Apple says its credit card shouldn't touch anything. Bravo?
Just a few days after releasing its first-ever credit card in the US, Apple is facing flak for its build quality. Apparently, the laser-etched titanium body of the card is prone to so much damage that you can't keep it in your leather wallet or denim jeans while walking around. In effect, it can't touch anything. Now, that sounds like a great marketing strategy!
First up, a bit about Apple Card
Backed by Goldman Sachs and MasterCard, the Apple Card offers a way to buy Apple and third-party products on credit. It comes with benefits like instant approval, zero fees on missing deadlines or going over the limit, and daily cashback on purchases. The card is built right into Apple Pay wallet app, but you can also order a titanium card that has no number/CVV.
How Apple Card could be damaged
When Apple Card started rolling out, the Cupertino giant shared a blog post revealing special care instructions for it. It said that users should keep the card in a wallet, pocket, or bag made of soft materials as its titanium base comes with a white-colored multi-layer coating, which could easily be damaged or scraped by hard materials.
Risk from denim jeans, leather wallets, other cards
Along with advising users to keep the card in soft-materials, Apple highlighted what card owners should specifically avoid - denim jeans and leather wallets. It said these fabrics can "cause permanent discoloration" on the card's surface, which might not wash off later. As for the risk of scratches/potential scraping, the company advised users against keeping the card with other cards, loose change, keys.
Naturally, users made fun of Apple's care guide
After Apple's weird care guide came into notice, some users expressed disappointment over the requirements while others made fun of the company. Many even came up with wacky suggestions for how the card should be offered, noting that it should be provided with a knitted sock or hung year-round in a humidity-controlled floating glass frame for 'added protection'.
