposed a Geek tax, reversed the decision, offered a rebate, lit a fire of contempt and suspicion on future products and….if they had not offered the rebate would have done irreparable damage to their image. The case would have been brought to court with a lot more steam behind it and the court would have defined what was reasonable, taking the power away from the industry to exploit consumers when the opportunity suits them.
Because of this action and the losses sustained by a few hundred thousand people, millions of potential Apple customers will have this example to refer too and be able to make a better choice as to what to purchase and when to purchase it.
A few days ago I was speaking to a student who waited in line and purchased an iPhone at the Mall , he was happy with his purchase, but when I asked him if he would buy the first release of the new iWatch, he said it was unlikely. He knows now that Apple is not the company it once was and would make future purchases accordingly. Being an early bird on Apple's Block could cost you dearly.
I've seen many arguments on the subject, most want to compare other products or companies and discount the special relationship the Apple had, this is a strawman argument IMO, it does not include the most important element of the product, which was the Apple consumer.
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RHPConsult Posted Yesterday, 08:28 PM
Just how many angels do you propose have a dance on the head of this pin, SB?
I don't know Dick, Apple conceded and gave a rebate, all that's left is customer satisfaction, I guess?
