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Best Buy Expects 'Minimal Inventory' of iPhone 4 on Launch Day

djinn said:
I did.. In fact my vacuum pooped out today so I went to Target to get a new one. The wife isn't very happy with them either.

Anyway, I'm sorry to all the people that did pre-order through Best Buy. I feel your pain.
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Yeah, it's not just Best Buy....it's pretty much all the massive big-box chains. They all suck. That's why I keep my business local, even if it costs me a bit more. Of course, I live in one of the few places where that remains a viable option.

Thankfully, I avoided this whole debacle by preordering through Apple. I guess I don't see why anyone would bother going through Best Buy. Apple was my first choice and if that didn't work out, I was going to depend on AT&T. Why depend on a 3rd party retailer? Only reason I can think of is if you're not near an AT&T or Apple Store and didn't want to get one shipped to you. Did people really think that they'd be successful pre-ordering from Best Buy after Apple pushed their delivery dates back and AT&T stopped accepting orders?
 
NebulaClash said:
Gee, what a shame that Android sells more than iPhones nowadays, and iPhone momentum is fading. Poor Apple, what to do, what to do...
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Sean4123 said:
I hope you're joking. If you think Apple cares that Androids 20-30 phone models are outselling the two current iPhone models, then you're in need of some schooling. Do you have any idea how much money the iPhone has and continues to bring Apple with the hardware sales and the app store?
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I had to wipe the sarcasm from my screen from that post - how could you miss it?
 
Right

Sean4123 said:
I hope you're joking. If you think Apple cares that Androids 20-30 phone models are outselling the two current iPhone models, then you're in need of some schooling. Do you have any idea how much money the iPhone has and continues to bring Apple with the hardware sales and the app store?
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you. When the 3GS was getting out dated and people were getting fed up on other networks for not having an iPhone.

Android sales will tank for a while.
 
I doubt this will be a problem for people like me and my fiance. We are number 4 or 5 on best buy pre-order and I hope were able to get the iPhone which i find likely due to the fact that engadget figured that best buy will be getting 45 iphones per store but thinking about it best buy is probally the third biggest retailer for the iphone after att and apple considering if apple wants to make a profit i bet they will give bestbuy a good amount. Plus best buy doesnt even know yet what every store will be getting. There just speculating and stating information to there employes for just in case situations.
 
youngsunnz said:
I doubt this will be a problem for people like me and my fiance. We are number 4 or 5 on best buy pre-order and I hope were able to get the iPhone which i find likely due to the fact that engadget figured that best buy will be getting 45 iphones per store but thinking about it best buy is probally the third biggest retailer for the iphone after att and apple considering if apple wants to make a profit i bet they will give bestbuy a good amount. Plus best buy doesnt even know yet what every store will be getting. There just speculating and stating information to there employes for just in case situations.
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I would NOT be surprised if some Best Buys received 4 or 5, TOTAL.
 
Pain?

djinn said:
Anyway, I'm sorry to all the people that did pre-order through Best Buy. I feel your pain.
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Not sure what you mean by 'pain' here. From reading through that - I think by 'limited inventory' they mean inventory that has not been pre-sold/reserved already. True they really don't know what exactly they will get in stock until early in the week, but :apple: wants to get these devices in people's hands, and they are doing a multi-country launch...

I have a dislike for BB on a lot of things, but - after buying some appliances (price matched to a sale at Sears) I'm part of their reward zone premiere something or other and I have $120 of certificates from my points there. And - I'll get more points for this purchase, so effectively a discount for something I'm going to buy anyway.

I didn't have to screw around with AT&T's system to pre-order an iPhone at BB - took about 5 minutes in and out of the store, and I have an 11:30 am appt at BB on the 24th. I'm not worried about the black one for the roomie, and I still think I'll wind up waiting for the white for mine anyway - so if I'm near the head of their line for a white one and they'll call me a day or two before it comes - even if that's October, I'm cool with that.
 
Although Best Buy sucks, I do like the people in the mobile department in the store nearest me.

That being said, I just got word that the Macbook Pro I sent in with a broken trackpad to "Geek" Squad came back with a damaged motherboard not working... Goodness...
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but won't ATT have a limited amount of phones for people who get there early want wait in line? I know that's how I've gotten my iPhone the past 3 years, have never pre ordered anything.

Edit: I just reread ATT's original press release and while they did sell out of preorders, limited amounts will be available for walk ins. They might want to add that to the front page due to the fact that there are far more ATT stores then Apple Stores around.
 
This reminds me of that Seinfeld episode when Jerry reserves a car at the airport and they no longer have it.

Jerry: Where is my car?
Attendant: We no longer have it.
Jerry: Do you know what reservation is?
Attendant: Yes sir, I know what it is.
Jerry: I don't think you do!

Not exact quotes but something to that nature!
 
NebulaClash said:
Gee, what a shame that Android sells more than iPhones nowadays, and iPhone momentum is fading. Poor Apple, what to do, what to do...
Click to expand...

Sean4123 said:
I hope you're joking. If you think Apple cares that Androids 20-30 phone models are outselling the two current iPhone models, then you're in need of some schooling. Do you have any idea how much money the iPhone has and continues to bring Apple with the hardware sales and the app store?
Click to expand...

Genyus said:
I had to wipe the sarcasm from my screen from that post - how could you miss it?
Click to expand...

Must.....Condense....Into Sig...
 
Have fun with the madness everybody

I'm happy to wait out iPhone4 for several weeks while the madness to get one goes on and those same buyers end up being the guinea pigs for a version 1 of this phone.

Being one of the millions of "first" people to get their hands on the new iPhone is not worth the grief. Instead, I'm going away on vacation for a couple of weeks where I won't even need a phone... I'll think about it when I get back :)
 
rnizlek said:
Did people really think that they'd be successful pre-ordering from Best Buy after Apple pushed their delivery dates back and AT&T stopped accepting orders?
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Actually - people pre-ordered from BB before :apple: pushed their delivery dates back, and before AT&T stopped accepting orders.

The launch plan actually talks about letting people pre-order again prior to 11am on Launch Day if they show up at the store looking to buy. Which may put them on wait-list beyond launch day, or may even allow them to buy an iphone 4 from BB on launch day....

How is BestBuy any different than any other Apple retail partners? They were given an idea how many they would get, just like foreign carriers and other foreign retailers were... It's not like quantities to partners are dependent on how many :apple: can sell directly to US Citizens...
 
Do you think AT&T stores will have "walk in" inventory....and if they do, would midnight be a good time to show up at my local store?
 
EVERYONE PANIC!!!

According to all the alleged rumors, there will be almost no iPhones on opening day.

Now if you wanna believe there'll be like one guy in Denver with the new iPhone, go right ahead. Doesn't make a bit of sense to me.

As for myself, an iPhone 4 preorderee (from BB, no less), I'll start worrying sometime Thursday morning if things look grim at that time.

I should have gone into advertising.

:apple:
 
rnizlek said:
Did people really think that they'd be successful pre-ordering from Best Buy after Apple pushed their delivery dates back and AT&T stopped accepting orders?
Click to expand...

How does the on hand stock that Apple allotted for their online store, or the amount they allotted to AT&T affect the amount they allotted to Best Buy?
 
I was first in line at my Best Buy and ordered a 16GB Black & 16GB White.

With the white fiasco, I had to change the white one to black which just bumped that person that might of got it.

I will receive two phones on launch day just as I did with the 3Gs from Best Buy.

The Apple stores usually have way more than any one thought was possible on launch day. Yes they do run out but if you are willing to line up "somewhat early" you should get one...
 
I'm like an earlier post here. Pre-ordered 2 iphones, numbers 8 and 9. I've never had a bad experience at best buy--everyone keeps saying BB sucks blah blah blah but it really depends on where you live. Some say they are so happy they pre-ordered through Apple...and yet some are seeing their ordered cancelled right in front of them. I'm happy I waltzed into BB, and out in 5 minutes. I tried for 7 hours unsuccessfully to preorder through Apple and ATT but to no avail.

Engadget did report about 45 iPhones per store, which is speculation. Everything is speculation. Stop freaking out and bashing BB just because you all think that'll make your pre-order be successful. It's a phone.
 
dropbars said:
This reminds me of that Seinfeld episode when Jerry reserves a car at the airport and they no longer have it.

Jerry: Where is my car?
Attendant: We no longer have it.
Jerry: Do you know what reservation is?
Attendant: Yes sir, I know what it is.
Jerry: I don't think you do!

Not exact quotes but something to that nature!
Click to expand...


I thought of the same thing. I found this. Think it's pretty close...

Jerry: But the reservation keeps the car here. That's why you have the
reservation.

Agent: I know why we have reservations.

Jerry: I don't think you do. If you did, I'd have a car. See, you know how to
take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and
that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding.
 
PecanEater said:
I thought of the same thing. I found this. Think it's pretty close...

Jerry: But the reservation keeps the car here. That's why you have the
reservation.

Agent: I know why we have reservations.

Jerry: I don't think you do. If you did, I'd have a car. See, you know how to
take the reservation, you just don't know how to *hold* the reservation and
that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding.
Click to expand...

You're thinking of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSZYsyrP3Co
 
So far my predictions about the iPhone 4 are hitting rather well.

1) The "accidental" leak of the prototype iPhone 4 at a bar was actually a public survey to see if the new form factor would work for the public. It did.

2) As a result of this elaborate survey, a late call was made to build this new form factor or an upgrade of the current 3G / 3GS design.

3) In the late call, we have supply shortages.

4) The response to the new form factor was so overwhelming, it has sold out the entire first build of iPhone 4s.

5) There is a second build in progress that will take a month to hit stateside.

6) MacRumor wankers will find this one more thing to bitch and wine about out of their parents basements.
 
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