iPhone Agnst?

On Friday night I couldn’t resist it anymore. My boss and one of my colleagues were taunting me with their new phone. And man, I couldn’t resist the DPI.

So I became an iPhone owner.

And it’s the best thing in consumer electronics since the Tivo. It’s that good. It’s life changing.

Cue dramatic music. Cue Karen saying “Yup, confirmed geek.”

Anyhow, today Mr. Jobs announced a 0 price drop on the iPhone, so I thought:

1. I’m pissed.
2. Apple are a cool company.
3. I’ll call them. On my iPhone.

So out came Google Maps on the aforementioned communications device. Search. Apple Store. Up pops the details. Click the phone number.

Bzztt preeeaaaarrrk.

Oops. Apparently a fax line is listed as their Bellevue store’s phone number. No problems - I click the listed url instead and click on the listed phone number displayed on the resultant page.

“Hi! I bought an iPhone from you a few days ago and I notice that you’ve just dropped the price by two hundred bucks. Can I get a refund on the difference?”

“Well, not exactly”, says she.

“But we can do a return for a $60 restocking feed. You’ll save $140!”

“Cool!”, says me. Getting $140 back ain’t too bad.

But then, and dark distant Apple returns policy surfaces in my mind, only to be confirmed by Om Malik:

Should Apple reduce its price on any Apple-branded product within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of purchase, you may request a refund of the difference between the price paid and the current selling price. An original purchase receipt is required, and you must request your refund within fourteen (14) calendar days of the price reduction.

Which makes me wonder whether the Apple store employee didn’t know about the company’s own policy, or whether she was purposefully steering me at another, less expensive for Apple, policy…