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How was your purchasing experience?
- Thread starter Detlev
- Start date
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Costa Mesa, CA. Went to the mall about 6:30, huge line, 250+. I doubted they had that much inventory and remembered this is just a phone and went home. It is a very cool device and I will likely still buy a couple for my wife and I. I waited through v.1.0, I can wait until it is a bit more civilized. Nice to see the faithful recognizing Apple's success!
Sat in line at the Garden State Plaza Mall AT&T store for 5 hours. I was the first in line. The staff was great, the process was FUBAR, and I walked out after two hours IN THE STORE, with no iPhone, and no chance of getting one today. Worst consumer experience I've ever had. Ever.
- easton town center, columbus ohio
- 4 hours
- 50-75 people in front of me
- a big smile from customer service while they gave me the middle finger in action.
no cheer here. just a big middle finger for apple and att. like an idiot i thought it would be fun to go wait in line for a new iphone. hours and hours later, as i try to pay, i am denied. i did the stupid ichecklist, but there was some kind of "glitch". apple said att had me as a corporate account in the system, and therefore i would need to go to an att store.. so, another wait as i get someone from att on the phone to talk to apple. att confirms that no, i don't have a corporate account. then another wait as i get to talk to a "genius". and by genius, mean someone who said, "yep, he doesn't have a corporate account. sorry, we can't sell it to you".
greeeeeeat business practice. my wife and i are standing there waving almost a thousand dollars in your face, and you can't sell me the phone. i go in late to work just for a stupid phone. i guess that's what i get. well, i've waited this long. so when does google's phone come out? either way, linux is here now. i'm done with f$cking apple now that they seem to have joined the "f%ck you" mentality of corporate america customer service.
Waited in line for 2.5 hours, had some pleasant conversation (might have found a new realtor for my parents old house. current one is wretched) and the guy in front of me got the last 16GB one. I guess everyone in front of me (30+) all bought the 16GB version. LAME.
I did order one and they said it would be in the middle of the week. Sucks. If only I left work 15 minutes earlier.
I did order one and they said it would be in the middle of the week. Sucks. If only I left work 15 minutes earlier.
Carphone Warehouse Cardiff, two doors away from the O2 store.
Q at O2 about 30 - 40 deep, Q at CPW 2 + me
tho many more joined shortly after!!
In very quickly, but as everyone knows O2's systems conked (this affected O2 stores, CPW stores and Apple stores).
Service by staff and manager of CPW Cardiff was superb, looked after us very very well, comfy sofas upstairs etc whilst we waited.
Can't fault the guys there at all, which suprised me after all the horror stories from launch night of iPhone v1.
So i'm v pleased got my 16gb (black), staff v helpful in advising stock numbers etc as well btw.
Q at O2 about 30 - 40 deep, Q at CPW 2 + me
tho many more joined shortly after!!In very quickly, but as everyone knows O2's systems conked (this affected O2 stores, CPW stores and Apple stores).
Service by staff and manager of CPW Cardiff was superb, looked after us very very well, comfy sofas upstairs etc whilst we waited.
Can't fault the guys there at all, which suprised me after all the horror stories from launch night of iPhone v1.
So i'm v pleased got my 16gb (black), staff v helpful in advising stock numbers etc as well btw.
Disgusting.
- I line up at O2, 7.50am.
- Line Position: 7th
- O2 rep comes out about 8.30am, announces; We have 3 16GB's & 10 8GB's.
- He goes down the line asking everyone, and the 16GB's go to the first three people queuing. That wasn't good, but wait there's more ..
- 18 people in the line now, 5 are dismissed.
- 3 people enter the store at a time
- I'm next, woo hoo! - 'Bring on the 8GB', I thought.
- I'm sorry, the servers have crashed. Don't worry, we'll manually fill in the paperwork so you can leave with your phones today.
- One minute later; 'Ok, we're just going to take contact details'
- O2 rep scribbles my name, home phone and mobile number on a piece of blank paper, and waves goodbye. 'We'll call you ..'
- Went back down at 3pm, expecting the servers to be back up, no dice.
- 'How can I leave the store today, with this phone?' I asked
- 'Your on simplicity right? - yes - 'Well you can leave with it today!'
But your phone won't be activated on O2.
Huh?! - Theres more
'The alternative is to forget about your 'Simplicity' contact and sign up as a new customer, in which you'll need to go through all the credit checks, and leave us with a photo-copy of your debit card.'
'No Thanks.'
So I've left the phone with them, with my name wrapped around it,
no receipt of it's mine, just the O2 rep's word.
'Come back tomorrow - the system should be online by then.'
Home - empty handed - and with a 8GB iPhone in waiting, instead of the 16Gb white I originally wanted.
Fun Day.
R-Fly
- I line up at O2, 7.50am.
- Line Position: 7th
- O2 rep comes out about 8.30am, announces; We have 3 16GB's & 10 8GB's.
- He goes down the line asking everyone, and the 16GB's go to the first three people queuing. That wasn't good, but wait there's more ..
- 18 people in the line now, 5 are dismissed.
- 3 people enter the store at a time
- I'm next, woo hoo! - 'Bring on the 8GB', I thought.
- I'm sorry, the servers have crashed. Don't worry, we'll manually fill in the paperwork so you can leave with your phones today.
- One minute later; 'Ok, we're just going to take contact details'
- O2 rep scribbles my name, home phone and mobile number on a piece of blank paper, and waves goodbye. 'We'll call you ..'
- Went back down at 3pm, expecting the servers to be back up, no dice.
- 'How can I leave the store today, with this phone?' I asked
- 'Your on simplicity right? - yes - 'Well you can leave with it today!'
But your phone won't be activated on O2.
Huh?! - Theres more
'The alternative is to forget about your 'Simplicity' contact and sign up as a new customer, in which you'll need to go through all the credit checks, and leave us with a photo-copy of your debit card.'
'No Thanks.'
So I've left the phone with them, with my name wrapped around it,
no receipt of it's mine, just the O2 rep's word.
'Come back tomorrow - the system should be online by then.'
Home - empty handed - and with a 8GB iPhone in waiting, instead of the 16Gb white I originally wanted.
Fun Day.
R-Fly
AT&T Store Charleston, SC.
Hoboy.
I got there at 6:45, and there were probably 40 people in front of me. By 10:00, I'd made it up to the guy with the clipboard. By this time there were probably 50-60 people behind me.
AtAfter giving my information to the guy with the clipboard, I was informed that I was not eligible for an upgrade.
Fine. I knew that. I had budgeted enough money to cover for that.
Then I was told that they were not selling iPhones to people who were ineligible for upgrades.
Wasn't prepared for that. Fortunately, Mr. Clipboard gave me the option of calling customer service. They informed me I could purchase an iPhone at full retail price. For whatever reason, the store had conflicting information about whether or not they could sell me an iPhone.
After about 20 minutes talking on my phone with the customer service rep and talking with Mr. Clipboard, we finally were able to resolve the issue. And this was before the phones ran out. So while I did have to let a few people go in front of me while getting everything sorted out, I did get to purchase my iPhone.
The best part?
They only charged me $299 for it...despite being ineligible for an upgrade.
Of course, now I can't get it to activate, but that's another post.
Hoboy.
I got there at 6:45, and there were probably 40 people in front of me. By 10:00, I'd made it up to the guy with the clipboard. By this time there were probably 50-60 people behind me.
AtAfter giving my information to the guy with the clipboard, I was informed that I was not eligible for an upgrade.
Fine. I knew that. I had budgeted enough money to cover for that.
Then I was told that they were not selling iPhones to people who were ineligible for upgrades.
Wasn't prepared for that. Fortunately, Mr. Clipboard gave me the option of calling customer service. They informed me I could purchase an iPhone at full retail price. For whatever reason, the store had conflicting information about whether or not they could sell me an iPhone.
After about 20 minutes talking on my phone with the customer service rep and talking with Mr. Clipboard, we finally were able to resolve the issue. And this was before the phones ran out. So while I did have to let a few people go in front of me while getting everything sorted out, I did get to purchase my iPhone.
The best part?
They only charged me $299 for it...despite being ineligible for an upgrade.
Of course, now I can't get it to activate, but that's another post.
I went to the Monroeville, PA AT&T store. Drove past last night on the way home from work at 11PM and saw a couple people already camping out. Got to the store at 6 AM and there were about 25-30 people ahead of me. Got in, asked for the 16 GB Black and when the runner brought it out she announced it was the next to the last one! Was out of the store with my iPhone 3G at 8:30. Very Happy!!
What accessories did the Apple store in Shadyside have? I might hop over there sometime this weekend and take a look.
-Got in line about an hour before the ATT store opened...about 75 people in front. No big deal everyone says, we have plenty of stock.
-About 20 people from the door I am, when an ATT rep comes outside and announces that they are out of 16GB in black. Still have white and 8GB. Whatever...I'll just get white then.
-Finally get into the store only to be met by mass confusion by all reps when I tell them I am trading in my old iPhone for the new one (I qualified for the after May 27th purchase trade-in)
-Wait....and wait more until I finally talk to a manager who says "yes" I can do that. That's cool...thanks for telling me something I already knew. Whatever...
-Finally get my 16GB white to checkout and I'm met by a cashier with no clue how to return the original phone, sell the new one, and get me my credit back. The one manager who wasn't completely incompetent comes over to help. Whatever...
-I'm told I don't qualify for the $299 price because I'm an existing customer...I stare at her for about 5 seconds and basically say "um...actually I do qualify...all first gen iPhone owners do for that matter"...she looks at me, looks down at the computer screen, back at me and says "oh....you're right!" WTF!?!??! Once again....whatever.
-They don't activate it in store which completely throws any reasons that the reps had to touch my iPhone before out the ***** window. Once again...whatever.
-Currently I'm at home waiting for the thing to connect to iTunes.
So overall the experience was pretty miserable although it was AT&T we're talking about, so I'm not surprised in the least. Whatever.
The funny thing is that the whole time I was waiting in line, my friend and I were bashing AT&T as a whole, and the customers in line beside us are glaring at me like they care about the company. Wouldn't you know, while I was having all this trouble myself, the couple was talking to a rep next to me and they were having all kinds trouble as well. Something about having to re-pay their last monthly bill, which they already paid for, to be eligible for the upgrade price. Bull ****.
-About 20 people from the door I am, when an ATT rep comes outside and announces that they are out of 16GB in black. Still have white and 8GB.
Whatever...I'll just get white then.-Finally get into the store only to be met by mass confusion by all reps when I tell them I am trading in my old iPhone for the new one (I qualified for the after May 27th purchase trade-in)
-Wait....and wait more until I finally talk to a manager who says "yes" I can do that. That's cool...thanks for telling me something I already knew. Whatever...
-Finally get my 16GB white to checkout and I'm met by a cashier with no clue how to return the original phone, sell the new one, and get me my credit back. The one manager who wasn't completely incompetent comes over to help. Whatever...
-I'm told I don't qualify for the $299 price because I'm an existing customer...I stare at her for about 5 seconds and basically say "um...actually I do qualify...all first gen iPhone owners do for that matter"...she looks at me, looks down at the computer screen, back at me and says "oh....you're right!" WTF!?!??!
Once again....whatever.-They don't activate it in store which completely throws any reasons that the reps had to touch my iPhone before out the ***** window. Once again...whatever.
-Currently I'm at home waiting for the thing to connect to iTunes.
So overall the experience was pretty miserable although it was AT&T we're talking about, so I'm not surprised in the least. Whatever.
The funny thing is that the whole time I was waiting in line, my friend and I were bashing AT&T as a whole, and the customers in line beside us are glaring at me like they care about the company. Wouldn't you know, while I was having all this trouble myself, the couple was talking to a rep next to me and they were having all kinds trouble as well. Something about having to re-pay their last monthly bill, which they already paid for, to be eligible for the upgrade price. Bull ****.
Complete nightmare!
Apple bullring store, 12th in line.
8.5 hours to complete and only the 4th sold in business hours.
O2 really let apple down today.
Apple bullring store, 12th in line.
8.5 hours to complete and only the 4th sold in business hours.
O2 really let apple down today.
Carphone Warehouse Cardiff, two doors away from the O2 store.
Q at O2 about 30 - 40 deep, Q at CPW 2 + me
In very quickly, but as everyone knows O2's systems conked (this affected O2 stores, CPW stores and Apple stores).
Service by staff and manager of CPW Cardiff was superb, looked after us very very well, comfy sofas upstairs etc whilst we waited.
Can't fault the guys there at all, which suprised me after all the horror stories from launch night of iPhone v1.
So i'm v pleased got my 16gb (black), staff v helpful in advising stock numbers etc as well btw.
I was in the Cardiff O2 queue and *nearly* jumped to the Carphone Warehouse, however the rumour mill was churning away and we heard that only O2 had 16gb phones in stock. I stuck it out (the wait was made all the easier by the really nice people I was queueing with) and bagged the very last 16gb from the O2 store! This despite being told earlier that the 16s had run out (gotta love the last minute surprise delivery!).
So, despite having to wait for 3 hours in the rain it all worked out in the end and I quite enjoyed it.
Oh, we did get some free O2 water and muffins which helped
I was near the front of the line at an AT&T store, so I was the first customer helped by my particular salesperson. It went well, at least from my point of view. She seemed frustrated at the slow response time she was getting from the system, even though I had no problem waiting a few more minutes after many hours in line.
The only real problem was that they didn't have a full stock of cases, and the one I planned to buy wasn't there at all. I'll have to go back another day for that, maybe to another store.
The only real problem was that they didn't have a full stock of cases, and the one I planned to buy wasn't there at all. I'll have to go back another day for that, maybe to another store.
Here are my photos from the launch - Shadyside, PA (Pittsburgh) Apple Store
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022436&id=14702293&ref=mf
You should be able to view them if you are a facebook user.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2022436&id=14702293&ref=mf
You should be able to view them if you are a facebook user.
O2 Store Castle Lane Belfast UK
Had been into CPW at about 10.30am and they said that I couldn't upgrade to the new iPhone even though I am eligible for upgrade and if I took out a new contract I would have to wait until about Tuesday (as Monday is a public Holiday here). They guy also told me that there were no stores anywhere in Belfast that had any.
As I was walking up to meet my aunt I popped into the O2 store just to have a play with a display model and the lovely young man told me that they had no 16GB but they had considerable stock of the 8GB model.
Went and met my aunt and after umming and ahhing decided to go back and see if there were any left. Was able to get an 8GB model but due to the systems being down the guy had to do the paper contract, even though there were a couple of guys whose terminals were working and their iPhone customers had there phone numbers and everything.
The store will be ringing me with my number by Monday at the latest, so my lovely, sexy iPhone is sitting patiently in it's O2 paper bag, Sim Card still in the envelope and the wrapper still on the box.
Am not opening the box until the Sim is working so that once it's open I can play.
Am like a child at Christmas who knows what Christmas present is but can't open it yet.
And this is the girl who never intended on getting an iPhone today
Kirsty
Had been into CPW at about 10.30am and they said that I couldn't upgrade to the new iPhone even though I am eligible for upgrade and if I took out a new contract I would have to wait until about Tuesday (as Monday is a public Holiday here). They guy also told me that there were no stores anywhere in Belfast that had any.
As I was walking up to meet my aunt I popped into the O2 store just to have a play with a display model and the lovely young man told me that they had no 16GB but they had considerable stock of the 8GB model.
Went and met my aunt and after umming and ahhing decided to go back and see if there were any left. Was able to get an 8GB model but due to the systems being down the guy had to do the paper contract, even though there were a couple of guys whose terminals were working and their iPhone customers had there phone numbers and everything.
The store will be ringing me with my number by Monday at the latest, so my lovely, sexy iPhone is sitting patiently in it's O2 paper bag, Sim Card still in the envelope and the wrapper still on the box.
Am not opening the box until the Sim is working so that once it's open I can play.
Am like a child at Christmas who knows what Christmas present is but can't open it yet.
And this is the girl who never intended on getting an iPhone today
Kirsty
These wait times are ridiculous. I hope this congestion will clear up by early next week so I can go get mine
Excellent purchasing,
Reserved in CPW 2 weeks ago and was first on 16GB list, even got call yesterday that they were opening early. In at 7.45am out at 8.05am. No pressure for insurance or cases.
However only just activated due to the itunes issue., synching now, yet to ruddy play with it.
BTW Apple store at Trafford Centre has loads of stock for tomoz due to the issues today including white ones. Glad I went black.
Reserved in CPW 2 weeks ago and was first on 16GB list, even got call yesterday that they were opening early. In at 7.45am out at 8.05am. No pressure for insurance or cases.
However only just activated due to the itunes issue., synching now, yet to ruddy play with it.
BTW Apple store at Trafford Centre has loads of stock for tomoz due to the issues today including white ones. Glad I went black.
I was closer to the Apple Store in Seattle than I would normally be about ten today (about 45 minutes) so I drove there thinking I would get a 16GB 3G. Went into the mall and the line was at least 400 deep.
I walked out.
ps. Completely moronic that you can't just buy one at the Apple Store and activate online.
I walked out.
ps. Completely moronic that you can't just buy one at the Apple Store and activate online.
AT&T store Poughkeepsie, NY
Arrived at 6:00AM was around 25-30th in line. People in line said they heard there were 30 in stock but didn't know the breakdown. I was there for a 16GB black. Doors opened at 8:00AM and groups of 4 or 5 were let in at a time. Activations seemed to be going OK. When I was about 3 from the door they announced that the 16GBs were sold out and they would be taking orders. I stuck it out thinking I may go for the 8GB. When I got to the counter I said I was there for the 16 and he said they were all out, he did say there was one under the counter from someone earlier who's credit card wouldn't process. I said I'll take it but he had to check with the manager because they said the other guy was supposed to come back. The rep was great and said he would get it for me. Just about then the activations really hung up and stopped. I was able to get the 16Gb and take it home - took many hours for the activation to process but it's all good now.
I'm just glad I hung around after they said the 16GBs were sold out and the rep really hooked me up with the 16GB under the counter!
Arrived at 6:00AM was around 25-30th in line. People in line said they heard there were 30 in stock but didn't know the breakdown. I was there for a 16GB black. Doors opened at 8:00AM and groups of 4 or 5 were let in at a time. Activations seemed to be going OK. When I was about 3 from the door they announced that the 16GBs were sold out and they would be taking orders. I stuck it out thinking I may go for the 8GB. When I got to the counter I said I was there for the 16 and he said they were all out, he did say there was one under the counter from someone earlier who's credit card wouldn't process. I said I'll take it but he had to check with the manager because they said the other guy was supposed to come back. The rep was great and said he would get it for me. Just about then the activations really hung up and stopped. I was able to get the 16Gb and take it home - took many hours for the activation to process but it's all good now.
I'm just glad I hung around after they said the 16GBs were sold out and the rep really hooked me up with the 16GB under the counter!
9 hours
4th in line at 6 AM at Millenia in Orlando. One hour with the Apple rep talking to the idiots at AT&T. I kept hearing her repeat the same thing over and over.
Then over to an AT&T retail store to fight in person.
Then back to Apple to get the two phones they were holding. Only took 3 hours from there.
THE PEOPLE AT THE APPLE STORE WERE OFF THE CHARTS FANTASTIC!
4th in line at 6 AM at Millenia in Orlando. One hour with the Apple rep talking to the idiots at AT&T. I kept hearing her repeat the same thing over and over.
Then over to an AT&T retail store to fight in person.
Then back to Apple to get the two phones they were holding. Only took 3 hours from there.
THE PEOPLE AT THE APPLE STORE WERE OFF THE CHARTS FANTASTIC!
Burlington, MA, US: left work a little early and got to the Apple store at the Burlington mall around 4:20. There was a line of 50 to 75 people, but the Apple employees were assuring us they had PLENTY of iPhones.
It took almost exactly 3 hours to get through the line, buy my phone (white 16gb) and leave the store. While talking to one of the employees he said they still had tons of phones left and would probably be fine all the way through to closing. (Said he thought they had over 1000 phones...)
Activated fine, everything going smoothly so far... (knock on wood...)
It took almost exactly 3 hours to get through the line, buy my phone (white 16gb) and leave the store. While talking to one of the employees he said they still had tons of phones left and would probably be fine all the way through to closing. (Said he thought they had over 1000 phones...)
Activated fine, everything going smoothly so far... (knock on wood...)