Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What the Buck???
- Thread starter Fonzijr1964
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Many reasons, but the main reason is that there are still a lot of people who want one. Add into that the sign-up/activation process (it's not that long, but it takes longer than buying an iPod...), and you've got a recipe for extended wait times.
When the store manager forms up a line, it's because their Specialists (Blue shirts) are becoming overwhelmed in the store between iPhone buyers and non-iPhone buyers. They could just let there be a free-for-all, but then far, FAR more people would be disgruntled, because they might not have gotten their iPhone "in the order they came into the store".
When I got mine 10 days back, there wasn't yet a line at the Menlo Park, NJ store. I got with a specialist JUST as the manager was setting up the line outside for other buyers who arrived later.
I can certainly understand not waiting in line, but the lines actually help out the customers in the long run. Apple has been doing a good job of closing the line at the point where they would run out of iPhones, if everyone on the line got one. They are also supposed to be pre-screening customers on the line, so you don't have to wait for hours, only to find out in the store that you can't buy one for one reason or another.
You might, if you arrive early enough, and there are enough Specialists to go around (and iPhones, of course...).
Otherwise, see above.
Only you can answer that one.
I don't know what that has to do with the price of tea in China, but all AT&T is doing is giving the exact same rate structure to the iPhone as they do for all other Smartphones they sell.
Also, you wouldn't get the $199/$299 pricing without a carrier lock. Part of the payment to AT&T every month goes to pay off the rest of the phone. Otherwise, they'd be $399/$499 (or thereabouts)
Because sales were and are beyond expectations and there are more potential buyers than there are devices.
Because the stock is limited and they are selling fast.
I don't know, why don't you tell us. Maybe you didn't feel like pulling an all nighter at a store, or you feel that you should be entitled to jump in front of a bunch of people when you clearly shouldn't.
What does this have to do with the line at all? I don't think that they are greedy, granted, their plans are a little bit on the expensive side, but are consistent throughout their devices.
God forbid AT&T should try and make every dime they can off a product you're whining about not having yet!
Do you think they're a charity? If you think the plan or phone is over priced, move along and get something else. That's called capitalism.
Thanks to the idiot liberals (like the moron greenie in the case cracking thread), people forget what built this country and industry. PROFITS ARE A GOOD THING! Remember that when you're voting for a marxist presidential candidate who thinks profits are a bad thing.
Do you think they're a charity? If you think the plan or phone is over priced, move along and get something else. That's called capitalism.
Thanks to the idiot liberals (like the moron greenie in the case cracking thread), people forget what built this country and industry. PROFITS ARE A GOOD THING! Remember that when you're voting for a marxist presidential candidate who thinks profits are a bad thing.
You might, if you arrive early enough, and there are enough Specialists to go around (and iPhones, of course...).
Otherwise, see above.
Acctyually if u just walked in the store (I was at the genius bar) and where doing something else like had an appontment or something you could just buy one
Only you can answer that one.
I was going on vacation the next day
I don't know what that has to do with the price of tea in China, but all AT&T is doing is giving the exact same rate structure to the iPhone as they do for all other Smartphones they sell.
Also, you wouldn't get the $199/$299 pricing without a carrier lock. Part of the payment to AT&T every month goes to pay off the rest of the phone. Otherwise, they'd be $399/$499 (or thereabouts)
I meant the required in-store activation. why are they afraid of loosing maybe 10% of the phones
yep
Um... do you think 10% of 3 million phones is a lot or a little?
I don't know... 300,000 phones is a lot of phones IMO. You obviously don't run a business, and if you did, I'd be sad for the employees whose management was so careless that they let 10% of their profits just slip away...
actually i am a very successful CEO and apparently not as right wing as u r
I'm an Apple share holder so these lines are music to my wallet.
And it's not like the lines are due to poor production rates of the phone. They are cranking these babies out fast.
I just bought to 16G blacks on Monday after a minimal wait in line. A little strategy was all it took. I checked the website of my local Apple store Sunday night after 9 pm. It confirmed they would have stock. I got to the mall at 7:20 AM (Arden Fair, Sacramento). I was 10th in line. By 9 AM I was on my way to work with two activated phones in hand.
Alternatively you could go to an AT&T store, place the order, wait a week or two, and have your phone.
Not as convenient as buying a Motorola for sure, but once you've spent some time with your iPhone, you'll know it was worth the effort. This is my first iPhone, and I continue to be blown away by the elegance, power, and expandability of this device. Nothing else even comes close, not even a Blackberry.
And it's not like the lines are due to poor production rates of the phone. They are cranking these babies out fast.
I just bought to 16G blacks on Monday after a minimal wait in line. A little strategy was all it took. I checked the website of my local Apple store Sunday night after 9 pm. It confirmed they would have stock. I got to the mall at 7:20 AM (Arden Fair, Sacramento). I was 10th in line. By 9 AM I was on my way to work with two activated phones in hand.
Alternatively you could go to an AT&T store, place the order, wait a week or two, and have your phone.
Not as convenient as buying a Motorola for sure, but once you've spent some time with your iPhone, you'll know it was worth the effort. This is my first iPhone, and I continue to be blown away by the elegance, power, and expandability of this device. Nothing else even comes close, not even a Blackberry.
If the management was on the ball, and there was a line, and you lied to get into the store, the others waiting in line wouldn't take kindly to that at all...
So?
And every other mobile phone sold in the USA is sold this way. the original iPhone was an exception. The only other thing they could have done was to allow online purchase - which AT&T does for all other phones, including smartphones. But that would've crashed the servers worse than what actually happened...
But I do see them being sold, probably only through AT&T online sometime down the road, when they're in better supply.
yeahIf the management was on the ball, and there was a line, and you lied to get into the store, the others waiting in line wouldn't take kindly to that at all...
So?
yeah um if u actually had an appointment
And every other mobile phone sold in the USA is sold this way. the original iPhone was an exception. The only other thing they could have done was to allow online purchase - which AT&T does for all other phones, including smartphones. But that would've crashed the servers worse than what actually happened...
the first iPhone release was genius omg it was how everything should work so quick in and out and bang got home and had my activated phone in 10min
But I do see them being sold, probably only through AT&T online sometime down the road, when they're in better supply.
Wow is that BS... unless you are self employed."I meant the required in-store activation. why are they afraid of loosing maybe 10% of the phones"
"the first iPhone release was genius omg it was how everything should work so quick in and out and bang got home and had my activated phone in 10min"
"Acctyually if u just walked in the store (I was at the genius bar) and where doing something else like had an appontment or something you could just buy one"
No "CEO" of a serious/legit company would make all those mistakes while typing on here no matter how casual it is. I'm not a grammar cop nor do I really care, but those two things don't add up. I'd be shocked if you were actually older than 22 or something and had a real education.
And NO CEO of any real company would ever question why another company has a problem loosing[sic] 10% of the most major product and draw for new customers in their inventory. Give me a break mr. "ceo". LOL
I think this is simply amazing! 21 days later and there are still lines! That has never happened to another cell phone release ever or at least nobody really cared enough to mention such an event.
Go Apple!
Go Apple!
"I meant the required in-store activation. why are they afraid of loosing maybe 10% of the phones"
"the first iPhone release was genius omg it was how everything should work so quick in and out and bang got home and had my activated phone in 10min"
"Acctyually if u just walked in the store (I was at the genius bar) and where doing something else like had an appontment or something you could just buy one"
No "CEO" of a serious/legit company would make all those mistakes while typing on here no matter how casual it is. I'm not a grammar cop nor do I really care, but those two things don't add up. I'd be shocked if you were actually older than 22 or something and had a real education.
And NO CEO of any real company would ever question why another company has a problem loosing[sic] 10% of the most major product and draw for new customers in their inventory. Give me a break mr. "ceo". LOL
wow i was kidding come on
yep