Strategies for Day 2

[Small White Car]

For those who couldn't get one this morning, what do people think is their best course of action on Saturday?

Wait at an Apple store tomorrow morning on the theory that they'll get more tonight? Hang out watching for returns? Something else?

Did anyone here have any luck on Day 2 back in 2007? Love to hear from you if you did!

Otherwise I'll just wait a week. Whatever, it's cool. But I thought I'd ask if anyone else had a plan.

[bry223]

For those who couldn't get one this morning, what do people think is their best course of action on Saturday?

Wait at an Apple store tomorrow morning on the theory that they'll get more tonight? Hang out watching for returns? Something else?

Did anyone here have any luck on Day 2 back in 2007? Love to hear from you if you did!

Otherwise I'll just wait a week. Whatever, it's cool. But I thought I'd ask if anyone else had a plan.

I wont be trying until sometime next week, Im already exhausted, my vacation started today so Im going to relax a bit.

[soberbrain]

You should wait next week, so I have a better chance tomorrow ;)

I'll check availability on Apple's site and try my luck tomorrow.

[t0mat0]

For those who couldn't get one this morning, what do people think is their best course of action on Saturday?

Wait at an Apple store tomorrow morning on the theory that they'll get more tonight? Hang out watching for returns? Something else?

Did anyone here have any luck on Day 2 back in 2007? Love to hear from you if you did!

Otherwise I'll just wait a week. Whatever, it's cool. But I thought I'd ask if anyone else had a plan.

It might be very useful if we could have a central place to go for UK people who haven't got one yet, info as to how/where/when to get one etc sticky, approved by a Mod, to let us list stock levels, and known future stock replenishes.
I'm heading for a city size non London Apple store and hoping they'll have a stock update faster than O2 (even though an existing customer on Simplicity)


mods - any chance of helping out the British brethren?

Where can we check for availability in Apple stores? Anyone got a link?

[Small White Car]

We need a central sticky, approved by a Mod, to let us list stock levels, and known future stock replenishes.

I'll check availability on Apple's site and try my luck tomorrow.

Last year Apple had a page showing all this stuff. Remember? I don't see anything like that this year. They probably got complaints since there's no way to make it 100% accurate.

[t0mat0]

Last year Apple had a page showing all this stuff. Remember? I don't see anything like that this year. They probably got complaints since there's no way to make it 100% accurate.

Better than 0% accurate from O2!

[soberbrain]

Last year Apple had a page showing all this stuff. Remember? I don't see anything like that this year. They probably got complaints since there's no way to make it 100% accurate.

I didn't see last year's page. But I checked this out last night.

It's set up to have a green or red indicators for each iPhone model to show which ones they have or do not have in stock for the next day.

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

[nolatron]

Last year Apple had a page showing all this stuff. Remember? I don't see anything like that this year. They probably got complaints since there's no way to make it 100% accurate.

It's on the individual store's retail page at apple.com

I'll probably swing by the AT&T store at 8am tomorrow to see what they got.

If they're out of stock just place an order for one. No since in spending a week constantly checking stores to find one with iPhones in stock if AT&T can simply order one in same time frame.

[dmelgar]

Last year Apple had a page showing all this stuff. Remember? I don't see anything like that this year. They probably got complaints since there's no way to make it 100% accurate.

Its still there.
Go to their iphone page, look for where you can get it. Pick Apple stores, work down to your store. It will show iPhone in stock or not.

Its available after 9pm.

[chars]

Does anyone know if the ATT stores are going to get a new shipment for tomorrow morning or is it just Apple? A couple ATT stores out in Chicago have said they don't know of any new shipment. Anyone else heard anything?

[Blue Velvet]

mods - any chance of helping out the British brethren?

We'll probably release some of the current stickies before creating new ones... and a UK-specific one for what Arn has said is only 9% of the traffic may just cause people to want one for their own country or state. Before too long, this will be a non-issue.

[t0mat0]

I didn't see last year's page. But I checked this out last night.

It's set up to have a green or red indicators for each iPhone model to show which ones they have or do not have in stock for the next day.

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

Is there a UK version? I can only see http://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/buy/

:(

We'll probably release some of the current stickies before creating new ones... and a UK-specific one for what Arn has said is only 9% of the traffic may just cause people to want one for their own country or state. Before too long, this will be a non-issue.
irie :) 9% of a lot of traffic, is a lot of traffic hehe ;)
Here's to O2 , and O2 iPhone 3G stock levels becoming a "non-issue" :D

[Small White Car]

Its still there.
Go to their iphone page, look for where you can get it. Pick Apple stores, work down to your store. It will show iPhone in stock or not.

Its available after 9pm.

Thanks, all.

I couldn't find it because they did it differently last year. It was its own page then, but now it's by store.

Good to know!

[ubersalad]

I didn't see last year's page. But I checked this out last night.

It's set up to have a green or red indicators for each iPhone model to show which ones they have or do not have in stock for the next day.

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

I love this wonderful utility Apple has provided...NOT! For all we know, having 1 in stock means available.

[Penguinwrangler]

AT&T stores should be getting re-stocking shipments tonight if they haven't already. Apple stores seem to be okay on stock, but lines are still really long everywhere I've called. Also, there's the whole issue of getting a phone you can't use till the iTunes servers come back up to capacity, and a few of the Apple employees I've spoken to today did not seem overly optimistic that that would happen tonight.

[DallasChief]

Here's my plan:
Close up shop at 5:00 pm.
Pick up wife and head to lake house.
spend the rest of the weekend drinking beer and fishing.
Check back with AT&T about Wednesday.

I have already been waiting over 3 weeks. My boat came loose from the dock and was floating away. I jumped in after it forgetting my Iphone was in my pocket. They don't like swimming very much!
Spent the last 3 weeks with my old Motorola, guess I can suck it up for a few more days.

[maryanny]

AT&T let me purchase one today and for 14 dollars its express shipped. They'll call me Tuesday to pick it up. No waiting in any lines for me. I think I prefer it this way, by Tuesday Mobile Me and iTunes Activation should be fixed by then.

[BrightestBear]

I just called one local AT&T store, and they said all the upcoming shipments to AT&T stores in my area will be used to fill the orders being placed today. Then I called a different AT&T store in my area, and they said that the orders are being shipped separately, and that all the stores in the area will be getting new shipments tonight that will be available first come, first served tomorrow. Who should I believe??

What a mess.

[l3lack J4ck]

I need to know the same thing. If so im going to the AT&T store tomorrow at 8 to check on it.

My AT&T stores both told me they have no idea when shipments are coming in. One guy told me "long after Monday" after i suggested me coming in monday.

The other told me no idea shouldnt be too long.

I guess i'll check tomorrow just to be sure.

[BrightestBear]

One AT&T guy I talked to said all the stores in the area should be getting shipments tonight for walk-in customers tomorrow. Take that for what it's worth. (I'm in downstate Illinois.)

Also, I think the AT&T stores are opening at the regular time tomorrow, 10 a.m. I might go early just in case, but I don't think they'll be open at 8 like this morning.

[And5555]

I just called one local AT&T store, and they said all the upcoming shipments to AT&T stores in my area will be used to fill the orders being placed today. Then I called a different AT&T store in my area, and they said that the orders are being shipped separately, and that all the stores in the area will be getting new shipments tonight that will be available first come, first served tomorrow. Who should I believe??

What a mess.

I would go with the second guy's statement for 2 reasons:
1) Every report thus far on the forums has said that they were told of separate stocks of iPhones (orders vs regular shipments).
2) The first guy was probably trying to get you to do a fulfillment (meaning a. they get your $ at *that* store, and b. he gets the commission on it).

I have a question for you: What area do you live in where you were told they every store was getting shipments tonight?

(I haven't been able to get any sort of shipping information at all from any stores here in Austin, TX.)

[backfromtejas]

What do you all think the line situation will be tomorrow morning?

Do you think there's going to be lines starting at 5 or 6 am like there were this morning?

How was it last year?

I can wait until tomorrow but I just want to know what time I should get there.

[DeaconGraves]

I love this wonderful utility Apple has provided...NOT! For all we know, having 1 in stock means available.

Last year I recall hearing that if the stock got below 5 or so it would be listed as unavailable.

Also to note: the stock reflects stock as of 9 PM local time. If they receive a shipment midday, they'll likely start selling.

Also, this tool is a lot better than last year as it distinguishes between size and color.

[BrightestBear]

And5555, I'm in downstate Illinois, and I've talked to AT&T stores in a few cities within an hour of one another to try to figure out what's up. And I like your thought process with which story to believe :)

backfromtejas, I don't know what it was like last year on day 2, but I'd like to find out. I'm not planning on going super early. Maybe 9 a.m. to get the jump on the 10 a.m. open?

[calvy]

What do you all think the line situation will be tomorrow morning?

Do you think there's going to be lines starting at 5 or 6 am like there were this morning?

How was it last year?

I can wait until tomorrow but I just want to know what time I should get there.

Last year I walked into the Apple store at noon and picked up an 8GB iPhone with no wait at all. This year I am doubtful. I've checked my Apple store in St Louis Galleria 3 times now. Each time the line has been 100+ people long. close to 200 in some periods. I may check one more time prior to close tonight. And if I still can't get one without a rediculous wait in line, then I'll try getting there in the morning, maybe an hour or so prior to opening. I don't want to camp, I just want my damn phone. This activation in store crap is a pain in the rear. It's slowing things down so much. I am interested to see sales numbers today. I bet they don't move more than 5 phones an hour.

[DanielQ]

I think a good deal of people pre-ordered it for arrival in 3-5 days. When they told us they ran out (in Peoria, IL) there were a good 20-30 people still in line. About 2 or 3 left. Everyone else preordered, myself included.

[t0mat0]

Anyone know if the Birmingham Bullring Apple or O2 stores have stock or likely to have some tomorrow ?

[islandtitan]

I wasn't able to go this morning so I was planning on going tomorrow, Sat. morning.
This afternoon after work I called the store where I pre-qualified to check if by chance they still had any. The CS rep I dealt with for the pre-qual said they ran out about 11:30 this morning and that I should be in line in the morning about 6 or 7, they open at 9. I asked if they would have any, since they don't have any now, and she said they would. I asked how she knew that, did they get a shipment in today and she said yes, and I said then why can't I get one tonight? she said they couldn't sell those until tomorrow -

WTF kind of s@#t is that...I'm a bit ticked off now - why do they feel the need to play games with people...

[Dakotafan]

my apple store says it's saturday hours start at 10, but I heard they open at 8..no idea...might head to at&t which open at 9

[extraextra]

I called my AT&T and they said a shipment was expected tomorrow morning, so I might go then. Or I'll just wait it out for a week.

[dmelgar]

Summary of all reports say that AT&T is getting very little stock and was out of stock everywhere today. Stores in my area reported being sold out by 10am. I wouldn't expect that to change in the near future. One of my local stores said they had 40 phones. Thats a joke. They could have sold 200 easy.

Meanwhile, all the Apple stores still have stock with some reports of mountains of phones.

So.... if you want an iPhone and have a choice of AT&T or Apple stores, it seems like a no-brainer that you have to go to the Apple store to get it.

[thechidz]

Im going to the closest att store to me at 8 am with my guitar and wait just because its going to be a beautiful morning in nyc... if I dont get it Ill just order for delivery... done and done

[thor79]

People....it's called BACKORDERING...not preordering. Preordering takes place before launch, backorders are when they run out. They should have been taking preorders since the announcement in June. That would have made this launch significantly smoother.

I'm still stuck going to an AT&T store because my purchase is tied to my dad's purchase. He's getting a free upgrade...but it has to go through the same AT&T store he bought the first one from.

I'm tied to my dad because he's the one paying for my phone. I'm pretty sure I could go to an Apple store if I had the money...so I'm tempted to just ask him for the money and head to Apple in Oakbrook, IL. I think I should be fine getting mine from Apple since I know I'm not eligible for upgrade pricing. If there's no question about eligibility they should be able to just ring me through as at full price right?

The way it looks is...AT&T stores will continue to have problems with stock...meanwhile Apple stores have plenty. I checked Apple stores in Illinois tonight (at their online inventory check) and only 1 store in the area is out completely, there was one other that had no 16GB black....neither is the Oakbrook store.

[AppleSpice]

I am still confused about the hours for the AT&T stores tomorrow... my local one opened at 8 today, but i believe their normal hours for sat are 10-9.... I would like to try tomorrow to get it, but I dont want to show up at 10 feeling like a fool because I thought I could just come at open and get it... maybe I'll check in around 8 to see if theres any commotion...

Dear Apple, why do you control my life this way?!

[dmelgar]

Well so much for strategy. I showed up early, was 2nd in line for an area AT&T store.

10 minutes before opening the manager comes out to address the group which was now numbering around 10 of us. He tells us they received NO iPhones, zip, zero, nada. WHAT A JOKE! He also mentioned they only received 20 for opening day and had had 100+ waiting in line at 8am.

I went to a second store, same story. Only had 20 yesterday, received none today.

Went to an Apple store. 82 people in line, still in stock.

I gave up and did the direct fulfillment from an AT&T store. I had signed up for a line of service through AT&T to try it out before the iPhone showed up. I may need to cancel it if it threatens my 30 day return possibility for the first line.