Call 'em suckers or Apple faithful, early adopters or cutting edge, any way you slice it those who shelled out for a full-priced iPhone before August 22 can now enter their digits and get a $100 Apple Store Credit for use online or at an Apple Retail Store, just like
Jobs promised. The process couldn't be easier, and you don't need a receipt, just enter your phone number and serial number, the latter which can be found on the back of your iPhone, and Apple will SMS you an access code. Once you enter that you're home free, and can finally go on that iPod accessory shopping spree you've always dreamed of -- or if you're a true fanboy, put the credit towards an iPod touch just to see what all this "iPhone without the phone" fuss is about.
Update: A couple of interesting things to note about the program so far. First off, and most disappointingly, the program doesn't work with iPhones that haven't been activated on AT&T. Second, and slightly more far-fetched, is that we're hearing reports of people scoring the credit with their post price-drop iPhones. It seems like any way you slice it it's worth tossing your digits into the thing and see what comes out, before Apple tightens things up, and we'll keep an eye out for recourse for those who haven't activated their phones with AT&T like good little consumers.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
raulr @ Sep 14th 2007 11:58AM
Terms and conditions state that you have to activate the iPhone with at&t in order to get the credit. Hopefully that's just for getting the SMS functionality and doesn't exclude unlocked iPhones that never went to at&t.
chris @ Sep 14th 2007 1:04PM
Too bad we can't use the credit at the iTunes store .... was looking to grab a few audio books there with the credit ...
A. G. @ Sep 14th 2007 3:28PM
Umm, you can use it on iTunes. Just buy $100 worth of iTunes gift card.
Mike Grasso @ Sep 14th 2007 1:17PM
I think they closed it up already, I can't find a link for it on their site!
maikel @ Sep 14th 2007 3:36PM
I already got mine printed! Now, I am just waiting to see what should I get for it.Any suggestions?
Walt @ Sep 14th 2007 5:03PM
Early adopters get the latest and greatest and don't care about the price
samsonsu @ Sep 14th 2007 5:04PM
http://www.apple.com/iphone/storecredit/faq.html
The FAQ didn't say un-activated iPhones don't qualify for this rebate. However, this procedure does imply that.
Or, the phone number you need to enter on apple website is for receiving SMS only, and it's not required to be the number on your iPhone? For example, you can input the SN of your unactivated iPhone and your friend's Nokia phone number. Did anyone try?
samsonsu.mobile @ Sep 14th 2007 5:41PM
OK, just tried. Good news for un-activated users: as long as you have 1 AT&T phone number associated with an activated iPhone, you can use this number to get credit for other un-activated iPhones. I've got $100 for my activated iPhone, and another 2x$100 for my friends' unactivated ones. I got the credit number, PIN, and barcode. At least they all look valid (numbers on each credit are different).
It's easy. Just input your activated iPhone number and the SN for any other iPhone you want to activate. Wait for the SMS with access code on that activated iPhone, and proceed. There was a moment I thought this wouldn't work because the SMS didn't arrive after 5 minutes. Later it turned out to be some AT&T text message delay. So be patient.
Just my personal experience. Can't guarantee anything, of course.
weasldude @ Sep 15th 2007 10:00AM
When I tried mine that was GoPhone hacked with my other number which activated on iTunes, I received this message on the next page:
"You may not be eligible.
We're sorry, but we can't locate a record of your iPhone. It could be that you've entered the requested information incorrectly. If so, please try entering it again. If the information is correct, there are several reasons why you could have received this message: 1. Your iPhone was purchased at the new, reduced price and is not eligible for a $100 Apple Store credit. 2. You have not activated your iPhone. You must activate your iPhone before we can process your credit. 3. You recently activated your iPhone. It may take up to 24 hours after you register your iPhone before we can process your request. After activating your phone and receiving your activation confirmation, please return to this site to receive your Apple Store credit. For questions, please email Apple at iPhonestorecredit@apple.com. Be sure to include your name, iPhone serial number, the place of purchase (AT&T, Apple Retail Store, or Apple Online Store), the date of purchase and a copy of this entire message. Please see the terms and conditions for more details about eligibility."
Now I'm going to have to use the $50 Pick your plan for a month before I activate my t-mobile plan. And, who knows if even this is going to land me the credit because the system will probably think I purchased after the price cut.
weasldude @ Sep 15th 2007 10:57AM
Update: I put in the go-phone pay as you go number (which is now expired) and popped that sim back in, re- iActivated it, and received the go ahead and SMS.
I am not sure if my going thru the iTunes store with the iPhone in question (after a full restore from being unlocked) up to the point where it had given my original sim a new number and routed me to the site to actually make a payment for the pick your plan was what got me through the gate, considering the fact that THAT number gave me the same ineligible message.
samsonsu.mobile @ Sep 14th 2007 5:44PM
A typo in my previous message, though I guess you guys figured as much.
"... Just input your activated iPhone number and the SN for any other iPhone you want to activate..." -- the last word "activate" should be "get credit for".
Phil @ Sep 15th 2007 1:23AM
Just wanted to say I have a post price drop iPhone and I threw my number in to see what happened and got a credit and PIN. I'm guessing this is possible because I got mine about 30 minutes after the price drop at my local store, so the SN probably shows up as a pre-price drop phone. Is that even possible?
calex823 @ Sep 15th 2007 3:00AM
Now that's what you call good luck