Orange denies planting iPhone customers

Last week, there was a story stating that Orange had hired actors to pad iPhone lineups for the Polish debut. This week, they're denying it.

According to Orange, some of their employees were joining customers in line to share in the excitement and talk about the product, not pose as potential customers. "Their aim is to welcome people to the Orange shop, share in their excitement and give information about Orange tariffs," a spokeswoman told Ad Age.

Of course, if these people were on the clock, then technically they were paid to stand in line. But now we're just splitting hairs. The original story identified fear of slow sales as Orange's motivation, but they're reporting that sales have been good in Poland.

In the end, Orange employees were in line, but not to pose as customers. Ah, good. I can sleep tonight.

[Via MacDailyNews]

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Source: http://adage.com/article?article_id=130563

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Last week, there was a story stating that Orange had hired actors to pad iPhone lineups for the Polish debut. This week, they're denying...

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Maybe they got the idea from...umm...the orchard.

August 28 2008 at 12:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dan

Point taken, but from my line-waiting experience in Chicago on launch day, they were merely handing out bottled water and answering questions.

Anyone standing in line is already sold on the product.

August 28 2008 at 11:26 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

James Donevan

@Dan Parmelee

You may want to pass that tip onto Apple. They virtually always have staff wandering along the lines to jolly customers along keep the momentum building. They're probably keen for advice on how to boost sales.

Based on local photos of the launch in Poland (with Orange staffers walking the line in bright Orange T-shirts), you would have to be incredibly stupid to think this was intended to make the staffers look like customers.

August 28 2008 at 10:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dan

People who are already waiting in line don't need to be "sold" on the product...it would be a waste of Orange's money and man-hours to hype things up.

Smarter idea would've been to give some employees pre-release models and have them go to malls or busy areas.

August 28 2008 at 10:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply