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At&t Sold Out

My local store sold out and wanted me to order a phone to be shipped in 3-5 days to the store, at which point I could pick it up. I decided to take my chances that they'll get a shipment in before that and I can just walk in and pick one up tomorrow or Monday. Maybe that was the wrong decision, but we'll see. (I, too, live three hours from an Apple store, so that's not really an option.)

Of course, the local AT&t manager said she didn't know when they'd get another shipment in, saying, "They don't tell us anything." I was surprised that the stores wouldn't know when they'd have more phones arriving.

Is there some benefit for them to push the orders rather than be up-front about when the next batch will arrive? I'm trying to keep my conspiracy-o-meter in check ...
 
I didn't feel like coming back to stand in line again and maybe have them run out, so I ordered one. Paid 20 bucks for 3 day shipping, ships to the store, I go pick it up, they activate it, I take it home. I can live with that.
 
I did the direct fulfillment as well. At my store I was told that if they received a shipment in We would be notified and we could get one of those... not that they are separate. If the daily shipments is true, then hopefully I can get it tomorrow!
 
So am I correct that some stores are saying that if you place a direct fulfillment order, it will be filled with the next shipment of phones, while other stores are saying that direct fulfillment orders are shipped separately and you wouldn't be able to fill it with the next available shipment? It's the policy inconsistencies between stores that drive me crazy!
 
BrightestBear said:
So am I correct that some stores are saying that if you place a direct fulfillment order, it will be filled with the next shipment of phones, while other stores are saying that direct fulfillment orders are shipped separately and you wouldn't be able to fill it with the next available shipment? It's the policy inconsistencies between stores that drive me crazy!
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Check out: https://www.wireless.att.com/order_...dn&vNumber=4257530538&ZipCode=98007&x=35&y=11
 
Bosox3 said:
Everyone that is reserving one from att, their phones are going to be shipped to their houses.
If they come in tonight, those hit the store floor in the morning.
I guess the ones pre-ordered are from a different stock pile.
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I had one reserved(direct fullfillment) from AT&T and i'm to pick it up at the store.

I waited hours for one. They sold out. I needed to do this today since i was exchanging another phone that i got 28 days ago. They did the switch and said i'll be picking it up at the store. After waiting all that time on line, i don't care when it comes. As long as i don't have to do that again.
 
FDX said:
dmelgar said:
Why is anyone trying to buy from an AT&T store anyway? Sounds like the Apple stores have WAY more iPhones. They're saying they won't even run out today.
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ATT store 10 min, apple store 2.5 hours that is why I would go to ATT, thank you.
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In my area (Raleigh, NC) there are around 10 AT&T corporate stores and 2 Apple stores. All AT&T stores I called this morning at 11:30am said that they had been sold out for "hours" (which I find hard to believe). At least in my town, I don't understand why there was such a run on AT&T stores when we have 2 Apple stores people could have gone to.

For stores to run out in 1-2 hours means that they didn't have much stock at all. Max I could see 6 registers going, 15 minutes per customer, thats 24 phones/hour. Meaning no more than 40 phones per store.

40 phones is insanely little stock. Maybe they are trying to sell out to make it sound more impressive.
 
I just got into a fight with the oh-so-lovely AT&T dealer. After being told "this isn't AT&T" and hung up on numerous times, I finally reached the store where I was promptly told I dialed wrong, because "we answer ah phones." I showed him the number I called and he proceeded to tell me I still was wrong. He then said I can order it and "get it whenever.." or I can "try to call the right number this time and see if we have any tomorrow morning." I almost am ready to drive 20 minutes furthur to Cherry Hill's Apple and get it instead of dealing with these geniuses near me!!

I told him it said daily shipments, and he said "ah....I don't know." Is anyone as frustrated as I am??
 
What are the chances of encountering another ridiculously long line tomorrow? I don't really have to patience to fight for a new phone for days to come.
 
Yep, I checked with the AT&T Store and they said they could purchase the 3G iPhone and that it would arrive next week "at their store" and they would make an appointment for you to come in and get it activated in store. Not sure why the other stores are shipping right to your house, unless they will have you come back to the store to activate it???:confused:
 
Given reports, it seems obvious that if you have a choice of AT&T or Apple stores, you have to go to an Apple store to find an iPhone in stock.

At one of my area AT&T stores, they told me they had received a whopping 40 phones to handle todays crowd. What a joke. They could have sold 200 of them. They sold out by 9:30 this morning.

Meanwhile Apple stores are rimming with iPhones and still reporting in stock.

Doesn't seem quite right, but thats the way it is.
 
Bosox3 said:
I heard daily as well.
I'd wait because you will prob get it sooner than if you ordered it to get sent to your house.
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guy i talked to today said the ordered shipments are full-filled before the shelves are stocked again so the people who ordered will get the next shipment on iphones before anyone who walks in the store. Correct me if I am wrong, just stating something I heard from an at&t rep.
 
Cancelling direct fulfillment order

Sorry for the cross-post (another similar thread as well), but any issue with canceling the direct fulfillment order (even after it ships) if I happen to snag one elsewhere this weekend?
 
FaustArp said:
guy i talked to today said the ordered shipments are full-filled before the shelves are stocked again so the people who ordered will get the next shipment on iphones before anyone who walks in the store. Correct me if I am wrong, just stating something I heard from an at&t rep.
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I don't believe that's the case. AT&T gets daily shipments, but if you chose direct fulfillment, it's shipped c/o you to the store. So you could roll the dice and choose to wait in line again tomorrow and risk not getting one, or do what I did, do direct fulfillment, and pick it up in the store in a few days. For me, it wasn't worth the hassle of going every day hoping to get a phone, I'd rather wait a few days and know my phone is there with my name on it waiting for me. Unfortunately, they won't use daily shipments to fulfill orders people placed previous days.

Again, that's as I understand it, with all that's been going on in the last couple of days, who knows.
 
dungbeetle said:
I don't believe that's the case. AT&T gets daily shipments, but if you chose direct fulfillment, it's shipped c/o you to the store. So you could roll the dice and choose to wait in line again tomorrow and risk not getting one, or do what I did, do direct fulfillment, and pick it up in the store in a few days. For me, it wasn't worth the hassle of going every day hoping to get a phone, I'd rather wait a few days and know my phone is there with my name on it waiting for me. Unfortunately, they won't use daily shipments to fulfill orders people placed previous days.

Again, that's as I understand it, with all that's been going on in the last couple of days, who knows.
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That is what i was told as well. The exact situation what was give to me is as follows:
If you choose to do the Direct Fulfillment option you can have the iPhone shipped to the store within the next 5-10 business days or you can pay an extra $15 and get it there in two days. But they told me if i decide to come in on a day before they receive my pre-ordered iphone, i can purchase that one instead and cancel the order. The reason i chose not to do the Direct Fulfillment is because if Apple had shipped the iphone already when i go to pick up one i couldn't buy it and i would have to wait for mine to come in. Also if i chose to pay the $15 and go in the next day to buy one in anticipation, i would lose my $15. I decided i would rather take the risk and go in everyday instead of ordering and getting pwned for my paranoia.
 
jmckechnie said:
As for ATT opening tomorrow, they open at 10.
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the one im going to opens at 9am..

aventura, FL

And Apple stores dont allow non-primary account holder to get the phone if doing family plan. ive got 3 apple stores within 15 miles of me..and one across the street...sucks
 
I went to several AT&T stores this morning. None of them received ANY new stock. Zip, zero, nada.

And I found out how many they received yesterday. Two big stores received 20! Thats right only 20! One store said they had over 100 in line by 8am yesterday and only had 20 phones! What a joke!

A 3rd store in the mall received 40 yesterday and none today.

Thats pathetic.

Meanwhile Apple stores still have it in stock, but with multi-hour waits. I counted 82 people in line this morning after the store had been open a while.
 
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