Apple store don't accept cash for ipads!

[klopas]

Forgive my ignorance, but what's to stop somebody from buying two iPads with a credit card and then selling them overseas for an inflated price?

 

[taltamir]

Forgive my ignorance, but what's to stop somebody from buying two iPads with a credit card and then selling them overseas for an inflated price?

nothing. but the do check the address the card is registered to. so if you try to buy more than two you are out of luck (unless you have multiple addresses to get credit cards for)

 

[0roo0roo]

Forgive my ignorance, but what's to stop somebody from buying two iPads with a credit card and then selling them overseas for an inflated price?

nothing, but while imperfect it keeps the abuse to a minimum. like it or not as long as shortages persist its a good solution for most people.

 

[taltamir]

They have no reason to try to be the same. They are a low volume/low security store that handles large transactions. Could be argued its best they don't handle cash.

That is one way to look at it... another is that they are insane enough that "accepting cash" and "printing receipts" and "having a register" is "being the same" to them.
They are "different" just like a square wheel is "different" then a round one.

 

[TheStu]

That is one way to look at it... another is that they are insane enough that "accepting cash" and "printing receipts" and "having a register" is "being the same" to them.
They are "different" just like a square wheel is "different" then a round one.

They do print receipts, if you want them to. Otherwise they email the receipt to you.

 

[MangoTBG]

To those thinking they don't accept cash, "period"... they do. I bought my MBP back in December.

 

[Paperlantern]

Right, but No one is trying to buy mass quantities of MBPs and sell them overseas... apparently, so thats okay to sell for cash, no one wants those. But iPads! LOOK OUT! An even more useless piece of junk and we need to put a lock down on those, lets make it so it's only 2 per person. You know what? Thats not enough, better make sure all those dreamers looking to make BIG prophets out of them over seas that use little old ladies to buy them for them one at a time cant get them either. That'll make sure we keep America's economy safe. Because you know, Apple could single handedly ruin America if we don't put a ridiculous lock down on these precious devices. There just isn't BILLIONS of dollars in hundreds of thousands of other industries that help sustain the USA, its all Apple.

/sarcasm

 

[pm]

As I recall, they started the no cash thing for iPhones back right around the time they found a carrier unlock for them.

I admit that I was buying them for cash, unlocking them and then selling them for a profit for a while (I could make $100+ per phone for an operation that took me a few minutes - and then they'd sell in literally minutes on Ebay, they'd pay with Paypal, I'd print a label and I'd pack it up and take several to the post office). Then they implemented the credit card system and that stopped me. They don't take gift cards, and the idea of opening multiple credit cards to keep selling phones did not appeal to me, so I stopped.

As far as paying for other things with cash... you can. I bought a screen protector at an Apple store a couple of weeks ago with cash. You go to the main register in the back - instead of one of the blue shirt guys - and they gave me a receipt and change. They just didn't take cash for iPhones and iPads.

And they caved under public pressure (and maybe legal threats):
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/05/2...-accept-cash-for-the-ipad-at-the-apple-store/


I don't understand all the anger over this policy though - you can't buy anything from Dell.com for cash either. Let's say I want to buy a Dell Mini 5 in a couple of weeks when they are released. That will be a credit/debit card only affair too. And you can't buy most new smartphones for cash - trying buying an Evo 4G from Sprint for cash at Best Buy or other.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I believe their "no cash" policy could be successfully challenged by some lawyer.
Federal Reserve notes contain the wording: "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private". Their defense of wanting to prevent someone buying and then re-selling the iPad overseas wouldn't work.
If they instead required in-store activation (when paying by cash), and with a specific person's name associated with a specific serial number: that might be acceptable.

you have no clue do you.....

 

[vailr]

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/05/19/apple-axes-no-cash-policy-for-ipad-sales/

Apple initially stood by its policy, but today Apple Senior Vice President for Retail Ron Johnson announced that the company has changed its policy to allow customers to purchase iPads with cash if they set up an Apple account in the store at the time of purchase.About a month ago, we said we'd like you to use a credit card when you buy your iPad, and that was the best way we could think of to make sure that people only bought two per individual," said Johnson. "And then it came to our attention that Diane [Campbell], through your story, was very interested in buying an iPad with cash, and we made a decision today to change that."

Johnson said our story triggered a company-wide policy change. As of today, anyone can pay for an iPad with cash as long as they set up their Apple account at the store. Apple accounts are needed for the iPad anyway, so that is not putting anyone out.
As a gesture of goodwill toward Diane Campbell, the woman whose experience brought the issue considerable publicity, two employees visited her home today to offer her an iPad free of charge."I am just so excited," said Campbell. "Words can't explain right now."
Apple's "no cash" policy was not unique to the iPad, as the company has introduced it in October 2007 for the iPhone in order to deal with high demand.

 

[jjmIII]

People, please don't ever let cash die!

 

[pcgeek11]

Finally someone at Apple grew a brain cell.

 

[simonizor]

Since Apple Stores don't really have POS stations or registers (that I can recall at the 5 that I have been to), the workers there just have iPod Touches with Square card readers on them (they used to use Symbol devices running Windows CE, a touch of irony there). You walk up to an employee and say 'Gosh, this iPod looks superb, I would like to purchase a silver one!' and they get it out of the drawer or cabinet or whatever, you hand them your CC, they swipe it, your customer info comes up, and then they email you a receipt, or print it from one of the printers hidden under each table.

Due to this, there are any number of employees that can run the CC and process the transaction. This means that if they didn't have the 2 purchase limit (that is handled no doubt automatically) then a customer could walk in, and go to Employee A, request and pay for 2 iPads, walk out, walk back in, go to Employee B, pay for 2 more iPads, and then repeat until they are stopped. Then, they just move on to another Apple Store (There are like 6 within just a few hours of me). Plus Best Buys and online.

By forcing them to use a CC, they can limit any individual card/billing address to 2 purchases regardless of what store they buy it from.

Wow, I'm glad I've never purchased anything from an Apple store. The last thing that I want is all of my credit information floating through the airwaves in a public location. Sounds like it would someone could just sit outside the store and steal all the info they wanted if they had the know how.

 

[TheStu]

Wow, I'm glad I've never purchased anything from an Apple store. The last thing that I want is all of my credit information floating through the airwaves in a public location. Sounds like it would someone could just sit outside the store and steal all the info they wanted if they had the know how.

Just out of curiosity, do you use a wireless network at home?

And besides, as hollywood has demonstrated, ANYTHING can be hacked, from stoplights to bank accounts.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Wow, I'm glad I've never purchased anything from an Apple store. The last thing that I want is all of my credit information floating through the airwaves in a public location. Sounds like it would someone could just sit outside the store and steal all the info they wanted if they had the know how.

You mean like Google? Yup. No Apple products for me, anyone who tells me that I can't use my hard earned cash to buy something can just kiss my ass, forever.....no ifs, ands or butts (which they can royally kiss again).