I don't believe this policy has anything to do with Apple's holiday marketing and sales strategy.
This is 100% about limiting sales to unlockers.
There is absolutely no reason to think that Apple won't have enough iPhone stock on hand for Q1 - do you know something specific?
No cash seems like a bad policy.
To clarify the meaning behind "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private", check out this FAQ from the US Treasury. Cash must be accepted for debts but not goods and/or services.
Thanks for the correction on the US currency. I've updated the article.
Re unlockers versus supply, I think everyone always assumes that Apple has infinite manufacturing capacity. They don't. And in fact, they've run into manufacturing constraints before. And in my opinion, supply limitations could hurt them just as much as unlockers do.
Thanks for taking the time to comment though; very helpful.
Carl
I do like your articles!
Whatever the reasons - a bit of both?? - to me, the concern is public backlash. Rightly or (mostly) wrongly, "Popular Blogging" and "Blogging Today" seem to like articles turning Apple into a restricting and controlling company.The reasons (what? some people actually THINK???) don't really matter. Because of this, I would much prefer that IF Apple really has set a limit that it would be 4 rather than 2. To me, that would still have SOME inhibiting effect and yet still allow "deep pocket" families to get iPhone plans with iPhones for 2 adults and 2 teens in a family. (Yeah, they could give gift cards, but "Here, son, this is for you to ngo buy an iPhone" isn't as exciting as unwrapping the real thing. It IS xmas, or the solstice, after all!
Carl did you see the article
Handbag seller takes on Steve Jobs
http://www.businessstandard.com/...Left=6&
leftnm=8
This is where the extra iphones are going.
even if Apple start selling the iphone in India.
there would be 100% duty on it. So this won't stop.
Just look at all the grey market camera sold in America without anyone flinching an eye
I almost fell out of my chair laughing when I read your claim that merchants must accept cash, Carl. How did you come up with that idea? Quite a few merchants require credit or debit cards for big ticket items. Also, debit cards don't require creditworthiness, so anyone who has the cost of an iPhone available in cash should also be able to buy one with a debit card by depositing the money in his account.
People who think that a two-year contract with AT&T is necessary to use an iPhone are also in error. iPhone customers can use AT&T's prepaid program. So, a person who is not creditworthy, or who wants more control of her phone bill, can go that route.
In summary, ability to buy the Jesus phone in the U.S. is actually quite democratic.
The resellers and unlockers are a different issue. One gets the feeling that they have come to believe they have a right to make money from their activities. In reality, the window of opportunity for their activities was bound to close as the iPhone became available in other countries.
And don't Visa credit card purchased items get double the warranty?
Whoa. Why are those utility people always telling me not to send cash through the mail to pay my bills? Are they just trying to protect me from mail theft or do they have their own agenda.
Did you ever try to pay off $50 worth of groceries with pennies. I can guarantee most business will not accept them. Where I live, most local business won't take any cash bills higher than $20. $50s and $100 bills are cash too and they have that legal tender notice on them the same as $20s. There must be a conspiracy concerning cash going on.
Haven't you seen that (VERY IRRITATING! 
) Mastercard or Visa commercial of the guy that disrupts the orchestrated flow of business by trying to use a credit card?
With a card, checkers don't have to be able to count!
Commenting by HaloScan
