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White iPhone 4 Manufacturing Delay, Some Apple Pre-Orders Being Canceled
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Yes Apple is at fault for you selling your device weeks in advance of new devices going on sale.
It reminds me of a celebrity. A celebrity can sign 100's of autographs for fans waiting in line and they decide they need to leave, go home or whatever after hours of doing this. Well there were 300 fans in line so 200 of them didn't get an autograph. Those 200 are mad, think that celebrity is the worst in the world and that celebrity should have stayed and signed off of those autographs, who cares if that person is too tired to meet the demand.
You guys really expect Apple millions of iPhones right off the bat?
...and truth be told, the lack of iPhones, negative or not, still creates positive buzz for Apple sales.
...and truth be told, the lack of iPhones, negative or not, still creates positive buzz for Apple sales.
Very good point!!
I'm towing the line on respect and decency? You've gotta be joking. Through your own admissions you clearly told us all that AT&T made a deal with you where you would pay $399 to get a new iPhone to replace the one you had lost and at the same time your contract would not be extended. Turns out AT&T dropped the ball and ended up renewing your contract, therefore extending the end date and your date of eligibility for a subsidized upgrade. When you found out about this you obviously started making phone calls to AT&T (the right thing to do) so that you're ability to purchase an iPhone 4 at reduced cost would not be hindered.
Flash forward to a few days ago, your problem with AT&T still exists and they still haven't fixed their mistake, but you really want to get an iPhone 4 on launch day so you go through the motions of placing an order. From your posts its unclear whether or not you tried Apple's website and/or AT&T's website very early after they went live and got rejected and/or got the opportunity to purchase at a higher than desirable price, but at any rate you ended up getting a reservation slipped in through the Apple Store App which coincidently allowed you to reserve the phone for $199. You and I both know, as of right now you do NOT qualify for that pricing as your account sits with AT&T and that when you show up to the Apple store on the 24th you just might be confronted with having to pay a much higher price when the store verifies your AT&T account. Now is where the SELFISHNESS comes into the equation. Just because Apple's Apple Store App allowed you to slip your reservation in for $199, you plan on holding Apple to that price which you know is erroneous! You know full well your problem(s) lie with AT&T and that Apple is just doing their job, but yet you're going to try to talk to "management" at the Apple store on the 24th to circumvent the response the Apple employee is likely to get from the automated verification system.
Why bother to cause Apple store employees (whether you know them or not) undue angst when your problem(s) obviously lie with AT&T?
You really don't need to respond, the question is rhetorical as I already know the answer. And after all this you're questioning my respect and decency?
For the record my initial problem with your posts and what I took exception to was your attitude of "Apple HAS to give it to me at the $199 price they reserved it at, regardless." Then you go on to claim you know they have to, because you use to be an Apple store genius. So in effect you plan on holding Apple accountable for AT&T's mistake. My problem with all this was the fact that you are going to be going into an Apple store on Thursday and going to make some poor Apple employee's morning a living hell when the verification system returns a price higher than $199 when you yourself know full well why the system would return a higher price (because of AT&T's mistake!).
Flash forward to a few days ago, your problem with AT&T still exists and they still haven't fixed their mistake, but you really want to get an iPhone 4 on launch day so you go through the motions of placing an order. From your posts its unclear whether or not you tried Apple's website and/or AT&T's website very early after they went live and got rejected and/or got the opportunity to purchase at a higher than desirable price, but at any rate you ended up getting a reservation slipped in through the Apple Store App which coincidently allowed you to reserve the phone for $199. You and I both know, as of right now you do NOT qualify for that pricing as your account sits with AT&T and that when you show up to the Apple store on the 24th you just might be confronted with having to pay a much higher price when the store verifies your AT&T account. Now is where the SELFISHNESS comes into the equation. Just because Apple's Apple Store App allowed you to slip your reservation in for $199, you plan on holding Apple to that price which you know is erroneous! You know full well your problem(s) lie with AT&T and that Apple is just doing their job, but yet you're going to try to talk to "management" at the Apple store on the 24th to circumvent the response the Apple employee is likely to get from the automated verification system.
Why bother to cause Apple store employees (whether you know them or not) undue angst when your problem(s) obviously lie with AT&T?
You really don't need to respond, the question is rhetorical as I already know the answer. And after all this you're questioning my respect and decency?
For the record my initial problem with your posts and what I took exception to was your attitude of "Apple HAS to give it to me at the $199 price they reserved it at, regardless." Then you go on to claim you know they have to, because you use to be an Apple store genius. So in effect you plan on holding Apple accountable for AT&T's mistake. My problem with all this was the fact that you are going to be going into an Apple store on Thursday and going to make some poor Apple employee's morning a living hell when the verification system returns a price higher than $199 when you yourself know full well why the system would return a higher price (because of AT&T's mistake!).
When I pre-ordered my 32GB black iPhone 4 at the AT&T store, they were VERY adamant about me using an ACTUAL credit card (as opposed to a debit card) for the order. The gal helping me told me that if I used a debit card, something about the authorization process wouldn't work and the order would end up getting cancelled. For the sake of those folks whose iPhone orders were cancelled, I hope I'm wrong. But I wonder if any of those randomly-cancelled orders were done with an actual credit card (which would seem to prove me wrong).
I had an iPhone which was in the preorder shipment stage and then was cancelled. The other two on my family plan have not been cancelled though...
My only guess as to why Apple is delaying the release of the White iPhone 4 is this, June is the last month of the Second Quarter for business to meet quotas and projected sales numbers. So think about it, this Quarter had the iPad Launch, iPhone 4 Launch, and it was during a lot of High School/College Graduations (generating a lot of MacBook and Mac sales) therefore from a business point of view it only makes sense that Apple holds the White iPhones until July, Maybe August so that they get another large order of iPhones in the new Third Quarter so their sales dont slow or drop. Those who really want a White iPhone 4 are going to wait, and apple knows this. Very Smart tactic on the business side, but a good way to piss a lot of people off. It doesnt effect me however, i'm gettin Black, I would have gotten white if the front had stayed black, i dont like the white front.... too glossy/ glarish.
MacBook Pro 13" Unibody iPhone 3GS 16GB Black iPhone 4 16GB Black (soon)yeah i was told at our att that they werent accepting any form of payment other than a Major Credit Card. i preordered two at best buy tho, and then just in case i reserved two at apple.
MacBook Pro 13" Unibody iPhone 3GS 16GB Black iPhone 4 16GB Black (soon)You're half right. My purchase through the Apple Store Application was attempted as the last time I spoke with AT&T they stated they will rectify the issue (which makes this an Apple issue, not AT&T). When the order went through I assumed the issue was rectified. I phoned AT&T to confirm this, but was informed otherwise. As of right now it is unclear whether the issue will be rectified but AT&T stated that a resolution will be given by the 23rd of this month. AT&T is aware that it was THEIR mistake, however due to the alarming sales of the iPhone 4 management is overwhelmed with requests that they are simply pigeonholing issues as there are too many to handle. As well, when I spoke with an Apple rep, she said to pickup the iPhone 4 on the 24th as their policy states they must honor the price given. I even stated if they do not, I will pay full price. How is this selfish? The last rep I spoke with sent my claim as "urgent" with a full explanation.
Speaking of explanations, why do I have to explain myself to you? Actually, I do not. As others have stated, the tone of your comments to others and myself wreaks of arrogance, insinuations and personal insults. So yes, you are "towing the line" for a "time out". You're getting your panties in a bunch over nothing.
Seriously, what is your issue? You need to let it go.
Sucks being called out, I know. I think I've proven my point over and over again, so I'll let it go. The only reason I felt the need to prove a point was that I work in retail and I'm so sick and tired of customers showing up trying to give me hell when the problem SQUARELY lies somewhere else. People need to work out their problems with the source, not try to get it solved by any means necessary. I see my company acquiesce to customer's demands all the time when the problem is clearly not even our fault.
Sucks being called out, I know. I think I've proven my point over and over again, so I'll let it go. The only reason I felt the need to prove a point was that I work in retail and I'm so sick and tired of customers showing up trying to give me hell when the problem SQUARELY lies somewhere else. People need to work out their problems with the source, not try to get it solved by any means necessary. I see my company acquiesce to customer's demands all the time when the problem is clearly not even our fault.
I appreciate your response and thank you for clarifying. In the future, don't make assumptions without knowing the full facts. Online rants are not necessary as they inflame others and derail threads. As for being called out and your claim to have "proven your point", you have not and have misunderstood my situation and the situation of others. Instead of being emotional, be objective and read and understand the full facts.
Again, thanks for the response. As I too have worked in retail, I know all too well how some customers treat others and can be rude and arrogant.
MY PLAN:
1) Be patient and wait for all the launch mess to clear out.
2) Check online several times daily for availability of white iPhone 4.
3) Jump on it as soon as its available.
4) Enjoy my white iPhone 4.
Although, I'm sure I'll be getting anxious when I start to see iPhone 4s on the street and in the stores!
1) Be patient and wait for all the launch mess to clear out.
2) Check online several times daily for availability of white iPhone 4.
3) Jump on it as soon as its available.
4) Enjoy my white iPhone 4.
Although, I'm sure I'll be getting anxious when I start to see iPhone 4s on the street and in the stores!
Actually Apple did give early adopters of the first gen iPhone a $100 iTunes card, because they slashed the price 6 months later. Although I think this situation is different.
If upgrades were available to customers and their orders are being rejected because of a technical problem indicating that they had more stock than they really did, then Apple and or AT&T should do something. However, if it was more of an AT&T server error allowing unqualified customers to upgrade before their contracts had expired (6-month retrogrades notwithstanding) then there's nothing that either company has to do. Those folks should not have been able to upgrade.
Something tells me that it's a combination of the problems listed above.
You guys do realize that THE MAN CODE applies to the white iPhone 4, don't you? As in "No self-respecting man would be caught dead using one, in public or private."
Really, it's a chick-thing, a serious chick-thing.
Seriously.
Grow up.
As a male who will be buying a white iPhone, I will gladly turn in my "man card" if it means I don't have to be associated with folks like yourself.
I agree with this plan. The white iPhones will be here before the end of summer. Until then enjoy the time you have left with your 2G, 3G, or 3GS. Or if you're a new customer you can download a papercraft version of the iPhone 4 and carry it around with you until then. Dammit the papercraft version doesn't come in white either!!! Son of a...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F2J0cH7F2FQ/TBGrh4LvjsI/AAAAAAAAHig/JT7sY1uD2_0/s1600/iphone4+papercraft.jpg
The look of some iPhone 4 buyers right now:
Look of those with common sense that decided to wait a few weeks:
Attachments
Maybe that's why we haven't heard a peep outta 'em.
They're in a corner with their tails between their legs.
Actually, if you go look at all these posts, a lot of people are making those types of comments to one another, not just me. But you didn't even address my question - you changed the subject and made it seem like you answered the question when the real issue is still unresolved. I completely agree with your above hypothetical. But that's not what happened in these cases. For one, AT&T has completed substantial performance once all the terms are agreed upon, the contract is signed and submitted and one's payment is accepted. At that point, AT&T has made an agreement to furnish a good at a certain time. There's a valid contract at that point, no question. Why would it make sense for me to be held to my end of the contract for the 9 days between order and shipment but not AT&T? There's lots of terms in the contract that I'm sure modify this agreement, but like I mentioned several times, this is talking about legal principles, not the actual contract itself in this situation. That's why I don't even factor in the 30-day trial periods and things like that. I'm sure there's an exculpatory clause somewhere that protects AT&T and Apple and allows for termination of the contract when there's a supply issue or whatever. It's a binding contract at that point. Offer, acceptance, and consideration. If it wasn't, then anyone should be able to place an order for something, sign the contract, and then back out 5 minutes before shipment. What if I signed a contract to purchase $300 worth of bricks from a contractor? They order the bricks for me but it takes a couple weeks to get them from their supplier. Five minutes before the bricks arrive, I decide I don't want them anymore. Based on your logic, I can just walk away and the contractor is stuck with $300 worth of bricks. There's no way I could argue that I didn't have a binding contract. That's how businesses work together - they all order stuff from each other. It makes absolutely no sense for the actual product to have to be physically delivered before the contract is binding.
Even in my hypothetical, if for some reason there wasn't a binding contract, there's still a very good possibility of obtaining some type of compensation due to obvious reliance. There's definitely a contract, but even if there wasn't the bases are still covered that way.
Like I said, this is about legal principles, NOT the actual contract itself. I'm sick of companies like AT&T just screwing over their consumers without any consequences. They can't even put your last name in their cancellation notifications. It's irresponsible and just plain unprofessional. But what can we do? Nothing except whine and complain because we all want that damn phone (myself included).
Now the fact that the ship dates and things like that might be pushed back probably won't be considered a material breach because it's surely only going to be considered a minor breach. But what about the people who relied on their orders? I bet a lot of people would have just tried to reserve in store instead. I knew I was being lied to by Best Buy when they said I'm "guaranteed" a phone but I had to go through them because I couldn't use the system and I have a gift card for them. My expectations were low so I'm not really upset at all. But it's not about me as much as it is about all the loyal Apple customers that get crapped on by the companies who can't even accept a little bit of responsibility for canceling orders without any reason. Some were legitimate, yeah, but it sounds like many weren't.
If you are near an Apple store, drop by and see what they can do for you. While your frustration is easy to understand, no whining in public. None. Let Apple fix this. Apple always does the right thing when it screws up like this. Remember the price drop on the first phone? Remember the mess up with MobileMe? Apple always does the right thing for its customers.
Name another company who has launches any product like this and see if it goes better.