Apple stores issue 'golden tickets' for iPhone 3G buyers
People are still lining up at Apple stores to pay iPhone 3G's. Clearly, people are crazy about Apple's new phone, but what is Apple doing to make it a little easier to get your hands on a shiny new iPhone? Our friends at iPhone Central note that Apple stores have new, extended hours to pack the people in. Apple stores are now opening at 8am, for you early rising iPhone seekers.Apple retail staffers will also be roaming the lines and prequalifing people for iPhone purchases. Once you've been prequalified you are issued a ticket that is good for an iPhone 3G. You can use the ticket right then and there (when it is your turn, of course) or return later in the day.
Sounds like a pretty fair system to me. Have you stood in line for an iPhone lately? What do you think of Apple's new methods?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Eckofish said 8:10AM on 7-29-2008
I think it's little comfort to the people that have been waiting since launch for new stock to arrive and the process to be stream lined.
Not so much a great business move by Apple, but more a delayed moved that should be been in place on Launch day and onwards.
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Eckofish said 8:11AM on 7-29-2008
Damn it, and I even proof read that twice.
http://www.jon4lakers.com
Ben said 10:16AM on 7-29-2008
I think AAPL's system is brilliant!. I, unlike most mugs in this city, work durning the day. Actually, I get to work between 7:30 and 8:00 and get to leave at 6:00PM (so my working life is especially unconventional and easy). So to me, it seems the system is very fairly skewed toward those highly conventional members of society who work in jobs that allow them to get to the store in the morning--you know restaurant workers, retail employees, government types, generally those workers who are there to be served by the salary-men like me. I'm thrilled that even though I am the type of person AAPL is targeting with the whole corporate push, I won't be able to get one for, oh, weeks. Wait, weekend! Of course, yes, why not go on my weekend? Never thought of that one. Just the way I want to spend my copious amounts of errand-free, free time. On line at the AAPL. I especially love the fact that there is no program for shareholders too!
Mez Jr said 2:38PM on 7-29-2008
Some people may have had problems with it, but I got my phone through AT&T's direct fulfillment.
I'm like you Ben I'm not interested in standing around all day waiting on a gadget. On the 14th I walked into an AT&T store, paid my money and left. The phone was delivered on the 18th and I just walked in and had it activated with very little hassle (already an AT&T customer).
Sure I had to wait a week (I hear for some it's longer), but during that time I went about my regular life and was able to get ahold of the iPhone with very little drama.
vinniev said 8:16AM on 7-29-2008
Absolutely the best way to get a 3G iPhone. I waited in line one day for an hour just to see what the FedEx truck unloaded (about 300 HP printers, I mean, C'MON!). A couple of days later, I went back and they were doing the ticket process. So much nicer. I stayed in line (I got there around 4PM and didn't get my iPhone until 6:15). So it was still going slow for some people. I got mine bought and activated in less than 15 mins once I got in the store.
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Eric Wagoner said 8:20AM on 7-29-2008
I was able to purchase three iPhones Sunday. The line was already 30 people or so long when I got there a half hour before their announced opening. They opened even earlier, had three people pre-qualifying and another answering general questions. The pre-line moved quickly, and in the store they had six or so folks processing and activating phones. Very smooth.
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Andúil said 8:26AM on 7-29-2008
Well, I'm French and I can't really say people are queueing in front of Orange stores and other retail places at the moment — not that they wouldn't like to — for the simple reason that iPhone 3G is still sold out here. The funniest thing is that we customers don't even know at which rate the stocks are building back up.
Anyway, I think Apple's effort to satisfy its customers on this unprecedented crisis for its products is fair enough. I mean, opening stores two hours earlier is a nice move in my opinion, as well as having staffers roaming the lines.
I can't help having a weird feeling about it though, for the last time I saw a staffer roaming lines was at — McDonald's. So, I keep this association in my head of a roaming staffer with what remains junk. And I feel bad about it, for I love Apple products so much! Hehe, weird.
I'm very pleased anyway that people rush into stores to get this wonderful phone. I can't wait until I get mine. Orange, please make it fast!
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Adrian said 8:23AM on 7-29-2008
Nice one. The photoshop made me laugh.
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Tom said 9:27AM on 7-29-2008
Why is Steve Jobs wearing... something different?? ;)
ChiChad said 8:26AM on 7-29-2008
My roommate and I stood in line for 1 hour and forty minutes. It wasn't too bad. And actually the iPhone is what I am using to write this comment.
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Drew said 8:32AM on 7-29-2008
This was my experience last week. I stood in line for almost 3 hours, until I told the Apple Store Manager (Kenwood/Cincinnati) that I had to leave for a meeting (after all I thought this was going to be my lunch hour). She kindly had them give me a white ticket and told me to come back later that day or whenever was convenient. I would also like to add that she provided free starbucks coffee for us because they were having issues with activation. In the three hours I was there I think they activated about 5 or 6 iPhones. I still think the better process would be to reserve at the Apple store of your choice, plunk down a deposit and then you are required to pick it up within 2-3 business days.
Given the circumstances I think the Kenwood Apple Store did a great job at managing our expectations.
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Ben said 9:54AM on 7-29-2008
The Kenwood store is fantastic, Ive always had great service with my 2G iPhone there.
krye said 10:22AM on 7-29-2008
Cool. It's like a speed pass at Space Mountain.
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Chris Williams said 10:13AM on 7-29-2008
@Jones I had the same thing on launch day. I had a discount from my employer on my existing AT&T account which was also preventing activation. The Apple store at the Mall of America just called AT&T, had them remove the discount, acitvated my shiny new iphone, called AT&T back and had them put the discount back on. Added like 10 minutes to the process but was painless. I did hear it was an oversight though. Other employees here at my work bought the iphone this week and didn't have to jump through any hoops so they must have corrected the issue in the AT&T activation system.
tvanben said 8:51AM on 7-29-2008
I hopped in line at the local AT&T store at 7:00AM on launch day and grabbed mine. :) Way easier than getting a golden ticket!
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Jones said 8:54AM on 7-29-2008
What I find annoying in all of this, and nobody is talking about it, is that Apple can only handle cookie cutter AT&T accounts. My wife has a business discount on her line and that prevented Apple from being able to access my AT&T account. How could there be such an oversight in Apple and AT&T's plans?
What makes this even worse, is that Apple has routed all shipments to their stores, so anyone that needs "special consideration" from AT&T has to order via their direct fulfillment program, which takes 10 to 14 days.
Furthermore, I did not find any of this out until i got to the front of the line at my local Apple store.
This is the sort of thing that may sway me away from upgrading my 2.5G iPhone. As a longtime Apple user, this, combined with the MobileMe debacle is out of character and unacceptable.
Just my 2 cents.
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afw said 10:23AM on 7-29-2008
The information that Apple could not handle business accounts was all over the internet the days before launch. I knew that at least a week before the 11th. Now, I agree with you that it's unfair of Apple to be routing all stock to their stores, but the limitation to only consumer accounts and not business accounts was very much publicized.
Sharon said 10:29AM on 7-29-2008
The same thing happened to me, but after waiting five hours in line, I was NOT walking out of there without an iPhone in hand. I ended up having to create a new account at the Apple store, then going to an AT&T store the next day to resolve my issue (move the iPhone data plan to my original plan), then calling AT&T to explain what happened and cancel the new account. It actually worked out in the end, but pain in the butt and had me worried for awhile.
Dorv said 10:34AM on 7-29-2008
awf: For what its worth, I missed it to, and I swear I'd read everything pre-launch (Maybe I just choose to forget it... Like I choose to forget the reports of how crappy the battery life would be). I dropped the business discount on my phone while in line Saturday, and will go back to an AT&T store sometime this week to get it fixed.
pop said 11:53AM on 7-29-2008
Same issues here, only it was plain old poor implementation and communication by the Apple store staff. You can read the sordid details and a general rant on the decay of Apple's core here: http://www.maclitigator.com/?p=101