Peeved At Yesterday? Call & Get A Coupon!

[3goldens]

Taking the suggestion of another member who was pissed at the time he spent yesterday and called Apple to express that and then received a coupon for up to $100.00 off a purchase of $300.00 from an Apple Customer Specialist.

So being just as pissed at trying all day like everyone else, and then getting this July 2nd shipping date I called this morning and spoke to a supervisor and got the exact same discount coupon. The first supervisor I spoke to send me a coupon for half that but I called again and was persistant and got the larger one.

I then took my code, applied it to a new order for an iphone and received the $100.00 off my $300.00 upgrade thus paying only $200 for my upgrade.

This makes waiting a little easier, and who knows maybe I will get one at an Apple store untill this onme arrives and the return it.

Either way I encoutrage others to do the same it will work!

 

[TonyJack]

So they should be handing out coupons. They had people spend all day on the computer dropping lots of money on their product, it's the least they could do in my opinion.

 

[tevans333]

whats the number that you called?

 

[hcho3]

Taking the suggestion of another member who was pissed at the time he spent yesterday and called Apple to express that and then received a coupon for up to $100.00 off a purchase of $300.00 from an Apple Customer Specialist.

So being just as pissed at trying all day like everyone else, and then getting this July 2nd shipping date I called this morning and spoke to a supervisor and got the exact same discount coupon. The first supervisor I spoke to send me a coupon for half that but I called again and was persistant and got the larger one.

I then took my code, applied it to a new order for an iphone and received the $100.00 off my $300.00 upgrade thus paying only $200 for my upgrade.

This makes waiting a little easier, and who knows maybe I will get one at an Apple store untill this onme arrives and the return it.

Either way I encoutrage others to do the same it will work!

View attachment 230877

I don't understand how you did this.. You placed order online, but how did u do this?

 

[Apple Expert]

I was able to pre-order for delivery on the 24th. I spent the whole day trying. I wonder if I can get on the $100 coupon.

 

[samcraig]

So they should be handing out coupons. They had people spend all day on the computer dropping lots of money on their product, it's the least they could do in my opinion.

While I don't disagree that it would be great customer service. From a business perspective it wouldn't be prudent. Ultimately - they didn't make you do anything. They said pre-sales started yesterday. They didn't make any guarantees or warranties. Just that pre-sales would start yesterday. And they did.

If they didn't sell out. Pre-reservations would continue today. They DID sell out. So that's how the cookie crumbles. It's always been first come, first served.

Unfortunate. Frustrating. Yes. But again - Apple/ATT didn't make anyone do anything (i.e. spend all day). That was the end users CHOICE.

 

[sparkomatic]

I guess I'd be more annoyed and likely to do this if I didn't get my order in and now was faced with the later shipping date.

Sure, it took almost all day to get the order to go through but I was doing it while doing other things. Frustrating yes, but I'm just happy I have a phone on order for the 24th now.

 

[jav6454]

I was able to pre-order for delivery on the 24th. I spent the whole day trying. I wonder if I can get on the $100 coupon.

Same here, I tried since 9AM and it wasn't until 7PM that my order got thru. Shipping is guaranteed for the 24th as expected tho.

 

[akal575]

Just tried this, didn't work

According to the lady I was on the phone with (Supervisor) she said there was no gesture of good will or compensation that could be offered.

 

[Sp71Supra]

While I don't disagree that it would be great customer service. From a business perspective it wouldn't be prudent. Ultimately - they didn't make you do anything. They said pre-sales started yesterday. They didn't make any guarantees or warranties. Just that pre-sales would start yesterday. And they did.

If they didn't sell out. Pre-reservations would continue today. They DID sell out. So that's how the cookie crumbles. It's always been first come, first served.

Unfortunate. Frustrating. Yes. But again - Apple/ATT didn't make anyone do anything (i.e. spend all day). That was the end users CHOICE.

Technically you are correct, that is how the cookie crumbles. Although the ordering system was extremely SUB-PAR... they let a lot of people down. As far as 1st come 1st serve.. that was not the case either. A lot of people waited until the minute they were available to order and kept trying until 11pm when they were sold out (for launch delivery date) and still did not get one. I know that's what I did.. probably tried 300 times or more and still did not get through.

Its not fair that I tried to reserve the minute it was available on the apple store until 11pm and someone else waited till around lunch time, only tried it once, and got through. That would not be 1st come 1st serve as I was trying consistently 5 hours before the other person. It was more of a 1st one to get lucky with the server kinda deal... it had nothing to do with 1st come 1st serve, if that was the case I would have one reserved.

Personally I think current iPhone account holders should get 1st dibs on the pre order. I have had every previous iPhone at launch date since the 2g came out and have never been late on one bill. I also have 3 other phones on my plan and now someone that never had ATT or an iPhone before got a one before I did... how does att/apple know they wont just put it on ebay and sell it for a profit? Hows that customer loyalty? They should have did the preorder ONLY for current iPhone customers... then release to the general public on the 24th. I don't care what any of you say, We/I deserve a new iPhone 4 before any current non ATT customer.

Im also tired of people on this site sticking up for ATT/Apple... they both totally blew it yesterday.. there is no excuse for it and we have the right to be upset. If you are sticking up for either of them you are just too much of a fan boy to admit they ****ed up!

 

[samcraig]

I'm no fanboy I assure you. And name calling because you're upset only weakens your argument.

No - you don't DESERVE an iPhone more than someone who has never owned one before. You might DESERVE one more because you tried hard and weren't able to complete the transaction.

But why do you think you deserve one over someone that has never owned one before? I completely disagree. And as I'm in marketing - I can assure you that any company is looking to EXPAND their market. Of course retention is very important too. But in all reality - both Apple and ATT know that the people who are going to spend ALL DAY online trying to get one, aren't going to go buy another phone. They'll wait. Whether in line on launch day - or for the 2nd shipment.

ATT, not to defend them, gave thousands of people early upgrade offers. Say whatever you want. And a lot will be true. But that was GENEROUS of them. Instead people here are looking a gift horse in the mouth with an overwhelming (and dare I say obnoxious) level of entitlement.

There's no data to support whether an existing customer or new one is more likely to sell the phone on EBAY. Find me a stat on that....

And lastly (for now) - while I am very sorry you had that frustration (I didn't even try to reserve one - I can wait) - look at all the people who reserved at ATT, Apple, plan on waiting in line, buying the black to only return when the white is available, etc -- all to ensure they get ONE phone on Launch day.

Want to be pissed at anyone? How about the people who are junking up time (CSRs, line queues) and available iPhones out of selfishness vs simply ordering the ONE phone they want and being PATIENT enough to wait for it.

Instead you have people jumping through 110 different hoops. THAT'S why you weren't able to get a phone yesterday via the system.

 

[Sp71Supra]

I'm no fanboy I assure you. And name calling because you're upset only weakens your argument.

No - you don't DESERVE an iPhone more than someone who has never owned one before. You might DESERVE one more because you tried hard and weren't able to complete the transaction.

But why do you think you deserve one over someone that has never owned one before? I completely disagree. And as I'm in marketing - I can assure you that any company is looking to EXPAND their market. Of course retention is very important too. But in all reality - both Apple and ATT know that the people who are going to spend ALL DAY online trying to get one, aren't going to go buy another phone. They'll wait. Whether in line on launch day - or for the 2nd shipment.

ATT, not to defend them, gave thousands of people early upgrade offers. Say whatever you want. And a lot will be true. But that was GENEROUS of them. Instead people here are looking a gift horse in the mouth with an overwhelming (and dare I say obnoxious) level of entitlement.

There's no data to support whether an existing customer or new one is more likely to sell the phone on EBAY. Find me a stat on that....

And lastly (for now) - while I am very sorry you had that frustration (I didn't even try to reserve one - I can wait) - look at all the people who reserved at ATT, Apple, plan on waiting in line, buying the black to only return when the white is available, etc -- all to ensure they get ONE phone on Launch day.

Want to be pissed at anyone? How about the people who are junking up time (CSRs, line queues) and available iPhones out of selfishness vs simply ordering the ONE phone they want and being PATIENT enough to wait for it.

Instead you have people jumping through 110 different hoops. THAT'S why you weren't able to get a phone yesterday via the system.

Either way... Apple and ATT blew it bad this year.. their servers should be up to par... hell APPLE is a COMPUTER company.. im sure they have the equipment to make it possible.

 

[tevans333]

Either way... Apple and ATT blew it bad this year.. their servers should be up to par... hell APPLE is a COMPUTER company.. im sure they have the equipment to make it possible.

Yeah they have the equipment, but it would be a waste of money. It doesn't make a good business case. They know it will sell out regardless of server problems or not. Besides, I really don't think anyone anticipated a 10x increase in demand from a year ago. Cut them some slack, sorry you didn't get a pre-order or had difficulty if you did, its just a phone.

 

[citizenal]

Just tried this too and was not able to get a coupon.

 

[Hawklight]

Guess what, **** happens in life. You don't always deserve a coupon for it.

 

[rburly]

Unfortunate. Frustrating. Yes. But again - Apple/ATT didn't make anyone do anything (i.e. spend all day). That was the end users CHOICE.

But even as you mentioned earlier in your post, it's about Customer Service. There are a lot of unhappy (to say the least) people today at both Apple and ATT. Taking care of your customers is an excellent idea, from another business perspective.

 

[LordOBoogie]

I call BS.

 

[livingonvideo13]

Guess what, **** happens in life. You don't always deserve a coupon for it.

Ditto.

People whine about the stupidest things sometimes and feel they should be compensated big time over minor things.

There are now going to be people who read this thread feel they are entitled for $100 off also and going to be pissed as hell that they did not get it also.

Yeah it sucked that I could not get in an order yesterday and was finally able to today and have to wait until after July 2nd to get it. Oh well. That is the way life goes sometimes and it is not really that big of a deal.

 

[Sp71Supra]

Yeah they have the equipment, but it would be a waste of money. It doesn't make a good business case. They know it will sell out regardless of server problems or not. Besides, I really don't think anyone anticipated a 10x increase in demand from a year ago. Cut them some slack, sorry you didn't get a pre-order or had difficulty if you did, its just a phone.

I actually do have one from an ATT store in town thats an authorized dealer (not a corporate store).. but I got no paperwork or anything. They said all their iphones get shipped in house and not to my house. I went back today and asked them if they just wrote my name down on a piece of paper or actually put it into the system, they said it went in the system and went through, so I asked if I was defiantly good.. they said yes.. but somehow on the 24th im sure some reason will arise as to why they don't have a black 32gig waiting for me.....

Im just saying... their servers should have been up to the task. Apple has enough money to easily upgrade their servers to handle it. An alternative would be to stop the preorder all together once the servers started to jam up earlier in the day.. anyone that got their order in during that time would be 1st in line for the new preorder date with a server that could handle it. This way it would be a true 1st come 1st serve.. not a 1st one to get lucky with the server.

Point of my argument is... Im tired of people on here defending ATT/Apple.. because this no ones fault but theirs and everyone on here has the right to bitch and complain. They make multi millions off of this product alone.. they have the funds, manpower, equipment, and knowledge to have avoided everything that happened yesterday.


To add... NO I don't feel they owe us a $100 coupon but I would like to see an apple representative or Jobs himself do a public apology on national news stating that it was all Apples fault due to a lack of preparation.

 

[samcraig]

they have the funds, manpower, equipment, and knowledge to have avoided everything that happened yesterday.


To add... NO I don't feel they owe us a $100 coupon but I would like to see an apple representative or Jobs himself do a public apology on national news stating that it was all Apples fault due to a lack of preparation.

And yet it happened.

And Apple did issue a statement. It's either on the front page here or on TUAW.com.

What you want and what you are entitled to are two very different things.

 

[Sp71Supra]

And yet it happened.

And Apple did issue a statement. It's either on the front page here or on TUAW.com.

What you want and what you are entitled to are two very different things.

Yes I did see the statement... and I am 90% sure I do have a phone too so thats not the reason im bitching... but yesterday was a major headache and to be honest.. I would rather it be a true 1st come 1st serve just like the 2G... if you wait your place in line, it pays off. I would have rather waited in line for 12 hours again and know im getting a phone.

Instead this year I start trying to order online when it comes out and try again hundred of times throughout the whole day and night until they are sold out and never get one because I was not lucky with the server. Wasted a ton of time and got no where. Hopefully the ATT store will pay off.

 

[lilcreep]

Sometimes it just doesn't make good business sense to spend the large amount of time, money, and resources to upgrade servers for ONE day. Yes, there were issues with servers at both AT&T and Apple, but I was able to pre-order one for me and one for my wife. It only took me about 2 hours total in the afternoon. Sure I might be one of the lucky ones, but I wonder if these people who say they started at 5am and tried straight for 12 hours really did that. Or did they try at 5, try again one more time at 5:15 then 5:35, etc. The point is, companies have to make tough decisions. Do you let the servers go to hell for one day knowing that the people it's going to affect are the hard core fans who will forget about it all in a couple of weeks, or spend millions of dollars to upgrade a server for one day.

 

[Sp71Supra]

Sometimes it just doesn't make good business sense to spend the large amount of time, money, and resources to upgrade servers for ONE day. Yes, there were issues with servers at both AT&T and Apple, but I was able to pre-order one for me and one for my wife. It only took me about 2 hours total in the afternoon. Sure I might be one of the lucky ones, but I wonder if these people who say they started at 5am and tried straight for 12 hours really did that. Or did they try at 5, try again one more time at 5:15 then 5:35, etc. The point is, companies have to make tough decisions. Do you let the servers go to hell for one day knowing that the people it's going to affect are the hard core fans who will forget about it all in a couple of weeks, or spend millions of dollars to upgrade a server for one day.

You spend the millions for one day to keep almost a million people happy and in turn you have a better server for the future.. they have the money.. don't be soft on apple.

 

[lilcreep]

No offense, but I hope you never run a business if that is how you think. They don't need a better server for 364 days of the year. Almost everyone who tried to get a phone yesterday will forget all about this once they have their new shiny iPhone 4. Yes it was annoying and frustrating. But there isn't a website in the world that can handle all of that traffic all at once. Upgrading your server isn't a matter of just flipping a switch and it works. It's very very expensive. Not worth the money for a one day event.

 

[3goldens]

Look, I posted this because I felt the information might be useful and some others might benefit by it.

If asking for a coupon offends you or you feel the time you put into trying innumerable times to purchase a product that was supposed to be easily available and accessible is justified, then don't bother to ask.

Don't castigate people for trying. It's their choice to do whatever they want with the information and experience from another member.

Just thinking about how many countless times I entered my cell number, zip and the last four digits of my social security pisses me off. This was a major problem and without assigning blame here, my feeling is my time is just as valuable as anyone else's and receiving a small token for my trouble is a way to compensate me for aggravation I encountered yesterday. It saved me $100.00 a small price to pay for the trouble they cause a customer. I'm not really all that worried about the financial health of either apple or att so guilt ridden I am not.

"she said there was no gesture of good will or compensation that could be offered."

If it doesn't work out for you, I don't know what to tell you. The supervisors have access to it and I guess maybe you have to be somewhat persistent. Being from NYC helps I suppose. I would not approach this as a good will measure, I would just say I know these coupons exist and I would like one considering the time and effort I put into trying to place an order. If you don't know how to be persuasive then perhaps it will be a waste of a call.

All I can say is it does work, at least for two of us and I don't think for a moment it would not for others.

I easily got the lessor coupon without so much as a fight. Bear in mind if you are successful, one would have to use the coupon by something like this Saturday and on line at the apple store. If you already ordered your phone, you'd have to cancel your order & apply it to a new order with a later shipping date.