Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

jorgem4 · Jul 23, 2008, 04:33 PM

Hi,

I would like to know if anyone has bought an iPhone 3G in the past 24-48 hours ?

I just would like to know if Apple has been shipping iPhones daily to their Apple stores. I did go to an AT&T store and they told me 10-15 days wait time, that is why I would rather go to an Apple store and pick it up my self.

Thanks.

rdfrench · Jul 23, 2008, 05:52 PM

I bought one today at the Apple store on Miami Beach. Check the Apple website tonite to see which stores will have phones tomorrow

slpdLoad · Jul 23, 2008, 06:17 PM

There are only a handful of stores that have them at the moment, and it's usually only a single model that they have in stock at any one point.

jorgem4 · Jul 23, 2008, 06:21 PM

Thanks rdfrench... I didn't know they had that kind of update on apple.com

scottiB · Jul 23, 2008, 08:32 PM

Direct link for the OP:

http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.html

xi_hyperon · Jul 23, 2008, 10:18 PM

If you want to see all states' availability at once:

http://www.topmuffin.com/3g-iphone-availability

ewiser · Jul 24, 2008, 06:00 AM

Bought one yesterday at 3pm in the afternoon done in 20 minutes.
Check the topmuffin page it uses this data set that Apple has
http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/feeds/3g_us_inv.json
This is an every uptodate list and I do not know why Apple doesn't post this list instead of what they are posting. During the middle of the Afternoon the Apple store in Louisville was packed. Wow I would have never thought this day would come. I remember going into the local Apple dealer and I was the only customer in the store the whole time.

vtboyarc · Jul 24, 2008, 08:53 AM

what about at&t stores. How can I tell if they have iPhones in stock?

Randman · Jul 24, 2008, 08:55 AM

Call.

slpdLoad · Jul 24, 2008, 09:10 AM

^ And make sure it's a corporate store. We have 3 AT&T stores in town here, but only one is a corporate and sells iPhones.

scottiB · Jul 24, 2008, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon

If you want to see all states' availability at once:

http://www.topmuffin.com/3g-iphone-availability

Thanks for that link.

Mrjinglesusa · Jul 24, 2008, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by scottiB

Thanks for that link.

Ditto. And the link is DEFINTELY updated throughout the day. When I looked earlier, one store near me indicated no 16GB iPhones (white or black). Now, it shows the store as having all 3 models in stock.

scottiB · Jul 24, 2008, 02:55 PM

Wow. As of 2:45 PM EDT, all US Apple Stores are out of all models of iPhones.

jorgem4 · Jul 24, 2008, 03:33 PM

The woderful link xi_hyperon posted got shut down !

That is just great ! cause now instead of checking the website every 15 minutes, I am going to call the store every 15 minutes !.... NICE WQRK APPLE !

Simon · Jul 25, 2008, 03:06 AM

Huh? The link is still doing fine here.

freudling · Jul 25, 2008, 03:20 AM

No stock... another reason to hate people.

freudling · Jul 25, 2008, 03:21 AM

Ya all buying in the US, can you cash and carry an iPhone out of the Apple Store without signing up for a contract?

analogika · Jul 25, 2008, 03:45 AM

The answer is still "no".

Lava Lamp Freak · Jul 25, 2008, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

Ditto. And the link is DEFINTELY updated throughout the day. When I looked earlier, one store near me indicated no 16GB iPhones (white or black). Now, it shows the store as having all 3 models in stock.

It is being updated throughout the day, but I don't know how often the stores are reporting in. One of the stores in Austin still lists all models in stock today, although when I called this morning they were already sold out.

scottiB · Jul 25, 2008, 06:52 PM

Yep. Montgomery Mall in Bethesda is supposed to be fully stocked, but going in this evening they had none available.

acidchicken · Jul 25, 2008, 10:19 PM

I bought two today at the 5th Ave store in NYC. I waited in line for 5 hours. They have all models in stock almost all the time, but the employees were telling me that my 5 hour wait was nothing. They said most days were 10 hours...

Lava Lamp Freak · Jul 25, 2008, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by scottiB

Direct link for the OP:

http://www.apple.com/retail/iphone/availability.html

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon

If you want to see all states' availability at once:

http://www.topmuffin.com/3g-iphone-availability

The two availability links are contradictory to each other. I wonder why Apple's .json file is not providing correct up-to-date info?

Mrjinglesusa · Jul 26, 2008, 10:43 AM

Not sure who to believe, TopMuffin, who says all stores in VA have stock right now, or Apple, who said NO stores in VA have any stock today.

Lava Lamp Freak · Jul 26, 2008, 10:48 AM

None of the availability links are any good. Last night the retail link stated that neither of my local stores would have stock today. I just called and one of the stores has full stock but has a long line that started forming around 6:30 this morning.

Lava Lamp Freak · Jul 27, 2008, 05:46 PM

I just got back from buying a new iPhone. I waited in line for 3 and a half hours and it took about 5 minutes to complete the purchase & activation. They said the stores have long lines every single day. I got there 40 minutes before opening and the line started forming two hours before I got there. The store sold out of the 16GB black not long after opening. The 8GB and white 16GB were still available when I left the store. They said in terms of popularity it is the 16GB black, then white, then 8GB. Keep that in mind when you are deciding how early to get to the store. The only way to be sure to get one now is to get there before the store opens and wait in line. If you want to wait a few weeks and not have to stand in a line, order from AT&T.

I did find out that the store gets shipments 7 days a week, and even multiple times a day. The shipment times are not disclosed to the public due to the possibility of theft. So, it is also possible that you can show up later in the day and still be able to get one. They expect lines to continue for a while. It is unbelievable, really. I didn't expect at all to stand in line for 3 and a half hours today.

giggs11 · Jul 27, 2008, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by Lava Lamp Freak

I did find out that the store gets shipments 7 days a week, and even multiple times a day. The shipment times are not disclosed to the public due to the possibility of theft. So, it is also possible that you can show up later in the day and still be able to get one. They expect lines to continue for a while. It is unbelievable, really. I didn't expect at all to stand in line for 3 and a half hours today.

Yeah it's completely random. When I got mine (Thu, Jul 17th), I just decided to try calling my local store on the way home from work and got lucky that they had a bunch and only about five people in line. Only waited about 20 mins.

I guess it's all about timing. That was the third day in a row I had called, and it worked out. I would say to try calling 2-3 times a day. They will get shipments and hopefully you'll eventually reach them not long after a new one.

Good luck!