In rather bizarre news, a handful of reports are trickling in from across the country that Apple employees are turning away would-be iPad buyers, claiming they've reached a "lifetime limit".
A medical student who blogs under the name Protocol Snow relates one such encounter. He had been purchasing a couple iPads a day to ship to friends overseas. He was careful never to exceed the per-customer publicized limit of 2 units.
Writes Protocol Snow:
Guy #1 Im sorry sir, but you have reached your lifetime limit of iPad purchases and will not be allowed to buy any more.
Me (anticipating that statement) Is the iPad limit per person? Per credit card? Per household?
Guy #1 All I can say is that you have reached your lifetime limit.
...
Me Ok buddy, Im not going to make a scene so Im leaving. How many iPads is the limit by the way?
Guy #1 That information is not available.
Me (looking at Guy #2, who has been silent this whole time) He tells me that the limit is two.
Guy #1 I wish I could say but I do not have that information.
Me Ive already purchased more than 2 iPads. Why didnt anybody else stop me in the past?
Guy #1 I wish I could say but I do not have that information.
And that's how you apparently earn a lifetime ban on iPads from Apple. Granted, it seems possible that Apple is merely trying to prevent price gouging on the hot iPad.
It's hard to see what harm marked up iPads on eBay would do to Apple. It would merely make the company's products seem that much more desirable. Banning users for life, though, now that's a surefire way to hurt your image.
Important Note: This restriction appears to only apply at Apple Stores, not at the other iPad retail location, Best Buy (for now, at least).
