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jeffgtr

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 9, 2005
122
0
So I've decided to buy an iphone. The nearest Apple store is a 1.5 hour drive. The local AT&T store indicates they are sold out of 8gb iphones and won't be receiving any more 8gb iphones for several weeks (6 weeks) and that applied to all AT&T stores. I explained the Apple website said 2-4 weeks. He said they all come from the same place, doesn't matter. Is this true of the 8gb, has anyone else heard this?
 
I would say either buy the iPhone online, or check Apple's website to see if they have any the next morning, then get up early and drive down there.
 
I would drive to your closest Apple store (checking stock before hand). Seems like the phone supply is good in most states, and Apple is so far doing a great job replenishing stock (even on Sundays). There are exceptions, like in California, where stock seems sparse - so check before you drive out there.

My experience trying to buy an iPhone at ATT was horrific. It's a long story that I won't get into - let's just say they made many blunders in trying to supply a phone for me...
 
I would drive to your closest Apple store (checking stock before hand). Seems like the phone supply is good in most states, and Apple is so far doing a great job replenishing stock (even on Sundays).

That's the ticket. You know you want one. It will be exciting and worth the drive.

And if you use a laptop, bring it so you can activate from the Apple Store (using their wifi).
 
Rule of thumb: don't believe anything a store clerk says. They don't know until the truck drives up to the back door. Truly.

Apple has a end-of-quarter conference call at the end of the month where they will announce iPhone sales to-date. Now it doesn't take a stock guru to realize that Apple is going to want to announce blowout sales numbers. They can't get to that number unless they sell the heck out of iPhones the next 4 weeks. That means stores have to have them in-stock since you can't sell what you don't have. So I'd say ATT stores are going to get more in stock well before a month and a half from now.

But my suggestion is don't wait on ATT. Get the girl and take a nice drive to the Apple store. Tell her you'll take her to lunch in the city and earn bonus points. (Check the online inventory page the night before you go, of course or call directly - maybe they'll even hold one for you if you tell them you are coming from 100+ miles away). It'll be worth the trip, trust me. Amazing phone. Most stores still have them in stock.
 
Thanks!

It will be the 4th before I can make the drive. I think I'll call and if they have them I'm outa here. Great idea on taking the laptop. The whole thing seemed really flaky at the AT&T store, seemed like they just didn't want to be bothered. Which is a shame for them, because one of these days Apple is going to open the iphone up to other carriers. Maybe it just seems like they are worse because my experience with Apple in the past has been stellar.
 
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