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Congrats, Tim, on the worst iPhone launch in history!

sammyman said:
Seriously!? The status changed after I had been waiting in line for 45min! After the window had passed!
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Easy dude... I just mentioned that because the quote changed, and you stayed in line for another 1.5 hours. Not trying to start anything...
 
Retired Cat said:
Logistics and supply chain management is difficult. There are a million things that can go wrong anywhere along the chain, from insufficient parts to produce the phones to boxes being misplaced or improperly scanned sometime during delivery.
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And again it doesn't explain the issue with the 32 GB Silver iPhones.
 
you should have demanded a free case or something. I was told I could return an ipad air 2 in store that I bought online. got there and they said i couldnt, ended up getting a free smart case for it for the trouble
 
I would agree with this. I understand the logistics and supply chain part of it, because I've worked in management for a third party logistics brokerage for the last 9 years, but this is unacceptable. With the amount of money that Apple has, they could have absolutely nailed this launch. The issue is they try to go so cheap with every aspect, waiting until the last minute so that they don't hold any inventory. When you wait till the last minute, these things happen. They should have has plenty of stock at all of the hubs weeks before the launch, but they don't want to pay for it.
 
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Yep.

Underestimating the demand for them sucks for the people who want it.
 
JediZenMaster said:
And again it doesn't explain the issue with the 32 GB Silver iPhones.
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My guess is that Apple didn't allocate enough production, or production of 32GB Silver batches got held up by problems producing other colors that were being made first in anticipation of them being more popular.

It's unfortunate but there's not a whole lot consumers can do but wait if they want an iPhone 7.
 
DNichter said:
I would agree with this. I understand the logistics and supply chain part of it, because I've worked in management for a third party logistics brokerage for the last 9 years, but this is unacceptable. With the amount of money that Apple has, they could have absolutely nailed this launch. The issue is they try to go so cheap with every aspect, waiting until the last minute so that they don't hold any inventory. When you wait till the last minute, these things happen. They should have has plenty of stock at all of the hubs weeks before the launch, but they don't want to pay for it.
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And that's because YOU don't want to pay for it. Or are you suggesting that Apple is too profitable and they should cut back on their bottom line?

A more expensive iPhone so you can have a smoother launch day?
 
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Here is a fun update. My account online now says "Ready for Pickup : Available September 27th, 2016".

Why would they change from "Processing" to "Ready for Pickup" if it is clearly not available for pickup.
 
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Our store seemed to run quite smoothly. I was in and out in about 45 minutes, including about a 10 minute wait before I got with a staff member. I was doing a trade-in/upgrade with my Apple upgrade plan and it pretty much went off without a hitch.
 
jbachandouris said:
I've already emailed Tim Cook about my October 4-10 ship date range. A free black leather case is on it's way to me.

I didn't ask for it. I want my phone, not a case, but I wasn't turning it down either.
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So you complained about your shipping date? Sense of entitlement of some people is comical
 
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jbachandouris said:
I've already emailed Tim Cook about my October 4-10 ship date range. A free black leather case is on it's way to me.

I didn't ask for it. I want my phone, not a case, but I wasn't turning it down either.
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Wow you can't wait 2-3 weeks for a phone that is in high demand.

As for the OP that is a really crappy thing to happen. To be sitting in line for hours to find out they don't have your RESERVED phone. What was the point in reserving it then? Apple really makes a mess of things at launch


James
 
Another phone rep told me that yes, the phone is in stock for you, and they just have to fix the system. Unbelievable.
 
EJ8 said:
And that's because YOU don't want to pay for it. Or are you suggesting that Apple is too profitable and they should cut back on their bottom line?

A more expensive iPhone so you can have a smoother launch day?
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I'd happily pay for it. And I'm pretty sure Apple makes around $400-$500 per iPhone sold. I think they actually could make some concessions to their bottom line that would do better by their customers. One example, having enough stock to cover the first day of preorders.
 
Feel bad for the people that waited in line for the 7+ with reservations and payments already made only to walk away WITHOUT a phone. No thanks. I think I'll sit this one out. My 6+ still has killer battery life and it's paid off. Nothing new enough for me. I dropped my phone in water and it still works.
 
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DNichter said:
I'd happily pay for it. And I'm pretty sure Apple makes around $400-$500 per iPhone sold. I think they actually could make some concessions to their bottom line that would do better by their customers. One example, having enough stock to cover the first day of preorders.
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OK fair enough. I don't think their stock holders would agree. But happy customers drive the bottom line also. I think they have taken this all into consideration though. Unfortunately.
 
EJ8 said:
OK fair enough. I don't think their stock holders would agree. But happy customers drive the bottom line also. I think they have taken this all into consideration though. Unfortunately.
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I'm not naive. I'm part of the problem too. We buy their phones no matter what. ****** supply chain constraints and all. You'll see me here next year haha.
 
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jbachandouris said:
I've already emailed Tim Cook about my October 4-10 ship date range. A free black leather case is on it's way to me.

I didn't ask for it. I want my phone, not a case, but I wasn't turning it down either.
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LOL! That's freakin funny! My mom did something like that to me a long time ago. I kept whining about getting a new bike. She first got me a helmet, then a bike lock. 30 yrs later, I'm still waiting for the bike.
 
DNichter said:
I'm not naive. I'm part of the problem too. We buy their phones no matter what.
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I was going to say that but decided not to. You're (we) gonna buy it even if the buying experience didn't go well. :rolleyes:
 
sammyman said:
Just a waste of my morning, toll, gas.
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If you are paid hourly, make a PDF of a pay stub that shows your rate, your gas expenditure total, and a receipt for the toll and send it to Tim. You should absolutely be reimbursed.

I got my 7, and I didn't notice anyone being turned away, but the line took over an hour to get through. I did an informal poll in my line and about half of us were just there to pick up a prepaid phone...not activate it, not buy a case, not get a tutorial on iOS, etc. The rest were looking for 20-30 mins of complicated transactions and hand holding. I pointed this out to the manager and he went through the line and started pulling those of us who just needed to show ID and scoot into a separate fast track line. I can't believe they didn't think of that.
 
sammyman said:
I ordered a black 128gb iPhone 7+ about 2 minutes after midnight on the Apple store app. Successful transaction. Confirmed a pickup time of 10:30-11am at the Union Square Apple store.

This morning after reading reports that people were being turned away with no phone, I was skeptical if I should go at all.

Showed up at 10:30 with a huge line. Probably 500 people. Totally disorganized too. There were 3 lines but no one could tell me what the middle line was for.

Around 11:15am, I looked at my order and it had changed from "Pickup 10:30-11" to "Available September 27". WTF? So I grab some useless employee who finally finds my order and he says, "Oh you paid for it in full on the web, yeah you should be fine."

12:54pm and I get to the front, only to get another employee to pull my order and say, "You're one of the customers that doesn't have a phone." Nope, no phone for me until September 27th.

Thanks for the heads up, Apple!
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Everything in the entire company ultimately reflects on Tim as CEO, yeah I guess, but it's not like he hired the dude in your store that said you were fine and then you weren't. Also did you miss your pickup window?

If anything this is an Angela issue as head of retail. The watch didn't go great either so I'd probably pin the architect of pickup organization on her. I'd email both of em whenever you have a free moment and logically articulate your frustration and previous example of the watch launch troubles and generously ask to be contacted by someone who could possibly help with your disappointment in the brand image. Dont just email a profanity laden rant, it won't get you as far.

Keep us updated, would love to hear if anything comes of your inquiry.
 
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