Comments on: Is the iPhone 3G Bad for Mac? http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/ For people who dare to Phone Different. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:06:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Elizabeth Thomas http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-11424 Elizabeth Thomas Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:25:04 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-11424 <p>I would like to tell my AT&T/Apple iPhone story.....I had one in my hand(s) but couldn't buy it. I was so close. </p> <p>I waited -- first for the new one....even though I needed a phone 3 months ago. I waited for the frenzy to subside a bit, so I wasn't waiting hours in line. </p> <p>I was there - at the front - inches away from purchasing, having, using a coveed iPhone. </p> <p>helpful Apple person: "hi - who is your current cell phone provider? AT&T. Phone number?.....ya di da... I am sorry you have a "URG" number on your account - we cannot sell you a phone. You must go to a corporate AT&T store or call their customer service..... Next..."</p> <p>ME: Help - excuse me....what. I am here to purchase an iPhone - MY iPhone that I have been longing for - for months. I am ready to upgrade my AT&T service, add data and to sign a new 2 year contract. :) I am here - I am ready to BUY.....please explain. </p> <p>nice Apple person....Sorry, it has been our experience that if you have "URG" code on your plan that you have a discount associated with your account and we cannot add an iPhone for you. You must talk to AT&T. Next.</p> <p>ME -- but they don't have phones.....you have phones...NOW. They would make me wait for weeks - they must be ordered. You have a phone now - today and I am at the front of the line. I am ready to give you my money, upgrade my service and my two year committment of more money!!!</p> <p>nice Apple person ....Sorry, you must talk to AT&T. </p> <p>ME: --- not a happy girl! I call AT&T from the Apple store....I don't want to leave - they say they will hold a phone for me if I can get this worked out. </p> <p>AT&T tells me: Yes, you have a tiny weenie discount $14/month on your phone account with your family. Oh, it isn't on your phone - it is on your husband's phone. But yes, the nice Apple person is right, you must remove the discount from your account before you can purchase an iPhone. We can re-add the discount after purchase, but it will take one to two billing cycles for the discount to reappear. No, we cannot backdate the discount. You will lose potentially $28. And by the way, we cannot guarantee how long it will take for the discount to come off your account so that you can purchase the iPhone...could be 30 seconds, could take as long as 24 hours. </p> <p>The only other option is to go to the AT&T store and order your phone from them.... </p> <p>ME: THEY DON'T HAVE PHONES!! I am in line - at the front of the line -- I am inches and a "URG" code away from being an iPhone owner/user extrodinaire. Okay, the discount is on my husband's phone?! How bout if I set up my own account? </p> <p>AT&*T Well in order for us to do that there would be an $18 transfer charge and we would have to have your husband approve the change. </p> <p>ME: not a happy, AT&T customer....."forced" to go to the AT&T store, wait weeks for a iPhone. I can't even break my account off. This is absurd. I would need my husband permission to transfer off. Isn't this the liberated year of the woman! I can set up my own account but I cannot port my number.....</p> <p>All of the above equals a very unhappy, frustrated AT&T customer, with NO iPhone. Hence, I write. </p> <p>Dear AT&T - I am about as unhappy a customer as you can get! I have been loyal to you through the years....@ 10yrs.... Because my spouse works very closely with you and your future technologies - we receive a little $14/mo. discount on our cell phone plan. I appreciate the discount - but I don't appreciate the monopoly you have created with regard to the sale of the iPhone. </p> <ul> <li><p>I have been left with the option of waiting for weeks by ordering a phone thru you..... OR</p></li> <li><p>Losing $28 in discount....and it's not the money that bothers me. It is the 2 30-50minute phone calls that it will take for me to remove the discount...and then the second call to put the discount back on. It is the funny look that my husband will give me for the hassle. If I walked into the Apple store and smiled at the nice Apple person and said.....I would like an iPhone and I am a new AT&T customer....I would be using an iPhone today. Where is the logic in turning away....new data business - a new 2 year contract. Mr. Business Man, Corp. America...where is the logic in turning away a customer -with money in hand? All this happened a week ago -- I still don't have an iPhone - I still want to buy an iPhone. But thanks to corporate run-around non-sense....I haven't had the gumption to go for it again. those new blackberry's thru Verizon are looking real tempting..... and btw, please don't threaten me with the "service contract fee".....I am long beyond that. Just fix this mess </p></li> </ul> <p>Kind regards, </p> <p>Elizabeth</p> <p>Dear Steve Jobs! How are you? I feel as if I know you since I have been a loyal Apple customer since the first MacIntosh. I didn't buy the first iPhone - sorry, my husband convinced me that I should wait for version 2. Here I am trying to buy version 2. Please read above. What a mess of corporate bureacracy. I am confident that when you set up this corporate deal with AT&T and this latest launch - you wouldn't have agreed to this. I have this confidence because I know you want to attract the "enterprise business customer." The new apps offered with the phone and the ability to make enterprise level upgrades etc. You want the corporate "Blackberry" business. </p> <p>If you are courting business from the "business community" why wouldn't you make it easier for us with a business discount to get this new toy in our hands?</p> <p>I am a recruiter - I talk to technolgy people all day long - I don't think you want me telling my iPhone corporate bureaucratic story.....ease of use, ease of interface, streamline, efficiency. I think all of these adjectives are/were part of the plan. Unfortunately, not my experience. </p> <p>Steve, please look into this problem. It is a corporate disservice....it is making you look bad.**</p> <p>We want the phone - but how much pain will we endure to get it? </p> <p>**PS> 2 people in line behind me - just that day - in that same store. Had the same "URG" code issue. One guy had gone to the AT&T store to have his "discount removed". He was red-faced and panting 'cause he had rushed back and was trying to get a phone before they ran out again. </p> <p>It is more common than you think. I am just a little business woman - potentially the corporate decision maker of tomorrow. Certainly, the household decision maker today. </p> <p>Thanks Steve - I know you will do the right thing. Isn't that why you went back to Apple - ?</p> <p>Kind regards, </p> <p>Elizabeth</p> I would like to tell my AT&T/Apple iPhone story…..I had one in my hand(s) but couldn’t buy it. I was so close.

I waited — first for the new one….even though I needed a phone 3 months ago. I waited for the frenzy to subside a bit, so I wasn’t waiting hours in line.

I was there – at the front – inches away from purchasing, having, using a coveed iPhone.

helpful Apple person: “hi – who is your current cell phone provider? AT&T. Phone number?…..ya di da… I am sorry you have a “URG” number on your account – we cannot sell you a phone. You must go to a corporate AT&T store or call their customer service….. Next…”

ME: Help – excuse me….what. I am here to purchase an iPhone – MY iPhone that I have been longing for – for months. I am ready to upgrade my AT&T service, add data and to sign a new 2 year contract. :) I am here – I am ready to BUY…..please explain.

nice Apple person….Sorry, it has been our experience that if you have “URG” code on your plan that you have a discount associated with your account and we cannot add an iPhone for you. You must talk to AT&T. Next.

ME — but they don’t have phones…..you have phones…NOW. They would make me wait for weeks – they must be ordered. You have a phone now – today and I am at the front of the line. I am ready to give you my money, upgrade my service and my two year committment of more money!!!

nice Apple person ….Sorry, you must talk to AT&T.

ME: — not a happy girl! I call AT&T from the Apple store….I don’t want to leave – they say they will hold a phone for me if I can get this worked out.

AT&T tells me: Yes, you have a tiny weenie discount $14/month on your phone account with your family. Oh, it isn’t on your phone – it is on your husband’s phone. But yes, the nice Apple person is right, you must remove the discount from your account before you can purchase an iPhone. We can re-add the discount after purchase, but it will take one to two billing cycles for the discount to reappear. No, we cannot backdate the discount. You will lose potentially $28. And by the way, we cannot guarantee how long it will take for the discount to come off your account so that you can purchase the iPhone…could be 30 seconds, could take as long as 24 hours.

The only other option is to go to the AT&T store and order your phone from them….

ME: THEY DON’T HAVE PHONES!! I am in line – at the front of the line — I am inches and a “URG” code away from being an iPhone owner/user extrodinaire. Okay, the discount is on my husband’s phone?! How bout if I set up my own account?

AT&*T Well in order for us to do that there would be an $18 transfer charge and we would have to have your husband approve the change.

ME: not a happy, AT&T customer…..”forced” to go to the AT&T store, wait weeks for a iPhone. I can’t even break my account off. This is absurd. I would need my husband permission to transfer off. Isn’t this the liberated year of the woman! I can set up my own account but I cannot port my number…..

All of the above equals a very unhappy, frustrated AT&T customer, with NO iPhone. Hence, I write.

Dear AT&T – I am about as unhappy a customer as you can get! I have been loyal to you through the years….@ 10yrs…. Because my spouse works very closely with you and your future technologies – we receive a little $14/mo. discount on our cell phone plan. I appreciate the discount – but I don’t appreciate the monopoly you have created with regard to the sale of the iPhone.

  • I have been left with the option of waiting for weeks by ordering a phone thru you….. OR

  • Losing $28 in discount….and it’s not the money that bothers me. It is the 2 30-50minute phone calls that it will take for me to remove the discount…and then the second call to put the discount back on. It is the funny look that my husband will give me for the hassle. If I walked into the Apple store and smiled at the nice Apple person and said…..I would like an iPhone and I am a new AT&T customer….I would be using an iPhone today. Where is the logic in turning away….new data business – a new 2 year contract. Mr. Business Man, Corp. America…where is the logic in turning away a customer -with money in hand? All this happened a week ago — I still don’t have an iPhone – I still want to buy an iPhone. But thanks to corporate run-around non-sense….I haven’t had the gumption to go for it again. those new blackberry’s thru Verizon are looking real tempting….. and btw, please don’t threaten me with the “service contract fee”…..I am long beyond that. Just fix this mess

Kind regards,

Elizabeth

Dear Steve Jobs! How are you? I feel as if I know you since I have been a loyal Apple customer since the first MacIntosh. I didn’t buy the first iPhone – sorry, my husband convinced me that I should wait for version 2. Here I am trying to buy version 2. Please read above. What a mess of corporate bureacracy. I am confident that when you set up this corporate deal with AT&T and this latest launch – you wouldn’t have agreed to this. I have this confidence because I know you want to attract the “enterprise business customer.” The new apps offered with the phone and the ability to make enterprise level upgrades etc. You want the corporate “Blackberry” business.

If you are courting business from the “business community” why wouldn’t you make it easier for us with a business discount to get this new toy in our hands?

I am a recruiter – I talk to technolgy people all day long – I don’t think you want me telling my iPhone corporate bureaucratic story…..ease of use, ease of interface, streamline, efficiency. I think all of these adjectives are/were part of the plan. Unfortunately, not my experience.

Steve, please look into this problem. It is a corporate disservice….it is making you look bad.**

We want the phone – but how much pain will we endure to get it?

**PS> 2 people in line behind me – just that day – in that same store. Had the same “URG” code issue. One guy had gone to the AT&T store to have his “discount removed”. He was red-faced and panting ’cause he had rushed back and was trying to get a phone before they ran out again.

It is more common than you think. I am just a little business woman – potentially the corporate decision maker of tomorrow. Certainly, the household decision maker today.

Thanks Steve – I know you will do the right thing. Isn’t that why you went back to Apple – ?

Kind regards,

Elizabeth

]]> By: John http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10951 John Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:18:27 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10951 <p>The main problem is with store managers. They decide how to handle the lines and some are great at it, and some blow. If you had a bad experience at a store, it's not apple or AT&T's fault, it was the manager that was in charge of that store. (it's apples fault for under estimating) This is why we have posts saying they had a good experience and some saying they had a bad one. You said "The Store employee gave me the excuse that the lines served as a safety precaution but the Apple Store looked pretty empty." In your situation a good manager would have let mac people in the store up to capacity figuring in the few iphone customers actually in the store so you could play with the product your about to buy instead of staring at the back of someone's head. safety precaution?? we're gadget freaks not barroom brawlers. that store is run by a bunch of morons!</p> The main problem is with store managers. They decide how to handle the lines and some are great at it, and some blow. If you had a bad experience at a store, it’s not apple or AT&T’s fault, it was the manager that was in charge of that store. (it’s apples fault for under estimating) This is why we have posts saying they had a good experience and some saying they had a bad one. You said “The Store employee gave me the excuse that the lines served as a safety precaution but the Apple Store looked pretty empty.” In your situation a good manager would have let mac people in the store up to capacity figuring in the few iphone customers actually in the store so you could play with the product your about to buy instead of staring at the back of someone’s head. safety precaution?? we’re gadget freaks not barroom brawlers. that store is run by a bunch of morons!

]]> By: Pat http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10919 Pat Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:06:46 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10919 <p>@Tuna</p> <p>Glad that you got your e-mail today.!! Got my email just now, so I am hoping mine will be there on Monday or Tuesday. I just went with the normal shipping too.. Cant wait..</p> @Tuna

Glad that you got your e-mail today.!! Got my email just now, so I am hoping mine will be there on Monday or Tuesday. I just went with the normal shipping too.. Cant wait..

]]> By: SAD http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10906 SAD Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:04:53 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10906 <p>NICE ONE Dan!</p> <p>If ONLY you lot put as much effort and emotional investiture as trying to obtain what is becoming such a sh!t despised renown train wreck of a product ("Mobile" with non existent battery life - THE IRONY ROTFLMAO!!!)into society and helping others instead of seeking such dumb superficial, and ephermeral buzz making (instead of long term emotional well being) selfish pleasure just think about the relative nivrana society could have been.</p> <p>But there lies the problem...asking you to "think" with your level of superficiality - you wouldn't be degrading humanity with your embarrassing cult following if you possessed such an ability - you are no different from religious fanatics except at least they have some excuse - there is more chance they had NO choice about joining their cult being brainwashed by their parents beliefs as susceptible kids.</p> <p>Also it SPEAKS volumes that the UK lines WERE 100% MEN not ONE WOMAN in those queues :o .....</p> NICE ONE Dan!

If ONLY you lot put as much effort and emotional investiture as trying to obtain what is becoming such a **** despised renown train wreck of a product (”Mobile” with non existent battery life – THE IRONY ROTFLMAO!!!)into society and helping others instead of seeking such dumb superficial, and ephermeral buzz making (instead of long term emotional well being) selfish pleasure just think about the relative nivrana society could have been.

But there lies the problem…asking you to “think” with your level of superficiality – you wouldn’t be degrading humanity with your embarrassing cult following if you possessed such an ability – you are no different from religious fanatics except at least they have some excuse – there is more chance they had NO choice about joining their cult being brainwashed by their parents beliefs as susceptible kids.

Also it SPEAKS volumes that the UK lines WERE 100% MEN not ONE WOMAN in those queues :o …..

]]> By: Tuna http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10899 Tuna Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:04:10 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10899 <p>@Pat, </p> <p>I ordered mine on Friday at 11:30am, 8gb, and I got a message saying mine shipped yesterday!!! But, it looks like AT&T randomly gave some people priority overnight shipping on their phone, while others got standard overnight... right now, my phone is about 20 minutes away from my house/AT&T store, sitting in a sorting facility and won't be delivered until MONDAY because I didn't get priority shipping by AT&T... now I have to wait 2 extra days... Makes me sad :'-(</p> @Pat,

I ordered mine on Friday at 11:30am, 8gb, and I got a message saying mine shipped yesterday!!! But, it looks like AT&T randomly gave some people priority overnight shipping on their phone, while others got standard overnight… right now, my phone is about 20 minutes away from my house/AT&T store, sitting in a sorting facility and won’t be delivered until MONDAY because I didn’t get priority shipping by AT&T… now I have to wait 2 extra days… Makes me sad :’-(

]]> By: Art http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10857 Art Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:52:39 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10857 <p>Today, July 18 2008 I showed up at the Culver City Apple Store at 9:30am, the store opened at 10:00am. There were only 10 people in line but the manager came out and stated they had NO phones in stock and didn't know if they were going to get a delivery. To make a long story short, I waited til 10:00am and had put my name down to save my spot, and about 10:10am the manager stated they received 25 phones. I was out of the store by 11:30am with my black 16 gig Iphone.</p> Today, July 18 2008 I showed up at the Culver City Apple Store at 9:30am, the store opened at 10:00am. There were only 10 people in line but the manager came out and stated they had NO phones in stock and didn’t know if they were going to get a delivery. To make a long story short, I waited til 10:00am and had put my name down to save my spot, and about 10:10am the manager stated they received 25 phones. I was out of the store by 11:30am with my black 16 gig Iphone.

]]> By: pat http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10852 pat Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:09:37 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10852 <p>Well I called my AT&T store just now to ask if they had any 8 gig phones in and he said the they were back ordered, If I ordered one it would take between 10-20 business days to get it. He told me that people that had ordered there phones on Tuesday were getting calls today that there phones were in. I told him that i ordered my phone on Saturday and why haven't i got a call, He put me on hold and came back and said my phone wasn't in yet, and asked me if there was any problem with my order? (how am i supposed to know, I have the receipt for it) and then he said that a big shipment is coming in tomorrow and that mine will probably in it. (yeah right)and I will get a call tomorrow morning from my sales person... We'll see...</p> Well I called my AT&T store just now to ask if they had any 8 gig phones in and he said the they were back ordered, If I ordered one it would take between 10-20 business days to get it. He told me that people that had ordered there phones on Tuesday were getting calls today that there phones were in. I told him that i ordered my phone on Saturday and why haven’t i got a call, He put me on hold and came back and said my phone wasn’t in yet, and asked me if there was any problem with my order? (how am i supposed to know, I have the receipt for it) and then he said that a big shipment is coming in tomorrow and that mine will probably in it. (yeah right)and I will get a call tomorrow morning from my sales person… We’ll see…

]]> By: pat http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10842 pat Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:59:54 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10842 <p>@tuna</p> <p>thanks for the web page, I read a few pages of it and it looks like everyone is having the same problem, i just checked my status and the phone went back to a zero, but the freight stayed the same. I also just called the AT&T number and it said that both were back ordered. So much for their up to date information, no wonder all these orders are screwed up, Thanks again for the web page</p> @tuna

thanks for the web page, I read a few pages of it and it looks like everyone is having the same problem, i just checked my status and the phone went back to a zero, but the freight stayed the same. I also just called the AT&T number and it said that both were back ordered. So much for their up to date information, no wonder all these orders are screwed up, Thanks again for the web page

]]> By: Tuna http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10794 Tuna Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:54:19 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10794 <p>@Pat,</p> <p>Check out this forum. Everyone in the same situation as you and me is posting here. Lots of info about what is going on, even a guy who works in the AT&T warehouse has been posting here.</p> <p>http://forums.cingular.com/cng/board/message?board.id=apple&thread.id=31997&view=by<em>date</em>ascending&page=280</p> <p>I'm not sure of the rules, so if I'm not supposed to enter links, just let me know and I will refrain in the future.</p> @Pat,

Check out this forum. Everyone in the same situation as you and me is posting here. Lots of info about what is going on, even a guy who works in the AT&T warehouse has been posting here.

http://forums.cingular.com/cng/board/message?board.id=apple&thread.id=31997&view=bydateascending&page=280

I’m not sure of the rules, so if I’m not supposed to enter links, just let me know and I will refrain in the future.

]]> By: pat http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/07/15/is-the-iphone-3g-bad-for-mac/comment-page-1/#comment-10756 pat Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:22:54 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=3308#comment-10756 <p>Checked my order status just now on the AT&T web page and it looks like my 8 gig phone is back ordered, as both boxes have a one in it.</p> Checked my order status just now on the AT&T web page and it looks like my 8 gig phone is back ordered, as both boxes have a one in it.

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