Apple bans protective films

Posted on 19 Mar 2010 at 13:09

In a somewhat bizarre PR move, Apple has chosen to ban iPod and iPhone protective films from its online and retail outlets - allegedly to improve consumer confidence in their build quality.

As confirmed over on iLounge, Apple has opted to remove from sale any iPod or iPhone screen protector films - including accessory packs which come with a film as part of the bundle.

The blanket ban covers all adhesive protective screen films, including mirrored, privacy, and anti-glare filters for the iPod and iPhone ranges plus the up-coming iPad, and even the company's Macbook range of laptops.

At least one unnamed vendor believes the move is to shake off the iPhone's image as a sensitive, easily damaged device - a hold-over from the days of the iPod Nano which had a particularly easily scratched display. While a modern iPod or iPhone has a much more resilient display, the very presence of 'solutions' for a problem the company has engineered out of existence could be seen as a negative.

Conversely, Apple products - the iPhone in particular - command a premium over other, similar devices on the market: with consumers paying so much for a portable device, it makes sense that they would want to pay a little more to safeguard their purchase - even if the chances of damage are minimal. By removing the films from sale, Apple is removing the choice from its customers.

The films will still be available from third party websites and suppliers, but will no longer be able to be sold through official Apple channels as from May this year.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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User comments

Talk about Sexingup a Newstory!

Do you guys at ER really need to sensationalise and sexup this story? Apple are not banning the product, or removing choice from people... Please...

Apple no longer wish to sell protective films, so they are removing it from their shops. That's not banning it, or removing choice. You can go to another shop, or eBay and buy them for cheaper. If they were to ban it, they could remove the film everytime someone walked into an Appleshop with a film on their iPod, and Apple demand the owner to take it off, or face the music... (pun)

If Apple decide to stop selling computer games in their stores, are they banning games? If Apple choose to stop selling old model iPods, is that banning it?

I would imagine the amount of revenue lost by not selling protective films would be lost.

Please correct you story. I would expect the above journalism from the Daily Star.

By rjd83 on 22 Mar 2010