I Think AT&T Is In For It - Interesting Experience...

[indig0blue]

Hey Everybody,

I live in the Columbus, OH area as I have mentioned in some other posts.

I just went to my AT&T store that I will plan on camping at. There was a notice on the front door clearly stating that they will be selling the iPhones at 6pm on the 29th and will close at 4:30 prior to that.

I walked inside and asked if they were for sure going to have phones in stock for sale and they said yes. They couldn't talk about how many they would get though. They also let me know where the line would start and how it would wrap around the building.

The reason I am posting this is I wanted to express the shear fright in these employee's eyes when I started asking iPhone questions. They look completely beaten down as if they have been answering questions all day long. (Probably have.) They told me that others have called the store and have indicated that they plan on camping. This has prompted me to move up my arrival time.

I don't think these AT&T guys have any idea of the beast that they have unleashed by partnering with Apple for a product launch. It is like strapping rocket boosters to your bicycle and then trying to hang on for the ride. You will get where you're going even if it means that it is just your dead body being drug across the finish line.

The funny thing about all this is that this is in little Columbus, OH. I am from CA and I know how religious Apple is out there. I can only imagine how crazy it will be in NYC and other major cities.

Word of advice from a regular guy who just wants a phone - get there at least 2-3 hours earlier than you had planned. Overnight may not be necessary, but right before the crack of dawn might not be a bad idea.

Sorry I have rambled a bit. Just thought this might be an interesting perspective from the street.

 

[BigPrince]

The thing I am pissed about is that they cannot guarantee they will even have the iPhone at the store I called at. So I do not want to camp out in front of a store that might not even have the ****ing thing.

 

[indig0blue]

The thing I am pissed about is that they cannot guarantee they will even have the iPhone at the store I called at. So I do not want to camp out in front of a store that might not even have the ****ing thing.

Where do you live?

 

[cmschmidt]

The thing I am pissed about is that they cannot guarantee they will even have the iPhone at the store I called at. So I do not want to camp out in front of a store that might not even have the ****ing thing.

i would probably say that if they don't know by now, they're not getting it. or i would at least have other outlets ready if i were you.

 

[indig0blue]

i would probably say that if they don't know by now, they're not getting it. or i would at least have other outlets ready if i were you.

I agree. When I went into this store, despite their stressed out presence, they seemed comfortable and definite in saying that they WILL have stock. It is almost as if today was the first day they could actually say "Yes we will have them." as a definitive statement.

 

[BigPrince]

Pennsylvania.

 

[Antaios]

Hey Everybody,

I live in the Columbus, OH area as I have mentioned in some other posts.

I just went to my AT&T store that I will plan on camping at. There was a notice on the front door clearly stating that they will be selling the iPhones at 6pm on the 29th and will close at 4:30 prior to that.

I walked inside and asked if they were for sure going to have phones in stock for sale and they said yes. They couldn't talk about how many they would get though. They also let me know where the line would start and how it would wrap around the building.

The reason I am posting this is I wanted to express the shear fright in these employee's eyes when I started asking iPhone questions. They look completely beaten down as if they have been answering questions all day long. (Probably have.) They told me that others have called the store and have indicated that they plan on camping. This has prompted me to move up my arrival time.

I don't think these AT&T guys have any idea of the beast that they have unleashed by partnering with Apple for a product launch. It is like strapping rocket boosters to your bicycle and then trying to hang on for the ride. You will get where you're going even if it means that it is just your dead body being drug across the finish line.

The funny thing about all this is that this is in little Columbus, OH. I am from CA and I know how religious Apple is out there. I can only imagine how crazy it will be in NYC and other major cities.

Word of advice from a regular guy who just wants a phone - get there at least 2-3 hours earlier than you had planned. Overnight may not be necessary, but right before the crack of dawn might not be a bad idea.

Sorry I have rambled a bit. Just thought this might be an interesting perspective from the street.

i am an at&t retail employee and mac enthusiast... I COMPELTELY agree with you. All my co-workers in my store don't care at all about the iphone and are completely ignorant of its features. I'm not saying they have to be fanboys or anything but some of the reps in my store had never seen any video of the iphone until the commercials starting airing or until I showed them videos I downloaded from youtube. (this week) All the reps care about is the sale. They are already saying jokingly of course that if any customers ask them how to use the iphone's features or what the iphone does they are gonna simply say, "NEXT!! Who wants an phone and doesn't want to ask me annoying questions about it?" I've said before on these board that we are going to training on the June 27th and June 28th. Unfortunately I don't believe that is going to be enough time for reps to get to KNOW the iphone and be prepared for the crap storm that is going to hit the stores on Friday night. We also got an internal memo today that we are not allowed to purchase the iphone using our employee discount and that if we wanted to purchase it we have to do so just like a normal customer. Does this lend evidence to the rumor that the ONLY way to get the iphone is by signing up a two year contract or resigning your current account?? Maybe... maybe not... The memo also said that we are NOT allowed to put our employee (unlimited) sims into any iphone we purchase. So, it might be possible to purchase the iphone with a contract and then pop a sim card into it. Hopefully Apple stores sell the iphone without FORCING you to activate it in the store. That way I can go there and buy it and just pop my sim card in. More to come as I find out more....