AT&T Stores - How many??

[beate]

Sales at AT&T just told me 10 per store. I was also told that existing customers could just buy the phone - no need to extend or get new contract (mine is up). I'll post this in the correct thread also.

 

[fenixx]

Scott Bourne (Apple Phone Show, MBW) is stating 20 per AT&T store, and he is pretty reputable.

As much hype as their is surrounding this product, I don't know if the camp-out lines are going to happen. I can see it both ways though.

Unlike the PS3/Wii, the iPhone is not an evolution product (unless it is evolving from the iPod), and it is $500 + Contract + Data Fees at the MINIMUM. This is not like when console owners went to go "upgrade", and were able to plop down their cash and that was it.

I'm nervous either way, for starters - I'm wondering how reliable these AT&T stores are going to be. Will I really be able to walk in and buy the day of? No shipping errors at the store or late deliveries?

Aside from that, since the AT&T store is only about 3 miles away from me, I'll drive by around 9pm, 12pm, 2am - until I see if a line is even starting. I'd feel a lot more secure in the fact of taking one home same day if I were at an Apple Store, but I'm almost positive their will be a ridiculous line.

And if Apple has any sense, they are going to under-ship these units. I want all of us Mac lovers to have one - but it is going to lose its cache if someone can walk in the following Monday morning and buy one of the twenty they have on the shelf. As great as this product is, Apple needs to keep the level of "wanting it" up for a few months because of its steep price point.

 

[neven]

And if Apple has any sense, they are going to under-ship these units. I want all of us Mac lovers to have one - but it is going to lose its cache if someone can walk in the following Monday morning and buy one of the twenty they have on the shelf. As great as this product is, Apple needs to keep the level of "wanting it" up for a few months because of its steep price point.

It's something of a business myth that any product is ever intentionally "undershipped". Creating buzz is nice, but the holy grail of all business is a willing customer with money in their hands. If you have one, you sell to them no matter what. This is why rebates are popular - once they have your money they can take a breather and figure out how to give you back some of it. Investing money you already have is always good.

The "buzz benefits" don't even come close to making up for the loss in actual revenue and stock drop on low sales numbers.

 

[Crager724]

It's something of a business myth that any product is ever intentionally "undershipped". Creating buzz is nice, but the holy grail of all business is a willing customer with money in their hands. If you have one, you sell to them no matter what. This is why rebates are popular - once they have your money they can take a breather and figure out how to give you back some of it. Investing money you already have is always good.

The "buzz benefits" don't even come close to making up for the loss in actual revenue and stock drop on low sales numbers.

This is true, I happened to be a Gamestop the day Gears of War went on sale and they hadn't recieved their deliverly that morning and there were some POed customers. Which I personally think is a little silly considering its not the guy working at the stores fault.

I'll go by my local AT&T store because it is 5 minutes from my house. Granted it doesn't open until 10:00 AM so I'll be curious to see if a line forms on the 29th. And yes they do have the poster hanging in a window. The nearest Apple Store is a good half hour drive so unless I'm really bored I doubt I'll check it out just to see if they have a line.

 

[fenixx]

It's something of a business myth that any product is ever intentionally "undershipped". Creating buzz is nice, but the holy grail of all business is a willing customer with money in their hands.

Be that as it may [and I agree with you about the second part], product and names such as Harley Davidson, the Wii, etc. - are proof at least on my part that creating and maintaining a buzz by not reaching product demand ups the demand of the product.

Perhaps "undershipped" was the wrong phrase to use.

 

[adamjohn98]

Just got off of the phone with a local ATT Store rep, he said that he did know that LIMITED quantities would be available at launch. He also told me to call back the week of the launch for details on how many they will receive.

I also got the standard "Apple is being really tight-lipped and secretive, you probably know as much if not more than we do, and all we know is that it is coming on the 29th"

 

[lilnyc]

Scott Bourne (Apple Phone Show, MBW) is stating 20 per AT&T store, and he is pretty reputable.

As much hype as their is surrounding this product, I don't know if the camp-out lines are going to happen. I can see it both ways though.

Unlike the PS3/Wii, the iPhone is not an evolution product (unless it is evolving from the iPod), and it is $500 + Contract + Data Fees at the MINIMUM. This is not like when console owners went to go "upgrade", and were able to plop down their cash and that was it.

I'm nervous either way, for starters - I'm wondering how reliable these AT&T stores are going to be. Will I really be able to walk in and buy the day of? No shipping errors at the store or late deliveries?

Aside from that, since the AT&T store is only about 3 miles away from me, I'll drive by around 9pm, 12pm, 2am - until I see if a line is even starting. I'd feel a lot more secure in the fact of taking one home same day if I were at an Apple Store, but I'm almost positive their will be a ridiculous line.

And if Apple has any sense, they are going to under-ship these units. I want all of us Mac lovers to have one - but it is going to lose its cache if someone can walk in the following Monday morning and buy one of the twenty they have on the shelf. As great as this product is, Apple needs to keep the level of "wanting it" up for a few months because of its steep price point.

Use Yahoo Live Maps -- don't drive