RSSApple Cancels 30-Day Mac Mini Promo
By Nate Mook | Published September 1, 2005, 10:22 AM
Less than one day after announcing that purchasers of a Mac Mini can return the system within 30 days for a full refund, Apple has quietly pulled the plug on the promotion. It's not clear why the offer was removed, but as of Thursday morning there was no trace of its existence.
The promotion was being offered solely through Apple's online store, and was seemingly aimed at attracting Windows users who may be hesitant about switching platforms. "We’re so confident you'll love your new Mac mini, we'll let you test drive it for 30 days with no risk," the promotion said.
Apple said the Mac Mini and accessories such as a keyboard and mouse must be returned "in their original, unmarked packaging, including any accessories, manuals, documentation, and registration cards that shipped with them" for a full refund.
It's unlikely that Apple was overwhelmed with refunds after one day, but some speculated that the promotion might have gone live without proper executive approval. Apple sales personnel confirmed the deal was dropped, but had no information as to why.
The Mac Mini debuted in January with a price tag of $499 USD at the low end. The system was targeted at potential Mac converts who were hesitant to purchase an expensive G5 Power Mac. Users can plug in their own monitor and keyboard, keeping costs low.
October 31 was the originally scheduled cut-off date for the promotion.
I tend to defend Apple. It's just getting so damn hard to do lately.
I am still spinning concerning the Intel announcement and now they pull this insane marketing blunder.
I seriously think the Suits at Apple need to have their heads examined. One or more of them seem to be undergoing some serious personality disorders.
I'm still hopefull that they'll turn this around and make this Intel switch into a good thing. It just ain't easy.
I feel like a dolphin watching the titanic go down....so slowly..nothing you can do about it but watch...
Or is it funny? Entertainment perhaps...a carnival of blunders leading to the inevitable when they're blasted from the cannon onto the great beyond...?
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Well at least MSFT did not have anything to do with these mess ups.
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They were getting too many returned units? :)
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Simply put....Apple sux.
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Well I am not a apple fan, but I try not to say they suck. They have their uses, Door Stops, apple fanatics, etc.
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well, just more proof of why they can not compete with the big boys.
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Now that I agree with
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We're so confident that you won't return this box with a $20 margin, we'll bet the farm on it. So a low percentage of returns would have been an overwhelming profit killer.
Something is in the coffee in Cupertino.
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> Something is in the coffee in Cupertino.
A little PPC^H^HCP perhaps?
*grin*
Bad drug reference, I know...so shoot me.
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This putting up a promotion and then pulling it quietly within a day is something that you'd expect to see from a mis-managed company. Apple seems to be ever so slowly becoming erratic, their quality of their products are slowly going downhill. (Look at all the imac G5 problems [mid-plane/power supply/overheating/buzzing fan problems as an example). Customers sueing about ipod batteries and winning a judgement in court. Its like they are standing in quicksand and the weight of their recent successes is slowing causing them to sink ever so slowly....
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Looks like Steve got back to the office just in time....
He's just got to stop taking days off... First he gets stuck with Intel, and now this...when will they learn?
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LOL! Hilarious...and probably true.
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