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Some AT&T stores sell out of iPhone 3G S in less than an hour

post #1 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:35am
Thread Starter 
While the verdict is still out on how well stocked U.S.-based Apple retail stores will be for this morning's iPhone 3G S launch, some of AT&T's shops are reported to have already run out of their initial allotment of the new handsets.

For example, AppleInsider reader Sherif arrived at the AT&T retail store on the corner of Suffolk Street and Delancey Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side at roughly 7:30 am Friday morning.

Roughly 20 minutes later he was informed by staffers that he'd snagged the shop's last iPhone 3G S available for walk-in customers who hadn't pre-orderd: a white 32GB model, which was precisely the model he was after. The particular store reportedly received about 60 units, but said new stock would not arrive for another 5 days.

It's no secret that Apple favors padding its company-owned shops over those belonging to its exclusive US wireless carrier on iPhone launch days. Both the iPhone 3G and original iPhone launches saw AT&T stores run dry of the handsets long before Apple retail stores.

AT&T also announced last weekend that it had exhausted its initial supply of iPhone 3G Ss that were available for pre-order through its website. Customers placing their orders after last Friday were informed that their devices wouldn't arrive this Friday, but would instead see delivery delays spanning anywhere from one to two weeks.

For its part, Apple's online store continued to take pre-orders for the new handset throughout the week, promising Friday deliver for those customers who'd confirmed their order by Wednesday.





Those iPhone 3G S buyers determined to purchase their new phone from an AT&T retail store may be best advised at this point to call ahead and check up on availability.
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post #2 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:46am
Well there are THREE Sprint Palm Pre banners on this page all at the same time, they could go get one of those
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post #3 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:47am
I suspect we will see some big differences between stores

Some on other forums say nobody was at their local stores while others like this say it was sold out shortly
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post #4 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:50am
I suppose that the sheer increasing number of total iPhone users should make those skeptical analysts hoping for a decent turnout eating their words.
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post #5 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:52am
I just got back from picking up mine. There was about 40 people total. Last year there was easily 300

Needless to say, but I was first in line this year too!!!


And the tethering works awesome thru bluetooth!!
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post #6 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post

Roughly 20 minutes later he was informed by staffers that he'd snagged the shop's last iPhone 3G S available for walk-in customers who hadn't pre-orderd: a white 3GB model, which was precisely the model he was after.

ah yes, the elusive 3GB model. i so wanted one of those but, alas, i'm stuck with a black 32GB model. perhaps next year ...
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post #7 of 57
6/19/09 at 6:59am
Unlike with the 3G, you could order this one online with both Apple and ATT.

I am surprised that there are even lines.
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post #8 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:00am
Any product can sell out when there's a limited supply in a largely populated area.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pooch View Post

ah yes, the elusive 3GB model. i so wanted one of those but, alas, i'm stuck with a black 32GB model. perhaps next year ...

LOL!
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post #9 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:05am
The second picture in the article comes from the Montreal Apple Store.. there is roughly 20 people outside.. No line-up at the carrier flagship stores few streets corner away (no one waiting outside of Fido or Roger, but they planned velvet rope for crowd control)..

Is it the rain? The though economic climate?

The staff at the corporate apple store said they will have plenty of iPhone for everyone, they accepted my "personnal shopping assistance" for an iPhone 3G S at 10:30...
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post #10 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:09am
saw this at engadget:
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post #11 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:13am
I walked into a store this morning at 7am at the local mall. It was me, 3 other customers, and whole bunch of staff. They even had ropes out and everything.

I pre-ordered on June 13 after they said pre-stock expired, was given the 7 to 14 day delivery date (to the store) but I thought I'd check in anyway. I don't understand why they wouldn't fill a pre-order before a walk-in sale... It's like I'm getting punished for passing the credit check, paying for the phone already, and ordering in advance.

Oh well. I guess I'll keep on waiting. The charge came back out of my account today after disappearing for a couple days, so maybe my phone is on it's way. Checking status on the AT&T site reveals a nice orange IN PROGRESS.

I guess I will be on EDGE (pun intended) for a little longer.
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post #12 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:19am
I was at a concert last night and one of the concession stands ran out of water.
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post #13 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfiler View Post

I was at a concert last night and one of the concession stands ran out of water.

Were they taking order for the next shipment? :P Did you had to give a deposit? Do a credit check?
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post #14 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:24am
Everyone I know chose to order theirs from the Apple store rather than standing in line. I love the idea of my phone being delivered right to my door step... I nearly died in the Texas heat waiting to get one last year.

Anyhoo, mine should arrive in a few hours according to fedex.
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post #15 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:29am
Maybe I will pick one up at Wally World or Best Buy. I doubt they have a lot, but it doesn't hurt to check.
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post #16 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:30am
i live about half a mile from 1 infinite loop , apple headquarters in cupertino, and i went to the att store on 'steven's creek blvd' its about 2 miles from apple, and there were about 15 preorder people and 10 non-preorder people. and the funny thing is nbc news was there too and filmed us. LOL
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post #17 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:34am
Something tells me ATT did not get a lot of iPhones this time around. I get the feelingthat with all th garbage they had to put up with from ATT, they decided they wanted to control more of the user experience this time around.
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post #18 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chronster View Post

saw this at engadget:

Why is it day in the first pic and night in the second?
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post #19 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:48am
Call me lazy but why not just have the thing pre-ordered and shipped to you? Unless of course you like using a vacation day from work to sit outside and wait for something you could have picked up elsewhere...
You win, I've switched sides.
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You win, I've switched sides.
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post #20 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adjei View Post

Why is it day in the first pic and night in the second?

November vs June in the northern hemisphere.
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post #21 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DdubRes79 View Post

Call me lazy but why not just have the thing pre-ordered and shipped to you? Unless of course you like using a vacation day from work to sit outside and wait for something you could have picked up elsewhere...

Some people like to socialize and experience the energy of an excited crowd.
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post #22 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adjei View Post

Why is it day in the first pic and night in the second?

Just think about it for a moment, it'll come to you.
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post #23 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfiler View Post

November vs June in the northern hemisphere.

Damn I forgot to read the label, I thought that was the 3g launch.

Anways there will be shorter lines this time because of the pre orders which Apple didnt allow before. I read somewhere that they sold like 200 000 pre orders just from Apple stores already.
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post #24 of 57
6/19/09 at 7:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by drdb View Post

Just think about it for a moment, it'll come to you.

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post #25 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:02am
Engadget:

Update: According to O2, sales for the 3G S have already surpassed numbers for the iPhone 3G during last year's launch. So it's possible that the pre-orders were in full effect here. However, you have to remember that Europe and O2 in the UK in particular had very serious problems meeting demand at the time of the iPhone 3G launch last year. So this statement likely says more about inventory management than it does the demand of the 3G S vs the 3G.
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post #26 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:11am
I saw AT&T lines all over Manhattan this morning. Everybody wants one! Hmmmmmm.
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post #27 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud View Post

I saw AT&T lines all over Manhattan this morning. Everybody wants one! Hmmmmmm.

Really?
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post #28 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud View Post

I saw AT&T lines all over Manhattan this morning. Everybody wants one! Hmmmmmm.

You could buy one and finally know what it feels like to actually own an iPhone

So people could actually take you seriously
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post #29 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacAloy View Post

You could buy one and finally know what it feels like to actually own an iPhone

So people could actually take you seriously

So, anyone here who talks bad about Windows or PC's in general should buy one in order to be taken seriously when they have harsh things to say?
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post #30 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chronster View Post

So, anyone here who talks bad about Windows or PC's in general should buy one in order to be taken seriously when they have harsh things to say?

Thank you.
And for that matter you would have to purchase every piece of Apple equipment just to comment on it as well. Some have been trying to drive home a point that you need to own to comment, which is so ridiculous. I don't take these children serious.
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post #31 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:36am
same story in Anderson SC, I was first in line....maybe 15 people behind me when the doors opened at 7.....more att reps than customers.

although it is nicer...it really was a minor update in my opinion, if I had already had a 3g I might have skipped this one.....
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post #32 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chronster View Post

So, anyone here who talks bad about Windows or PC's in general should buy one in order to be taken seriously when they have harsh things to say?

No, just Teckstud.
(He's a well known troll who uses nearly every post to incite rage. There are plenty of Apple critics here who manage to critique without being purposefully combative. Their critiques are generally met with agreement or reasoned rebuttal.)
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post #33 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dfiler View Post

No, just Teckstud.
(He's a well known troll who uses nearly every post to incite rage. There are plenty of Apple critics here who manage to critique without being purposefully combative. Their critiques are generally met with agreement or reasoned rebuttal.)

Not true . I beg to differ.
Certain folk on here (sloppyism, yadayaddabox, anakastanedurm, Virgin2Btru, etc, have an insipid Fanbot mantra of labeling people complainers and whiners for any comments that go against their Jonestown kool-aid recipe.
Was there anything to incite rage is my first comment?
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post #34 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pooch View Post

ah yes, the elusive 3GB model. i so wanted one of those but, alas, i'm stuck with a black 32GB model. perhaps next year ...

lol
lpl
whats in a name ? 
beatles
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whats in a name ? 
beatles
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post #35 of 57
6/19/09 at 8:57am
At Apple Store Knoxville I walked in at ~9:30 am. I was about #10 in line at that time. 15 minutes later I had a juicy case, my 3GS and a silicone case for my phone. I asked them about early morning turnout. They had 100 or so in line at 6 am. However, they did comment on a lot of people there had not heard AT&T was doing the limited time no upgrade outrageous fee the were going to charge (don't start a war of that comment as it was not meant to start flaming) and that "more than likely" made the turn out smaller for there store. I would agree because after that was said 5 people in front of me in line picked up their phones and called friends. There were 10 people on their way in after those calls to get the 3Gs.

I think AT&T hurt the launch by not getting that out first.

As a result of the upgrade for me, we now have another 3G user in my company (who got my old phone) who would not have got one until my July date to get a phone.
Hard-Core.
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Hard-Core.
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post #36 of 57
6/19/09 at 9:25am
I wonder how many are new customers ?


9
whats in a name ? 
beatles
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whats in a name ? 
beatles
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post #37 of 57
6/19/09 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pooch View Post

ah yes, the elusive 3GB model. i so wanted one of those but, alas, i'm stuck with a black 32GB model. perhaps next year ...

HAHA!

I suspect the fact that you can now purchase one off Apple's online store has a lot to do with the shorter lines. I myself would much rather just pre-order one and have it shipped to my house which is what I've done. Its currently on the FedEx truck for delivery.

Mac Mini (Mid 2011) 2.5 GHz Core i5
120 GB SSD/500 GB HD/8 GB RAM
AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256 MB

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Mac Mini (Mid 2011) 2.5 GHz Core i5
120 GB SSD/500 GB HD/8 GB RAM
AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256 MB

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post #38 of 57
6/19/09 at 9:36am
Alright Apple whores, spill the details.

Is this thing as fast as Apple claims? Can we run a BOINC client on it?

Damnit I want some details!
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post #39 of 57
6/19/09 at 9:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamIIGS View Post

Well there are THREE Sprint Palm Pre banners on this page all at the same time, they could go get one of those


Yeah, Palm said regarding the Pre's initial launch... "Don't expect lines and hype for the Pre like was seen at the iPhone's first launch"... or second launch... or, "sigh" third launch. (insert Palm's deflated ego here)

Ten years ago, we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash.  Today we have no Jobs, no Hope and no Cash.

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Ten years ago, we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash.  Today we have no Jobs, no Hope and no Cash.

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post #40 of 57
6/19/09 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chronster View Post

So, anyone here who talks bad about Windows or PC's in general should buy one in order to be taken seriously when they have harsh things to say?

Considering those people have actually had PC's/Windows, I don't really see the comparison between that and this

I own an iPhone and I completely agree with a lot of his points so you can't say that I am trying to shut him up.

But, it is laughable how he talks about something he has never owned
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