According to Gawker:
Diane Campbell scrimped and saved from her fixed income for an iPad, but was turned away at a Silicon Valley Apple Store because you need a credit card to buy one. Apple wouldn’t budge, even when local ABC affiliate appealed.
Apple wants to keep Americans from re-selling the iPad overseas, where the tablet device is not available for a couple more weeks, a clerk told Campbell, who is disabled. Credit cards offer Apple the easiest way to positively identify people and enforce a limit of two iPads per customer. So, even with a low-income advocacy group on her side, Campbell can get an iPad only by purchasing one second-hand from a credit card holder.
You can understand Apple’s wanting to control the release of its iPad in new markets, but this seems extreme, and as Gawker points out, encourages the kind of back-door buying the firm wanted to discourage in the first place.
Especially considering the need among people with disabilities for easily usable assistive technology and Ms. Campell’s evidently strong desire for one, it seems sadly clear that Apple believes it has the clout to withstand negative publicity in this one case and not just look like an impersonal bully to its potential customers but be one.
We hope Apple reconsiders its position and sells Campbell the item she wants and is willing to spend good money for.
This is extremely disappointing to hear for so many reasons. Apple should be ashamed and Ms. Campbell deserves a formal apology.