April 21st, 2008
Open letter to Steve Jobs: Apple should have a first adopter network program and give discounts to loyal customers
Dear Mr Jobs,
I’ve had my iPhone since day dot–the day it came out. It is from the Palo Alto Apple store, you and your wife were there, and so were a hundred odd-people that had waited outside all night.
I’ve had a Macintosh since year dot. I used one with a laser printer to layout and publish a newspaper in the Haight/Ashbury from 1987 to 1989. I’ve used PCs too but I’ve always had a Macintosh and in the past year I’m back on Mac so that I can do video editing.
Loyal Apple customers have been your strongest evangelists. And they usually pay top dollar for Apple products when they first come out. Yet they also have to put up with lots of criticism from non-Apple users, being called zealots, fanboys, etc.
For example, when I first started using the iPhone I had to endure countless numbers of people that would come up to me and tell me why they would never get an iPhone. It was interesting how some people reacted to the iPhone in a negative way. I spent a lot of time showing them why they should get one.
Times have changed and I see lots more iPhones these days, especially in the media/public relations industry. The iPhone is a great media delivery platform and I carry my interviews and other video projects I’ve been working on. The H.264 MP4 video format is crystal clear with a small file size and the video looks great on the iPhone.
[The only part I don't love about the iPhone is the phone part. You still haven't delivered on the promise of a great phone, the "i" part is fine but that's not enough.]
There are a lot of other fans of Apple products out there, and most of them are far more passionate about Apple than I am.
It is high time that Apple recognized this demographic and offered discounts on new products, such as the coming G3 iPhone to its most loyal customers first. Why should the Johnny-come-latelies get the discounts? It doesn’t make sense.
Which is why Apple should have a first adopter network (FAN) program–with discounts and services for this prime demographic. If Apple doesn’t grab this mailing list then someone else will. A free new 3G iPhone for current iPhone customers would be nice way to launch it, imho.
Yours Sincerely,
Tom Foremski
PS: I set up a Facebook Group: “Apple Should Reward Loyal Customers With FAN Discounts.”
Tom Foremski reports on the business and culture of Silicon Valley at the intersection of technology and media. He also writes at Silicon Valley Watcher. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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