Breaking News - $200 price drop on 8GB iPhone official: AT&T stores better prepared?

As expected the $200 drop on the 8gb iPhone isn't going very well with early adopters of the iPhone. Strangely folks at Apple stores have been caught off-guard as based on initial reports they seem to have heard of the price drop exactly when Steve Jobs announced it during the special event earlier today and apparently there are still waiting for the official line on the subject.

However "IKE" one of the readers @ iPhoneHacks.com has just sent me a tip which confirms that the $200 price drop on 8GB iPhone and AT&T seems to be better equipped to handle this price drop as they have got detailed Q&A to handle the situation. Thanks IKE for the tip!

If you bought an iPhone within the last 14 days at one of AT&T's stores then you might find this quite useful. As per the tip AT&T stores have been given detailed Q&A on how to handle the price drop of $200 for iPhone customers who are within their 14 day return period. Here are some of the points:

• AT&T stores have been asked to proactively contact customers who purchased an iPhone on September 5th prior to promotional price announcement to deliver the good news on the promotional price and offer a price adjustment.

• They have detailed procedure on how to handle price adjustments (the $200 credit) for customers who have purchased an iPhone less than 14 days ago (between Aug 23 and Sep 5) and also instruction on not to charge the 10% restocking fee as it is applicable when the device is returned.

• The customer should go to the AT&T store within 14 days (by September 18th) to have the price adjustment processed.

• The first step of the price adjustment process as you expect is verifying purchase information by original receipt.

• As expected, customers outside the 14 day price match period for iPhone are not eligible for the credit.

So if you are an AT&T customer and have bought your iPhone within the last 14 days; rush to the AT&T store (maybe a call before you go to the store is a better idea) and get your $200 credit today and don't forget to let us know if you faced any issues for the benefit of other readers.

Update (Sept 6th, 2007):

We finally have some good news for all those who bought their iPhone prior to Aug 23rd, 2007. In the letter to early iPhone customer's Steve Jobs has offered every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store.

To read Steve Job's open letter, follow this link.

Thanks Eduardo for posting this in the comments & dan for sending this in and everyone else for sharing your experience and frustration!

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