Australian Buyers Say They Were Told "No iPad Without Accessories"

CuteSteveJobs writes "Australian iPad buyers have been forced to buy all manner of unnecessary add-ons, including screen protectors, docking stations, covers, chargers, and extended warranties, due to a reported official Apple policy. Shoppers reported sales assistants said it was 'company policy' or 'Apple policy' to sell the devices only with accessories, or not at all. A store manager for Authorised Apple Reseller JB Hi-Fi said it was 'a bad policy but it was Apple's policy and they couldn't sell one without it.' Other customers were told they must 'buy a Telstra SIM because the iPad is locked to Telstra,' even though it wasn't. The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission and Consumer Affairs are investigating the complaints."

Comments

Re:bad apple policies

[commodore64_love]

>>>I think it's more likely that the retail shops are pawning it off as Apple's doing. It's probably just what they've been told to say. If you asked corporate of those stores, they'd probably justify it by saying "Apple forced us to by not letting us have enough of a margin on the product, so we need to sell accessories or we're practically selling them at a loss!"
>>>

You're probably right. If some store told me I "have" to buy accessories, the conversation would probably go like this:

ME: "No. Now here's your $500 cash plus $30 for tax."
CLERK:"But sir you must buy accessories."
ME: (opening coat to reveal concealed gun)* - "No I don't. You have the money. I have my phone. We're done here."

And walk out the door with my phone. I will not be forced to buy things I do not want to buy, especially when the store, Apple, or whoever is in violation of consumer protection laws. I will buy my iPad and nothing more.

*
*(Before you freak out, I have a concealed carry permit issued by the government.)