It was reported this morning at 6am EDT that all models of the new iPhone were sold out in 21 states. Jim Neal, who is a retired PR guy (keyword retired), used the iPhone availability widget on Apple’s website to check the stock of all its Apple stores.
“All told,” said Jim, “117 Apple stores reported having sold out of all models and only 27 stores indicated they had all three models in stock.”
Apple’s website says that new shipments of iPhones arrive daily, so you just have to get there early to get one. They also say to call 9pm the night before to make sure they got a shipment in.
Jim didn’t have any insight on the stock at the AT&T stores (I feel he dropped the ball), but its well known that most of them sold out the first day. No one is sure when they will be getting another shipment. Maybe we should ask Jim?
I’ve called nearly every AT&T store in the Pittsburgh area and they are all saying sold out. They want you to do their waiting lists, which I refuse to do.
I dropped in at an AT&T store (Chicago) this afternoon, and they had some hand-lettered sign up talking about getting phones from ‘Product Fulfillment.’ Ten days.
Don’t give in to AT&Ts “fulfillment” b.s. It’s a way for them to drive their sales numbers up for any given day as they charge you for the phone 10-30 days before you even get it in your hands. They’re resorting to pushy sales tactics on the phone when you call their stores as well only to inquire whether or not they have phones in stock or know when they will have them.
If I want pushy sales tactics, I’ll go drop by a car dealership and listen to the grease balls there try to sell me a car with the usual “cheese factor” involved. I don’t need a minimum wage sales person at AT&T telling me what’s best for me.
I’ll wait 3-6 months for Apple to get their you know what together, and realize they should stop playing games with their customers, or potential customers….and have enough phones in stock to meet the known demand they were going to face. Honestly, after Apple’s horrendous failure with their 2.0 updates over the past week, I’m starting to lose faith in Apple as a company, and will likely take my business elsewhere in the future.
I can’t find a 3G iPhone anywhere around my area.
Are you guys sure you are reading Apple’s “Availability Page” correctly?
To me… it looks more like this is what is REALLY happening:
We get a new shipment in on Monday, but all
300 phones are gone by 9pm (so that’s what their web-site says).
We another new shipment in on Tuesday, but all
200 phones are gone by 9pm (so that’s what their web-site says).
We get a new shipment in on Wednesday, but all
400 phones are gone by 9pm (so that’s what their web-site says).
Etc….
So is that really a “sold out, everywhere” item?
Sounds to me like that’s just “normal” instead.
To me “sold out” would instead be: “We are out… and we won’t have any for more than a month.”
Visit an Apple (or AT&T) store and ask the correct question: “When did this store last have them in stock?”