Availability frustration: What gives?

[mac from the start]

I've been trying buy buy an iPhone for weeks now and am getting tired of calling the local stores and being told "we don't have any" and "we don't know when they are coming in" every time I call. I was just told by one saleswoman that "even if" she knew when they were coming in they were "prohibited by law" from divulging the information.
This is a terrible way to sell a product and foster customer loyalty. They obviously know where these phones are in the system. (I can track an order I place with Amazon.com from warehouse to my front porch and S Jobs Inc. is more sophisticated than that.)
This is making me want to just forget about the iPhone and go out and buy a Droid or some other smartphone.
If they tell me they have a shipment coming in tomorrow (or next week) I'd be happy. But when they say they have no idea when they are getting in a new batch it makes me think that they are either a)incompetent or b)deceptive.
Calling the store every day to be given the same rote answer of Apple ignorance is not fostering a sense of Apple loyalty in this long-time Mac enthusiast.

 

[big9erfan]

You have a few options:
- Order from a local Apple Store ( and wait )
- Order from a local carrier store ( and wait )
- Order from Apple.com ( and wait )

 

[Garz]

I ordered my wifes from Att and it took 9 days to arrive. Just got it the other day. If your not willing to order it, then dont complain.

 

[sting7k]

I've been trying buy buy an iPhone for weeks now and am getting tired of calling the local stores and being told "we don't have any" and "we don't know when they are coming in" every time I call. I was just told by one saleswoman that "even if" she knew when they were coming in they were "prohibited by law" from divulging the information.
This is a terrible way to sell a product and foster customer loyalty. They obviously know where these phones are in the system. (I can track an order I place with Amazon.com from warehouse to my front porch and S Jobs Inc. is more sophisticated than that.)
This is making me want to just forget about the iPhone and go out and buy a Droid or some other smartphone.
If they tell me they have a shipment coming in tomorrow (or next week) I'd be happy. But when they say they have no idea when they are getting in a new batch it makes me think that they are either a)incompetent or b)deceptive.
Calling the store every day to be given the same rote answer of Apple ignorance is not fostering a sense of Apple loyalty in this long-time Mac enthusiast.

Tracking a product from Amazon's warehouse to your door is a little different than tracking a pallet of iPhone's coming from China to a distribution center and then out to thousands of stores across the country. Especially when sales people on the floor don't control inventory, they just put in the orders that they need more and then someone at a distribution center puts in computer that Store X needs more iPhones and they get moved when they get there, a system the sales people likely have no access too.

Why don't you just order one and then they will call you when it arrives and you can go pick it up. Have you tried Best Buy, Walmart, or Radio Shack? If you order from Apple.com you could probably track your single iPhone from China to your door and be happy.

 

[touchyphone]

Basically OP, you're unwilling to order online, so you're SOL. Guess thats what happens when you want the same phone millions of other people want....

 

[morgantm89]

I walked into a Apple store on friday and got one? Must be lucky I guess

 

[ghostface147]

The lady at the Apple store said it was prohibited by law to give info on when they may get more stock? What is she on?

 

[IGoSlo]

I just walked out of an Apple store on Long Island with iPhone 4 in hand. iPhone 4 32 GB Black. Not only one but 2. one for me one for wife. paid $199.99 each. SAME "Special" price A T & T was going to give them to me and I did NOT have to LOOSE my " UNLIMITED" Data plans as A T & T was going to with NEW 2 year contract. You see, I'm on the OLD Contract of "Unlimited" data.That's why they "offered" me a "promotional" price package... LOL

 

[LCW]

OP - there are a ton of people selling iP4s on ebay and craigslist... maybe try that approach

 

[markhunsaker]

In the time you've been checking all your stores, if you had ordered and waited, you would have already received it.

 

[ghostface147]

In the time you've been checking all your stores, if you had ordered and waited, you would have already received it.

Ding ding ding....we have a winner. You win a date with Iliza Shlesinger.

 

[big9erfan]

Ding ding ding....we have a winner. You win a date with Iliza Shlesinger.

Damn, she's cute too!

 

[pilsbury]

I must be lucky, I walked into Wal Mart five weeks ago, did an early UG and walked out with an i4.

 

[matthew23]

I walked into an apple store today and bought an iPhone 4 for my bro. They had just got them in. Right place, right time.

 

[chobbs1]

199 for an iPhone 4 32 gig???

 

[dylanreich]

199 for an iPhone 4 32 gig???

I thought it was 199 for 16, and 299 for 32?

 

[markhunsaker]

Is it a promise? Or is this a blind date? My wife approves lol.

 

[chobbs1]

That's what I thought too!

 

[chobbs1]

I just walked out of an Apple store on Long Island with iPhone 4 in hand. iPhone 4 32 GB Black. Not only one but 2. one for me one for wife. paid $199.99 each. SAME "Special" price A T & T was going to give them to me and I did NOT have to LOOSE my " UNLIMITED" Data plans as A T & T was going to with NEW 2 year contract. You see, I'm on the OLD Contract of "Unlimited" data.That's why they "offered" me a "promotional" price package... LOL

But it seems someone got a better deal.

 

[greenapple]

i just walked into an apple store last week and they had them available, no reservations needed and no line i couldn't wait for the white anymore..since my 3g broke

i think it depends on where you go, the store i went to was in a residential type of area, not downtown where there are a zillion people no matter what hour.

also, if you go in and ask to reserve it, you'd get it sooner then ordering it and waiting.