Apple holds 5s shipments for the next morning to be sold to campers.

[springsup]

Well talked to a apple employee this morning and asked if any stock comes in the day would they be able to sell they said no. They will hold till the next morning for the campers and said would be unfair if they sold during closing time to me. What kind of BS is this i now have to camp outside at 6am to get a phone that they maybe have in stock. This is in the boston/mass area.

You think that's unfair? Man, you guys have it easy!

I ordered my iPhone online to collect in store on the 20th. They said they'd have it on the 25th (yesterday), took my money, then sent an email around saying that all iPhones are being put back by 4-6 weeks (!!!).

Then today, I pop around to that shop, and see that they have exactly the iPhone I ordered in stock. I ask the guy about it, and he turns around and says he's not going to sell it to me, but that they've ordered a couple (no idea when they'll arrive), and they're going to sell them on for €200 more than the RRP.

This isn't some small back-alley store, either. This is MediaMarkt, one of the biggest electronics chains in Germany. Even they are scalpers now.

 

[amdhunter]

Why not just go to a carrier store?

I will not EVER purchase a phone from a carrier store ever. I always purchase my phones, in full, no contract online. Carrier stores, and their employees suck.

Just my opinion.

I just went ahead and ordered a Space Grey T-Mobile version online. It's not coming out of my pocket, so I guess I can wait.

 

[terzinator]

I respect your "honest opinion" but if Apple sold them as they came in the door, while supplies are short, there would never be any phones for the campers. I do not think that campers would think that is fair.

Why does there need to be "campers"? I mean, if there is stock, and if there's a process to make it fairly available, fine. Like "we get 100 phones every day in the middle of the day. We sell 50 today and set aside 50 tomorrow to last us until we get the next shipment. Then tomorrow it's the same. And so on, and so on." That's fine.

But to not sell to people in the store when you have stock, just because you want to have (or accommodate) "campers," and to create the illusion of increased demand and interest, that's just silly.

 

[BeeGood]

I respect your "honest opinion" but if Apple sold them as they came in the door, while supplies are short, there would never be any phones for the campers. I do not think that campers would think that is fair.

I guess my point is that the campers are there because they know apple is holding stock for them. If apple stopped trying to manage their inventory, or if they if they did so in a smarter way through online reservations, no one would be camping out and we wouldn't be discussing what's fair and what's not.

Edit: agree with what Terzinator wrote

 

[fender57]

first world problems

OH-HOHOHOHO!!! HEE-HEEHEEHEEHEE!!! AH-HAHAHAHA!!!

That's really witty, funny, and original! More please!

 

[Lucille Carter]

Why does there need to be "campers"? I mean, if there is stock, and if there's a process to make it fairly available, fine. Like "we get 100 phones every day in the middle of the day. We sell 50 today and set aside 50 tomorrow to last us until we get the next shipment. Then tomorrow it's the same. And so on, and so on." That's fine.

But to not sell to people in the store when you have stock, just because you want to have (or accommodate) "campers," and to create the illusion of increased demand and interest, that's just silly.

I guess my point is that the campers are there because they know apple is holding stock for them. If apple stopped trying to manage their inventory, or if they if they did so in a smarter way through online reservations, no one would be camping out and we wouldn't be discussing what's fair and what's not.

Edit: agree with what Terzinator wrote

The problem is that there is NOT enough stock to satisfy the demand. Apple is not holding to create lines.

I still maintain that Apple is doing what IT thinks is fair and it knows it can never make all the crazy Apple people happy!

 

[Steviejobz]

In any event, we clearly have differing opinions on what is fair. What I see here is Apple purposefully creating lines (that would not exist otherwise) by withholding stock and then saying, "Hey, since these people are going to be out there, we need to save some phones for them", which causes more people to queue up in the morning because they can't get the phone that day.

This makes no sense outside of a marketing/advertising perspective.

I guess we disagree on it not being of use. I think it is efficient for them to have people who just want a phone to wait in line. Otherwise it is very disorganized and can lead to chaos in the store if people just show up at the right time or maybe then they loiter in the store, hogging resource and time away from people trying to sell other hardware. Wait in line and if and when a shipment comes we will distribute in the morning. Since they dont know times of day boxes may arrive it would not make sense to have it be an arbitrary, moving target time.

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You would NOT think it is fair if you could not take the morning off to wait in line because you worked.

I work which is why i ordered on line. So yes I think this is very fair. Again, in several months you will be able to go to any store at any time and buy one. We're talking about necessary organization during the initial launch phase of a highly sought after product.

 

[terzinator]

I guess we disagree on it not being of use. I think it is efficient for them to have people who just want a phone to wait in line. Otherwise it is very disorganized and can lead to chaos in the store if people just show up at the right time or maybe then they loiter in the store, hogging resource and time away from people trying to sell other hardware.

I seem to recall in the past, they've cordoned off a separate area for iPhones, so folks doing iPhone stuff aren't mucking up the activity in the rest of the store. Kinda like day-after-Christmas returns at Target.

But my memory (from olden 4S times) might be faulty.

 

[cmichaelb]

I've given up on Buffett. He's a money machine. The only way I got to go to a concert this year was because he plays at Tiger Stadium now and there are more tickets available. I'm noticing more and more that there are no black people at his concerts. At least in Detroit. It's become more of a redneck event, and it's not making me comfortable. I get that people drink to excess at his concerts. But the rudeness and debauchery has gotten pretty bad. Plus walking the streets of downtown Detroit at night is rather risky. Especially now... PLUS he's getting too old to tour. He blew lyrics, started singing a song they weren't playing that tour, and I swear he was lip synching at one point...

The FedEx guy did tip me off on shipments of Wii's, and that's how I scored one rather early in the national orgasm of having to have one NOW Veruca...

I've decided to wait for the 6. Now, if I can only tell my inner child that we are waiting...

lol I was in Detroit back in May, and yeah, it was not what I was used to. I wanted to take pics of the ghost town portion but didn't want to go in there alone lol.

That's interesting, I thought parrotheads were more like deadheads, just relaxing and enjoying tunes, not causing ruckuses.

Oh that inner child.....the one that made me wait in line, the one that wants a PS4 at launch.....

----------

I will not EVER purchase a phone from a carrier store ever. I always purchase my phones, in full, no contract online. Carrier stores, and their employees suck.

Just my opinion.

I just went ahead and ordered a Space Grey T-Mobile version online. It's not coming out of my pocket, so I guess I can wait.

Wow, my experiences have been pretty good- other than all the upselling for UVerse, alarm monitoring, cases, screen protection, etc.

When I bought my 4S a full MONTH after launch, it took nearly 3 hours at the Apple store. I was in and out of AT&T in less than an hour and half at launch.

 

[terzinator]

That's interesting, I thought parrotheads were more like deadheads, just relaxing and enjoying tunes, not causing ruckuses.

In later years, deadheads caused plenty of ruckuses. Well, I should say "people who went to Dead shows to cause ruckuses caused ruckuses." A true deadhead always steers clear of ruckuses. Unless it involves free food, drugs or beer. Then, Katy bar the door.

Good times.

 

[impulse462]

At the Sommerset store in Detroit (Novi actually) they had people waiting in a 'pen' outside the store, in the common area of the mall. I couldn't believe it. I don't know how long people were waiting, but it felt strange to see people still apparently waiting for the 'latest greatest' in a paddock in front of the mall store. I hope they get what they are waiting for. I asked if they were waiting for the new iPhone, and someone wearily said 'Yes'. I hope they aren't waiting for store pickup ordered phones...

I'm trying to decide if I want to go through all of the BS to get a 5s. Maybe for the first time, I'll wait it out for the 6.

Did you mean 12 oaks? Since that's in Novi. Somerset is in Troy. I went to somerset for the original iPhone which was fun.

 

[cmichaelb]

In later years, deadheads caused plenty of ruckuses. Well, I should say "people who went to Dead shows to cause ruckuses caused ruckuses." A true deadhead always steers clear of ruckuses. Unless it involves free food, drugs or beer. Then, Katy bar the door.

Good times.

lmao.... +1 for the katy bar...haven't heard that in years.

 

[puma1552]

people are still camping out a week after release?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

When I bought my 4S a full MONTH after launch, it took nearly 3 hours at the Apple store. I was in and out of AT&T in less than an hour and half at launch.

And when I bought my 5 at the Apple Store, I walked in, was ignored, asked for help, was told to wait, finally got someone's attention, told them I wanted a black 64G, they entered it into their iPad, was told to wait right there, someone came out and gave me the phone and swiped my credit card on their remote register thingy, offered me a bag, and a receipt, and I was on my way. I think it took less than 20 minutes, even after the being ignored part. The place was busy, but my hypothesis is that I knew what I wanted, looked them in the eye, and reached for my wallet... With that behavior, I'm surprised I didn't have more employees fighting to help me.

----------

Oh that inner child.....the one that made me wait in line, the one that wants a PS4 at launch.....

Somehow I've been able to ignore the PS4. What I can't ignore is the 'waiting for takeoff' sounds my PS3 makes while watching a movie. During one movie that had an airplane in it, the sounds blended in, but in the quiet part I noticed that I could still hear the noise. Thinking that the movie was poorly edited (why would I ever think that) I muted the sound. There it was, the PS3, in a take off run-up to full power... It's gotten rather annoying of late. I don't know if she's going to blow, or flame out... I need the PS3 to play 3D movies on the biennial time that I do watch them. Hmm, maybe a test is in order: Despicable Me in 3D and see if it starts a small campfire... Under the TV... Note to self: Get marshmallows and hot digs. Just in case... Can't waste the moment...

 

[OneMike]

The OP wants to eat his cake and have it too.

What logic did you use to get to that conclusion?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Did you mean 12 oaks? Since that's in Novi. Somerset is in Troy. I went to somerset for the original iPhone which was fun.

You are right, you are right. My bad. I have only been to the 12 Oaks Apple Store twice. Did they enlarge it like the Somerset store? I found it somehow delicious that while the Somerset store was being enlarged, they moved into the old Sony Style store. Others were commenting on it at the time too. Both stores are run by the same people, not to surprising, and all of the repairs were being done at the 12 Oaks store, or so I was told. That's probably changed by now.

My routine is usually Apple Store to get appointment, Restoration Hardware to gawk, Starbucks because waiting for the appointment is so exhausting, drooling on that leather roller bag at Tumi, a cookie at the Mrs Fields, and on the way out of town, a stop at REI. I really miss the Expo place that used to be there next to REI. Kill time, and my credit card too...

 

[Blueline29]

if you ordered it online on friday you would have one by now. Not sure why people roll the dice trying to get one on launch day and then complain about not being able to get one for months later after they strike out. After 6 years, you think folks would know by now that iphones typically sell fast.

Wrong. I ordered at 3:10 am and was given an estimate of "October" from AT&T. Switched it to Apple and still have the same thing (yes, I know that that moved me down in the queue). Point is, even after waiting up to order at 3 am (I tried several times to get through via Apple and each time was told that "something was wrong with my AT&T account". Got through to AT&T the first try), I still ended up screwed anyway.) This is the first online order I've ever done that hasn't resulted in my getting the phone on launch day. Rather disappointed.

 

[Spacial]

I believe Apple just wants their lines so they can milk the launch day phenomena for everything it's worth.

It's refreshing to hear from someone who "gets it".

Apple has built its empire via masterful manipulation along with a brilliant marketing plan. Sure their products are very good, but without Steve Jobs salesmanship they'd be forced to operate like most corporations. Now in his absence Tim Cook is getting scrutiny unlike any other CEO.

 

[Vctr]

Holding phones to be sold the next day is reasonable since it eliminates the luck involved with being at the store right after a shipment occurs. No one knows when it'll happen.

If you're willing to camp outside of the store, Apple needs to make sure that you are taken care of.

 

[Steviejobz]

Wrong. I ordered at 3:10 am and was given an estimate of "October" from AT&T. Switched it to Apple and still have the same thing (yes, I know that that moved me down in the queue). Point is, even after waiting up to order at 3 am (I tried several times to get through via Apple and each time was told that "something was wrong with my AT&T account". Got through to AT&T the first try), I still ended up screwed anyway.) This is the first online order I've ever done that hasn't resulted in my getting the phone on launch day. Rather disappointed.

Sorry you wasted time on AT&T's website. I guess I should me more clear but if you ordered on Apple.com on Friday morning you would have your phone (like I do).

 

[impulse462]

You are right, you are right. My bad. I have only been to the 12 Oaks Apple Store twice. Did they enlarge it like the Somerset store? I found it somehow delicious that while the Somerset store was being enlarged, they moved into the old Sony Style store. Others were commenting on it at the time too. Both stores are run by the same people, not to surprising, and all of the repairs were being done at the 12 Oaks store, or so I was told. That's probably changed by now.

My routine is usually Apple Store to get appointment, Restoration Hardware to gawk, Starbucks because waiting for the appointment is so exhausting, drooling on that leather roller bag at Tumi, a cookie at the Mrs Fields, and on the way out of town, a stop at REI. I really miss the Expo place that used to be there next to REI. Kill time, and my credit card too...

I live <5 minutes from somerset so I usually only go there. I've only been to 12 oaks twice since they have this hat store my friend always likes going to but is not in somerset (forgot the name). I really miss the sony style store, it was great to visit. Whenever my friends and I went to the mall, I always dragged them to the apple store and sony store just to check them out.

Used to go expo center all the time with my parents when I was younger, I really enjoyed that store; its a shame it closed down.

 

[/V\acpower]

I guess we disagree on it not being of use. I think it is efficient for them to have people who just want a phone to wait in line. Otherwise it is very disorganized and can lead to chaos in the store if people just show up at the right time or maybe then they loiter in the store, hogging resource and time away from people trying to sell other hardware. Wait in line and if and when a shipment comes we will distribute in the morning. Since they dont know times of day boxes may arrive it would not make sense to have it be an arbitrary, moving target time.

----------



I work which is why i ordered on line. So yes I think this is very fair. Again, in several months you will be able to go to any store at any time and buy one. We're talking about necessary organization during the initial launch phase of a highly sought after product.

Very true.

Actually if they did sell iPhones as they arrived any time of the day, the O.P. would probably not even get a chance to buy one since there would be a lot of peoples just waiting all day long for iPhones to arrive at any moment.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I live <5 minutes from somerset so I usually only go there. I've only been to 12 oaks twice since they have this hat store my friend always likes going to but is not in somerset (forgot the name). I really miss the sony style store, it was great to visit. Whenever my friends and I went to the mall, I always dragged them to the apple store and sony store just to check them out.

Used to go expo center all the time with my parents when I was younger, I really enjoyed that store; its a shame it closed down.

I too miss the Sony Style store. Their notebooks were sexy, and advanced in a rather meaningless aesthetic way. They were usually slower than anything else, but looked incredible. Like a Harley? It was interesting to think what Sony would have done if Apple had been sold (given, considering how badly it was being run) to Sony. Apple, for all intents and purposes, would have died. All the innovation, all the promise, choked and left for dead... No iPod, no iTunes... Large corporations are efficient at killing the life out of an industry. And people think corporations are 'people'. Psychotic people...

I was surprised that Home Depot owned Expo. I was building a house at the time and would head down with a trailer and get appliances, cabinets, flooring, hardware, etc there. I got a Viking range for a huge discount. And REI was awesome. Until they closed down the climbing wall... I'm thinking of putting one in my house.

Anyway, I imagine if there still was a Sony Style store, I'd be all geeked about the PS4.

 

[cmichaelb]

And when I bought my 5 at the Apple Store, I walked in, was ignored, asked for help, was told to wait, finally got someone's attention, told them I wanted a black 64G, they entered it into their iPad, was told to wait right there, someone came out and gave me the phone and swiped my credit card on their remote register thingy, offered me a bag, and a receipt, and I was on my way. I think it took less than 20 minutes, even after the being ignored part. The place was busy, but my hypothesis is that I knew what I wanted, looked them in the eye, and reached for my wallet... With that behavior, I'm surprised I didn't have more employees fighting to help me.

----------



Somehow I've been able to ignore the PS4. What I can't ignore is the 'waiting for takeoff' sounds my PS3 makes while watching a movie. During one movie that had an airplane in it, the sounds blended in, but in the quiet part I noticed that I could still hear the noise. Thinking that the movie was poorly edited (why would I ever think that) I muted the sound. There it was, the PS3, in a take off run-up to full power... It's gotten rather annoying of late. I don't know if she's going to blow, or flame out... I need the PS3 to play 3D movies on the biennial time that I do watch them. Hmm, maybe a test is in order: Despicable Me in 3D and see if it starts a small campfire... Under the TV... Note to self: Get marshmallows and hot digs. Just in case... Can't waste the moment...

Well, mine isn't too loud... hmmm, sounds like a good night for smores

 

[impulse462]

I too miss the Sony Style store. Their notebooks were sexy, and advanced in a rather meaningless aesthetic way. They were usually slower than anything else, but looked incredible. Like a Harley? It was interesting to think what Sony would have done if Apple had been sold (given, considering how badly it was being run) to Sony. Apple, for all intents and purposes, would have died. All the innovation, all the promise, choked and left for dead... No iPod, no iTunes... Large corporations are efficient at killing the life out of an industry. And people think corporations are 'people'. Psychotic people...

I was surprised that Home Depot owned Expo. I was building a house at the time and would head down with a trailer and get appliances, cabinets, flooring, hardware, etc there. I got a Viking range for a huge discount. And REI was awesome. Until they closed down the climbing wall... I'm thinking of putting one in my house.

Anyway, I imagine if there still was a Sony Style store, I'd be all geeked about the PS4.

Yeah, we got these garage lights which look pretty high quality for cheap prices. Home depot is just not as good.

Anyway back on topic, I honestly don't have a problem with Apple Store keeping stock for campers.