iPhone iNvestigation

According to ABC News, Apple is now requiring all iPhones be purchased with a credit card and are imposing a limit of two per customer.

It isn’t unusual to hear outrage over this new policy. Many potential iPhone customers feel that requiring a credit card is a way for Apple to track users. They are also upset over the two per customer limit as the iPhone is a hot item, purchased for both personal use and as a gift.

I contacted various Apple stores to find out more about this policy. However, the crews were less than eager to divulge information. A Bellevue Square salesman, wishing to remain anonymous, kept repeating that it is “an Apple policy” and he did not know any more about it. The manager of the Alderwood store, Henry House, answered, “I don’t know,” to all of my questions. He gave me the number to the media help line, which proved to be a dead end. The operator referred me back to apple.com, saying, “Students find our site map extremely helpful in providing answers to their questions.”

Well, I did not find it helpful so I searched for related articles and found the ABC interview with Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. Kerris said the credit card rule is to stop unauthorized reselling of the phones and the two per customer limit is to ensure there will be enough phones through the holidays.

I can’t speak on the effectiveness of the credit card policy but apparently the limit is helping retain phones. The Bellevue Square salesman said the store hopes to have them in stock through the holiday season and that they get “new shipment and stock daily.” According to apple.com, all of the Washington stores (Bellevue Square, Alderwood Mall, University Village and Southcenter) have iPhones available. To check the availability of iPhones, visit apple.com/retail/iphone.