iPod touch False Advertising - Bait and Switch

[davidjearly]

Exactly when I want it? No, the representative told us last week it would be available today. I would like products available when they are advertised to be available.

But you are missing one thing. It was never advertised to be available on the 28th. You were only told by one employee that it would be. This does not mean Apple claimed it would be made available via its advertisements.

I don't think this thread is going anywhere.

 

[Boysmom3]

I also think that your son should learn that it's not always possible to get something right when you want it. And if he wants it so bad, why isn't he looking for a way to get one?

The store said they would be available today. My son goes to school from
7am-3pm and then to Football from 3:30-6pm for films and then get dressed for the varsity game at 7. The game ends around 10 and the store is closed. Seventeen year olds aren't exactly a patient group and they are fans of the ipod, saved their money and would like to be able to buy one when they are supposed to be available.

Seriously it has nothing to do with my kids MUST have the iPod today. It has to do with a company stating it would be available in the store today and finding zero available and the store having no knowledge of when any others would be in.

It doesn't matter what product it is or what company it is. Was the rep inept or misinformed? Looks like it. However, the company should be able to tell me, the consumer, when I could really expect a certain product to arrive.

It isn't getting something right when he wants it. His birthday as well as his friends were in August. They would have 'wanted' it then. They held onto their money, no small feat for 17 year olds, called Apple last week and thought it could be purchased today as that is what they were told.

 

[aethelbert]

I don't think this thread is going anywhere.

Really? I was kinda hoping that it would go to the wasteland.

 

[iShak]

I guess that next time, you'll have to alert the Apple execs that your son and his friends are saving their birthday money for iPods. Because obviously they forgot to make that the highest priority on their calendar for this year.

you don't have to be rude akonradi, I take that you are fairly young so I'll split this up into bite size chunks for you kiddo.

The question is not that this gentleman's son couldn't get his iPod on the day he wanted, the question is why has Apple failed to deliver on the advertised date? I myself was explicitly told that iPod will arrive at Regent Street Apple store on 28th of September 2007 and I would be able to purchase one on this very date, now when I come back to my home in deep South East of England and I log on to this forum I see that Regent Street store sold a few early this week, and a few the week before, the one in Bullring has been selling a few and so has the one in Manchester and Solihull, now why was I promised 28th of September and not early this week? I don't know, all I know is that Apple should have at least delivered them today, this is indeed bad business practice, I know your young fanboy mind would not accept but at least you can try to be a little more subtle when expressing you opinion.

 

[Boysmom3]

You can check in-store availability at both bestbuy.com and circuitcity.com. If you have more than 1 in your area, that will save you some driving around. You can also order online and secure your unit, then go to the store and pick it up.

Good luck! I disagree with many of your points in your post, but I do sympathize and hope your son gets 1 soon.

Thanks MadMaxMEdia! Great idea. Today I didn't go into my office so I had some time to spare. That isn't the case everyday. These links will come in handy.

 

[aethelbert]

" we are shipping these .. both models will be available in just a few weeks, we are shipping em' 28th of this month"

Steve Jobs, Special Event, September 2007

Now if you are going to play a lawyer and get down to the grammar and meaning of this quote in some 4 dimensional context, I can't do anything, but to me it says 28th is the day, and the employee at the Regent Store was even more explicit.

Now as for the rude part, you don't talk about someone else's son/daughter in this way, and you don't scribble a few lines in a vague expression of your own personal opinion and declare your authority over the matter by saying that the other person is 'wrong' and 'can't accept what I am saying for some reason' .. the 'some reason' could very well be that you are not quite right yourself ...

take it easy buddy, I believe you.

Well, that was called sarcasm and I'm sorry if you couldn't detect that and were offended. But when Steve said that they would ship this month, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will be available in large quantities for every person that wants one on 28 September. I'm disappointed about this as well, but Apple has played their part of the game fairly. Obviously the OP and I have different ways of thinking, and that's fine. It's a free country and we can use the first amendment.

But this doesn't mean that Apple practiced false advertising; because they didn't. Even if you did interpret the quote differently than Steve Jobs. Shipping means shipping, not sitting on store shelves.

I'm sorry if you don't like the supply, but it's apparent that you know that these are high-demand items. The production rate will pick up soon enough. And why do you assume that I'm young? And a "fanboy?" Yeah, you missed it on both of those. I won both my Macbook Pro and iPhone in a contest for work. I could care less about Apple vs Microsoft. If I were a fanboy, I would be defending Apple to the extreme, but I'm not. I'm simply stating that they've lived up to the expectation of shipping by 28/9.

 

[Boysmom3]

so doesn't that just make you feel like you're jumping to conclusions?

I'm not sure of inventory availability where you live but I am not jumping to conclusions. I went to the local Apple store, I went to the local Best Buy store and I called EVERY Apple store in Southern California from the Apple website. There were ZERO available this morning.

 

[synth3tik]

Micro Center putting out an ad for a laptop bag for $12, then when you get there the cheapest one is $49. Thats bait and switch.

There has been issues with the touch as noted in these forums. It's also a new product, of course it will be harder to get one. At least Apple is not like Sony or Nintendo.

 

[iShak]

But you are missing one thing. It was never advertised to be available on the 28th. You were only told by one employee that it would be. This does not mean Apple claimed it would be made available via its advertisements.

I don't think this thread is going anywhere.

wait, so when you have a question about the availability of certain Apple product who do you talk to? it is the employee isn't it? who does he work for? Apple right? does Apple talk to you directly? No, the employee represents the company, so when an employee says we are getting iPods on 28th does he says that because his uncle wanted him to say that? No, because he speaks on behalf of the company he works for, so if he is wrong who is to blame for? the employee? No, because he only tells you what he is told otherwise he would say 'I don't know, Sir', what if he did just the opposite then who is to blame for? the employee? No, because he wasn't trained properly or the Manager is not doing his job properly and not keeping tabs on his staff or somewhere down the line there is a communication problem and so the company is at fault for having such a sub standard customer service.

Indeed this thread will go no where, the Apple fanboyism is just huge.

 

[aethelbert]

The store said they would be available today. My son goes to school from
7am-3pm and then to Football from 3:30-6pm for films and then get dressed for the varsity game at 7. The game ends around 10 and the store is closed. Seventeen year olds aren't exactly a patient group and they are fans of the ipod, saved their money and would like to be able to buy one when they are supposed to be available.

Seriously it has nothing to do with my kids MUST have the iPod today. It has to do with a company stating it would be available in the store today and finding zero available and the store having no knowledge of when any others would be in.

It doesn't matter what product it is or what company it is. Was the rep inept or misinformed? Looks like it. However, the company should be able to tell me, the consumer, when I could really expect a certain product to arrive.

Look, I understand that your son has a tight schedule. I know what it's like. But if they were available in the quantities that it seems that you want, they would be in stores tomorrow.

If they don't have to have it TODAY, then why did you make an effort to be first in line at the store? Also, if they don't need to have it now, why are you making such a big deal out of this?

Yes, you were misinformed about the release, but I don't think that anyone really knew what was going on since the products still aren't in full cycle (in terms of sales).

If your son really wants the iPod, he'll find a way to get one. I really don't want to argue... I just want you to realize that the world isn't going to collapse because:
1. There are some uninformed Apple reps.
2. Your son can't get what he wants right when he wants it.

wait, so when you have a question about the availability of certain Apple product who do you talk to? it is the employee isn't it? who does he work for? Apple right? does Apple talk to you directly? No, the employee represents the company, so when an employee says we are getting iPods on 28th does he says that because his uncle wanted him to say that? No, because he speaks on behalf of the company he works for, so if he is wrong who is to blame for? the employee? No, because he only tells you what he is told otherwise he would say 'I don't know, Sir', what if he did just the opposite then who is to blame for? the employee? No, because he wasn't trained properly or the Manager is not doing his job properly and not keeping tabs on his staff or somewhere down the line there is a communication problem and so the company is at fault for having such a sub standard customer service.

Indeed this thread will go no where, the Apple fanboyism is just huge.

Nobody really knew what was going on. They aren't being produced in the same amounts as they will be... Stocks came and went very quickly. All anyone (likely including Jobs) could do was guess. There have been a lot of issues that have pushed production levels/exports down: weather in China, bad screens, sound issues, etc.
Yes, customer service in this industry sucks... But if you can't deal with Apple, I have no idea how you will ever manage to deal with one of the many companies that ranks lower in that area. And one Apple worker doesn't advertise for the company.

 

[davidjearly]

wait, so when you have a question about the availability of certain Apple product who do you talk to? it is the employee isn't it? who does he work for? Apple right? does Apple talk to you directly? No, the employee represents the company, so when an employee says we are getting iPods on 28th does he says that because his uncle wanted him to say that? No, because he speaks on behalf of the company he works for, so if he is wrong who is to blame for? the employee? No, because he only tells you what he is told otherwise he would say 'I don't know, Sir', what if he did just the opposite then who is to blame for? the employee? No, because he wasn't trained properly or the Manager is not doing his job properly and not keeping tabs on his staff or somewhere down the line there is a communication problem and so the company is at fault for having such a sub standard customer service.

Indeed this thread will go no where, the Apple fanboyism is just huge.

I'm not disputing that this customer was let down by the Apple rep on the end of the telephone. I am disputing that any official announcement was ever made about the iPod being available to purchase and hold in your hands by the 28th September. I too have been let down by Apple's poor organisation surrounding this product launch, in a much more legitimate way than the OP.

It was clearly printed on Apple's website, 'ships by 28th', - one employee does not count as advertising. In any case, this is not bait and switch.

 

[iShak]

I'm not being rude. I'm telling this person that she is wrong and for some reason she can't accept it. Apple NEVER advertised that the touch would be released on 28/9.

" we are shipping these .. both models will be available in just a few weeks, we are shipping em' 28th of this month"

Steve Jobs, Special Event, September 2007

Now if you are going to play a lawyer and get down to the grammar and meaning of this quote in some 4 dimensional context, I can't do anything, but to me it says 28th is the day, and the employee at the Regent Store was even more explicit.

Now as for the rude part, you don't talk about someone else's son/daughter in this way, and you don't scribble a few lines in a vague expression of your own personal opinion and declare your authority over the matter by saying that the other person is 'wrong' and 'can't accept what I am saying for some reason' .. the 'some reason' could very well be that you are not quite right yourself ...

take it easy buddy, I believe you.

 

[Rogzilla]

Exactly when I want it? No, the representative told us last week it would be available today. I would like products available when they are advertised to be available.

Maybe I missed something...but at what point did Apple say "The iPod touch, in stores on September 28!" No where. They said online that they would SHIP BY September 28, meaning that they would start leaving the warehouse to go to people's homes NO LATER than September 28. I have not seen a single piece of ADVERTISEMENT stating that date. All we heard durring Job's keynote was "Later this month". That means anytime from September 5th to October 1st.

I did go over to the local Best Buy and they are sold out. I was told they received 20 two weeks ago and haven't received any since. They receive inventory daily and do not have a schedule of when they will arrive. They further stated that this is typical of Apple. They, the distributors, are not given any distribution status and they have had many customer complaints. He said if I was looking for a sold out computer or movie he could look in his database and see when they would expect some in. Not so for Apple products.

Sooooo Apple uses a different distributer...you are upset by this? Why? I know TONS of stores that can't tell me when products will be coming in. Hell, I worked in retail and we could NEVER tell you, at ANY store, when new product would come in. And we used our own delivery service.

Sales 101 - Under Promise, Over Deliver. It doesn't matter what size company you are. I don't find it acceptable that there are ZERO available in Southern California. It isn't a limited inventory it is a non existent inventory. I further find it disheartening to say the least that NONE of the Apple stores or Best Buy has any idea when they will receive anymore.

Hey, guess what? THEY SOLD OUT! It seems to be a very frequent trend in consumer electronics as of late. I mean, do I blame Nintendo for not being able to produce enough Wii's right off the bat? No. They had no way of knowing it would be as popular as it is. Hell, it is still hard to find one in a store. I got mine by PURE LUCK as I did with my iPod touch! So yes, it is limited inventory. They underestimated the demand and will now have to produce more to meet it.

Was my Bait & Switch title a bit harsh? Possibly but I don't find it an acceptable business practice to continue to hype up products with no intention of fulfilling the need when promised. I don't find it an acceptable business practice to refuse to provide stores and distribution centers with data on when they will receive more.

What promise? No promises were made! How are they refusing? For all you know, NO ONE AT THE STORES OR DISTRIBUTION CENTERS ARE ASKING!!!!

Their Operations group knows exactly when they will send more and to which stores. They have a shipping schedule with manifests clearly showing quantities and items shipped. They choose not to share the infomation with their stores so they can service their clients.

Yes...but only when they have items ready to ship right? Hmmm...well...hold on, let me point a few more things out...

When a company chooses not to divulge the true availability of a product it is simply for hype. Say they are inept at inventory decisions then why not let the stores know when they will receive more? The hype is still there as it isn't readily available but at least there wouldn't be the frustration there is today. The consumer would know when stores would be receiving more and can then schedule their trip to the store accordingly.

It seems that you are mad because instead of calling ahead, you DROVE to the stores? Perhaps they should do this but...well, you see, I don't want to post spoilers...don't worry, I read your whole post and I do have something I want expressed.

Can I just buy them online? Sure if I want to wait several weeks. The online representative said while they expect to ship in 7-10 days there is no guarantee. She, Theresa, said they are shipped out of China and they will not guarantee shipping nor can you pay for expedited shipping. When I asked why there aren't any available in Southern California she stated that Apple has other stores besides California and that she had no idea what stores may have some or when any stores would get them in.

Yes, Apple has to send these things EVERYWHERE. If each store got, lets say between 20 and 50 per shipment and there are thousands of stores that these are shipped to (both Apple and Best Buy) well...you do the math. You don't want to produce more than you think you will sell. They just didn't know it would sell THAT QUICK. So maybe...JUST MAYBE...they haven't released shiping manifests because THEY ARE MAKING THEM?! Don't want to announce you have product coming when you don't? Oh wait, that is what you are upset about...huh, go figure!

So we will continue to search......

Look, I don't think anyone here is unsympathetic towards your frustration. We have all has similar experiences in retail. It happens. Life sucks, get a helmet. Yet your logic and conclusions are completely unjustified (as all such things are when they stem from anger). Then, of all crazy ideas...you asked for our thoughts...well you got them. Some share you same frustrations while others try to use cooler heads.

The moral here is to be careful when you make such claims. You actually remind me a little of my mom. We had this saying around the house of "You mess with the pup, you get the bitch." It always took my Dad with his cool head and sound logic to calm her down. I have always been compared to my dad (though not always as tactful...I did get a LITTLE of my mom) the most so I hope MAYBE you can take a moment, catch your breath and think that perhaps there isn't some great big conspiracy out there to keep your son from having an 8 gig iPod touch.

 

[bartyboy]

Pretty simple really. It was released. Now it's sold out. The only consolation is that the early "pre-release" ones (almost) all had the screen issue.

Try to go out and buy a Wii off the shelf in the last how many months? Nobody's saying that was bait and switch or false advertising. Production hasn't kept up with demand.

 

[aethelbert]

" we are shipping these .. both models will be available in just a few weeks, we are shipping em' 28th of this month"

Steve Jobs, Special Event, September 2007

Now if you are going to play a lawyer and get down to the grammar and meaning of this quote in some 4 dimensional context, I can't do anything, but to me it says 28th is the day, and the employee at the Regent Store was even more explicit.

Now as for the rude part, you don't talk about someone else's son/daughter in this way, and you don't scribble a few lines in a vague expression of your own personal opinion and declare your authority over the matter by saying that the other person is 'wrong' and 'can't accept what I am saying for some reason' .. the 'some reason' could very well be that you are not quite right yourself ...

take it easy buddy, I believe you.

Well, that was called sarcasm and I'm sorry if you couldn't detect that and were offended. But when Steve said that they would ship this month, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will be available in large quantities for every person that wants one on 28 September. I'm disappointed about this as well, but Apple has played their part of the game fairly. Obviously the OP and I have different ways of thinking, and that's fine. It's a free country and we can use the first amendment.

But this doesn't mean that Apple practiced false advertising; because they didn't. Even if you did interpret the quote differently than Steve Jobs. Shipping means shipping, not sitting on store shelves.

I'm sorry if you don't like the supply, but it's apparent that you know that these are high-demand items. The production rate will pick up soon enough.

 

[bogman12]

1. You're complaining too much. You're pissed because you wanted something for your kid on his birthday but now the thought of not being able to acquire the said item is making you mad and thus throwing the accusations all over the place. It's the all too common "Me only!" mentality of Americans today that is so, so annoying.

2. Did you ever tell the store you wanted the 8gb ipod?

3. Did you ever consider that the person you talked to on the phone might just be some high school kid who was too lazy to check individual numbers for 8 and 16 models and thus gave you a correct but none to specific answer of "yes ipod touchs are in stock."

4. Your kid is too spoiled.

 

[Boysmom3]

Nobody really knew what was going on. They aren't being produced in the same amounts as they will be... Stocks came and went very quickly. All anyone (likely including Jobs) could do was guess. There have been a lot of issues that have pushed production levels/exports down: weather in China, bad screens, sound issues, etc.

Yes, customer service in this industry sucks... But if you can't deal with Apple, I have no idea how you will ever manage to deal with one of the many companies that ranks lower in that area.

Actually smaller companies generally rank much higher in customer service than larger corporations. I have never has a consumer who shops quite frequently been as frustrated at the lack of information as I have today and when I purchased the iPhone.

I am sorry for all you Apple 'fans' would defend a company who refuses to provide distirbution data to it's stores so they can properly inform their clients. Apple gets away with it because of their size.

Most of you are truly missing the point. It isn't about getting the item today or tomorrow or Sunday. It is about getting ANY information on availability. It is not an acceptable business practice to feign ignorance when APPLE knows exaclty how many they have shipped and to which stores they have shipped them.

The Best Buy sales guy said they have alot of complaints and they aren't happy that they cannot go into their computer as they can for 90% of ALL other companies products and see when they expect some to arrive.

Being sent on wild goose chases because Apple has distribution issues and will not give out expected dates makes Apple a loser in my book. When a company spends millions on advertising to hype up a product yet they don't properly distribute said product for whatever reason will lead to complaints.

It amazes me that you all believe that Apple has no idea when items will ship. Anyone with any kind of Operations background knows that just isn't true. They know and they choose not to share.

Looks like the other gentlemans store rep was also inept as he was told he could buy one on the 28th as well. Obviously inept isn't it. It looks like Apple told their reps the same thing, failed to fulfill that promise and refuses to provide information on when they will ship and where they will ship to.

 

[iShak]

I'm not disputing that this customer was let down by the Apple rep on the end of the telephone. I am disputing that any official announcement was ever made about the iPod being available to purchase and hold in your hands by the 28th September. I too have been let down by Apple's poor organisation surrounding this product launch, in a much more legitimate way than the OP.

It was clearly printed on Apple's website, 'ships by 28th', - one employee does not count as advertising. In any case, this is not bait and switch.

well Jobs himself declared iPods ship out on 28th, ship out from factory to storage? china to USA? storage in USA to stores? storage to pre-orders?

I mean such announcements are never too explicit, they never announce "out of the box and in your hand", so your side of argument is pretty much valid too, but thats where the employee comes in, you want to know more and you go ask the employee right? he gets down to the details with you, at least he is expected to .. and so you take what he tells you.

Jobs gave a general idea that ipod ships 28th, employees (and its not one employee please, if you follow this forum you will see many posts saying the exact same thing, 'the guy at the apple store said september28th' and there are a few that say october the 3rd) confirmed in store availability on said date.

Now, what Jobs said turns out to be wrong as week, Touch shipped way before september 28th ... anyway, I agree 100% with you, this is not bait and switch.

 

[Boysmom3]

You don't want to produce more than you think you will sell. They just didn't know it would sell THAT QUICK. So maybe...JUST MAYBE...they haven't released shiping manifests because THEY ARE MAKING THEM?! Don't want to announce you have product coming when you don't? Oh wait, that is what you are upset about...huh, go figure!

Guess what -
Manufacturing plants have schedules with delivery times. So let's go with your logic that they are sold out the day they are to start shipping. So much about that is funny to say the least. But let's go with it. So they are now producing more. Guess what - Factory A in China knows that if we run xx amount of guys and we turn out xx in one hour we will have xxx by the end of the day. Apple's transportation group knows exactly how many are being produced and where they will ship to.


Do you truly belive they have no idea how many are manufactured per day so they have no way of estimating when they will ship? They know and if it is two week it is two weeks. It doesn't matter.

The bottom line is still the same they know when they will ship and where they are going and they refuse to share the information. It is as simple as that.

 

[aethelbert]

Actually smaller companies generally rank much higher in customer service than larger corporations. I have never has a consumer who shops quite frequently been as frustrated at the lack of information as I have today and when I purchased the iPhone.

I am sorry for all you Apple 'fans' would defend a company who refuses to provide distirbution data to it's stores so they can properly inform their clients. Apple gets away with it because of their size.

Most of you are truly missing the point. It isn't about getting the item today or tomorrow or Sunday. It is about getting ANY information on availability. It is not an acceptable business practice to feign ignorance when APPLE knows exaclty how many they have shipped and to which stores they have shipped them.

The Best Buy sales guy said they have alot of complaints and they aren't happy that they cannot go into their computer as they can for 90% of ALL other companies products and see when they expect some to arrive.

Being sent on wild goose chases because Apple has distribution issues and will not give out expected dates makes Apple a loser in my book. When a company spends millions on advertising to hype up a product yet they don't properly distribute said product for whatever reason will lead to complaints.

It amazes me that you all believe that Apple has no idea when items will ship. Anyone with any kind of Operations background knows that just isn't true. They know and they choose not to share.

Looks like the other gentlemans store rep was also inept as he was told he could buy one on the 28th as well. Obviously inept isn't it. It looks like Apple told their reps the same thing, failed to fulfill that promise and refuses to provide information on when they will ship and where they will ship to.

I'm sorry that you had this experience, but it happened to everyone. With all of the storms in the far east and complaints about the touch, they couldn't be pumping them out so fast. Apple lived up to their end of the deal. The touches were in stores by 28 September. They just sold out before the promised date. I'm in no way trying to defend Apple; this situation is messed up. But they did nothing wrong and we all have to live with it.

After dealing with the company for a while, you learn to listen to offical press releases and Apple users; not employees.

The bottom line is still the same they know when they will ship and where they are going and they refuse to share the information. It is as simple as that.

It's doubtful that customer service OR the individual stores have access to that information since they don't need to. Shipments to stores are distributed for the US (for American stores, at least). Keep in mind that Apple has to fulfill all of the online orders that they promised to ship by today. Those that ordered early will get priority over those who don't want to order online because they will have to wait.

 

[iShak]

Well, that was called sarcasm and I'm sorry if you couldn't detect that and were offended. But when Steve said that they would ship this month, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will be available in large quantities for every person that wants one on 28 September. I'm disappointed about this as well, but Apple has played their part of the game fairly. Obviously the OP and I have different ways of thinking, and that's fine. It's a free country and we can use the first amendment.

But this doesn't mean that Apple practiced false advertising; because they didn't. Even if you did interpret the quote differently than Steve Jobs. Shipping means shipping, not sitting on store shelves.

I'm sorry if you don't like the supply, but it's apparent that you know that these are high-demand items. The production rate will pick up soon enough.

ah good ol' sarcasm, yes of course I understand it was sarcasm, you really wouldn't recommend telling the execs to make the calendar entry for the kid's birthday, never had a doubt.

I have no objection on supply, and I don't know how well the production rate is going, but I do know that Apple has years of experience, they knew they are pushing out a highly anticipated product for a very well known brand and the demand will be extremely high, and from the experience they must have made 28th september shipment date a cautious and conservative estimate, taking in all the various factors that might damage the transit, this only leads me to believe that even though Apple might not have made a false advertisement knowingly, still, they did fail to deliver.

 

[Boysmom3]

1. You're complaining too much. You're pissed because you wanted something for your kid on his birthday but now the thought of not being able to acquire the said item is making you mad and thus throwing the accusations all over the place. It's the all too common "Me only!" mentality of Americans today that is so, so annoying.

You may wish to actually read posts before commenting. The birthday was last month not today.

2. Did you ever tell the store you wanted the 8gb ipod?

hmmm.... are you serious? Of course I told the store what I was looking for.

3. Did you ever consider that the person you talked to on the phone might just be some high school kid who was too lazy to check individual numbers for 8 and 16 models and thus gave you a correct but none to specific answer of "yes ipod touchs are in stock."

Maybe reading a post before replying would be the optimal solution. I was AT the store and the clerk OPENED the drawer behind the desk and showed me the 16's and there were no 8's.

4. Your kid is too spoiled.

Spoiled because? Let's see it was his money from birthday gifts saved for a month. Oh, I get it spoiled because he has a parent that actually would do him a favor. Wow - so sorry. That isn't spoiled. I chose not to go into my office today and added this to my errand list.

 

[bogman12]

The bottom line is still the same they know when they will ship and where they are going and they refuse to share the information. It is as simple as that.

What manufacture share detail shipping and inventory information for a particular product? You're just bringing these points up because you DIDN'T get the gadget that your boy wanted.

If you had picked up the Touch, would you still feel as strongly about Apple not disclosing inventory information?

Sheesh.. don't you have more important things to worry about?

 

[Boysmom3]

After dealing with the company for a while, you learn to listen to offical press releases and Apple users; not employees.

Thank you. Probably the best piece of advice all day. I guess it is just a double whammy. I had the same issues with the iPhone and just chalked it up to one distribution issue. I never imagined that I would be in the same boat with the same company again. I think they have serious operational issues and maybe it is inherent in this type of product but refusing to divulge any information is wrong.

 

[aethelbert]

Thank you. Probably the best piece of advice all day. I guess it is just a double whammy. I had the same issues with the iPhone and just chalked it up to one distribution issue. I never imagined that I would be in the same boat with the same company again. I think they have serious operational issues and maybe it is inherent in this type of product but refusing to divulge any information is wrong.

Surprisingly enough, Apple does (comparatively) a pretty good job with giving accurate information to the customer and keeping deadlines. Like I said, many other companies in this industry have bigger problems in these areas than the folks on the Infinite Loop.