AT&T retail iPhone 4 launch triggers more lineups

updated 08:30 am EDT, Tue June 29, 2010

ATT retail shows no slowdown in demand


As promised, AT&T today began taking on-the-spot sales of the iPhone 4 at its retail stores and online. Both follow nearly two weeks after AT&T halted pre-orders due to demand. The provider hasn't made mention of stock, but it's expected to sell out quickly in the morning.

Early reports from northern Manhattan and other areas have suggested that lines are usually in the dozens, some over 100. The stores themselves have usually told those in line that a few dozen phones are available and have had to warn some customers that they wouldn't get stock. Representatives are also only allowing customers in a small amount at a time to prevent rushes or other crowd problems.

The anecdotes suggest ongoing strong demand for the iPhone 4, which managed a record 1.7 million sales in its first three days and now shows no immediate signs of slowing down. Early estimates are that most buyers are upgrading from existing devices.

(image via Aaron)


By Electronista Staff

toggle

Previous Comments

  1. Lifeisabeach

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2010

    +7

    Verizon wishes they had such problems

    You'll never see people lining up like this for a Droid 2 or X on launch day, much less 2 weeks later.


  1. coitus

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2000

    +1

    ATT Launch

    I was about 10th in line at an ATT store in Edmond (OKC), OK. For the first time in my life I have nothing bad to say about ATT as the process went swiftly and was well-organized. In line at 4:45a, store opened at 7. Walked out with my new phone at 7:15a.

    Inquiry on stock available was 60 16GB 4G and 16 32GB 4G phones. They expect approximately similar quantities daily. Also, of note. If you had a pre-order, you could have shown up and gotten one today.


  1. DanielSw

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2009

    0

    A few things the naysayers always miss. . .

    They say the stand-in-liners are victims of marketing. Don't these people have better things to do than to stand in line for a phone? Wouldn't it be smarter to wait for others to uncover the bugs?

    No. No. No.

    These people have enough time/resources to "waste" they time in line.

    They don't agree with/believe all the bad news about AT&T, or they haven't had any or many bad experiences with AT&T.

    They don't believe the bad news about the iPhone's "flaws."

    What they do know is that they want this new product. They've seen its features and are ready to buy new or upgrade.

    They want it enough to get it "NOW."

    Sales statistics seem to bear out the GOOD NEWS that the iPhone 4 is indeed a good product and that there are A LOT of people who know that and want one NOW.

    THAT should be and IS the GOOD NEWS.


  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    -3

    I guess these customers haven't heard

    about the antenna reception problems or they don't care. Even on the radio they're mentioning the antenna glitch which is rather unusual. I'll still repeat myself and say that the reception problem will not slow down sales of the iPhone. It's most likely blogger and iHater FUD that's keeping this story circulating.


  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0

    I wouldn't come if I were you

    I called our local AT&T store and the clerk to me that "I wouldn't come if I were you, because there are still 70 people in line and we barely have enough to cover them."


  1. camerachris

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2004

    +5

    reports of reception problem are greatly exaggerat

    i honestly can't figure out what is behind the foaming-at-the-mouth vitriol directed towards the new iphone's reception issues.

    neither my old razr 2 or iphone 3g could get reception in my house unless i was standing in front of a window. hearing about improvements in the new iphone 4, i pre-ordered it and took a chance.

    and? yes, i can now make phone calls inside the house. reception is not perfect, but i've only dropped one call in a week. compare that to my previous phones where i couldn't even get connected!

    yes, there may be issues blocking the antenna by holding it certain ways. this seems to be the case for all phone historically. but i really had to contort my hand to introduce the issues - it was certainly not the way i normally hold the phone (i switch between hands), and it seems like you'd need to have baby hands to cradle it the way i see on the videos.

    but why the anger at this phone's issues? if you don't like it, don't buy it. i think that's enough. people that don't own it, and will never own it (regardless of perfect reception or not) are making it a personal mission in their lives to falsely sandbag this phone.


  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    -2

    AT&T's signal problem is too real

    So...I went to that AT&T corporate store. Inside and outside the store, I got two bars.

    Very funny.


  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -3

    Re: A few things the naysayers always miss. . .

    They say the stand-in-liners are victims of marketing. Don't these people have better things to do than to stand in line for a phone? Wouldn't it be smarter to wait for others to uncover the bugs?

    No. No. No.

    These people have enough time/resources to "waste" they time in line.


    Well, duh. I seriously doubt people who need to work every day to get by are buying an iPhone anyway. And they certainly aren't stupid enough to waste it standing in line.

    They don't agree with/believe all the bad news about AT&T, or they haven't had any or many bad experiences with AT&T.

    They don't believe the bad news about the iPhone's "flaws."

    What they do know is that they want this new product. They've seen its features and are ready to buy new or upgrade.


    Sorry, you made a jump in logic. Because they stand in line does not mean they don't believe the reviews or haven't had bad experiences with ATT. It can just as well be said that they are getting it despite all that.

    There are enough fanboys and 'gotta have it' people out there to stand in line regardless of what any negative press says. h***, every reviewer on the earth could say "iPhone 4. Overpriced. Buggy. Doesn't make calls. Software keeps crashing. Gives you warts. Don't get it!" and there'd still be people standing in line.

    They want it enough to get it "NOW."

    Right. They want it. Regardless of what is said.

    Sales statistics seem to bear out the GOOD NEWS that the iPhone 4 is indeed a good product and that there are A LOT of people who know that and want one NOW.

    Another jump in logic. The 1.7 million people are sales from the first 3 days of the product. Most of these people pre-ordered or bought without even touching it. How in the world could you know it is a good product if you pre-ordered 3 weeks ago, before it was released? You ordered because the previous ones were good products and felt the new one would be just as good.

    Oh, and all of that might not matter at all if, more importantly, it is just important to have it because it is the accessory of the summer and if you don't have it, well, you're just going to look so last year!


Login Here

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

 
close
Photo
toggle

Network Headlines

toggle

Most Popular

10 Most Read

Recent Reviews

Logitech Cube

The world of mice could often be described charitably as stagnant: it's an endless sea of ergonomic shapes that assume you're sitting ...

NewerTech and Targus USB Hubs For Gifts

A useful holiday present to resolve an ongoing frustration is a multi-port hub. Whether as a stocking stuffer, Chanukah present, or an ...

X-Rite ColorMunki Photo

Color calibration is the art of tweaking your monitor so that the colors represented on screen better match real life and your printer ...

toggle

Most Commented

10 Most Discussed

 
toggle

Popular News