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

[Eric Lewis]

July 11, 2008

For those who want the iPhone 3G. It will be a disaster! Apple employees trying to activate phones with customers who dont qualify, forgetting stuff, failing credit etc. Like there will be 3-5 employees activating them at 10 mins each...lines will be hours...long

Only if they give tickets saying come back at 6pm or 3pm or 10:15am and you would be guarinteed an iphone

 

[btcutter]

i'm not really worried about the eligibility factor. i've never had a phone on AT&T so I'm not upgrading to anything. the iPhone will be my first phone. The rep gave me a copy of my contract with my AT&T number (which will change when I port my T-mobile number over) and he also gave me my SIM chip. I explained to him exactly what I planned to do and he didn't say it would be a problem.

I'm assuming that when you ported your number to AT&T in late June you got an AT&T phone and then plan to upgrade to the iPhone (which shouldn't be a problem as you're still in the 30 day window. I never got an AT&T phone and plan to port my number over on Thursday evening. I'll miss some calls because I won't have a handset until Friday morning (but as I mentioned earlier, no one calls me anyway).

As long as you do it at the same store it's probably fine.

My issue was that I activated my lines at Costco......no activation fees. But ATT stores locally say that they can't change that account even though 611 says no problem.

I guess I got too smart for my own good by porting over early and safe $36x2 for family plan. Now I am dealing the customer rep to clear this up.

Worst case.....cancel within my 30days and port number back to T mobile. Wait till lines clear up and get my iPhone 3G..........man, that's painful.

 

[beaken]

July 11, 2008

For those who want the iPhone 3G. It will be a disaster! Apple employees trying to activate phones with customers who dont qualify, forgetting stuff, failing credit etc. Like there will be 3-5 employees activating them at 10 mins each...lines will be hours...long

Only if they give tickets saying come back at 6pm or 3pm or 10:15am and you would be guarinteed an iphone

After reading through all these posts it just amazes me how little faith anyone has in Apple. Sure the lines will be a little slower, there will be hick ups along the way but come on we all know we wont be in lines for days to get a phone. Give apple some credit and know that they most likely have a backup plan incase it becomes to difficult to get a mass amount of people in and out. How about we wait to see how it plays our rather then bash them thinking that there going to be so stupid that it will take them days to get us in the door and back out.

 

[gugy]

A lot of people are freaking out for nothing. They will have plenty of iPhones available and I think the line will only be for the folks that are getting there at 8am or 10am. Seriously, if you go in the afternoon, I believe will be no lines at Apple stores at all.

iPhone is not a novelty anymore, so no reason to panic.

 

[marcre]

July 11, 2008

For those who want the iPhone 3G. It will be a disaster! Apple employees trying to activate phones with customers who dont qualify, forgetting stuff, failing credit etc. Like there will be 3-5 employees activating them at 10 mins each...lines will be hours...long

Only if they give tickets saying come back at 6pm or 3pm or 10:15am and you would be guarinteed an iphone

agreed. I have no idea how they think this is going to work smoothly. I know Apple usually takes care of things like this, I just don't see how this will work.

From all the information I have, each iPhone sale could take 30 minutes or longer. There is a very real chance many people will not qualify to purchase from the Apple store.

Customers are going to be crabby and employees are going to be frustrated. Imagine the customer that just needs to run in to get something minor, they will never get helped.

The bad thing is, this process of purchase will not get faster, so even when demand dies down, there will still be long lines of people needing help. I see this being very crazy for quite some time in these stores. People are better off going to an AT&T store since they are able to sell to more people. There are too many restrictions on phone buying at the Apple store.

The lines for the original phone were crazy, these will be much worse just due to the long activation process.

I hope I'm wrong about this, but I don't see how it can work.

 

[iPhone Chicago]

i wish everyone good luck for getting their 3G's...hopefully the lines aren't too bad...I myself will be waiting until Christmas to upgrade, maybe they'll have a 32gb by then...

but more importantly to me, from that memo it looks like the App Store will be open earlier than 8am, assuming that ATT/Apple stores don't have special App Store access AND that OS2.0 will be available at that time too...so while everyone is in line maybe I'll have semi-decent download speeds...at least for an hour or so until everyone gets home!

 

[chasgoose]

After reading through all these posts it just amazes me how little faith anyone has in Apple. Sure the lines will be a little slower, there will be hick ups along the way but come on we all know we wont be in lines for days to get a phone. Give apple some credit and know that they most likely have a backup plan incase it becomes to difficult to get a mass amount of people in and out. How about we wait to see how it plays our rather then bash them thinking that there going to be so stupid that it will take them days to get us in the door and back out.

I love Apple and all, but the fact is that setting up cell phone contracts takes a long time. I have never bought a cell phone/watched a friend buy a cell phone and not have it take at least 45 minutes (I bought my MacBook Pro in about 10 minutes and that was just because I changed my mind about which one I wanted after they had already brought my computer out from the back). Combine that with the fact that the employees will have never done this before and the huge lines that will no doubt be in place, I really can't see how anyone could make this system function, even Apple.

I don't think people are bashing Apple so much as no one can quite wrap their heads around how Apple is going to find a solution to the problem of in-store activation. I am very curious to know because I want to buy mine on Friday at the Apple Store, but I don't want to go there unless I am convinced that they have a realistic plan in mind to deal with the crowds and the added burden of in-store activation.

 

[rockstarjoe]

Update: We've heard more tidbits about existing AT&T non-iPhone customers. It appears that unless Apple makes an official announcement otherwise, existing AT&T customers who do not currently own an iPhone should go an AT&T store (not an Apple Retail Store) to upgrade to the iPhone 3G.

ANY existing AT&T non-iPhone customers or just those who are not upgrade eligible? I don't see why I would need to go to AT&T, since I have been eligible for an upgrade for the last 2 years.

 

[beaken]

I love Apple and all, but the fact is that setting up cell phone contracts takes a long time. I have never bought a cell phone/watched a friend buy a cell phone and not have it take at least 45 minutes (I bought my MacBook Pro in about 10 minutes and that was just because I changed my mind about which one I wanted after they had already brought my computer out from the back). Combine that with the fact that the employees will have never done this before and the huge lines that will no doubt be in place, I really can't see how anyone could make this system function, even Apple.

I don't think people are bashing Apple so much as no one can quite wrap their heads around how Apple is going to find a solution to the problem of in-store activation. I am very curious to know because I want to buy mine on Friday at the Apple Store, but I don't want to go there unless I am convinced that they have a realistic plan in mind to deal with the crowds and the added burden of in-store activation.

Right now though for all we know apple can do this two ways. One if your not an AT&T customer, find your way across the street to the AT&T store and get one there and if you do have At&t and have an iphone get inline and it will take all of 10min to activate the phone and kick you out the door. They could also setup two lines, one for people with the iphone that wish to upgrade and another for all the people that need service, need plans, have questions all that into another line. That line could have at&t staff on hand to help with everything.

People are just speculating to much on what is going to happen. I say let it play out and have fun while being there. I waited for the first phone in line, made some new friends, got free starbucks from Apple and it still took me over 45min just to get from the line into the register to pay and i was 13th in line.

 

[rlmccormick]

Im Curious to know what is wrong with good old cash? Is it because of credit check and with cash no way for them to to charge you in the future if ya default?

For some reason I always had the impression that stores had to accept cash at a minimum. I'm obviously mistaken but it doesn't seem right to tell people that they can not use printed money.

 

[cryo]

For some reason I always had the impression that stores had to accept cash at a minimum. I'm obviously mistaken but it doesn't seem right to tell people that they can not use printed money.

Use the cash and buy a gift card, and use the gift card to buy the phone. They can't deny you use of a gift card.

 

[jmt782]

Family Plans

I am a bit aggravated by the way Apple and T are dealing with family plans. I called T to confirm that with a family plan each potential member must be present to buy their own phone. This is assinine to me. It really stinks since I will be stuck at work all day on Friday and the principal holder on the family account will be able to get his phone...but not me! Then one wonders what the other members of the accout have to do to get their phone...go into the store, buy it, and then somehow Apple and T add you to the family line...how in the hell do they do that? I imagine the principal account holder will have to be present, even though they already bought their phone. Just plain stupid.

 

[chasgoose]

Right now though for all we know apple can do this two ways. One if your not an AT&T customer, find your way across the street to the AT&T store and get one there and if you do have At&t and have an iphone get inline and it will take all of 10min to activate the phone and kick you out the door. They could also setup two lines, one for people with the iphone that wish to upgrade and another for all the people that need service, need plans, have questions all that into another line. That line could have at&t staff on hand to help with everything.

People are just speculating to much on what is going to happen. I say let it play out and have fun while being there. I waited for the first phone in line, made some new friends, got free starbucks from Apple and it still took me over 45min just to get from the line into the register to pay and i was 13th in line.

Even when you are upgrading you still are going to have to sign a completely new contract. Its not a matter of just buying the new iPhone and adding it to your account. Its definitely easier than starting a whole new contract, but it still takes time. Last time I upgraded my phone without changing anything on my account it still took about 30 minutes for the whole process. The credit check takes a relatively short time its the setting up/signing/etc. of a new contract that takes the time. Apple can't magically make the cell phone contract and activation process quicker.

The first time the Apple Stores were essentially selling iPhones like they were any other product that you just had to buy and take out of the store. Now, all the employees are going to have their hands tied with activations and contracts. I wouldn't be surprised if it took about twice as long to get through as it did with the 1G iPhone.

 

[nemaslov]

Not only will the lines be long and take forever due to the demand, but unlike last time, every situation will be different. Not simply buying and taking or even buying and turning the damn phone on. All the variations. three price points depending who you are. One phone vs multi phones. Credit checks. People not having what they need or ready to buy (ever been in line at the supermarket when some moron waits until the very end to pull out a wallet or checkbook to START writing the check?).

People will expect to pay 199. and find out at the counter that they have to pay 399. Some credit will be denied and the costumer will want to get on the phone with the credit card company or whatever? Or speak with a manager.

People with ask questions on how to use the damn thing!

..and then there is that rumour about showing up at the wrong store!!!!

Everyone here knows better but thousands more have no clue.

Apple usually makes things so simple. Again even the promotional posters and ads read "half the price", but that's really for maybe half the people or less.

It will not be a pretty site I fear. And I am usually an optimist!

 

[beaken]

Even if everyone at the Apple Store was a current AT&T customer with a 1G iPhone, one would still have to sign a new contract. Its definitely easier when you are an AT&T customer, but it still takes time. The credit check takes a relatively short time its the setting up/signing/etc. of a new contract that takes the time. Apple can't magically make the cell phone contract and activation process quicker.

The first time the Apple Stores were essentially selling iPhones like they were any other product that you just had to buy and take out of the store. Now, all the employees are going to have their hands tied with activations and contracts. I wouldn't be surprised if it took about twice as long to get through as it did with the 1G iPhone.

You missed what I was trying to get across. If everyone had a 1G phone and walked in there would be no credit checks to setup the phone on the account. At&T Does not require credit to be pulled to upgrade your iPhone or any phone for that matter. So the lines will move fast. If all there doing is cracking the box, plugging into itunes, having you read the agreement to the 2 year contract clicking I accept and signing. I dont see this being a huge problem. Its all the people that need to add a line, add a family plan or any other combo of things that will take forever. Hince two lines one for the easy people (IE Iphone 1G folks) and another for all the people needing extra help on accounts with At&t staff on hand.

 

[DN7335]

I am a bit aggravated by the way Apple and T are dealing with family plans. I called T to confirm that with a family plan each potential member must be present to buy their own phone. This is assinine to me. It really stinks since I will be stuck at work all day on Friday and the principal holder on the family account will be able to get his phone...but not me! Then one wonders what the other members of the accout have to do to get their phone...go into the store, buy it, and then somehow Apple and T add you to the family line...how in the hell do they do that? I imagine the principal account holder will have to be present, even though they already bought their phone. Just plain stupid.

I wonder how long they will keep this policy in place. Might be just on launch day to ensure that they know from the line how many phones will be going out the door. If you have 500 phones in stock and 400 people in line, you can announce that you have enough stock for everyone so they won't worry. If you're not sure how many of those 400 will be purchasing 2, 3, or more phones on a family plan you really couldn't know when to tell people in line that you are out of stock. Even though its a pain for me as well (I'm having to take 2 family members with me to stand in line) I think its probably the best way they could handle things.

 

[aross99]

It sounds to me like Apple can't or doesn't want to determine upgrade eligibility for existing AT&T customers, unless you have an iPhone.

Makes things 1000x easier for them, so I can see why they would want it that way. They will take the easy sales: new customers, and existing iPhone users. AT&T can deal with everyone else...

No insider info, but it would seem to make sense to me...

 

[btcutter]

A lot of people are freaking out for nothing. They will have plenty of iPhones available and I think the line will only be for the folks that are getting there at 8am or 10am. Seriously, if you go in the afternoon, I believe will be no lines at Apple stores at all.

iPhone is not a novelty anymore, so no reason to panic.

Did you read the news at O2? They had to shut the server down because of demand for pre order.

Do you know how many people been waiting for 3G?

Judging by the demand at O2 in Europe, the demand would be easily the same here.

 

[snverhallen]

The home button was always circular. Don't know how it can get "more" circular.

I'm talking about the logo on the button.

snverhallen

 

[jmadlena]

...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...

This isn't entirely true. An AT&T rep told me that if you are an existing AT&T without an iPhone, you are only eligible for the upgrade price if you have been on your contract for at least 20 months (4 months left on contract). So it is possible to upgrade for the subsidized price, they just want to milk you of most of your money, first.

 

[Klaxons2012]

You people have me paranoid now. I'm going to take care of my pre-qualifying on Thursday night and I'll pick up the iPhone friday morning. I'm going to an AT&T store to add myself onto my family's plan and i'm going to get everything in order.

I called the AT&T store and they're taking cash and if you're adding an iPhone to a family plan, you can pre-qualify anytime between now and the night before launch.

 

[gugy]

Did you read the news at O2? They had to shut the server down because of demand for pre order.

Do you know how many people been waiting for 3G?

Judging by the demand at O2 in Europe, the demand would be easily the same here.

In some countries in Europe is a novelty because it is the first time. I am talking about the USA.
Too many people freaking out. I am almost certain the lines will not be that bad at all and the apocalypse is not coming this Friday. Chill people.

 

[Voltaic]

Is this news?

I am personally getting quite sick about the iPhone, 9 of 10 posts at most Mac news sites are about the iPhone. Sure it's from Apple, sure it uses a reduced OS X, however I am sure many Mac users don't give a rats ass about the iPhone past its novelty gadget value.

Are Mac news so dry and unexciting these days?

 

[KJESPOKO]

iPhone as a Gift

Gift Scenerio:

Background information: My birthiday is just after the iPhone 3G release. Im an existing iPhone user.

My wife has been "hinting" that she is going to be getting me the 3G iPhone. So, if someone wants to purchase an iPhone 3G as a gift how are they going to purchase the phone without having to activate the phone. Obviously, they will not be paying for the phone bill each month so there credit history would not matter. In my case my wife is planning on buying (I hope) the new iPhone for my birthday, how will she be able to purchase the iPhone and give it to me as a surprise? I don't want a new phone number!

This same situation will apply to those wanting to purchase iPhones as gifts, but would not be activating them. ATT just needs to realize that they can't control the iPhone. People are going to jailbreak the phone and use it on the carrier they prefer!

 

[scotto07]

You would think they would like to get cash or check instead of credit card because of the whole percentage thing they have to pay to the credit card companies its like 3% in some cases that 2 to 3$ per iphone purchase they will lose. Thats alot of money when your talking several hundred thousand iphones.

Actually in this day and age it is cheaper to for large companies to take a credit card than cash. The cost of having someone come collect the money from all the stores and deal with it is very costly, also their is next to no risk with credit cards, people cant hold you at gun point and demand money that was paid by credit card.