No Walk-In iPhone 4 Sales at AT&T Retail Stores Until June 29th

[Italianmobstr7]

Italianmobster:

I currently have an ATT smartphone w/ unlimited data and text, my contract expires in November 2010

my eligible upgrade for the iphone at their best pricing is not until July 12, 2010, however i reserved an iphone at an Apple store, is there any chance they would be able to give me the best pricing a few days earlier? I was told over the phone by an ATT rep that they should be able to, but he didn't sound that credible. I know that if I walked into an ATT store I can probably be able to talk them into it giving my bill/history, but can an Apple store do the same thing?

Very, very doubtful. Last I heard (as of Sunday) we've completely stopped doing early upgrades even by 1 day. (Used to be 30 days early we could do it if it was lost/stolen/damaged). It's best to go into the store and talk directly to the store manager or the assistant manager but don't count on it if the manager is by the book (like mine happens to be).

Well put it this way... I canceled my reservation at the Apple Store after AT&T told me I could get a subsidy if I showed up in the store on the release date, but told me I couldn't pre-order and couldn't get it over at the Apple store. Am I allowed to be a little bit of a crybaby now? ;p

No reason to be upset. You'll still get your Iphone at the subsidized price, just 5 days later than you originally thought.

Where did that Italian mobster go? Maybe he would know. Would Wal-Mart be able to handle my business account? I don't want to waste my time there if they can't sell me a 4. I know that Apple Store can't handle the business account because I get the:

"Account type not supported.We're sorry. The AT&T account you have is a business account. Please contact your company's telecom manager or AT&T account manager to complete your iPhone purchase."

Anyone know?

I'm very good friends with my ex assistant manager who happens to be our rep that deals with our outside vendors (walmart, radio shack, best buy) now. I'll ask him tomorrow and let you know for sure.

Slow cell network. Slow servers that crash. Slow iPhone rollout. AT&T is definitely dragging down Apple.

Slow cell network? Fastest network in the US...
Slow servers that crash? Apple's website crashed too...
Slow Iphone rollout? We don't determine how and when we get phones, Apple does. If you're looking to blame somone, blame Apple.
We're not dragging down anyone. Apple has just as many problems as AT&T does, they just deal with different problems.

Leave it to AT&T to never be far away from an epic fail.

I guess it could be smart, but really? They are the official carrier of the phone. It's their responsibility.
So instead of riding it out, knowing it could get bumpy, they wimp out and let the others take the wheel.

What exactly did AT&T do? Apple didn't produce enough phones to fill our AT&T stores so had to push back the walk-in release date of the Iphone 4. I don't really see how that's a fail on AT&T's part...

Does anyone know, who works for at&t or apple, if they will have white iPhone4s available on launch day for walk ins at apple stores? Or, on jun 29th for walkins at AT&T stores?

Honestly don't know, wondering the same thing myself. If I had to guess I would say no though. It would cause a huge uproar with all of the people who pre-ordered and couldn't get white. Nothing official yet, but I expect to hear in the next couple of days.

I am totally f$cked now. I bought LG phone on 24th May and then they announced Iphone 4. ATT has 30 day exchange policy so I thought I will simply exchange on 24 June and all is good. Now this....

Also, you can only do exchange at ATT owned retail store..
I also couldn't preorder since preorders were only for upgrades and new lines...FML

You're not F'd. We've extended the 30 day return policy until June 29 now. All you have to do is go into the store, let them know you tried to pre-order the new Iphone and couldn't. They'll look up your receipt on your account and it should be no problem at all. I'd try and make sure that you're in line on June 29 to be able to do it though just in case they don't extend it out any further than that.

I would go in tomorrow (wednesday) to a retail store and do the exchange and pre-order the iphone. You'll beat the huge crowds on thursday. True you'll have to wait longer to get the iphone, but at least it will be within the 30 days.

You can't pre-order iphones right now so this would be pointless. My comment above is the best thing to do. We aren't pre-ordering Iphones, that's why they've extended the date out a few more days. Make sure you talk to a manager (store or assistant) and let them know the situation.

This is 100% TOTAL BS!!!

I went to the local AT&T store early the first day they started taking pre-orders to order mine.

They told me their "systems" were down and they would take all my information(including my CC). Later that day they called and told me by the time they could get my information into the system that there was no guarantee I would be in the first shipment and that I "might" get my phone sometime around July 2. I asked if the store was going to get an allotment on the 24th and they said, "yes". I asked what if I waited inline for a phone on the 24th could I just pick it up then. They said I could but I would be charged twice and they would just send the phone I ordered back and I would have to wait to be credited back the amount.

I told them I didn't mind waiting in-line and to make things simple to cancel the pre-order.

Well now they are saying they won't have any at the store on the 24th.

This is total BS! Thank you AT&T for proving again that you have piss poor customer service!

Our systems did crash on June 15th. I got 2 pre-orders done in the first 15 minutes, the 3rd one took an hour and 20 minutes. The systems were down so we were doing manual orders if we couldn't get them to go through. You had some bad luck it seems, but it's not the end of the world. Unfortunately the way the pre-order works is a pain (it charges you and doesn't credit back until the phone is shipped back) even if you stand in line and buy a new one. The fact that you were told that the phone would be available on the 24th and now you're being told isn't just news to you, believe me. It's news to EVERYONE. We just found out TODAY at AT&T about this, which means EVERY customer in EVERY city that didn't get a pre-order and went into a store was told they could pick theirs up on June 24. Again, this is not AT&T's fault, and in all honesty it's not anyones. If there IS anyone to blame it's apple for not being more prepared and having more phones available at launch as they're the ones who determine who gets how many phones and when they get them.

 

[mantan]

Are they going to force the AT&T employees to still come in for a 7:00 a.m. launch?

Turning people away all morning who think they are getting iPhone, while handing our the few that reached the store early will make for a pretty bad 'Special Event' to have to work!

 

[Italianmobstr7]

Are they going to force the AT&T employees to still come in for a 7:00 a.m. launch?

Turning people away all morning who think they are getting iPhone, while handing our the few that reached the store early will make for a pretty bad 'Special Event' to have to work!

Actually, yes. We had an "emergency" conference call last night at 9:30 and even though we don't open until 9, everyone who was supposed to open comes in at 7 for a conference call and to remerchandise the store. We don't really turn people away we usually just keep the door locked and ignore whoever is at the door. If there are people lined up (which I know there will be) hopefully they'll see the sign were posting on the door letting them know about the no
Inventory for walk-in sales.

 

[nicroma]

Actually, yes. We had an "emergency" conference call last night at 9:30 and even though we don't open until 9, everyone who was supposed to open comes in at 7 for a conference call and to remerchandise the store. We don't really turn people away we usually just keep the door locked and ignore whoever is at the door. If there are people lined up (which I know there will be) hopefully they'll see the sign were posting on the door letting them know about the no
Inventory for walk-in sales.

I just called my store and they are still opening at 7 but they are going to turn people away that didn't pre-order. I never received a tracking number, but they said if I pre-ordered on the 15th at the store (which I did) my phone will be there tomorrow.

 

[Italianmobstr7]

I just called my store and they are still opening at 7 but they are going to turn people away that didn't pre-order. I never received a tracking number, but they said if I pre-ordered on the 15th at the store (which I did) my phone will be there tomorrow.

Good news for you then. In Ok were not opening until 9, posting signs up that we won't have any inventory for walk-in customers and that well begin servicing pre-order customers at 9 am.

 

[CubusX]

Does customer service even apply to Apple and AT&T?

Available on June 24, 2010 (except at AT&T stores).

As each day progresses these two companies continue to get worse.

 

[pricklypete]

Italianmobstr7:

Sorry if this has already been addressed. Can any other location besides AT&T stores do an iPhone upgrade with a business account?

Thanks

 

[Macnificant]

Good news for you then. In Ok were not opening until 9, posting signs up that we won't have any inventory for walk-in customers and that well begin servicing pre-order customers at 9 am.

are you expecting to have any cases in stock for the IPhone 4? Are the Bumpers only sold at Apple and Apple.com?

 

[Italianmobstr7]

Italianmobstr7:

Sorry if this has already been addressed. Can any other location besides AT&T stores do an iPhone upgrade with a business account?

Still waiting for a response from the manager. As soon as I know for sure I'll post.

Thanks

are you expecting to have any cases in stock for the IPhone 4? Are the Bumpers only sold at Apple and Apple.com?

Were supposed to have some cases for the new cases for it. As far as I know Bumper cases are only available at Apple and apple.com

 

[k1121j]

Is ATT Forcing people out of UNLIMITED DATA

conspiracy theory but will AT&T offer an extended period in Wich to keep unlimited data? looks to me like this is a great way to avoid lots of people keeping their unlimited data plans

 

[Jhon]

conspiracy theory but will AT&T offer an extended period in Wich to keep unlimited data? looks to me like this is a great way to avoid lots of people keeping their unlimited data plans

I LIKE TURTLES!

 

[GloverCom]

AT&Tarded

So because the AT&T store is right in the building next door, I lined up there on the 15th at 9:45am and pre-ordered it there.

I know, I know... Always go directly to the Apple Store... Going to the AT&T store directly is equivalent to a back-alley abortion, but I figured the line would be shorter for everyone picking up their pre-ordered iPhones.

After I order the phone they rep said, "It'll be shipping to your billing address" and I said, "Well, I'm at work during the day, can't you just ship it to my work address."

"No. We can only ship it to your billing address..."

"Wha? OK. Then can I pick it up here at the AT&T Store on the 24th".

The reps eyes glaze over into monotone corporate CYA speak and says, "We cannot guarantee that they will show up on the 24th because they are shipping by FedEx, but in all likelihood it will be here on the 24th."

Good enough...

So today, I get a phone call from a chirpy AT&T rep who informs me with more enthusiasm than the Progressive Lady that my phone is on it's way! Yay! We're all so excited! "You can pick it up on Tuesday the 31st!"

What the frack?

I inform her that I already have a tracking number for the shipment and according to FedEx it will arrive tomorrow, the 24th. Why the hell is she telling me I can pick it up on Tuesday.

She said that, there's no guarantee that it will be there tomorrow... But when it arrives I can be assured a phone call to come pick it up... ...on Tuesday the 31st.

I politely told her that when I see the FedEx shipping confirmation tomorrow showing me that my pre-ordered phone is in her lovely AT&T Store, I will be there to pick it up TOMORROW not next Tuesday.

AT&T... You are the retarded ugly kid brother to Apple and you can bet Apple cannot wait for the day they can dump your ass for all the lost sales and embarrassment you have caused them.

 

[xxkodemanxx]

Thanks Italianmobster for all hour helpful info.

I'll be going by apple saturday in hopes they will have some in for me to walk-in

I know im good for the $199 upgrade..but my GF isn't until Feb 2010
Any possible tips I could get her an iPhone 4 at $199 also?

thanks!

 

[Italianmobstr7]

conspiracy theory but will AT&T offer an extended period in Wich to keep unlimited data? looks to me like this is a great way to avoid lots of people keeping their unlimited data plans

There's never been an extended period to keep data plans. If you had an unlimited data plan on an old smartphone (blackberry, htc, palm) or an old iphone you're able to keep it when you upgrade to the new iphone. If you didn't have a smartphone previously then you're only able to get the $15 200mb plan or the $25 2gb plan. Can't really "avoid" people keeping their unlimited data plans because they're grandfathered in.

So because the AT&T store is right in the building next door, I lined up there on the 15th at 9:45am and pre-ordered it there.

I know, I know... Always go directly to the Apple Store... Going to the AT&T store directly is equivalent to a back-alley abortion, but I figured the line would be shorter for everyone picking up their pre-ordered iPhones.

After I order the phone they rep said, "It'll be shipping to your billing address" and I said, "Well, I'm at work during the day, can't you just ship it to my work address."

"No. We can only ship it to your billing address..."

"Wha? OK. Then can I pick it up here at the AT&T Store on the 24th".

The reps eyes glaze over into monotone corporate CYA speak and says, "We cannot guarantee that they will show up on the 24th because they are shipping by FedEx, but in all likelihood it will be here on the 24th."

Good enough...

So today, I get a phone call from a chirpy AT&T rep who informs me with more enthusiasm than the Progressive Lady that my phone is on it's way! Yay! We're all so excited! "You can pick it up on Tuesday the 31st!"

What the frack?

I inform her that I already have a tracking number for the shipment and according to FedEx it will arrive tomorrow, the 24th. Why the hell is she telling me I can pick it up on Tuesday.

She said that, there's no guarantee that it will be there tomorrow... But when it arrives I can be assured a phone call to come pick it up... ...on Tuesday the 31st.

I politely told her that when I see the FedEx shipping confirmation tomorrow showing me that my pre-ordered phone is in her lovely AT&T Store, I will be there to pick it up TOMORROW not next Tuesday.

AT&T... You are the retarded ugly kid brother to Apple and you can bet Apple cannot wait for the day they can dump your ass for all the lost sales and embarrassment you have caused them.

I'm not sure why they couldn't ship it to your work address. My roommate just called me and told me that his friend at works Iphone was shipped to their work address. Tuesday isn't the 31st so either you're making a mistake or your rep is a retard. If the tracking says that it should be there tomorrow then it should be and you'll get a call letting you know. If not then you'll just have to wait it out. I do know that if you pre-ordered it that early you should have no problem receiving yours tomorrow. It was basically the people in the last 2 hours that pre-ordered that were told they may not get them till a few days later. Even IF it was a couple days late is it THAT big of a deal though? Once again It's not AT&T's fault in all of this. The blame is split with Apple as well. Apple won't be dumping AT&T for lost sales and embarrassment we've caused them. All the problems they're running into with this launch outside of the system crash early in the morning is Apple's fault... They're the ones who decides who gets what phones and how many they get, not AT&T.

 

[Italianmobstr7]

Thanks Italianmobster for all hour helpful info.

I'll be going by apple saturday in hopes they will have some in for me to walk-in

I know im good for the $199 upgrade..but my GF isn't until Feb 2010
Any possible tips I could get her an iPhone 4 at $199 also?

thanks!

No problem. Happy to help. They should have some walk-ins on Saturday at Apple. They get new shipments every day. It's AT&T that they screw by giving us like 20 at a time (after initial launch day). The only way you'll be able to get your GF the Iphone 4 at $199 is by adding another line for $10 a month and then putting the equipment on her line. Until Feb. if you're wanting to get her a new Iphone 4 on her line without adding a new one it will be $399 or $499 instead of $199, $299.

 

[Braindead360]

So because the AT&T store is right in the building next door, I lined up there on the 15th at 9:45am and pre-ordered it there.

I know, I know... Always go directly to the Apple Store... Going to the AT&T store directly is equivalent to a back-alley abortion, but I figured the line would be shorter for everyone picking up their pre-ordered iPhones.

After I order the phone they rep said, "It'll be shipping to your billing address" and I said, "Well, I'm at work during the day, can't you just ship it to my work address."

"No. We can only ship it to your billing address..."

"Wha? OK. Then can I pick it up here at the AT&T Store on the 24th".

The reps eyes glaze over into monotone corporate CYA speak and says, "We cannot guarantee that they will show up on the 24th because they are shipping by FedEx, but in all likelihood it will be here on the 24th."

Good enough...

So today, I get a phone call from a chirpy AT&T rep who informs me with more enthusiasm than the Progressive Lady that my phone is on it's way! Yay! We're all so excited! "You can pick it up on Tuesday the 31st!"

What the frack?

I inform her that I already have a tracking number for the shipment and according to FedEx it will arrive tomorrow, the 24th. Why the hell is she telling me I can pick it up on Tuesday.

She said that, there's no guarantee that it will be there tomorrow... But when it arrives I can be assured a phone call to come pick it up... ...on Tuesday the 31st.

I politely told her that when I see the FedEx shipping confirmation tomorrow showing me that my pre-ordered phone is in her lovely AT&T Store, I will be there to pick it up TOMORROW not next Tuesday.

AT&T... You are the retarded ugly kid brother to Apple and you can bet Apple cannot wait for the day they can dump your ass for all the lost sales and embarrassment you have caused them.

ROFL!!! I had a very similar experience. So far I have received no phone call, or email letting me know that my phone has shipped, but fortunately I have been checking my tracking info through UPS religiously. Today I woke up and checked my tracking info and it said that it received a departure scan this morning at 6:15am from Memphis, TN. I thought to myself, "Great it should be here sometime today and I can get it tomorrow." I live in Little Rock which is only about 3 hours from Memphis. At 2:00 this afternoon I checked in again and it said that it received another departure scan from... Wait for it... Louisville, KY, and my delivery date had changed from the 23rd to the 24th. WTF?! So I went to the AT&T store that it is supposed to be shipped to after I got work and asked one of the reps when they expected their shipments to start arriving. Without giving me the slightest bit of kind attention, he shrugged and said that they will call me when the phone is ready for pick-up. I told him that I didn't think I trusted AT&T with giving me any sort of pick-up notifications and that I will just keep an eye out for the word "Delivered" to show up on my tracking log. He shrugged and then replied, "Whatever." All I can say is that I really hope Arkansas gets an Apple store in the near future, because I am personally tired of AT&T's persistent bull ****.

 

[Actiq420]

ATT won't let me pickup instore until official release

 

[VRsiick]

my ATT store said they are starting walk ins next tuesday.

 

[Italianmobstr7]

ATT won't let me pickup instore until official release

Correct. We got preorders in today but you can't pick it up until tomorrow. Even if you come in and bitch and moan were sending you home without the phone because were not allowed to sell them out of our point of sale system until tomorrow.

my ATT store said they are starting walk ins next tuesday.

Correct. June 29th is the day well be allowing customers to walk-in and buy an iPhone 4. iPhone 3GS 8g will be available tomorrow.

 

[bronzini]

Thank you Italianmobstr7

you spent alot of your personal time answering questions and it is appreciated. I personally have a love/hate relationship with AT&T due to the amount of dropped calls (nearly, if not daily, but I LOVE the iphone, so I have put up with it over the past 3 years. It has gotten worse in the past 6-9 months.

Good Luck to you!

 

[ltldrummerboy]

My AT&T store is opening at 7 tomorrow and next Tuesday. They told me what I expected to hear: no walk-ins until the 29th.

 

[Fenir]

Yeah, all three AT&T stores here told me today that "apple had pushed back the release date to the 29th"

The one walmart here got one phone in for sale tomorrow, but its only a 16gb model and there was no way I would wait overnight for a 16gb model.

ItalianMob, any idea if the AT&T stores will be opening early on the 29th for the phone? (im actually hoping not because I might have to work 3rd shift Monday night)

 

[twoodcc]

i sure am glad that i preordered

 

[Texan78]

Very, very doubtful. Last I heard (as of Sunday) we've completely stopped doing early upgrades even by 1 day. (Used to be 30 days early we could do it if it was lost/stolen/damaged). It's best to go into the store and talk directly to the store manager or the assistant manager but don't count on it if the manager is by the book (like mine happens to be).

I am sorry but you are the perfect example of why everyone is slamming AT&T customer service because you are feeding wrong information. Do yall not have meetings in the store for briefing? Wait, dumb question, we all know the answer to that, no... Just like someone else mentioned. You are not telling us anything that you can not just Google. Only people I trust are Apple at this point.

Steve Jobs announced at the WWDC a few weeks ago which you can watch and read on Apples site, that AT&T would be extending the upgrades for ANYONE who wants the new iPhone 4 for ANYONE whose contract expires ANYTIME during 2010. So if his contract is up in November 2010 he is eligible for an upgrade if he plans on upgrading to the iPhone 4. Why are you telling him differently? Did you not know this? If you did not. Then why should anyone listen to you about anything else. This is important information that you would think any AT&T employee should know that works in a store front.

 

[sa gringo]

My four phones are on lockdown at the store until tomorrow...
and I got to experience that excellent at&t customer service today when they called and told me they were in but I could not get them. This would not been that big of an issue if when I pre-ordered the rep would have not LIED and said they will come faster if we ship to the store instead of your house or business...that is some corporate america flow chart reading, non cerebral thinking BS and possibly the worst example of customer service one could receive...