Verizon iPhone Launches to Short Lines, Cold Temperatures

[lanthom]

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Lots of 'blowhards' who over these recent years had the same refrain, 'I want an iPhone but I hat AT&T..if ONLY Verizon had the iPhone, I'd snap one up.'

I call BS on most of those folk. They they wanted to blow bad breath on the iPhone and those of us who went out and plunked down real money and got one.

Well, all you millions upon millions of Verizon faithful....it's here....why aren't you in line? Oh, I thought so.

Those verizon diehards are what caused the preorders to sell out in 17 hours. With work and family I don't have time to wait in line if I don't have to. Trust me I was up at 3 am on the 3rd and I'm now loving my iPhone 4. This soooooo much better than my old storm and I had been warned by coworkers to not go with AT&T becAuse of the traveling we do on our job. The ones that have AT&T have stated that they have a hard time making calls in some areas where our verizon corporate phones did not.

 

[LowSignal]

Hi! Long time lurker first time poster. Went to Bestbuy today to return some items while I waited for the noon pickup time for my Iphone at the apple store. I noticed that there wasn't any wait at the Mobile area and I was able to get my Iphone in 5mins. A couple things of interest where

1: My credit is so-so but I didn't have to put down a security deposit. I thought Verizion was super strict on credit.

2: The guy told me that the Bestbuy BUYBACK program that was free till the 15th would payout 60% the retail value of my 32GB iPhone by the time the new iPhone came out. Any thoughts?

 

[jameskk]

Verizon users kill me... they think the Verizon store is the only place to buy a phone... when it's usually the WORST place to buy. I have several friends on Verizon and they'll go to that dang V Store everytime despite Best Buy having better prices, no rebates, better return policy. They just like getting it at "Verizon"!! Of course, they're usually the ones wearing their phones in big ugly holsters like they're proud too!

 

[greenmeanie]

Well no rush to get one we already know what they are like from playing with our friends iphones 4.

 

[aajeev]

Hi! Long time lurker first time poster. Went to Bestbuy today to return some items while I waited for the noon pickup time for my Iphone at the apple store. I noticed that there wasn't any wait at the Mobile area and I was able to get my Iphone in 5mins. A couple things of interest where

1: My credit is so-so but I didn't have to put down a security deposit. I thought Verizion was super strict on credit.

2: The guy told me that the Bestbuy BUYBACK program that was free till the 15th would payout 60% the retail value of my 32GB iPhone by the time the new iPhone came out. Any thoughts?

I got an e-mail from BestBuy as well. If option 2 is true, I won't mind buying it right now.

 

[TVGenius]

Hit the Yuma, AZ VZW store at 5am. Temps in the mid 50s with a little breeze. Found about a dozen people all sitting in their cars to stay warm, and nobody in line. Decided, screw them, if they want to wait for an iPhone, they can wait with me at the door. I mean, this is frickin' Yuma, it's not even remotely cold. So I headed for the door, and ended up being the second one there (once I got out, everyone went for it, and one guy was parked closer).

VZW employees handed out #s and other info sheets at about 6:15, and reminded those of us who were already VZW users to prep our contacts to transfer. Let first thirteen in right on time, I was the first one done (the other 12 were all porting and took longer) and out the door. Drove across the lot to Best Buy, who only had 3 people there, and bought cheaper screen protectors. Doubt our Walmarts had any. Was still a line outside VZW after checking out at BB.

 

[NikeTalk]

Is there really a buyback program? I've heard yes and no, I know this would help some people jump ship.

 

[stockscalper]

Looks like the long lines are actually over at the AT&T stores. Seems that folks have finally figured out that unlimited mobile to mobile calling, rollover minutes, simultaneous talk and data use, international services and up to two times data speed are important features to have.

 

[TUD]

Interesting note...when I preordered my iPhone last Thursday at 3AM, I was switching back from ATT (because my wife still has a Verizon phone under my name I was technically a Verizon customer and could add a line and port the number back over) I needed my ATT account number for the port, and wouldn't you know that ATT website was down. I found that coincidental but thought I guess they could be legitimately doing maintenance, it is 3 in the morning. I found my account number on an old email and continued through the process as normal. Today, I wanted to check my ATT account to see what the left over balance was on my account. Wouldn't you know their "my account" feature is coincidentally down again today - the same day existing ATT users are able to buy the iPhone on Verizon and would need their account numbers in order to port their telephone number over. Coincidence???

I added unlimited mobile to mobile (available today) this morning and had no issues accessing my account.

 

[kdarling]

A couple of more possibilities:

- I do think there are a lot more business and older users on Verizon. They're not going to stand in line. They're going to order online.

- I know a few people who were going to get the iPhone, but then heard about the Thunderbolt with big screen and LTE, and are waiting to check it out before deciding.

 

[optophobia]

Here's a thought: If you're going to pay for an ETF on your current plan, people are probably not going to do it for a 8-month old phone!

Expect long lines in June.

Here another thought :

ETF is approx $250 (prorated)
Retail of iPhone 4 is >$400 (very modest - JB and unlocked and its a LOT more)
new iphone 4 is $200.
so you could POCKET >$150 just for switching.

Pretty much like all the people (including myself ) who have got a new iPhone on day one EVERY release - 2G 3G 3Gs and 4

 

[Cedars1974]

I need to know more people like you -- every adult I know in their late-20s / early-30s (where I fall) is worried about job cuts and paying bills (especially student loans).

$200-$300 for a phone is lot more than "a few dollars" to most people.

I figure I use my phone more than any other consumer item I have ever purchased. When I factor that in, it becomes very easy to justify a couple hundred dollars.

If a couple hundred dollars has that kind of impact on your life, you probably shouldn't have a smart phone that will cost you close to $100 a month. I have plenty of respect for people who are going thru tough times and use prepay phones or none at all for a while.

I was not eligible for an upgrade (like I said "tech junkie" and paid the full $750 plus tax and have zero regrets based on the joy and convenience of an awesome phone that actually works in most places.

 

[sk58781111]

most of the complaining was done by tech bloggers and journalists in media/tech cities san fran and new york. i guess the vast majority of them were just bandwagoners and at&t isn't so bad after all.

3.5 mbps > 1.4 mbps... advantage at&t

 

[drewboy891]

Here's a thought: If you're going to pay for an ETF on your current plan, people are probably not going to do it for a 8-month old phone!

Expect long lines in June.

I agree with this. Verizon gave no special offers to their current customers for early upgrading. June will be a complete 360.

 

[drexel98]

I agree with this. Verizon gave no special offers to their current customers for early upgrading. June will be a complete 360.

If you do a 360, you end up in the exact same place... 180 perhaps???

 

[trip1ex]

No new iPHOne model. No line.

Will be demand. long term demand.

People have contracts and can't switch overnight.

many will be smart and wait until new iphone comes out.

 

[sclawis300]

Lots of 'blowhards' who over these recent years had the same refrain, 'I want an iPhone but I hat AT&T..if ONLY Verizon had the iPhone, I'd snap one up.'

I call BS on most of those folk. They they wanted to blow bad breath on the iPhone and those of us who went out and plunked down real money and got one.

Well, all you millions upon millions of Verizon faithful....it's here....why aren't you in line? Oh, I thought so.

I am not in line because I have had mine since Tuesday moron.

 

[Gemütlichkeit]

smart people are having them shipped to their door

 

[bushido]

I agree with this. Verizon gave no special offers to their current customers for early upgrading. June will be a complete 360.

u wouldnt believe how many ppl have no clue and buy something a day before the new revision comes out and than bitch afterwards. so many ppl still buy iPads and iPods every year here the day the new one gets announced and i cant say anything, its nearly breaking my heart everytime lol

 

[TUD]

2: The guy told me that the Bestbuy BUYBACK program that was free till the 15th would payout 60% the retail value of my 32GB iPhone by the time the new iPhone came out. Any thoughts?

Typically uninformed Best Buy employee BS.

 

[Aduntu]

I bought one from Best Buy (very popular location) around 11:30 am; they opened at 7 am. The salesperson said I was only the 7th iPhone customer. He said they were told to prepare for a Black Friday type opening. There was no one in line when the doors opened.

Typically uninformed Best Buy employee BS.

Even though the buy back is 50% before six months, you have the price wrong in the image (assuming it represents the iPhone). It should show full retail price in the box.

I sure hope the tackle reported in as an eligible receiver or else you are going to get a flag on that little play you drew up.

I thought you were coming up with some really funny play on words regarding his spamming, then I saw the actual play.

 

[sclawis300]

Because for those of us with 9-5 jobs, going to the store is actually a simpler process than waking up, pre-ordering, and then driving out to some FedEx package center to get our phone.

If FedEx and UPS would stop with the ridiculous "we only do home deliveries while regular people are at work" policy, maybe I'd consider doing the ordering thing.

As is, if I have to drive to do something, I may as well just go buy it at the store.

you know you could have stuff delivered to your work right?

 

[Namji]

I can't understand why anyone would stand in line for more than 10 min. for a device especially in the cold weather or Hot weather.

 

[Namji]

you know you could have stuff delivered to your work right?

If you order it from Apple, yes...
Not if you order it from Verizon. For security reasons, they will only ship it to your billing address.
However, there are ways to work around this but I won't go into that.

 

[CopyPaste]

What happen to all the "As soon as Verizon gets the iPhone I'm switching"?
If you need me, I'll be on a phone call while I browse the web.

Hes funny. Funny guy. Probably very popular.