iPhone 3G shortages causing major delays for AT&T, businesses
Apple promised that iPhone 3G and its iPhone 2.0 software would be more suited to business, but a severe shortage of the device could force companies to wait as long as two weeks before they see their orders, and is forcing many home customers to go without at the same time.
Memos circulating around AT&T and obtained by AppleInsider are warning AT&T business sales consultants that any workplace-related orders placed from Sunday the 13th onwards won't be fulfilled for at least another 10 to 14 days.
The telecoms company isn't asking orders to be halted but says new orders will immediately appear as backordered.
And while both AT&T and its corporate clients are aware that sheer demand is the cause, the delay is severe enough to frustrate corporate buyers, few of whom are used to seeing unexpected shipping delays.
"I have an enterprise account and could not get an iPhone for any price," one such buyer tells AppleInsider. "I thought Apple had finally figured out the whole business thing but alas it seems not."
The situation is little better for AT&T's bread-and-butter personal customers. An informal poll of 50 AT&T stores nationwide by CNET reveals that not one of the locations has any iPhone models to sell, and none of these stores can promise new shipments within the week.
These stores are receiving short term shipments but can't guarantee a minimum amount. As little as 10 may ship one day, while 100 ship the next.
For its part, AT&T spokesperson Jenny Parker says the carrier is delivering "tens of thousands" of the new iPhone per day but will only add that it hopes to restock stores as quickly as possible.
Apple, by contrast, still has at least some of its own stores that claim to have iPhones, though these are also running low with multi-hour lineups a frequent sight.
Memos circulating around AT&T and obtained by AppleInsider are warning AT&T business sales consultants that any workplace-related orders placed from Sunday the 13th onwards won't be fulfilled for at least another 10 to 14 days.
The telecoms company isn't asking orders to be halted but says new orders will immediately appear as backordered.
And while both AT&T and its corporate clients are aware that sheer demand is the cause, the delay is severe enough to frustrate corporate buyers, few of whom are used to seeing unexpected shipping delays.
"I have an enterprise account and could not get an iPhone for any price," one such buyer tells AppleInsider. "I thought Apple had finally figured out the whole business thing but alas it seems not."
The situation is little better for AT&T's bread-and-butter personal customers. An informal poll of 50 AT&T stores nationwide by CNET reveals that not one of the locations has any iPhone models to sell, and none of these stores can promise new shipments within the week.
These stores are receiving short term shipments but can't guarantee a minimum amount. As little as 10 may ship one day, while 100 ship the next.
For its part, AT&T spokesperson Jenny Parker says the carrier is delivering "tens of thousands" of the new iPhone per day but will only add that it hopes to restock stores as quickly as possible.
Apple, by contrast, still has at least some of its own stores that claim to have iPhones, though these are also running low with multi-hour lineups a frequent sight.
Comments
The sales rep that took my order said that I should have one by Wednesday (yesterday) I also know that there are people who ordered after me that have received their phones. So the wait continues.... I probably will not get it until next week. (I Hope)
I was the first in line Friday morning to NOT get a phone. After people started getting their phones the Sales Rep came out and told me that I would get one (8gb) because someone changed their order. Happy me! Get in the store to find out that someone in the line had cut in front of me further up and as a result no iPhone. I was O.K. with that as my father was the last to get one and that was the most important thing. I have an original iPhone so it was not a problem.
The sales rep that took my order said that I should have one by Wednesday (yesterday) I also know that there are people who ordered after me that have received their phones. So the wait continues.... I probably will not get it until next week. (I Hope)
Everyone should just go to ATT, get on a direct fulfillment list and stop wasting time in line. It's so easy, who has the time for all this line waiting?
65 stores still have 16 gig black, most sold out iphone.
this MAJOR shortage is now affecting my business so much that , after 10 years of trading, i think i might have to fire all staff and close shop.
journalism at its lowest!!!
Seanie
OH My God... 2 weeks delay... how will i or anyone in the world survive??
this MAJOR shortage is now affecting my business so much that , after 10 years of trading, i think i might have to fire all staff and close shop.
journalism at its lowest!!!
Seanie
Only the best for our faithful readers!
I know someone who works in shipping/logistics who told me that they had large crates of iPhones sitting in warehouses at their terminal up to two weeks before the launch - and some of those crates are still sitting there. Didn't press the person any further about where the delay is coming from, but it does seem kind of strange that these things aren't getting to the retailers or the retailer's distribution centers.
Ah, so there's where Apple has embargoed Canadian iPhone stock... ;-)
(purely an unsubstantiated, but salacious rumour)
However, please have your person send a picture to Rogers to further underscore the complete cluster-f they've made of the iPhone roll-out.
(a Truth)
.
88 stores are totally sold out as of 9 pm tonight . Was 118 2 nights ago.
65 stores still have 16 gig black, most sold out iphone.
That quarterly report wouldn't include that information. Are you suggesting they discuss their iPhone 3G successes in the conference call? I'm not sure if it's proper protocol.
Everyone should just go to ATT, get on a direct fulfillment list and stop wasting time in line. It's so easy, who has the time for all this line waiting?
That's what I did last Saturday. I should be getting it on Monday when it comes in, or when I get to it during the week. I don't care for this idea of standing around like a bum for several hours. I could stand in line for hours if I wanted to, there are other things I'd rather do. Heck, I've waited a year already, another week isn't going to hurt anyone. Maybe I could say I waited 4 months too long, but oh well.
88 stores are totally sold out as of 9 pm tonight . Was 118 2 nights ago.
65 stores still have 16 gig black, most sold out iphone.
NYC stores all have iphones, but every time I call they say 4 hour wait....
"I have an enterprise account and could not get an iPhone for any price," one such buyer tells AppleInsider. "I thought Apple had finally figured out the whole business thing but alas it seems not."
Alas, I am sure your "enterprise" has never screwed up or had one bad day of operations or one upset customer in the entire life span of the business.
That quarterly report wouldn't include that information. Are you suggesting they discuss their iPhone 3G successes in the conference call? I'm not sure if it's proper protocol.
Um, I assume he's getting that data from the "Find an iPhone" store supply tool available from Apple I believe...
I agree with you, almost. Actually, I would place journalism in a very low position on the respect scale...sort of right below most members of congress and most attorneys. It would be nice if they would report...but instead they consistently strive to shape public opinion. Worse yet, they are pretty effective at shaping public opinion. A sad state, huh? (I'll put my soapbox away now)
You speak the truth my friend. Stories such as this one are silly at best.
Thankfully I have the old one
AP
So I'm starting to think Steve is making all the phones himself. By hand.
So, I stood in line today. Only for an hour though - and that was my mistake. I was number 25 (or something) in line - but that didn't help much, as the store only got in 10 phones today. The stores here in Norway are getting VERY few phones in each shipment and they're only getting shipments two times a week.
This is what I was worried about with a worldwide, single-day release. It has got to be impossible to judge demand and having millions in crates if sales were slower than expected would have killed them.
...Unless this is what they wanted. The whole "It is so hot it can't be kept in stock" Wii thing. I wonder how many weeks of "Its so hot" it takes to counteract the "Apple/iPhone dissapoints with a problematic, opening" story.