iPhone Release Party Details

[Mercurywipeout]

I called my local Apple store in Towson, Marlyand on the 14th to ask whether they would be carrying the iPhone, if I could reserve it, how many will they get, and whether it would definitely be released at 6pm.

The sales associate told me that all Apple stores will have iPhones, and that I could not reserve it, but that there would be no need to as they will have plenty. As far as the 6pm release date, he said that it the store would be closing at 5pm and re-opening at 6pm for a release party.

I called today just to see what exactly will be happening at the release party and this time the sales associate denied a party saying that all he knows is what Apple has said so far, which is that the phone will be released at 6pm. Also, he had no idea how many iPhones they would receive.

 

[constant L]

I called my local Apple store in Towson, Marlyand on the 14th to ask whether they would be carrying the iPhone, if I could reserve it, how many will they get, and whether it would definitely be released at 6pm.

The sales associate told me that all Apple stores will have iPhones, and that I could not reserve it, but that there would be no need to as they will have plenty. As far as the 6pm release date, he said that it the store would be closing at 5pm and re-opening at 6pm for a release party.

I called today just to see what exactly will be happening at the release party and this time the sales associate denied a party saying that all he knows is what Apple has said so far, which is that the phone will be released at 6pm. Also, he had no idea how many iPhones they would receive.

another baltimore metro areaer....what do you think the demand will be like around here...we're really not a big city but not really a small one either....i hope i can get one on launch day....would like to go to the apple store but i wonder if thats the best chance to get one....they have cingular store in towson town center too.....

 

[Kingsly]

Just got back from my local Apple store. Said that they would be open during the day but would close down for a few hours to prepare for the iPhone release and then re-open @ six.

This makes since, and goes along with the recent evidence that they still are taking genius bar and personal shopping reservations until midday on the 29th.

I plan to call the night before for the final details...

 

[Grimace]

call it a party if you want -- it's the same scenario they've used countless times. shut down at 5, reopen at 6 with a new version of OS X.

you give retail folks too much credit. I've worked side by side with them and phone answers vary greatly by:

1. Whether they've been brought up to speed by the manager
2. Whether they are in a good mood
3. If the store is packed, they try to get off the phone quickly -- it's easier to give a quick company line of "I don't know" - call back, etc.

Just sayin' -- this release is pretty standard. There may be some giveaways, etc. -- it should be the same as the OSX releases.

 

[Mercurywipeout]

another baltimore metro areaer....what do you think the demand will be like around here...we're really not a big city but not really a small one either....i hope i can get one on launch day....would like to go to the apple store but i wonder if thats the best chance to get one....they have cingular store in towson town center too.....

Well, I read at Apple Phone Show that there would not be selling iPhones at most Cingular store's but mostly at AT&T branded stores. The Cingular store around Towson, I believe, is still Cingular and not AT&T. And as far as demand, I dunno. I figure I'd take the day off and get to the mall around 12pm. Check to see if a line has formed periodically. And the first time I called they said there would be lots.

 

[DVNIEL]

2.66Ghz Mac Pro; 5GB RAM; 30"
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You are a multimedia God!!! I just absolutely drooled when I saw your signature.

 

[constant L]

i havent been to the mall in a while...not sure if they changed over yet....maybe ill go check it out...theres an apple and att store in columbia mall too i think...

 

[JMax1]

I'll be up visiting in NYC the release weekend, and I'm trying to decide between going to a Manhattan Apple store, or staying away from those and going to the White Plains one. Any thoughts?

 

[fishkorp]

i havent been to the mall in a while...not sure if they changed over yet....maybe ill go check it out...theres an apple and att store in columbia mall too i think...

yes, there are both. Apple is upstairs, near an entrance, and AT&T is upstairs (Cingular store was downstairs, they moved) near the LLBean entrance (so everyone in line can get a Starbucks since it's the next space over )

 

[/dev/toaster]

The sales associate told me that all Apple stores will have iPhones, and that I could not reserve it, but that there would be no need to as they will have plenty. As far as the 6pm release date, he said that it the store would be closing at 5pm and re-opening at 6pm for a release party.

I called today just to see what exactly will be happening at the release party and this time the sales associate denied a party saying that all he knows is what Apple has said so far, which is that the phone will be released at 6pm. Also, he had no idea how many iPhones they would receive.

Explain to me how he could say that there is no need to reserve it and that they will have plenty. When, there has been no announcement on the shipment numbers AND he even admitted he doesn't know how many they are getting.

Easy, he can't ... its total BS ... typically sales double speak.

 

[gr8tfly]

Apple Store employees in my area have also been told they will have plenty.

 

[Eric1285]

Of course they're saying there will be plenty. If they said anything otherwise, Apple stock would plummet.

As far as a launch party goes, maybe a few goodies like T-shirts or whatever, but I wouldn't expect them to be giving away iPhones =)

 

[Karpfish]

I'll be up visiting in NYC the release weekend, and I'm trying to decide between going to a Manhattan Apple store, or staying away from those and going to the White Plains one. Any thoughts?

WP is my local store, I'd say go there. The 5th Ave. and SOHO stores will be packed. Also there are 2 AT&T stores near the mall that the WP apple store is in in case you needed to go there.

 

[gr8tfly]

I can't get further details for the obvious reasons, but it was "employees told" not "employee told me", sorta meaning it came from above.

In any event, we won't know 'til we know, unfortunately. There's gonna be a line in most cases anyway, no matter what availability info gets relayed to the public.

 

[Eric1285]

I can't get further details for the obvious reasons, but it was "employees told" not "employee told me", sorta meaning it came from above.

In any event, we won't know 'til we know, unfortunately. There's gonna be a line in most cases anyway, no matter what availability info gets relayed to the public.

It's unfortunate that Apple's secretive nature combined with their employees telling everyone that there will be enough iPhones to go around (a corporate instruction, no doubt...gotta protect that stock price) have pretty much made everyone believe the BusinessWeek bull that there will be 3 million iPhones.

Hopefully though, it'll just keep people from waiting in line which will improve chances for people who really do want one.

 

[PharmD]

I called my local Apple store in Towson, Maryland

Hey that's my Apple Store too! See you there perhaps.

 

[darwen]

Hopefully though, it'll just keep people from waiting in line which will improve chances for people who really do want one.

Yeah, thats what causes the problems... so many people thinking they can buy and then resell due to low demand. If all those people stepped out of line there might not be the false demand. Then again... I was guilty of doing those for the PS3 and Wii. oops.

 

[constant L]

I am wondering how large the resellers factor will be because of the att exclusivity.