Apple Inc. (AAPL): In This Country, Love Means Always Having to Say ‘I’m Sorry’

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook loves China. He basically said as much in recent months with multiple trips to the rapidly emerging market and making all kinds of proclamations about how important China is to Apple and how much the company expects to invest in the market and its workforce. There have been platitudes aplenty.

However, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was getting a rash of bad press lately over claims of poor customer service and for charges of violating consumer protection laws in the country by offering substandard warranties and replacement parts for repaired iPhones. China’s state-run television network and newspaper have been on a tear lately against Apple, showing all kinds of negative news as it ramped up its presence in the country. Things got so bad, in fact, that Cook issued a formal apology to the country’s citizens this week, saying that the company has reviewed its policy for consumers in China, and will now offer  replacement iPhones instead of repairing, which then resets the warranties for the smartphones at their usual one year.

But don’t think for a second that state-run Chinese media is being Apple-centric in its attacks, writes Bloomberg. Apparently when a number of foreign companies announce plans to enter the China market or to increase their presence and reach in the market, the stat media seems to take a convenient liking to the foibles and demerits of the foreign company as if it was an invader. The media would latch on like a bulldog until the company finally  submits and issues some kind of apology and reach of goodwill with Chinese consumers.

The past policy for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in China – which is the policy across the rest of the world, for the most part – when repairing an iPhone is to replace the parts inside wth remanufactured parts and use the same back panel without resetting the warranty.  Now, Cook wrote in his apology letter, that Chinese consumers would receive a full replacement  iPhone with an original one-year warranty.

Do you wonder how many China iPhones will suddenly become mysteriously “broken” and need to be “replaced”? We do too. let us know yor thoughts about this latest Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) apology. Did it need to apologize? Was the apology directed at the right audience? What are yourthoguhts abotu China and its media influence? Leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.

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