06/21/2007, 9:55am, EDT
Thursday, June 21st
AT&T: iPhones will sell-out in 24-48hrs
AT&T is expecting its retail stores to sell out of iPhones in 24-48 hours, but says it will take mail orders for delivery within 3-5 days of the launch date, according to a new report. AT&T also said it would limit iPhone sales to customers to prevent hoarding, but did not provide any other specific details. The USA Today reports that all 1,800 AT&T outlets will be carrying the device, noting that the world's largest carrier has hired an additional 2,000 employees for the launch at its retail stores -- most of which are expected to close for 90 minutes prior to the official launch time of 6 pm. The company, however, expects to extend retail store hours at most locations until 10 p.m. to accommodate the expected influx of customers. [updated]
The Senior VP of Sales at AT&T, Larry Carter said that shipments are being focused on cities with large numbers of iPod users, who are more likely to be interested in what the iPhone offers. "It's just common sense," he says, that outlets in New York City will receive more stock than Richmond. If a store does run out of iPhones, mail orders should be fulfilled within three to five days as inventory permits. Customers looking to profit on resales; however, may be disappointed, as the report indicates that AT&T is placing an as-yet undisclosed limit on how many products a person can buy.
Behind the scenes, AT&T reportedly has been preparing new service plans for the iPhone -- expected to be revealed on the same day. The plans will likely include unlimited Web browsing.
The report also indicated that AT&T has spent $50 million in expanding its data network though, and has been conducting extensive field testing, making sure that unique features such as visual voicemail work properly in reality. A total of $7 billion has already been spent in 2007 to improve AT&T service overall.
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all good trolls know this.
Then again, we all know there's the apple-fan-boy-gotta-own-everything-apple-ever-made who's going to be sucking up the early run. The bigger question is what are sales going to be like come August.
since you can't debunk the 24-48 hour thing because you know that no matter how many they stock (be it 5 per store [um, yeah] or 500 per store), they will fly off the shelves, you're shooting for an August time frame.
while others will forget your little jabs and not hold you accountable, i'll be here. in fact, i'll use my iPhone to post you daily reminders of your inadequacies as a troll.
at least testudo makes an effort.
But my point is valid. If there's only 5 phones per store, to see them sell out isn't as impressive as if there is 500. (It also appears you think there will be more then 5 per store. Do you know how many each store will have? If so, pass it along. We are talking about Apple, the king of initial underproduction). So, without knowing the number, to say they'll sell out is meaningless. (As another example, if MS sent out 1 zune to all best buys, and they actually found 200 people to buy a zune, and they announced "We've sold out at every store!", you all would be blasting them - mainly because you can't imagine anyone actually wanting anything but an Apple product)
Also, again, its easy to say it'll sell out quick, the bigger question is how much of a staying power it will have (I know, I wish I had your faith that everything apple produces will sell out because its the bestest thing ever).
Right now, the information on the iPhone available is limited, yet there's hoards of people talking about standing in line to get it. They will get it regardless of price, pricing plans, capabilities, etc. This is obvious, since they're planning on getting one before they've even touched it.
But those aren't the sales anyone should care about. Look a month down the road. As a recent example, people all over stood in line to get the PS3. It was hyped, people camped out, and there was a limited selection and they flew off the shelves. But, where is it now? There is no demand. he overall sales have been, to say the least, disappointing. Once the reviews really started to come in, the general gaming public has apparently decided its not worth the cost.
That's why August, September, etc, is important. Not because they'll sell out in 48 hours, but whether they'll keep selling out in the month to come.
But, again, such logical discussions are apparently well beyond you, because all you want is the dissenter view to be posted so you can trash the person, not the discussion. (And how sad is your life if you'll be 'reminding' someone of their inadequacies. I can at least say that, in 2 months, if the iPhone sales has flattened, will not be sitting here going "see rtbarry!")
And then there will ONLY be a 4 hour window to purchase these thing in person until stores open the next morning_
Yeah - you can "order" one online from where ever - but you still won't have it in your hands until it's shipped to you several days or weeks later_
I could see if it was going to be a mid-nite sale or something and the shops would be open until 1a or 2a_