Are there really no Iphone 4s at any of the London Apple stores? Why?

[PDE]

I've been trying to reserve an unlocked iphone 4 at the Regent Street Store for a month, but only get a message that:

"We’re sorry, but there are no pickup dates available at this store. Please check back later, try another Apple Retail Store location, or shop the Apple Online Store"

I went in a few weeks ago and the guy I spoke to said I had to reserve and walked me over to an imac to make a reservation. We got the same message then - no iphones. I can order online and it'll be delivered in 3-4 days, but nothing available in the stores. I prefer to buy in person from a real human.

Is there some trick to this, or is it genuinely not possible to buy an iphone from any of the Apple Stores in London? I also checked Liverpool and Manchester and they gave me the same message.

Just curious and a little annoyed.

 

[OllyW]

Why don't you just order it on-line?

 

[PDE]

Yes, of course I can and I will. Call me old-fashioned, but I actually really like buying in the apple shop and walking out with a bag! A little more personal than ordering online.

I was just curious...

 

[OllyW]

There was a lot of talk about organised groups of shoppers buying up all the unlocked iPhones as soon as the Apple Store got them, so they could sell them abroad at a big profit.

I wonder if they are limiting supplies to the stores to help stop this?

 

[PDE]

Olly,

That actually makes a lot of sense. I tried to get one in the September, but every time I got to the store they were sold out, despite having called ahead to make sure they had stock. I gave up since my 2G iphone was still doing a good job. But at the time, the sales guy I spoke to told me that groups of people were waiting outside every morning to buy up what they had in stock that day, making it hard to predict from one minute to the next if they'd have any in stock.

so maybe this is how they've handled the problem. Too bad for those of us who still like face-to-face store shopping...