Lost iPhone To eBay Scalper... Horrible Line Experience

[spimp31]

AT&T dropped the ball in my area. Two stores in a 75 mile radius in NW Indiana, and the one in Michigan City was SEVERELY understocked. They claimed to have more 8GB than 4 GB, but ran out of 8GB at FIFTEEN- Yes, that's 15. So grand total... maybe 25?

What was awful was that this ebay scalper paid five youngsters, maybe 10 or 12 to do his dirty work. They were first in line and as only five people were allowed in the store, they kept everyone waiting. Finally they allowed more people to come in while this group of five kids was still inside. We were all wondering what was going on as more people came and went but they did not. Well, all five of them finally walk out of line, when there are only three people left standing in front of me.

Up walks this fat, shady looking guy who we had seen handing hundred dollar bills to some other adults in the parking lot. That made us all wonder what was going on, until he starts motioning all the kids over and taking the bags from them. Out walks the manager and tells us that the 8GB is sold out. I thought a riot was going to break out as there were at least another 60-70 people in line waiting. I SHOULD have had the last 8GB iPhone, and there was no way in hell that I was going to settle for a 4GB.

I ordered the 8GB through the store, while the wise ass manager told me that I'd have my iPhone Wednesday with my priority shipping. I looked at her dumbfounded and said "So is Steve Jobs going to walk up to my door and join the BBQ on July 4th or are you planning on delivering this yourself on your holiday?" Suddenly she changed her tune and said it'd be Tuesday, MAYBE Wednesday... so Thursday. She just wanted me out of there at that point after telling her to take the shipping off (which she put on without me asking). She wouldn't do it though, and told me to call in and speak with her if the phone didn't arrive on Tuesday. I didn't really feel like having the armed security guard escort me out, so I told her to swipe my card and put me out of my misery.

I did leave her with the promise that if she tries any BS with me and won't refund my shipping she's going to have to call for some security because I won't be leaving her store.

All in all, a VERY disappointing experience. She had the nerve to laugh that she thought his exploits were clever if he was an ebayer.

"I've already seen them on eBay, so he's not the only one doing this. Well within the rules Apple laid out so I have no issues with it. Those kids were here at 6 AM."

 

[Icedog]

What city were you in? I'm in Mishawaka and the University Park mall was pretty busy at 5pm so I decided not to stay in line, the AT&T store in the food court is horrible.

I'll just be ordering online in a few more minutes.

 

[TEG]

I was at the Lafayette, IN at&t store (at US-52 and IN-25). They handled the line quite well. I was number 30 in line, and arrived at 5:30pm. They handed tickets to each person in line, were limited to two iPhones per ticket, and an at&t guy was taking names and what size you wanted. Most took 8GBs and there were plenty left. The line was gone after 6:30pm, and I know there were more in the store, as they were easily visible from the window.

I know some who had other people with them, but they were obviously family, so I'd assume that they were getting a Family Talk plan.

I am concerned with how much personal information they asked for, plus tying the iPhone to my current number, barcoding the bag, and paying with my debit card, I'm wondering about the legal ramifications of reselling the iPhone I purchased on eBay. If anyone has any insight, I'd appreciate some ideas.

Sorry about your line experience, but the store I was at actually had the local Sherriff's Deputy and a Security Guard to try to cut down on eBayers. Perhaps someone should have informed managment, or you should contact at&t mobility and complain about they selling the iPhone to someone under 18, considering that I've seen several places that require you to be 18 to buy the iPhone.

TEG

TEG

 

[zioxide]

I can't believe that there are actually retards who are buying them on ebay. Just ****ing order them from Apple.com/store and you'll get them for the regular price, or just go to an Apple Store this weekend and you'll get one. ****ing idiots buying these things on ebay just makes these people want to scalp them more. If people don't buy them, then the scalpers will lose money.

 

[aerospace]

apple should have seen that coming

...by allowing you to sign up at home after purchase and not in store when purchasing apple creates the opportnity for people to resell it on ebay. you think that guy would have signed up for 10 contracts? i doubt it.

:my 2 cents:


ONLY 498.98 more and you could get n iphone!

 

[mduser63]

I had no trouble at all getting one at the Apple Store. There was a huge line, but it moved very quickly with what seemed like all the Apple Store staff on hand to help people through. Went down to the AT&T store at the other end of the mall, and at 6:40, with the Apple Store line close to being cleared out, the AT&T line (which was much shorter to start with) was hardly through at all. People in line were complaining about how painfully slow AT&T was moving people through the line for iPhones. I felt sorry for those who went to AT&T instead of the Apple Store.

 

[Counter]

There's a huge wait now on Apple's online store. This is gonna be power to the ebayers.

This sucks but you gotta remind yourself dude: it's a phone.

Your kid hasn't been kidnapped or something.

 

[Acehigh]

Hey I think I can get you one at cost, if you want it.. or just come to chicago they have a bunch left.


sorry that sucks.

 

[spimp31]

Hey I think I can get you one at cost, if you want it.. or just come to chicago they have a bunch left.


sorry that sucks.

They have a bunch left in Chicago? I work in the city and came back to Indiana figuring I'd be screwed at the apple store getting off work at 5.

For those asking, this was the AT&T store in Michigan City off Route 421. They couldn't have had more than 25, but I think the number was closer to 20. I almost wonder if apple purposely allocated small amounts to small selling AT&T stores.

It makes sense. In this area most people buy from AT&T retailers, the affiliate companies. You have one AT&T store in Merrillville, another 30 miles away in Michigan City, and another 30 miles away in South Bend. These three stores have about 500,000 people in the NW indiana to service, with no other locations for another 75 miles south or southeast (i.e. Fort Wayne).

Apple stores had a lot because there were smaller costs to getting them to apple stores and shipping could be written off as an expense. All the apple stores seem to have been stocked quite well, yet these AT&T stores get 20 or 25? Pathetic.

 

[tortfeasor]

They have a bunch left in Chicago? I work in the city and came back to Indiana figuring I'd be screwed at the apple store getting off work at 5.

For those asking, this was the AT&T store in Michigan City off Route 421. They couldn't have had more than 25, but I think the number was closer to 20. I almost wonder if apple purposely allocated small amounts to small selling AT&T stores.

It makes sense. In this area most people buy from AT&T retailers, the affiliate companies. You have one AT&T store in Merrillville, another 30 miles away in Michigan City, and another 30 miles away in South Bend. These three stores have about 500,000 people in the NW indiana to service, with no other locations for another 75 miles south or southeast (i.e. Fort Wayne).

Apple stores had a lot because there were smaller costs to getting them to apple stores and shipping could be written off as an expense. All the apple stores seem to have been stocked quite well, yet these AT&T stores get 20 or 25? Pathetic.

Supposedly the Michigan Ave Apple Store in Chicago has plenty left and as advertised, will be open until Midnight. In fact, the NBC 5 10pm newscast has just announced as much!

 

[Icedog]

Hey, just got back from the Apple store in Oak Brook where I picked up my iPhone. They had quiet a few there and a ton of people and employees. While there were some being sold, most of the people were just playing with the demos.

Head over there in the morning if you're still looking to pick one up.

 

[one1]

My local Best Buy had 12 of the big PS3 systems (60 gig?) in stock and sitting on the shelves for regular price ($599) while people were still paying $800+ on ebay

If there is any karma left floating around he'll get stuck with them.

 

[spimp31]

Craziest night ever!

tortfeasor is my hero! i'm back... as soon as i read your post, I called my old man up, told him to get ready for me to pick him up cause I needed a techie sidekick, and that we were headed to Michigan Avenue. I hit the road at 10:30 from Valparaiso, IN and sped down 80-94 to the Dan Ryan. The Ryan was an ***** nightmare, and I pulled some incredible, risky, stupid move switching from two lanes as we were even with the 71st street exit. I proceeded to drive through the worst congestion of side streets I've ever seen at this hour, weaving in and out of traffic. This was all through the ghetto of Chitown. Each light we hit I froze and tried not to be spotted by thugs on the corner drinking 40's. No joke at all, early 20's white guy in an all-black south side neighborhood = BAD NEWS.

To make matters worse my dad has a bad bladder. He carried an empty gallon jug just in case. Well his just in case came as I was pulling onto Michigan from Lake. We hit a red light and he jumps out to take a leak in the back seat. Traffic suddenly frees up and at 11:58 I'm at Ontario. I pull up to Huron and run out at exactly 12:00, run down to the Apple Store and calmly walk in at 12:03 AM. Whipped out seven hundred dollar bills and all I could get out was "eight gig".

I feel crazy, stupid, relieved right now as I finish up the activation process and start loading my prepared iPhone playlists, Photos, complete contacts directory, and multiple email accounts onto my iPhone. Couldn't be any happier right now, in such an uber geeky, IT professional way.

 

[Andrmgic]

Things were slow at the AT&T Store in Tallahassee, FL

They made everyone go through the credit check, and made us tell them what plan we intended to sign up for before they sold us the phones.

I had gotten a credit check done Tuesday of this week in anticipation for the phone, but they wouldn't accept the print out from the cingular store in the mall, the person selling the phone to me told me that he was required to do a credit check himself before he could sell me the phone.

The line wasn't bad when I got there at 4:09 pm, but a lot of people showed up afterwards. The store got 60 phones or so, and were running low on 8 gigs after I got out of the store and there were another 20 or so people in line behind me. Apparently the store I went to was the least crowded of the three, the others having 80 or more people waiting.

I was disappointed in AT&T for forcing credit checks, and gathering information on our plan choices instead of just letting us do it through iTunes only, an Apple store likely would have been less hassle.

Activation went smoothly though, and the phone is fantastic

 

[JohnnyG]

Solution To the Problem...(Hindsight)

Apple and ATT should have made it mandatory to activate these phones on the spot. This would have deterred the scalper scum. I did order 2 8 gig iphones (one for me and one for my wife) from the Apple Store Online Friday Night only to be informed that it would take 4-6 weeks for delivery...I checked ebay Saturday morning only to find some 7000 + for sale at unbeleiveable profits...So I cancelled my order. Apple dropped the ball big time on this one...I also ordered almost $200 in accessories as well....cancelled. I am going to wait it out...I still have my cell phone and my 30 gig video iPod so between them both I can wait...besides we all know there are going to be issues as there were with the early ipods...and I have read that we are looking at a 5 hour battery life!!! And also being on the slower teir of the ATT intrastructure???? try web browsing with that...remember dial up??? I would guess the price for the 8 gig will drop by January by at least a-hunnerd bucks...AS far as the scalper F*CKS on EBARF go...DON'T BUY FROM THEM LET THEM CHOKE ON THE PHONES!!!!