iPhone 3G Store Displays, Demo Units, Apple Retail Launch

btcutter said:
1. Why do people think Apple store will be able to port your number, do credit check and assign you a new account with ATT faster than ATT store?
Employees at Apple haven't even been taught how to do any of the above yet. I think the wait will be worse than expected. 20-30 min minimum per new customer.

2. The wait on Friday will be hellish. Anyone who's done an activation/porting knows it will take 30min to do all that. Add some complaining customers and problems with eligibility issues.......it might as well be Friday the 13th.
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I'm worried about this as well. I know a couple of weeks ago there were whispers of multiple lines depending on your customer status (kind of like a sorting procedure). If they do this I think it will be a LOT easier.
 
2. The wait on Friday will be hellish. Anyone who's done an activation/porting knows it will take 30min to do all that. Add some complaining customers and problems with eligibility issues.......it might as well be Friday the 13th.[/QUOTE]

I think I'm going to go to an AT&T store to get my number ported from T-mobile on Thursday. I won't be able to make calls for a while because I won't have a handset, but no one calls me anyway.

It would suck though if for some reason I wasn't able to get an iPhone Friday morning...
 
It looks like there's even more confusion,

An Apple store insider has leaked to us what they say will be some limitations and barriers on buying the iPhone Apple and AT&T stores will apply to the new iPhone 3g that goes on sale this Friday:

* Buyers will be 'pre-qualified' via a series of questions.
* Customers with corporate/business plans will have to go to AT&T to purchase their phones, only phone for personal use can be purchased at the store.
* You will be required to present valid US government ID to purchase the phone
* You will be required to provide your social security number to a store employee in order to do a credit check.
* You will be required to pick a plan and pay the activation fee at time of purchase.
* Phones will be activated in the store.

The last two have already been disclosed to the press but I think the rest is new information. If true, it looks like they're really trying to cut down on iPhones being unlocked and getting resold overseas. Be sure to bring your driver's license and memorize your social security number before camping out on Thursday night.
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So if you're eligible for a discount on your plan, you HAVE to go to an AT&T store????? wtf...
 
FSUSem1noles said:
Why don't you try getting out of T-Mobile with that change to text message pricing they made...

You should be able to terminate your contract free of charge due to that..
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Where is that mentioned on their site? I think I missed this one...help...that would be sweet!!!
 
OFFICIAL: Apple Stores will open at 8 am....and IF u are an AT&T customer with a phone other than the iPhone you will HAVE to go to an AT&T store...and you will not get the discounted price...This is because your current AT&T phone is most likley a subsidized phone that you got for free or a low price. You can't buy another subsidized phone (iPhone) during the same 2 year contract. If you are on verizon or another company...you will be able to use your phone when you walk out of the store with a 6 hour timeframe of your number being transfered. During this time you will still receive calls/texts on your old phone.
 
tmelvin said:
Where is that mentioned on their site? I think I missed this one...help...that would be sweet!!!
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Check the iPhone message board on this website, I saw the thread floating around there.. or even try a google search, I'm sure it'll return something..
 
Has there been any indication whatsoever as to HOW MANY units each store is going to get?

How many units is the Apple store going to get?
How many units is the AT&T store going to get?

There's no point in going and waiting in line if they are only going to receive 50 phones.
 
btcutter said:
1. Why do people think Apple store will be able to port your number, do credit check and assign you a new account with ATT faster than ATT store?
Employees at Apple haven't even been taught how to do any of the above yet. I think the wait will be worse than expected. 20-30 min minimum per new customer.
Click to expand...

My guess is that they'll use the same system that they use now through iTunes. Instead of going home when you buy the iPhone you'll now be forced to do it in store. There is really nothing to teach if this is the case.
 
twerkolator said:
2. The wait on Friday will be hellish. Anyone who's done an activation/porting knows it will take 30min to do all that. Add some complaining customers and problems with eligibility issues.......it might as well be Friday the 13th.
Click to expand...

I think I'm going to go to an AT&T store to get my number ported from T-mobile on Thursday. I won't be able to make calls for a while because I won't have a handset, but no one calls me anyway.

It would suck though if for some reason I wasn't able to get an iPhone Friday morning...[/QUOTE]


Be very careful about porting early. I did this in late June and now they are completely confused about my account (I am within 30 days as new customer so I should be eligible). 611 customer care keeps says I am fine but local store hasn't a clue how to do it. I would talk to the ATT store that you are planning to get the iPhone from before doing this.
 
eastcoastsurfer said:
My guess is that they'll use the same system that they use now through iTunes. Instead of going home when you buy the iPhone you'll now be forced to do it in store. There is really nothing to teach if this is the case.
Click to expand...

It is all done through the easypay that all employees carry. not iTunes. It will take a matter of 5 mins per customer if the customer has all required information.
 
P-S-3 said:
OFFICIAL: Apple Stores will open at 8 am....and IF u are an AT&T customer with a phone other than the iPhone you will HAVE to go to an AT&T store...and you will not get the discounted price...This is because your current AT&T phone is most likley a subsidized phone that you got for free or a low price. You can't buy another subsidized phone (iPhone) during the same 2 year contract. If you are on verizon or another company...you will be able to use your phone when you walk out of the store with a 6 hour timeframe of your number being transfered. During this time you will still receive calls/texts on your old phone.
Click to expand...


got a link?
 
P-S-3 said:
OFFICIAL: Apple Stores will open at 8 am....and IF u are an AT&T customer with a phone other than the iPhone you will HAVE to go to an AT&T store...and you will not get the discounted price...This is because your current AT&T phone is most likley a subsidized phone that you got for free or a low price. You can't buy another subsidized phone (iPhone) during the same 2 year contract. If you are on verizon or another company...you will be able to use your phone when you walk out of the store with a 6 hour timeframe of your number being transfered. During this time you will still receive calls/texts on your old phone.
Click to expand...

What is your source? I just talked to my local Apple store this afternoon and they said I will have no problem paying the 499 price since I am not eligible for an upgrade.
 
P-S-3 said:
It is all done through the easypay that all employees carry. not iTunes. It will take a matter of 5 mins per customer if the customer has all required information.
Click to expand...

Really?? so Apple employees can do a credit check for ATT new accounts and port your phone (they do need to fill out a form for that) and help you pick a new plan. They can do all this on easypay???? wow......

iPhone 3G is not the same as the 1st iPhone. 1st iPhone, you just pay full price at the store and go home to mess with it at iTune. This time everything is done in the store and I've heard some hell stories from the 1st iTune activation as well.

Any Apple people like to confirm this?
 
and and least 10% of the customers are going to be those people who ask a million questions, will not be ready when they hit the counter or complete idiots. I'd say stay away for a week at least. :confused:
 
Pwned said:
What is your source? I just talked to my local Apple store this afternoon and they said I will have no problem paying the 499 price since I am not eligible for an upgrade.
Click to expand...

whoever you talked to said that because that is what they think will happen. Apple is now selling the iPhone at 199 and 299. When you scan the barcode on the box that is the price that comes up. Apple stores can only sell the iphone at this subsidezed price...hence the fact that if you walk into an Apple Store with a RAZR on AT&T and say I want an iPhone 3G for 199....the Apple employee will say...I'm sorry but since you already have a non-iPhone with AT&T you must go to them.
 
nemaslov said:
and and least 10% of the customers are going to be those people who ask a million questions, will not be ready when they hit the counter or complete idiots. I'd say stay away for a week at least. :confused:
Click to expand...

add another 10% who send someone else but the account holder to be in line and find out that the account holder MUST be present.

ouch.....
 
P-S-3 said:
whoever you talked to said that because that is what they think will happen. Apple is now selling the iPhone at 199 and 299. When you scan the barcode on the box that is the price that comes up. Apple stores can only sell the iphone at this subsidezed price...hence the fact that if you walk into an Apple Store with a RAZR on AT&T and say I want an iPhone 3G for 199....the Apple employee will say...I'm sorry but since you already have a non-iPhone with AT&T you must go to them.
Click to expand...

What is the process for current AT&T subs who have 1st generation iPhones that go to an Apple store??

Another credit check isn't performed, so what procedure do they use???
 
btcutter said:
Really?? so Apple employees can do a credit check for ATT new accounts and port your phone (they do need to fill out a form for that) and help you pick a new plan. They can do all this on easypay???? wow......

iPhone 3G is not the same as the 1st iPhone. 1st iPhone, you just pay full price at the store and go home to mess with it at iTune. This time everything is done in the store and I've heard some hell stories from the 1st iTune activation as well.

Any Apple people like to confirm this?
Click to expand...

correct...and if you have AT&T with a non-iPhone...the apple employee will have the customer call 611 and talk with AT&T to see if they are eligible for the subsidized price...since AT&T is really paying for that price. If AT&T denies your account for a new iPhone Apple can't do anything about it.
 
P-S-3 said:
whoever you talked to said that because that is what they think will happen. Apple is now selling the iPhone at 199 and 299. When you scan the barcode on the box that is the price that comes up. Apple stores can only sell the iphone at this subsidezed price...hence the fact that if you walk into an Apple Store with a RAZR on AT&T and say I want an iPhone 3G for 199....the Apple employee will say...I'm sorry but since you already have a non-iPhone with AT&T you must go to them.
Click to expand...

AT&T will be scanning the same barcode as Apple so your logic does not make sense. Anyone can post an "official" statement but you have been asked a couple of times and have not revealed a source of your information. Or are you suggesting that AT&T will be getting magic Iphones with different barcodes that will reflect the 399/499 price for an un-subsidized phone?
 
well, I already decided long ago that I'm going to pick one of these up on the 11th... the real question I have is: anyone have any good information about camping? I'm planning to go to my local AT&T store at 96th and Broadway in NYC (figure I should avoid the 5th ave Apple store), and I'm not sure how crazy other people will be able camping out. Only other thing I have ever camped for is buying a Wii back in the days when they were impossible to find. I seem to remember a lot of info on the web with suggestions back then.
 
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