The Channel Checkers ran a recent survey asking Cingular [AT&T] wireless stores “when they expected to get the iPhone in their shops, if they had a waiting list and how many names were on it.”
The Channel Checkers reports, “The expected arrival date for the iPhone at Cingular stores ranged from June 15th to July generally… Our second question about wait lists resulted in 64% of stores reporting a waiting list (We called 36 stores for this survey). The remaining 36% said sales were on a ‘first come first serve’ basis. It was apparent to us that stores reps were keeping their own waiting lists as most are compensated on commission basis it makes sense to us that waiting lists would proliferate as the launch date closes in. So it appears that 64% of Cingular reps are industrious capitalists while the rest are sort of dunderheads.”
MacDailyNews Take: Actually, 64% of AT&T reps are not following AT&T policy. It’s unfortunate that The Channel Checkers refer to those correctly following corporate policy as “dunderheads.” A sales brief sent to AT&T retailers earlier this month clearly stated, “Sales of the iPhone will be on a first come, first served basis. No wait list names will be taken and NO pre-selling is allowed.” Please see related article: AT&T: Apple iPhone sales first come, first serve; no pre-sales allowed – May 15, 2007
The Channel Checkers expect that “demand for the iPhone is probably going to surprise even Apple fanatics in the early days. We expect sell-outs and complaints about lack of availability of the phone.”
MacDailyNews Take: Thanks to the 64% of AT&T dunderheads who are keeping waiting lists that AT&T says they shouldn’t be keeping.
The Channel Checkers also reports, “We have stumbled across some info that leads us to beleive that HonHai is having trouble manufacturing to schedule and is running behind due to some part delays. It appears that the initial 12 million unit run rate will not be available by June 15.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Casey" for the heads up.]
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