Monday, September 24, 2007

Order Shmorder

iFruit

Truth- in advertising/hype, in customer expectations of exclsive value (justice, too)
Humaneness- fairness to all customers, not just late-comers, no consideration for loyalties, patronizing/contempt for customers
Stewardship- bad brand experience puts Apple in a poor light, uncharacteristic move for the company
Freedom/Liberty- infringement upon customer right/expectation to exclusively own product, apple rights to pursue high sales/stocks, customer freedom to walk away
Justice- value discarded, loyalists mistreated, rebate solution inadequate

PC users have hated Apple for ages. iTunes alone couldn't mend the rift, but coupled with the iPod, it seemed to work. The world loves the iPod, and no Mp3 player can compete. Apple's brand image with the iPhone had an amazing opportunity to springboard off of the love for the iPod, to bring over more and more PC loyalists.

And Apple did, but at what cost?

Who cares about the long-time Apple consumers when there are so many new customers to be had? Good job, Jobs. You got those customers, and you got the profits. You got lots of brand new, easily swayed and bought consumers, and you lost the diehards who would forever buy only Apple products.

These new consumers will always buy the best product on the market, which or may or may not be from Apple in the future. And the formerly loyal Apple-only consumers will now do the same.

Enjoy those long-term outcomes, Jobs. Enjoy.

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