ATT [and Apple] drop the ball: Please rant here

[sWaltuo]

So I drove 2 hrs to the apple store in birmingham, AL and got there around 1:30 AM. Was number 5 in line. After waiting the 6.5 hours for launch, walked in and was told that I must go to an AT&T store because I had a "special-rate plan". I walked out empty handed, but kept my cool. Went to the nearest AT&T store and there was a line of some 300, so I decided to drive back home. 2 hours later I'm at my local AT&T store and get one pre-ordered for 5-10 business days. When I ask what kind of "special-rate plan" I had that kept me from buying an iphone from the apple store, the guy looked at me like I was crazy telling me that my plan is most common and should have been easily upgraded where ever I was buying my phone.

Had to rant for a second. Anyone else have an experience like this? Anyone have any clue as to what my "special-rate plan" might be?

 

[alexmarchuk]

Should of told Apple to back off and you didn't have any special rate plan. It's a shame you have to wait 5-10 days.

 

[DiamondMac]

So I drove 2 hrs to the apple store in birmingham, AL and got there around 1:30 AM. Was number 5 in line. After waiting the 6.5 hours for launch, walked in and was told that I must go to an AT&T store because I had a "special-rate plan". I walked out empty handed, but kept my cool. Went to the nearest AT&T store and there was a line of some 300, so I decided to drive back home. 2 hours later I'm at my local AT&T store and get one pre-ordered for 5-10 business days. When I ask what kind of "special-rate plan" I had that kept me from buying an iphone from the apple store, the guy looked at me like I was crazy telling me that my plan is most common and should have been easily upgraded where ever I was buying my phone.

Had to rant for a second. Anyone else have an experience like this? Anyone have any clue as to what my "special-rate plan" might be?

You my friend have a lot more patience than me

 

[reckless2k2]

i read back a few about a 3G signal issue and people swapping out their phones as defective. i had this same run-around and let me assure you that the problem is with AT&T.

i bought a device on the first day and was sent home because of activation issues. i finally got it running but there was no edge or 3G. i took the device back to AT&T twice with them swapping out SIM cards and they told me to just be patient as the network was overloaded. meanwhile, i had iphone people around with with 3G and or edge signals. the 3rd time i went back another couple was there with the same problem. the wife's phone worked fine but his was getting no 3G. ultimately, we were sent to apple to have it replaced. apparently, no returns are accepted at AT&T. apple swapped the phone but i still had the same issue. i figured the new phone wasn't registered on AT&T network with my account. it was only activated at apple by this point.

long and short is that i finally got someone competent at AT&T technical support through contacting Apple support. the agent found out that the store or system had me registered as a 2G user and the 2G plan obviously doesn't work with the 3G phone. as soon as she flipped the switch, i rebooted and had 3G.

there was never a problem with my original phone at all. AT&T screwed up on the setup at the store i believe. at quick glance, my plan said iphone but should've said iphone 3g apparently. this was the cause. i let the AT&T store know of this where i bought it as the guy that was doing my activation and others screwed it up for me and everyone in his line. i let apple store rep know as well because she had customer complaints as well and didn't know the solution. both AT&T and Apple stores have actually called me back to thank me because that was the problem with other people experiencing the same problem as me.

call AT&T technical support and make sure the right SOK codes are set for your phone. that's exactly what they told me to tell anyone with the same problem.

good luck.