Apple Changes Tune, Will Accept Cash for iPad
She gets to keep her cash, though, as Apple hooked her up with a free one.
Earlier this week we brought to you the story of Diane Campbell, a disabled woman who saved up $600 in cash to buy an iPad. Sadly, she was turned away from the Palo Alto Apple Store when store staff told her that her cash was no good there. At the time, there was a policy in place that required those who wish to purchase an iPad or iPhone to do so with credit or debit cards.
Now that has all changed, after Diane Campbell had her story told by a local ABC TV station. Her story was told by other media and eventually reached Apple. Be it from the genuine story of Ms. Campbell or the bad press from the refusal of cash, Apple has changed it corporate policy in response.
"About a month ago, we said we'd like you to use a credit card when you buy your iPad, and that was the best way we could think of to make sure that people only bought two per individual," said Apple Sr. Vice President Ron Johnson to ABC's 7 On Your Side. "And then it came to our attention that Diane [Campbell], through your story, was very interested in buying an iPad with cash, and we made a decision today to change that."
For Ms. Campbell's troubles, Apple gave her a free iPad.
"We heard about this, you know... we all would love people like Diane [Campbell] to get an iPad, so I called her up and she was very excited and we're actually on our way to deliver an iPad to her house," said Johnson.
Check out the full story with a video clip at ABC KGO TV.

I guess the Federal Reserve didn't get the memo from Apple.
No, I'm not an Apple fan and would not buy a proprietary iPad, iPud, or anything else from them myself; this is kudos from a management perspective.
I would have been so bummed out if i saved for that long, just to be told "Sorry we don't accept cash"
No, I'm not an Apple fan and would not buy a proprietary iPad, iPud, or anything else from them myself; this is kudos from a management perspective.
I guess the Federal Reserve didn't get the memo from Apple.
What a lovely company! (NOT!)
I feel sorry for her, because you know it must have been very dissapointing. Saving and scraping each week, and then when she could finally go and buy one, she got shot down hard.
Apple is a PR machine, as such it made the best move. It makes me wonder if they ever did anything for the little girl they sent a C&D order to over fanmail saying it would be cool if her iPod showed lyrics.
Actually all stores have to take paper money, they cannot say we will not accept cash because on the each dollar bill there is the phrase..
This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.
I don't really know, but I'm thinking you have to accept "US Dollars" as legal tender, but you can determine the waythat you receive it?
That would explain why, according to the original article:
That said, it's also possible that the people U.S. Treasury Department doesn't know it's own laws. Politicians and people in public services are often the least well versed on their own jobs.
All in all, good for Apple for making good.
I hate their company, like some of their products (a lot), but credit where credit is due, they made good this time. They are not complete cretins anymore.
The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."
This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.
Maybe its not "Apple" the company who are the cause of all the retail stink stories
Maybe it is just separate cases of some pinheaded mindless nimrod who just happens to work at an Apple store exerting the tiny iota of personal power over someone and wrapping it up in made-up "rules"
Maybe Apple fosters that kind of attitude in the people it employs
MAybe Apple only employs people that moronic to begin with