AT&T Tech Support 360
July 11, 2008 1:34 PM PDT
New iPhone: what a debacle
I can't even believe what an unbelievable debacle the new iPhone sales/activation process has been.
As an Apple fan boy I find it hard to believe that this could even happen, but anyone who has dealt with AT&T should have expected something crazy to occur. Someone in the office here mocked me for running out and buying Leopard when it came out, but at least then I knew I was just dealing with Apple--no horrific cellphone carrier experience to deal with.
Matt points out that maybe this is greed on Apple's part, it's insane that Apple refused to let customers purchase the phone directly from Apple stores. And it's even crazier that the company hasn't yet released a statement explaining it.
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I woke up this morning, not able to sleep, and am disgusted that the front page of CNET looks like 'iphone central'. Every single article is about iphone, how sweet it is, how customers are suffering because they can't get it, what knew stuff you'll be able to do with it, what games you can buy for it, and how bad every fan-boy and fan-girl wants or needs it. You would think we're talking about Britney or Paris or Princess Di. CNET, If I were your parent and you were my child, I'd be breaking that phone like some parents break Barney DVD's. I'd just snap it, toss it and tell you it got lost. Is this the new crackberry? It sure isn't news. No. It's a phone. Put the phone down. No -- put it down now. Go to your time-out corner for five minutes. Get back to more balanced and objective reporting.
2. Why is the iPhone the only device that AT&T sells whereby I can't order and pay then have them hold a phone for me when they get a shipment?
3. Why does AT&T charge more for the new 3G contracts than for the previous 1st G iPhones?
Answer: Apple Corporate
AT&T's deal with Apple is so pitiful that they're trying to squeeze every penny out of these customers, even at the risk of alienating them long-term.
Apple intentionally shipped fewer phones to AT&T stores to increase the "buzz", create longer lines and keep the focus on their own stores.
It's all to create buzz which at the same time hurts loyal customers. Thanks a lot Steve.