Well, unlike all those threads, I really DID get a free iPhone 4. Or, at least, that's one way of looking at it. And be warned before you read this (or not), it truly is a COOL STORY BRO. Here's how it went down.
I waited in line on the eve of launch day like so many others, but I was lucky enough to do it at a very special location - a mall where a brand new Apple store was holding its grand opening, the same day as the iPhone 4 launch. This is important for 2 reasons, each more important than the last. First, because this store didn't officially even exist until the 24th, it had ZERO pre-orders. That meant every single person waiting in line was a walk-in. This was perfect for me because like so many others, I couldn't get a pre-order in, and this way had a much, much better chance of securing a phone. Second, this meant that all the store employees were BRAND NEW. Why would this matter, you may be asking yourself, as you scratch your beard quizzically? Read on, my friends, read on.
The employees at this particular store were new. They were trained, of course, prior to the store's grand opening. But as it turns out, most of their training must have been focused on the iPhone launch, and not much else. And rightfully so. The significance of their ineptitude with other every day Apple store tasks, however, became apparent to me when my transaction became a minor snafu.
Through some misunderstandings with my bank, they put a "suspicious activity" hold on my card, which was my only source of funds at that moment. So until I cleared that, my card was utterly useless. Luckily enough, the phones at that Apple store didn't work, and my old phone had conveniently run out of batteries, so I was forced to do the following - put my iPhone transaction on hold, run to the nearest ATM, withdraw money, and put it on an Apple gift card, which would then be used to make my purchase. I withdrew 400 bucks, came back, and put 367 and change on an Apple gift card.
This is where they s'hit the bed, because like I said, they were untrained in matters such as these. I still don't know exactly what happened, but one way or another, while charging the gift card and ringing up the phone and whatnot, a slip-up was committed. And the gift card they handed back to me after everything was paid for, which we all assumed had a balance of zero dollars, was not quite what it seemed. Upon arriving home, just before throwing away said gift card, I checked the balance online. $367. Phone activated, AT&T account set up, everything paid for, every penny back in my pocket in the form of Apple cash as a result of a huge blunder.
The end. Told you it was a cool story, bro.
I waited in line on the eve of launch day like so many others, but I was lucky enough to do it at a very special location - a mall where a brand new Apple store was holding its grand opening, the same day as the iPhone 4 launch. This is important for 2 reasons, each more important than the last. First, because this store didn't officially even exist until the 24th, it had ZERO pre-orders. That meant every single person waiting in line was a walk-in. This was perfect for me because like so many others, I couldn't get a pre-order in, and this way had a much, much better chance of securing a phone. Second, this meant that all the store employees were BRAND NEW. Why would this matter, you may be asking yourself, as you scratch your beard quizzically? Read on, my friends, read on.
The employees at this particular store were new. They were trained, of course, prior to the store's grand opening. But as it turns out, most of their training must have been focused on the iPhone launch, and not much else. And rightfully so. The significance of their ineptitude with other every day Apple store tasks, however, became apparent to me when my transaction became a minor snafu.
Through some misunderstandings with my bank, they put a "suspicious activity" hold on my card, which was my only source of funds at that moment. So until I cleared that, my card was utterly useless. Luckily enough, the phones at that Apple store didn't work, and my old phone had conveniently run out of batteries, so I was forced to do the following - put my iPhone transaction on hold, run to the nearest ATM, withdraw money, and put it on an Apple gift card, which would then be used to make my purchase. I withdrew 400 bucks, came back, and put 367 and change on an Apple gift card.
This is where they s'hit the bed, because like I said, they were untrained in matters such as these. I still don't know exactly what happened, but one way or another, while charging the gift card and ringing up the phone and whatnot, a slip-up was committed. And the gift card they handed back to me after everything was paid for, which we all assumed had a balance of zero dollars, was not quite what it seemed. Upon arriving home, just before throwing away said gift card, I checked the balance online. $367. Phone activated, AT&T account set up, everything paid for, every penny back in my pocket in the form of Apple cash as a result of a huge blunder.
The end. Told you it was a cool story, bro.
