After a few incidents where Apple users were electrocuted and some even died thanks to fake or third party chargers, Apple announced it will start a charging power adapter takeback program where users can walk into Apple stores and authorized retail partners to give their third-party adapters and in return buy an original Apple adapter at 50 percent discount. Now Apple is looking at extending this program globally and will introduce it in India too sometime in mid-August. Without naming the countries where it will be rolled out, the official Apple statement mentions that the program will start from August 16 and will be in place till October 18.
This is a brilliant strategy from Apple as it will not only raise the important issue of using fake or poor quality chargers and adapters but will also ensure that Apple would have washed off its hands of what could have been a potential PR disaster.
This is a brilliant strategy from Apple as it will not only raise the important issue of using fake or poor quality chargers and adapters but will also ensure that Apple would have washed off its hands of what could have been a potential PR disaster.
Even though the incidents might have involved fake chargers, Apple could have been implicated for encouraging users to go for non-Apple chargers and adapters by pricing its accessories too high. The USB adapter for the iPhone 5, for instance, costs Rs 1,460 in India. If Apple follows its 50 percent off scheme in India as well, users should be able to exchange any third-party adapter with an original Apple one for under Rs 800.
Apart from the PR perspective, the program could also mean higher sales of Apple’s accessories in the current quarter. Even at half the usual selling price, one would expect Apple to be still generating a profit if one considers the usual margins (even higher in Apple’s case) in the accessories business.
Apart from the PR perspective, the program could also mean higher sales of Apple’s accessories in the current quarter. Even at half the usual selling price, one would expect Apple to be still generating a profit if one considers the usual margins (even higher in Apple’s case) in the accessories business.
