They didn’t tell retail. They also didn’t tell customers why their phones were slow. Customers called/came in complaining of slow phones, and often times assumed it was because their phone was “old.” Many new iPhones were likely sold as the result, as retail/customer service couldn’t give an explanation for slowness.
Malicious or not, they profited, likely heavily, from the lack of communication/transparency.
Malicious or not, they profited, likely heavily, from the lack of communication/transparency.