[Cody Overcash]

As many of you have experienced yourselves, the pricing structure of the iPhone 3G S is completely ridiculous. Some people are getting them for $199 for a 16GB and $299 for a 32GB. Others get the middle rate of $399 16GB and $499 32GB. Finally an unlucky few have to pay full price of $599 for 16GB and $699 for 32Gb.

Personally I am stuck with the highest rate (business accounts are not eligible for the middle rate or something stupid) while other iPhone 3g users who are upgrading are stuck with the middle rate.

The issue is there are 2 yr contract renewals all around. If people are committing to an extra 2 yrs on their contract they should receive the lowest rate. Plain and simple.

Sign the Petition (AT&T)
Sign the Petition (UK)

Apple has shown in the past that they listen to their (outraged) customers. Remember last year where Apple gave $100 credit to early iPhone 3g adopters because they dropped the prices significantly only a month after it went on sale.

[bretthartt]

First....... HAHAHAHA O Yea and I WILL fight against the mann

[gabsiphone]

second.. and when they droped the price of the original iphone and gave everyone $200

[lillstar12]

Im feeling this i will help the cause

[kadinh]

ill do it too when twitter is back up....

[lolento]

I'll sign it if you don't use Twitter....don't need another useless social account to hold up my day.

[mysteryskater125]

I'd sign it, but don't have a twitter. and neither do i have a desire to join twitter. too over rated

[r1994augusto]

i feel the same the price is too high!

[SDreamer]

I'm one for cheaper products, but people did sign a contract, and they knowingly bought an Apple product, which usually have a refresh cycle of every year, if anything, complain to ATT to make a specific contract for a 1 year renewal, but I doubt that would happen. It's probably doing you a favor right now by making these absurdly high prices and forcing you to wait one more year, which at that time, a newer iPhone will be exsistant. Imagine, sign another 2 year contract now, say ATT gives the lower subsidized price, they lose money. Next year comes, the same people who were complaining are complaining again about pricing, at this rate, Apple and ATT would be driven into the ground because they lose money (I don't know if they do, but I can imagine they have their reasons for having such high prices). iPhone2G to 3G was something, improved many things hardware and software wise where 3G to 3GS is just a hardware refresh, and some "exclusive" apps, that to me just isn't worth the complaining for right now. My father has a 3G, and as much as I would love to get him the 3GS, I know next year Apple will have a new one, and isn't that 4G/LTE stuff coming soon? Don't you think the next iPhone is going to better hardware next year than this year? Just my thought, and not trying to start an arguement.

[angelinirr5]

ill sign this

[allthingsea]

this is absurd. read your contract. you agreed to this. they are being NICE by letting you pay less then the full price!!

[Pr0707P3]

Signed! =d

[CAPcadetJC]

This wont do anything. We all know that Apple and ATT don't listen to what the people want.

[€hR!$]

Originally Posted by SDreamer

I'm one for cheaper products, but people did sign a contract, and they knowingly bought an Apple product, which usually have a refresh cycle of every year, if anything, complain to ATT to make a specific contract for a 1 year renewal, but I doubt that would happen. It's probably doing you a favor right now by making these absurdly high prices and forcing you to wait one more year, which at that time, a newer iPhone will be exsistant. Imagine, sign another 2 year contract now, say ATT gives the lower subsidized price, they lose money. Next year comes, the same people who were complaining are complaining again about pricing, at this rate, Apple and ATT would be driven into the ground because they lose money (I don't know if they do, but I can imagine they have their reasons for having such high prices). iPhone2G to 3G was something, improved many things hardware and software wise where 3G to 3GS is just a hardware refresh, and some "exclusive" apps, that to me just isn't worth the complaining for right now. My father has a 3G, and as much as I would love to get him the 3GS, I know next year Apple will have a new one, and isn't that 4G/LTE stuff coming soon? Don't you think the next iPhone is going to better hardware next year than this year? Just my thought, and not trying to start an arguement.

If AT&T did 1-year contracts, the lower capacity iPhone would cost $400 and the higher one would cost $500 and people would be complaining about that.

And I plan on upgrading every year and just keep renewing my contract. A lot of people take the 3G S lightly, but it's a lot more amazing than just a compass and more memory.

[reeko]

The 3G was subsidised by the carriers and the pricing structure was worked out over X months of your contract for them to get as much money as possible out of us.

By subsidising the the new one within the X months of the original contract they screw up their figures and lose money.

The problem is that as the iPhone has progressed, im pretty sure it has not become more expensive to produce. If anything, i'm more than positiveproduction costs have become cheaper.

The original iPhone was over £300 to begin with, then reduced to £269 here in the UK to boost sales, eventually dropping to below £150 to get rid of remaining stock of the 2G. (I think early adopters even got refunded the difference after the price drop)

The PAYG price for the 3GS is £538, 200% that of the price of the 2G 2 years ago.

ALSO, Orange in France today revealed prices of the iPhone 3G S (Factory Unlocked) which weigh in at:

16GB = 559 Euro
32GB = 669 Euro

http://estore.orange.fr/stores/prosp...equestid=29074

using XE - The World's Favorite Currency and Foreign Exchange Site these prices equate to:

16GB = £472
32GB = £564


The UK prices for PAYG iPhone 3GS LOCKED to O2 UK:

16GB = £440
32GB = £538

Pay & Go

so thats only £32 / £26 more on each handset to purchase a Factory Unlocked iPhone 3GS. I mean, really?


Either way, £538 for a MOBILE PHONE is absolutely rediculous. This is allot of money, the kind of money that pays a couple months rent / buys a new car, you know, real world stuff. I am lucky enough to have the spare cash right now to go and buy this Friday if i wanted - but i won't and unless it changes i won't in the next year.

The reason the average consumer didnt want the iPhone before was because they had to outright pay £269 for a handset they wanted for free. The excuse was the iPhone was to expensive.

Now the iPhone only appears to be cheap becausethee out of contract / PAYG handset prices are rediculous, making the subsidised prices look like a good deal. The PAYG prices are far to high for the average consumer, almost forcing us into LONG contracts.

I love my iPhone and have been a loyal user since the 2G. However, i am in no way blind or stupid and can clearly see that us as consumers are being screwed by both Apple and our carriers. The iPhone should never have been allowed to be subsidised by the carriers. If the 3G S does not come down in price, and this is the trend that follows with all future iPhones, then my 3G will be my last iPhone.

Just to reiterate - the iPhone 3G S is 200% the price of the 2G 2 years ago. We are in a recession but facing extortionate inflation on our iPhones ....