Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Retail, iPhone
US Apple Stores to open at 8:00 AM on Friday
Rise and shine, shoppers. According to AppleInsider, Apple retail stores will open at 8:00 AM this Friday, July 11th to begin selling the iPhone 3G. AT&T stores will also open at 8:00AM.The longer work day will create time for the in-store activations, credit checks, etc. that the new iPhone will require. For me, this is a real bummer. Activating my original iPhone via iTunes in the quiet comfort of my own home was a pleasure; a typically "Apple" experience. Now, I've got to stand around like every other shmoe and wait for the workers to click this, type that, sign here and blah, blah. Oh, well.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Riche said 3:08PM on 7-08-2008
Think its 08:02 in the UK
Reply
eugene said 3:09PM on 7-08-2008
umm, you guys already posted this: http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/07/atandt-to-limit-iphone-3g-purchases-at-launch/
not to mention probably better to point to apple.com/retail rather than AI as a source?
Reply
Michael said 3:13PM on 7-08-2008
I just got off the phone with business sales because thats the way the acct is setup and they said that the store is checking to make sure what price you qualify for and they scan the IMEI number into your account and you leave and finish the rest at home.
Reply
James Dehnert Sr said 3:25PM on 7-08-2008
This is one reason I am not picking up a new iPhone any time soon.
By the way, does anyone know if you can get an iPhone 2.0 and still just pay for (and get) edge speed data? I find that edge is plenty fast for what I do, but I would like higher capacity and a real GPS capability.
Reply
Enrique said 3:29PM on 7-08-2008
I'd like to know the answer to your question too. I'm interested in buying a Gen 1 iPhone on eBay, but have no clue what kinds of ATT plans will be available for it.... hmmm, TUAW to the rescue? Please?
empurium said 3:35PM on 7-08-2008
That's part of the reason the device is thicker. iPhone 2.0 has EDGE as well as 3G.
James Donevan said 3:31PM on 7-08-2008
"umm, you guys already posted this:
not to mention probably better to point to apple.com/retail rather than AI as a source?"
Come on, give Dave a break. Last week his report was wrong, this week it's just a rerun.
Reply
Sean said 3:33PM on 7-08-2008
Activating in-store will be a blessing....my activation got held up for 36 hours on June 29 last year. I never saw an official explanation given for the activation debacle last year.
Reply
empurium said 3:35PM on 7-08-2008
Fantastic! Now all we need to know is...
How in the WORLD do I get my hands on one WITHOUT becoming an AT&T customer?
Reply
south said 2:36AM on 7-09-2008
emigrate.
Maclover said 3:37PM on 7-08-2008
I am wondering what happens when your credit check fails. No one, that I have seen, has talked about that yet. Last time, on the iPhone 1G, it would automatically switch to a Go Phone. It was not subsidized then, so .... is the iPhone 3G completely incapable of becoming a Pay as You Go type?
Reply
Bill G said 3:43PM on 7-08-2008
The rep at the AT&T store I went to said that if your credit check fails they ask for a deposit. How much the deposit is somehow gets determined by their credit check system.
Jon said 4:44PM on 7-08-2008
I was wondering the same thing. I tried calling ATT's main 800 number (the one that came with my iPhone), and they had NO CLUE what I was talking about.
Probably just that person I "lucked out" with that day, but they should have at least offered to look into it.
If you fail their credit check, you would think the deposit would be the early termination fee? Anyone have any ideas/experience on this one?
Shawn said 1:37PM on 7-09-2008
I was told the fee could be anywhere from $250 up to $1200. $1200 is the most I have heard of since $750 was the previous amount I read.
That70sGAdawg said 3:42PM on 7-08-2008
Apple wanted the business of the "Masses" when they entered the phone market, and now Apple buyers are treated like the "Masses"! It Figures!
Reply
Bill G said 3:42PM on 7-08-2008
I'm going to wait till the lines die down because it's going to take forever. I went in just for a credit check. It took 10 minutes. Every new AT&T customer needs one. So, unlike last year, the long lines will not be moving quickly.
Reply
Stephen H said 3:55PM on 7-08-2008
Hopefully there will be two lines: one for existing AT&T/iPhone owners wanting to upgrade (no credit check or account set up needed) and the customers needing new AT&T accounts.
In fact, if they don't do something like this, they'll probably face big problems Friday.
Reply
PSM said 4:40PM on 7-08-2008
I hope so, too. I'm an AT&T (non-iPhone) customer already. I'm in no hurry, but I do want to get out of the chaos ASAP anyway, and they'd move the lines a lot faster if current customers aren't stuck in line behind people who have to wait for credit checks, etc.
Jon said 4:48PM on 7-08-2008
Has it been said that existing iPhone/att customers do not have to do the credit check etc..?
That would be great news, but I don't remember hearing that anywhwere.
I hate waiting in lines, and I won't go on Friday. If the stores have stock, I'll call ahead Friday evening after work and I'll only be going if they say the lines are wrapped up.
That, and it's probably me just being a moron but I HATE the idea of someone else touching my phone before I do!!
lol
Nick said 4:03PM on 7-08-2008
Why didn't Apple engineer another typically "Apple" experience such as enabling customers to log on before they go to the store, complete activation and provide a confirmation of this at the point of purchase? There's still time!
Reply