Apple Stores selling seven times the iPhones, and it's no wonder why

AT&T is delivering corporate fascism to it's customers. Whether they like it or not.

http://augusthour.com/news/

It's no secret AT&T doesn't put much effort into selling the iPhone. They make $$$ off the monthly charges, not the phone itself. It's easier to convince someone to buy a $30 phone with a $60/monthly plan for 2 years than a $500 phone with the same damn rates. Think about it people, durr.

I actually just bought an iPhone yesterday from an AT&T store. The store I visited had a large display of iPhones where you had the ability to use them. There were 3 of them there in front of the Apple logo right next to the customer service table. I guess it just depends on the AT&T store you were in.

That's odd. Maybe it's just because Seattle is pretty tech-centric, but every AT&T store I've been to here has a big iPhone display in the window playing a demo video of some kind, and while the in-store display isn't exactly a shrine, they do have one or two iPhones on display. I didn't ask the salespeople anything about them (if you expect sales staff anywhere to know about technology you are sadly deluded), but I was just there to play with them.

I was at Several AT&T Stores in the Metro Detroit area, and there is 1 or 2 iPhones ready to be played with. but lets face it AT&T has other biz to deal with, like "real" Smartphones, like Treo's and HTC's for business use. also you have differnt people who walk into a Apple store then into an AT&T store to buy a phone. Does Apple sell a Treo? do they sell a Razar? no. so what other option do they have? but any cell phone store can't really sell phones, they never really have good idea about the phones, they are mostly just minions who sell phones as AT&T wants them to, they dont read sites like this, Engadget Mobile, phonescoop etc.

My local AT&T store had two kiosks with docks for 5 iPhones. There were only two on display and a kid stole BOTH iPhones while we were in the store. An employee said "There goes another iPhone", which means that this wasn't the first one stolen.

They didn't have any more iPhones to put on display. Of course, the idiots at AT&T put the large kiosk (with 3 docks) near the door...

Cos its because ATT stand to make much more money from selling other phones than the Iphone.

Remember, ATT earns money from its service while Apple earns money from their hardware

http://www.drett.com

I work for AT&T so I am biased but I feel the need to comment. Some of the comments left so far are just plain wrong. My store just got the iphone display with the three demo units last week. Apple was afraid of low stock levels on the phones so we had to wait for ours until the initial rush was over.
Also an Iphone always comes with a data feature and takes very little time to sell so there is no reason for a sales person to point you towards another phone. We could sell you a 300 dollar phone or a free phone it doesnt mean any greater commision for the sales person. Their are also additional spiffs for selling Iphones right now. Before people throw out blanket statements that are wrong they should know what they are talking about.

jesus christ just buy one from apple if you dont like the way at&t sells the product, jesus.

Well I feel like a little kid again. I am so amazed by what happened today. The only thing that could have topped it would have been if Steve would have said "the iPhone is no longer locked down to the mothership, take it to sprint, verizon, tmobile". Great write up by the way. Always great posts, and great sources!

http://www.thegeekery.biz/2007/09/05/steve-jobs-hates-profit/ery informative article!