iPhone Vs TiVo S3 Marketing and execution

LOL, you think that what Apple just did to it's most loyal customers is GOOD marketing? They just stole $200 from the pockets of those most dedicated to them - no company does a 30% price drop without planning it months in advance, so Apple deliberately overcharged at launch knowing full well that in less than two months the price cut was coming. Then they give a credit that's only good to buy more Apple hardware! This is a textbook example of how NOT to market a product, as the stock price drop on a day when it should have skyroketed plainly shows.

The $100 credit is about as good as Microsoft's vouchers they have been forced to give out. The credit just goes back to benefit Apple when fanboys end up spending more money on Apple products from their store. Sorry, but this is not a model TiVo needs to be following.

Btw, you failed to mention the reason Apple had to lower the price on the iPhone so quickly which I think is pretty obvious. TiVo never lowered the price of the S3 unless you count today's announcement of a rebate.

Apple iPhone people are a bunch of crybabies! WAH

If you want to be first on the block to own new Tech, you have to pay the price.

I paid $999 and 599 for a blu-ray and HD-DVD, but I was one of first in Dallas to own one!

Of course I sold those units now on EBAY and now have 3rd generation units.

So I think the iPhone babies are cry babies... Booo hoooo


TGC

I bought an iphone at $599 and will gladly use the $100 for something.

But it's nothing close to good marketing or execution, and what are they really giving me?

If i bought Ilife for $99, what is it costing them? $5 for the packaging and disc?

-smak-

In any case Apple can easily afford those $100 vouchers - Tivo can't. Though if Tivo would give me a second S3 remote for being an rabid earlu adopter, I would not complain....

If Tivo fans were rabid, T-Shirt wearing, car sticker placing, product hording, microsoft bashing loonies, we would get a product rebate too! (We are almost there... haha)

I have come to expect that the price of technology will continuously fall, and once it is outside of the price match time period, I don't even pay attention. I bought an ipod photo when mr jobs announced there would be no ipod video. 2 weeks later there was an ipod video. i bought an ipod video 60 gb, a month later a 80gb version was released at the same price. This is typical practice for Apple, and it is annoying, but I am getting an ipod touch (already preordered), and will continue to buy apple nonsense because I like it. But it really is a lot of BS wrapped in a shiny package that works really well!

EVizzle said:

but I am getting an ipod touch (already preordered)

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The iPod touch with its wifi enable safari browser will revolutionize portable media players. I ma more excited about that device than the iphone

I've started at least 5 replies and pulled all of them.

But the S3 situation is nothing at all like the iPhone scenario, I can't even force them into the same ZIP code.

Tivo may have their issues, and *you* feel they screwed the pooch on the S3 marketing, but I feel they didn't.

Apple did a huge price drop very quickly, and within many credit card price match dates, I give Apple props for a creative way out of a mess, but it's not at all comparable to Tivo.

Diane

ZeoTiVo said:

The iPod touch with its wifi enable safari browser will revolutionize portable media players. I ma more excited about that device than the iphone

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My excitement for such a device started when I started to need a PDA. What I really wanted was a Palm Lifedrive (how did this fail/slip through the cracks!?!?!?!) but because it wasn't produced anymore, I settled on a wifi HP iPaq and while it was ok, the lack of storage space (2GB SD card max) led me to putting it on ebay. I had a slingplayer installed on it and it worked great, but battery life was a little low too. If i can get the slingplayer on the ipod, i will be set.

Instead of carrying a cell phone, ipod, pda/wifi device, i can pack the ipod touch and cell phone and maybe carry the digital camera a little more!

But seriously, what happened with the Lifedrive? Seems like a GREAT device, not sure what prevented it from revolutionizing portable media devices.

smak said:

If i bought Ilife for $99, what is it costing them? $5 for the packaging and disc?
-smak-

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You seem to be forgetting the cost of actually paying the programmers and developing the product. By your reasoning all music CD's should sell for $0.45 to pay for the case and CD.

Illrigger said:

LOL, you think that what Apple just did to it's most loyal customers is GOOD marketing? They just stole $200 from the pockets of those most dedicated to them - no company does a 30% price drop without planning it months in advance, so Apple deliberately overcharged at launch knowing full well that in less than two months the price cut was coming. Then they give a credit that's only good to buy more Apple hardware! This is a textbook example of how NOT to market a product, as the stock price drop on a day when it should have skyroketed plainly shows.

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TOUCHE! excellent point, and thats one reason i convinced my son NOT to get the iphone for at least 6 months. also, apple has a track record of battery problems on newly released stuff, so i figured all would shake out within that time frame.

Illrigger said:

They just stole $200 from the pockets of those most dedicated to them - no company does a 30% price drop without planning it months in advance, so Apple deliberately overcharged at launch knowing full well that in less than two months the price cut was coming. Then they give a credit that's only good to buy more Apple hardware! This is a textbook example of how NOT to market a product, as the stock price drop on a day when it should have skyroketed plainly shows.

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Interestingly, the rapid price drop works out OK for those early adopters who paid for their IPhones with an AmEx card. Since it is within 90 days, AMEX will refund the $200 price drop under their purchase protection program. Had Apple waited past 90 days to drop the price, the purchase protection program would not apply.

dolcevita said:

Interestingly, the rapid price drop works out OK for those early adopters who paid for their IPhones with an AmEx card. Since it is within 90 days, AMEX will refund the $200 price drop under their purchase protection program. Had Apple waited past 90 days to drop the price, the purchase protection program would not apply.

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I am glad AMEX has such a policy, where can I find information about other companies policies (possibly without reading the enclosed foldout jargon)?

EVizzle said:

I am glad AMEX has such a policy, where can I find information about other companies policies (possibly without reading the enclosed foldout jargon)?

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Try going to the website of the issuing card company and review the listing of benefits.

Amex's Price Production actually (officially) doesn't cover this, but they are making exceptions in this case, it seems:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone/american-express-honoring-price-protection-for-iphones-297684.php

They aren't necessarily making exceptions...but they are submitting claims to their Product Protection Program. There is no guarantee at this time that any claims will be honored, and considering the program doesn't cover this sort of thing that is certainly understandable. I just went through the painless process and will see how it shakes out. Even if the claim is denied, I am extremely impressed with the level of service given by Amex....the girl on the phone absolutely couldn't have been nicer.

Randy

Fofer said:

Amex's Price Production actually (officially) doesn't cover this, but they are making exceptions in this case, it seems:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/iphone/american-express-honoring-price-protection-for-iphones-297684.php

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from that link:

BY SSELLICK AT 09/07/07 05:44 PM Just called AmEx (Platnium) and they said it's a no-go for iPhone price protection. They are referring callers to Apple

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I'd wager it's a "YMMV" situation. CSR roulette, and your history with Amex, probably play into it...

That's odd...I just called yesterday (only Gold though ), and the extremely nice girl all but insisted that we file the claim. I honestly can't believe they will take a hit on this, but you never know....time will tell!

Randy