iPod touch False Advertising - Bait and Switch

[QuarterSwede]

Apple isn't used to so many people wanting their products. No other iPod has seen this much response. Even the Target I work at has yet to receive an iPod Touch.

You think you're upset. Think about a corporation that is losing sales daily in every store because the shelves are empty.

 

[ozlurker]

Can I ask why didn't you pre-order it from the Apple store? From what I can gather you would have had it by now. I did and I am in Australia, we basically get next to no priority over the rest of the world but even I have mine by now.

However with all due respect, your son is 17 not 7 and should be able to cope with such a relatively trivial issue. Don't get me wrong I am an adult but I am also a gadget geek and couldn't wait but get my Touch. BUT, I did, for 3 weeks I waited. If this is the sum total of your daily worries, I'd swap yours for mine in a second.

Good luck in getting your Ipod.

 

[keirnna]

One again it is painfully clear that Apple has failed in it's efforts to distribute a new product on time as promised. My son and two friends saved their birthday money to purchase the Apple iPod touch. We started calling stores on the 21st and were told it would be available on the 28th. Apple also touted the availability on the 28th in it's advertisments for the product. We called the local Apple store on the 27th to make sure the product would be available. They informed us that they had actually had the product for a week and that they were sold out with no idea when anymore would come in. They thought they may get a shipment in the morning but it was first come, first serve and you could not prepay. I showed up the minute it opened and was first in line. I was told they did not get any in and that they would give me a call around noon as they hoped to get some in by then. However, the sales rep said they did have the 16GB in if I would like to purchase that one!!

I went home and telephoned ALL stores in California listed on their website and NONE of the stores had any of the 8's available. I believe by the definition below Apple is committing false advertising by enticing you into their stores only to find out the item advertised is not available and then they proceed to entice you into buying the more expensive version.

Does the limited availability generate more excitement or is Apple that inept in estimating sales? It appears as though it is simply generating excitement for a product that is not available and then upselling you a more expensive item.




Thoughts??

Why is anyone trying to get an 8 GB? This is what you get trying to get the one no one else wants.

 

[aidanpendragon]

Hah, why not wade into the fracas?

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.

I don't know any corporation that provides info like that, really. As someone else said, try getting a Wii if you want mission impossible.

Plus, based on my experience trying to get my defective unit replaced, Apple is an octopus where each hand has no idea what the others are doing. It's not on-purpose that they can't share info.

This is just the reality of trying to get a hot product right after it's released - it'll be difficult. Accusing Apple of bait-and-switch is an overreaction. The original employee was correct: it is technically "available" as of Sept. 28. Just because it's sold out doesn't mean it hasn't been released (a reasonable definition of "available").

I had the same issues with the iPhone and just chalked it up to one distribution issue.

Again, getting a hot product at launch isn't easy. Remember all those lines for Playstations and Wiis last fall? People must go to extreme lengths to get a new product. In any case, why not order from the Apple Store online? Says "ships in 7-10 days." What's another week at this point if it saves you the aggravation?

Two final thoughts:

-Supply is probably short b/c of storms in E Asia (disrupting shipping) and a need to re-tool lines after the initial runs had defects. Be glad you don't have one of those.

-The Touch is not the Second Coming. In fact, it's a mediocre music player. Its greatest virtue is that it lets you watch TV on the go; the novelty on all else fades fast. Is "watching more TV" really worth the anticipation?

 

[QuarterSwede]

This is just the reality of trying to get a hot product right after it's released - it'll be difficult. Accusing Apple of bait-and-switch is an overreaction. The original employee was correct: it is technically "available" as of Sept. 28. Just because it's sold out doesn't mean it hasn't been released (a reasonable definition of "available").

Fantastic response ... the whole thing. I just really liked that particular part, so true.

 

[mojohanna]

" 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.

Check yourself..... "Shippn em on the 28th" Does not mean in stores on the 28th. Even if they were to ship from China on the 28th, most likely they would not hit the stores until the following Monday.

The thing that has everyone confused is that different stores have been receiving different amounts on different days with no rhyme or reason. For example, the Cleveland Apple Store got some on 9/14. They immediately sold out. I called them for a week everyday. They got no more in during that week. However, one of the local BB stores did get some in.

Doesn't make sense, but oh well. Be patient. Most everyone in this country could stand to have a bit more. (me included)

 

[Mr. B]

haha, this thread is funny.

Not for the obvious reasons, but because *I TOO* have been saving up my money for the ipod touch!

But not since this years birthday!

BUT MY BIRTHDAY TWO YEARS AGO!!

Haha... damn rumor sites getting my hopes up too early.

but in any case, I was 18 when I started saving up to get the ipod touch, and If I could wait two years, I'm sure your kid could wait another few weeks.

Also I'm currently in japan, and *nobody* knows exactly when it's going to be widely available over here...

In any case, Apple isn't your friend. It's a big nasty company that just wants to suck more of your money out.

I am absolutely sure the sooner they can get the product into your hand and the money out of your wallet they will do so. No worries there.

 

[LizKat]

... In any case, Apple isn't your friend. It's a big nasty company that just wants to suck more of your money out.

I am absolutely sure the sooner they can get the product into your hand and the money out of your wallet they will do so. No worries there.

Well Apple is a corporation and does want to make money. Nothing wrong with that. I don't think of it as nasty, rather as innovative and able to bring good ideas to life in the marketplace time after time after time. I have enjoyed their products since 1985. And, most of them still work!

 

[Sweetbike40]

One again it is painfully clear that Apple has failed in it's efforts to distribute a new product on time as promised. My son and two friends saved their birthday money to purchase the Apple iPod touch. We started calling stores on the 21st and were told it would be available on the 28th. Apple also touted the availability on the 28th in it's advertisments for the product. We called the local Apple store on the 27th to make sure the product would be available. They informed us that they had actually had the product for a week and that they were sold out with no idea when anymore would come in. They thought they may get a shipment in the morning but it was first come, first serve and you could not prepay. I showed up the minute it opened and was first in line. I was told they did not get any in and that they would give me a call around noon as they hoped to get some in by then. However, the sales rep said they did have the 16GB in if I would like to purchase that one!!

I went home and telephoned ALL stores in California listed on their website and NONE of the stores had any of the 8's available. I believe by the definition below Apple is committing false advertising by enticing you into their stores only to find out the item advertised is not available and then they proceed to entice you into buying the more expensive version.

Does the limited availability generate more excitement or is Apple that inept in estimating sales? It appears as though it is simply generating excitement for a product that is not available and then upselling you a more expensive item.




Thoughts??

I don't think it's false advertising. The iPod Touches were available even before the release date. My girlfriend and i went into Best Buy last week and she bought one. They are in high demand and maybe difficult to get. Timing is everything with a product in high demand. Speaking of high demand.... i highly doubt i can walk into a video game store today and buy Halo 3.

 

[wakerider017]

How in the world is that false advertising?

It is more likely a case of limited quantities.

Same thing happened with the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii..

That's what happens when you try and buy a hot product right when it comes out..

 

[bogman12]

If you were savvy enough in this new world of online shopping, you would have seen the 10% off discount at Target.com and would have ordered an 8 gig for $270 + free shipping and received it in the mail 7 days later. Instead, you had to call the apple store over and over again and drive all over town only not to hunt one down...

some kid's not getting an ipod touch for a while.. lol!

 

[Protosome]

Just continue calling them every day around noon. On the day when they released, the 15th ish, I called every one of them in Florida and they all seemed to get them in stock at about 12noon est.

 

[Evangelion]

Original comment in condenced form: "I'm an almighty consumer and I'm entitled to this product NOW! I DEMAND immediate satisfaction!".

In a bit more detail: Is this a case of false advertising? The started of the thread was told that it would be available in 28th. And guess what? They told the truth. In fact, it was available long BEFORE 28th! But the thing is that the demand outstrip the supply. That does happen from time to time, and there's no reason to get your panties in a bunch over it. And no, you are not entitled to the iPod. And I for one am sick and tired of people who feel that they are entitled to everything. So your local stores did not have any in stock. Well whoop-de-*******-do! Maybe you should write your congressman about this.

And furthermore: If your kid really wants the iPod, why isn't he the one hunting for it? Because of tight schedule? Well, isn't this a case of priorities then?

 

[bogman12]

To the kid's mom: the ipod was available on the 28th. It just wasn't available to you. too bad, ***** happens. LOL.. tell your kid to play with their friend's iPod until it is widely available.