14 DAY TRIAL // The story of a disabled Diane Campbell caught the eye of Apple’s Ron Johnson, prompting the company’s Senior Vice President of Retail to talk with his fellow execs and reverse a company-wide policy – not to sell iPads for cash.
The move, having Apple store staff demand credit or debit card payment, was to prevent selling iPads on the grey market. This way, Apple also limited the number of iPads a customer could acquire. However, this didn’t quite work for Diane Campbell, who is not only on a fixed income, PC Advisor reports, but also disabled. She had attempted to buy the Apple tablet using cash from her savings at a US Apple Store. She is a computer novice, according to the report.
Her unfortunate situation was picked up by an ABC news affiliate, PC Advisor reveals, with KGO-TV and a 7 On Your Side report helping ensure Campbell would ultimately get her iPad. "Mr. Jobs, give a sister a break, I'm not going to go sell my iPad," Campbell reportedly told the broadcaster. Not long after Campbell’s story hit the wires, Apple took action, and responded with Sr. Vice President Ron Johnson reversing the policy. Apple has now officially backtracked on its decision not to sell iPads for cash money.
"We want to make sure it's as fair as possible for people to get iPads. 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," Johnson told KGO-TV. "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."
Although customers can now acquire an iPad with cash, they will only be able to do so after setting up an Apple account at the store. Apple seems to have kept one policy in place - selling limited numbers of tablets per person.
"We heard about this, you know... we all would love people like Diane [Campbell] to get an iPad, so I called her up and she was very excited and we're actually on our way to deliver an iPad to her house," Apple's Ron Johnson added.
Upon receiving her free iPad, Campell told reporters, "What I would like to say to Steve is thank you." She added, "I'm so excited, words cannot explain right now."