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Eric1285 · Jun 13, 2007, 04:00 PM

I was wondering if anyone on this board has any friends that work at AT&T, because there have been some reports that AT&T store employees are hooking up their friends with preorders and such for iPhones. If so, that's incredibly unfair for the rest of the populace, because we all know the iPhone will be in short supply when it launches. Anybody here have any ideas on the situation?

Link

::maroma:: · Jun 13, 2007, 05:53 PM

I read somewhere that Apple specifically stated to AT&T that there were to be no pre-orders of the iPhone whatsoever. But its all basically rumor until someone gets their hands on a receipt for a pre-order.

krove · Jun 13, 2007, 06:39 PM

Steve will sh*t a brick and throw it at someone if and when he finds out.

Eric1285 · Jun 13, 2007, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

I read somewhere that Apple specifically stated to AT&T that there were to be no pre-orders of the iPhone whatsoever. But its all basically rumor until someone gets their hands on a receipt for a pre-order.

I mean, from what I understand, the employees at the AT&T stores are doing this on a very hush hush / under the table style. They know they're not supposed to do it. They also know that the the iPhone is going to be a huge deal. They're not Apple employees, so who cares what Apple tells them to do? This late in the game, Apple isn't going to back out of their contract with AT&T just because employees are hooking up their friends. To Apple, a sale is a sale.

DigitalEl · Jun 13, 2007, 10:13 PM

Is there an AT&Tingular store employee somewhere who is doing this? Undoubtedly. Is it widespread enough to keep those who want one from getting an iPhone on launch day? Very unlikely.

I don't know where I read it, but hasn't it been made clear that there will be enough iPhones available to meet launch demand and that this is *not* gonna be like a game console release? I just hope they don't run out of 8 gig models.

What I fear for launch day is the hassle factor of standing in a store, waiting to get my phone activated. I intend to port my number from Sprint. The last 2 times I signed up for mobile service with a new provider, it took more than an hour... And that was on a random winter Tuesday (or whatever) not associated with some major release.

Lines to get the phone + Long waits for the attention of a clerk to get your service activated = Major frustration.

Eric1285 · Jun 13, 2007, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by DigitalEl

Is there an AT&Tingular store employee somewhere who is doing this? Undoubtedly. Is it widespread enough to keep those who want one from getting an iPhone on launch day? Very unlikely.

I don't know where I read it, but hasn't it been made clear that there will be enough iPhones available to meet launch demand and that this is *not* gonna be like a game console release? I just hope they don't run out of 8 gig models.

What I fear for launch day is the hassle factor of standing in a store, waiting to get my phone activated. I intend to port my number from Sprint. The last 2 times I signed up for mobile service with a new provider, it took more than an hour... And that was on a random winter Tuesday (or whatever) not associated with some major release.

Lines to get the phone + Long waits for the attention of a clerk to get your service activated = Major frustration.

You're probably thinking of that 3 million iPhones at launch rumor that BusinessWeek pulled out of their behinds. I highly doubt there will be 3 million iPhones on the 29th. I very much expect this to be another Wii/PS3 sellout situation.

krove · Jun 13, 2007, 11:26 PM

Hmm...6 pm....will there already be a line from the previous day or should i get there early in the morning? I don't want to risk not getting one!

::maroma:: · Jun 14, 2007, 10:50 AM

So this 6pm thing is supposedly due to the fact that Fed-Ex's last delivery time to AT&T (and probably Apple Stores) is 6pm. Which tells me that these stores wont even get a single iPhone unit until the 29th. Which tells me that no one is getting an iPhone early.

Mrjinglesusa · Jun 16, 2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

So this 6pm thing is supposedly due to the fact that Fed-Ex's last delivery time to AT&T (and probably Apple Stores) is 6pm. Which tells me that these stores wont even get a single iPhone unit until the 29th. Which tells me that no one is getting an iPhone early.

Fed-Ex also delivers earlier too. Why not deliver the iPhones at 10:00 am and sell them then? Why would they wait until the last Fed-Ex delivery? I don't think that has anything to do with why they are selling them at 6:00 pm.

6:00 pm is an hour after most people get off work. Now, kids won't have an advantage over people who work for a living and no one will have to take time off work to go and get one.

newsshooterjim · Jun 20, 2007, 10:35 AM

Actually, I'm beyond it...

The company my nephew works for just popped up with 95 new Iphones-they bought everybody one. He came over just to rub it in. The thing is as cool as anything.

Mrjinglesusa · Jun 20, 2007, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by newsshooterjim

Actually, I'm beyond it...

The company my nephew works for just popped up with 95 new Iphones-they bought everybody one. He came over just to rub it in. The thing is as cool as anything.

I call BS. Apple is not going to sell 95 iPhones to some company prior to the 29th. Just ain't gonna happen. I doubt even Apple employees will get to buy them early...

::maroma:: · Jun 20, 2007, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by newsshooterjim

Actually, I'm beyond it...

The company my nephew works for just popped up with 95 new Iphones-they bought everybody one. He came over just to rub it in. The thing is as cool as anything.

What company does your nephew work for, Apple? No way in hell that story is true. Nice try though.

::maroma:: · Jun 20, 2007, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

Fed-Ex also delivers earlier too. Why not deliver the iPhones at 10:00 am and sell them then? Why would they wait until the last Fed-Ex delivery? I don't think that has anything to do with why they are selling them at 6:00 pm.

6:00 pm is an hour after most people get off work. Now, kids won't have an advantage over people who work for a living and no one will have to take time off work to go and get one.

I didn't mean to suggest that the reason why Apple decided to sell them at 6:00 was because of FedEx. It was all Apple's decision, and it was most likely for the exact reason you stated. To give people who work for a living a fighting chance to get one. I hope I can get in line early enough that day. Gotta get off work early!

Mrjinglesusa · Jun 20, 2007, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

I didn't mean to suggest that the reason why Apple decided to sell them at 6:00 was because of FedEx. It was all Apple's decision, and it was most likely for the exact reason you stated. To give people who work for a living a fighting chance to get one. I hope I can get in line early enough that day. Gotta get off work early!

My problem is, the nearest Apple store is in Tyson's Corner Mall which is going to be PACKED. I have several Cingular Stores on the way home from work but I don't known if they are official AT&T branded stores or affiliates. I'm not sure I'm willing to take time off from work to get a freakin' phone. I'll probably take my chances and hope those Cingular stores have a few. Otherwise, I'll order from the Apple Store online...

tasslehawf · Jun 20, 2007, 02:46 PM

You can check ATTs website to figure out which stores are corporate and which are ARs.