For my 40th birthday, my family got together and gave me an Apple gift card so I could go purchase a 3g iPad.
I didn’t have the greatest experience when I went to the Apple store to use this gift card because they wouldn’t let me use the gift card THEY issued to buy THEIR iPad. Don’t get me wrong… I love Apple and all of their products, but what unfolded during this experience was unbelievable for me.
When I left the store I called my family to tell them what happened… which is where we now pick up with the email my mother has sent to Steve Jobs.
Before you read this below… The reason I was told that iPads could no longer be paid for by cash or gift card was to be able to track the number of iPad’s sold per person, which is a limit of 2 per person.
Here’s what gets me.
This is the same company that gives me the ability, with an iPhone, to take a picture in the middle of Africa and geo tag where the photo was taken…. But they can’t seem to track purchases made with their own gift card? right….
Dear Mr. Jobs: My son, who is a stockholder… although on a minor scale… told me to be brief and to the point… this I will try to do… On April 24, 2010, my youngest son and I went to the Apple Store in Green Hills, Nashville. Tn.. to purchase a gift card for son and older brother who was turning 40 yrs old… The entire family had “pooled” our resources. Because the next IPad was due on Apr 30, we chose to buy the gift certificate. This I did … for $700.00… the store was busy with activity, but we were assured that any time after April 30, the IPad could be bought WITH the giftcard.. FROM THE APPLE STORE. Fast forward to last week… my son went to the same Apple Store where the gift card had been purchased and got an IPAD… well, he almost got it… When he gave his APPLE gift card for payment, your employees would not accept the APPLE Gift card… It seems that “policy has changed,,, we can no longer accept anything but a credit card or a debit card…” I called the store and although the manager was very nice… “policy has changed… etc.”… to which I asked, “Does ‘MR. APPLE’ know about this?” I was assured that you did know about it… in fact,,, you made the new policy… I was flabbergasted… “Cash” ( from the Apple store) is no longer good at the Apple Store for an IPAD.. There must be rhyme and reason to your new policy, but perhaps you should honor the gift cards that were purchased before you made new policy. I am the only member of our family that does not have an IPhone.or an Apple computer… they all have Apple computers… usually 2 or 3 per family… They love your products… and I probably would also… what I am saying is your products are fabulous… your new policy needs some “tweeking”. Thanks for listening… Sincerely, Nancy Jane Smith UPDATE… APPLE REVERSED THEIR DECISION! YOU CAN NOW USE CASH OR A GIFT CARD TO BUY AN IPAD! YES! WAY TO GO MR. APPLE:)
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