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What the heck - iPads at At&T stores

Chip NoVaMac

Chip NoVaMac

macrumors G3
Original poster
Dec 25, 2003
8,888
31
Northern Virginia
Went to my local AT&T Store looking for some headphones for my iPhone and iPad (BT in particular). Joked around that the were left behind in Apple and Best Buy offering iPad's.

I was told by the "manager" IIRC that they will never carry the iPad since it was not a "real" netbook. That it could not do word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint type presentations - for the most part compatible with MS office...

Let's just say I was not the best customer.... LOL
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
Went to my local AT&T Store looking for some headphones for my iPhone and iPad (BT in particular). Joked around that the were left behind in Apple and Best Buy offering iPad's.

I was told by the "manager" IIRC that they will never carry the iPad since it was not a "real" netbook. That it could do word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint type presentations - for the most part compatible with MS office...

Let's just say I was not the best customer.... LOL
Click to expand...

They won't carry it cause it makes them no money.
 
I don't get the point. We all know that AT&T staff, even managers, are often mislead. Your thread title is misleading as I believe you meant to say NO iPads at AT&T stores, and this seems kind of trollish, no?

They get nothing but a pay as you go plan for data. Why would they sell them?
 
^^ This..
There is no money for AT&T in the Ipad. I don't think data only plans are very profitable.
 
jessica. said:
I don't get the point. We all know that AT&T staff, even managers, are often mislead. Your thread title is misleading as I believe you meant to say NO iPads at AT&T stores, and this seems kind of trollish, no?

They get nothing but a pay as you go plan for data. Why would they sell them?
Click to expand...

Far from a troll type here given my time on the MR.

I work retail, so I was taken aback that by the comments at the AT&T Store with my off hand comments about their waiting for their chance at the iPad. But to spread such misinformation as to being able to do word processing, spreadsheets, or presentations - come on now!

I realize that AT&T can rape their netbook customers for $60 a month vs $30 for the iPad... but as an Apple partner should they not offer a choice? :confused:
 
Don't think for one nano-second that AT&T would hesitate to carry iPads in their stores given the opportunity.
 
I can barely tell what the OP is trying to say, but as was stated by a couple posters, AT&T likely will not ever sell the iPad as there is no profit in it for them. From what I can tell OP is saying they think the iPad can't do word processing, spreadsheets and presentations... The iPad can do all three... Maybe you mean the opposite, in which case, disregard.
 
FWW said:
I can barely tell what the OP is trying to say, but as was stated by a couple posters, AT&T likely will not ever sell the iPad as there is no profit in it for them. From what I can tell OP is saying they think the iPad can't do word processing, spreadsheets and presentations... The iPad can do all three... Maybe you mean the opposite, in which case, disregard.
Click to expand...

Corrected my post there... :eek:
 
It has nothing to do with them not being able to sell the ipad (well sort of) or that the relationship with Apple may or may not be coming to an end. After working in sales, particularly in wireless stores, I know the answer as to why the gentlemen* said what he did. He did not say it because of misinformation. If someone walks into a T-Mobile store and asks for or mentions an iPhone and they are a new customer, the only things discussed about it are what it cannot do and its shortcomings, sometimes they are even false. Unfortunately for us, and fortunately for the shady salesman, these tactics will work on the uninformed person.

Imagine for a moment a businessman that walks into AT&T. He goes there because he has an iPhone, saw an iPad commercial, and thought AT&T might have it cause he heard it has 3G with AT&T. He knows very little else about it. He walks in and asks for an ipad. The salesman (manager even) will then try to obtain a sale at all costs possible to make themselves money even by spreading false information. This increases the perceived value of the netbook to the customer and makes them want to buy it (or that is the plan). The sales people get away this by claiming ignorance. If the guy comes back and says" Hey raararrrahhhh!". Salesman : "Well....we don't sell that product so that is just what I was told."

I quit sales and vow to never do it again because these lies are very commonplace, I want no part in exploiting people, and I can spot the lies from a mile away nowadays. Careful who you shop with as they may be "passing along" intentional misinformation.

* = A$$hole
 
leomac08 said:
I don't think the OP is a troll............ his credentials tell some things!;)
Click to expand...

Ok perhaps troll was a bit much but your post read with little intent to spark discussion. It came off as though you were attempting to start yet another "oh **** AT&T and their ******** information" thread. And regardless of post count or join date you can be a troll. It happens when we're most passionate about the things we find important.
 
I'm sure you found this out already but just in case....

The AT&T store is the absolute worst place I can think of to purchase any headphones of any kind, bluetooth or otherwise. Even BB (shudder) has a better selection and price.
 
As GrindedDown noted, regardless of why AT&T doesn't have the iPad in the store, it's only natural that someone who works there is going to talk smack about it so that he can try to get you to buy something that they do sell in the store. Although they exist, there are precious few stores of any type in the U.S. that would confess that they may not have the product that's right for you and send you to a competitor.
 
JonboyDC said:
As GrindedDown noted, regardless of why AT&T doesn't have the iPad in the store, it's only natural that someone who works there is going to talk smack about it so that he can try to get you to buy something that they do sell in the store. Although they exist, there are precious few stores of any type in the U.S. that would confess that they may not have the product that's right for you and send you to a competitor.
Click to expand...

Happy then I work for a shop dissing a product we don't sell is frowned upon...
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
Went to my local AT&T Store looking for some headphones for my iPhone and iPad (BT in particular). Joked around that the were left behind in Apple and Best Buy offering iPad's.

I was told by the "manager" IIRC that they will never carry the iPad since it was not a "real" netbook. That it could not do word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint type presentations - for the most part compatible with MS office...

Let's just say I was not the best customer.... LOL
Click to expand...

Why does everyone need to affirm your purchase decision? AT&T doesn't sell the iPad and some salesman said he didn't like it--so what? Why don't you let Apple worry about how its products are perceived.
 
jessica. said:
Ok perhaps troll was a bit much but your post read with little intent to spark discussion. It came off as though you were attempting to start yet another "oh **** AT&T and their ******** information" thread. And regardless of post count or join date you can be a troll. It happens when we're most passionate about the things we find important.
Click to expand...

Well yes it was in part to start a discussion.

I meant it to be along the lines of telling me that netbooks are better at word processing? Heard of Pages At&T? And spreadsheets, has AT&T heard of Numbers? Or even Keynote....

Was just shocked that the AT&T staff dissed the iPad as not be even close to a netbook...

No need to re-afirm anything here...

Just surprised by the nagative attitude over the iPad at the AT&T store - given that they can get $15 or $30 a month off of it...
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
Just surprised by the nagative attitude over the iPad at the AT&T store - given that they can get $15 or $30 a month off of it...
Click to expand...

The salesperson doesn't have a direct stake in whatever data charges iPad users are paying. Just like a cashier at Walmart doesn't have a direct stake in the new TV they ring up for a customer. They get paid their hourly wage regardless -- and its usually a low wage.

The best part of their day is probably getting geeks like us to get upset after they diss the iPad. :)
 
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