The worst iPhone launch ever? And a chipped iPhone 5s (with pic!)

[WilliamG]

So I got in line at the Bellevue, WA Apple Store last night at 9:55pm. I was number 14 in line. Number FOURTEEN.

Apple employees refused to tell us how many of any phones they had.

I can tell you this:

When they gave out the reservation cards at 7:30am, the first 5 people grabbed 64GB gold iPhone 5S models. That was all they had. FIVE.

I got the ONLY 32GB white AT&T model (for the wife), and a 32GB slate grey model AT&T for myself (of which they had many).

Can you believe a store of this size only had a single 32GB AT&T white model? Insane!

There was probably about 800 people out there when they opened, and I'm sure a LOT of very, VERY disappointed buyers. There was barely any stock…

The store had TONS of iPhone 5c, and nobody was interested (no surprise - you don't wait in line that long for a 5c).

My 32GB slate grey had a nice chip out of the top. I'm glad I opened it in the store. It was exchanged for a second which seems fine.

You can see the stock of iPhone 5s models. That was just after walking in. There's barely any! And yes, I asked if that was all of it.

Ugh.. just sad.

PS, yes there really was a Hispanic guy with many ears.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Are you sure that was all the stock? Seems low. Sucks about the chip. That's very noticeable and I'd be bummed.


But let's talk about this:

Epic.

 

[yanki01]

Are you sure that was all the stock? Seems low. Sucks about the chip. That's very noticeable and I'd be bummed.


But let's talk about this:
View attachment 434628
Epic.

lololol

 

[WilliamG]

Are you sure that was all the stock? Seems low. Sucks about the chip. That's very noticeable and I'd be bummed.


But let's talk about this:
View attachment 434628
Epic.

Yes I'm sure. The store was plain embarrassed. I saw the cards they were handing out. I know for a fact that I got the only 32GB white AT&T model. The pile of iPhones on the table was just… one, in that stack, for iPhone 5s 32GB white, AT&T models. And I saw I got the only reservation card in the stack for that type.

And yes, as mentioned in my first post, that guy was totally there.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Every iPhone launch is the worst ever according to someone.

 

[Velin]

There was probably about 800 people out there when they opened, and I'm sure a LOT of very, VERY disappointed buyers.

Tim Cook just emailed me, and he says "that's how the cookie crumbles."

 

[McPc]

Are you sure that was all the stock? Seems low. Sucks about the chip. That's very noticeable and I'd be bummed.


But let's talk about this:
View attachment 434628
Epic.

Bummed about having ears like that or a chipped phone?

 

[fender57]

Tim Cook just emailed me, and he says "that's how the cookie crumbles."

Steve Jobs just e-mailed me from the grave and told me not to hold the iPhone like that.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Tim Cook just emailed me, and he says "that's how the cookie crumbles."

Sure he wasn't looking for advice on contract law?

Bummed about having ears like that or a chipped phone?

Both! I'd be bummed with both!

 

[WilliamG]

Every iPhone launch is the worst ever according to someone.

When has there ever been a launch when a store only got ONE 32GB iPhone white, at a major store? Only 5 gold? Really? Crazy...

 

[neoelectronaut]

When has there ever been a launch when a store only got ONE 32GB iPhone white, at a major store? Only 5 gold? Really? Crazy...

How about the time the White iPhone didn't make the iPhone launch at all, and I waited three months for nothing? (And ended up having to settle for a black iPhone.)

 

[Mlrollin91]

San Diego UTC had 4 AT&T Gold iPhones. Period. 1 16GB, 1 32GB and 2 64GB. My girlfriend was number 6 in line and she got the last Gold.

 

[WilliamG]

How about the time the White iPhone didn't make the iPhone launch at all, and I waited three months for nothing? (And ended up having to settle for a black iPhone.)

I'm talking about ACTUAL launch, not hypothetical launch.

----------

San Diego UTC had 4 AT&T Gold iPhones. Period. 1 16GB, 1 32GB and 2 64GB. My girlfriend was number 6 in line and she got the last Gold.

That's insane, too. No wonder Apple didn't do preorders. I love all things Apple (well…most things Apple), but making hoards of people wait in line for no reason was PURE marketing. Perhaps even marketing genius. But a really, really crappy thing to do.

 

[fender57]

That's insane, too. No wonder Apple didn't do preorders. I love all things Apple (well…most things Apple), but making hoards of people wait in line for no reason was PURE marketing. Perhaps even marketing genius. But a really, really crappy thing to do.

Yeah, a lot of people here called it right off the bat.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I'm talking about ACTUAL launch, not hypothetical launch.

----------



That's insane, too. No wonder Apple didn't do preorders. I love all things Apple (well…most things Apple), but making hoards of people wait in line for no reason was PURE marketing. Perhaps even marketing genius. But a really, really crappy thing to do.

And they ran out of all AT&T White/Silver within 20 minutes. Thank god I was number 6/7 in line. I got a 32GB AT&T Space Grey and they seemed to have a quite a bit of those. There were a good 200 people in line and they had no idea how short supplied they were. They had tons of 5Cs in all colors.

 

[WilliamG]

And they ran out of all AT&T White/Silver within 20 minutes. Thank god I was number 6/7 in line. I got a 32GB AT&T Space Grey and they seemed to have a quite a bit of those. There were a good 200 people in line and they had no idea how short supplied they were. They had tons of 5Cs in all colors.

What really cheeses me off is that at 7:55am the Apple employees ran around the mall cheering and high-five-ing everyone! Talk about… suck!

 

[JLEW700]

There was probably about 800 people out there when they opened, and I'm sure a LOT of very, VERY disappointed buyers. There was barely any stock…

Glad I didn't waste my time. Im sure U Village and Alderwood had similar situations??

 

[WilliamG]

Glad I didn't waste my time. Im sure U Village and Alderwood had similar situations??

No doubt.

To Apple's credit, they did have extra stock for defective phones, and they swapped out my chipped unit with a new one instantly.

 

[Gix1k]

Why are you all surprised about stock....why do you think there was no preorder for the 5s....supplies were low.

Apple must not have been aware of previous launches.

 

[2298754]

If it came chipped, there is always an extra stock at the genius bar for replacements

 

[roadbloc]

Apple must not have been aware of previous launches.

Either that or they thought the 5C would be the big seller. But I wouldn't know. No Apple Store for many miles where I'm at.

How about the time the White iPhone didn't make the iPhone launch at all, and I waited three months for nothing? (And ended up having to settle for a black iPhone.)

I'm still waiting for my Powerbook G5.

 

[Lucille Carter]

Sorry about your problems but for me it was the easist iPhone introduction I have ever been in. Got one ordered and had my "friend" bring me a 64gb Grey AT&T model.

 

[Iphone5preorder]

Are you sure that was all the stock? Seems low. Sucks about the chip. That's very noticeable and I'd be bummed.


But let's talk about this:
View attachment 434628
Epic.

He probably hears better then any of us.

 

[itsmemuffins]

I had a chip on my 32gb Space Grey as well, They exchanged it immediately. Good thing we opened up our phones in store.

 

[momoruno]

Chipgate?