“A sales brief sent to AT&T retailers, leaked by the Boy Genius Report, should put an end to eBay auctions for pre-sale models of the Apple iPhone,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt blogs for Business 2.0.
According to the memo:
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.
“It means that sales staff at Apple and AT&T retail stores will have to bear the brunt of the chaos expected when the device finally does become available,” Elmer-DeWitt writes.
Full article here.
Full AT&T memo via the Boy Genius Report here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “zerO” for the heads up.]
Get ready for massive lines, camping out, etc. out the wazoo at Apple and AT&T retail stores and, as we’re sure Steve Jobs planned, the attendant free publicity from widespread media coverage of the iPhone launch chaos!
Thanks MDN
I’ve said it numerous times. There will be acts of violence over this device.
Nooooooo! Dammmmit!
I should not have to wait in a freekin line to drop $700 (8GB iPhone + bluetooth earpiece) on any product. The first batch of iPhone is likely to sell out – no doubt while I’m waiting in line.
I hope Apple takes online pre-orders for the iPhone like they do with soon to be released Macs and AppleTV.
methinks the word “chaos” will prove to be an understatement !
As I said on a different thread, Apple will sell 100 million iPhones faster than it took them to sell 100 million iPods. In three years, people will be talking about how the iPhone became Apple’s biggest product ever – overtaking the iPod.
yikes.. guess have to camp out! What fun..
-_-
I think you’re right Cubert, and opening day for iPhone is going to be.. fun..
Anyone want to take bets on how long it will be before they sell off the shelves and people end up on a back order wait list?
How many units you think Apple will have ready in time for the launch?
MDN “blood” as in there’s already blood on the iPhone touch screen and it’s not even out yet. Bye bye Palm.
I hope this doesn’t become the “Wii” of cellphones — insanely popular, still impossible to find six months after launch.
Another typo at the end of the MDN take: “chaos” is spelled KAOS. No one knows what it is an acronym for, but it is the International Organization of evil, led by the diabolical Siegfried.
Or, would you believe….
The PlayStation 3 media hype was tremendous the day it was released. People were selling their position near the front of the line for several thousand dollars. If the iPhone can volume up the production better than Sony did and get that sort of media attention on release day, that advertisement alone is worth millions of dollars and has a halo effect of its own. This will be another Tickle Me Elmo and/or Cabbage Patch Doll scenerio.
True, twilightmoon.
I’d better start camping out tonight. Sorry, NO cutsies. Unless, you’re named Gisele and you’re a supermodel.
There may very well be riots in some locations if there are not enough units available for the people in line. I expect that accross the debut zone they should have at leat 1.5 million units available on launch day. However, they may underestimate in some markets and the results could be serious.
Max: Hopefully they’ve got it under CONTROL.
Did anyone catch the very end of the memo? It definitely seems to reinforce the notion that the price will be subsidized… advising sales to state the “announced” pricing and not to discuss pricing further. Anyone else agree?
A few years ago, people were still issuing Apple death knells. Interesting how times have changed.
Nope, sorry tiredG4.
The iPhone will be 499 and 599 for the 4GB and 8GB versions at launch. This is a known, and well documented fact, and comes both from Apple and AT&T.
Also, Apple will collect revenue from AT&T over the 2 year contract for the iPhone from the monthly bill, unlike any other handset maker.
If you want one for less than 500 bux, you’ll have to wait a few years.
This is going to be like the violent riot over the iBooks at Enrico County, or whatever that stupid place was. From what I remember, it involved women peeing themselves rather than loose their place in line.
MacMania, you got a link to that story?
I bet Ballmer and co. will sleep outside to have their hands on it first and start the photocopiers.
Jeff, why not just mug Steve Jobs? I heard he has one in his front pocket!
@ MacMania nad Twilight:
That was when the schools 4 year old iBooks were selling for $50… yeah, it was a mad house.
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/6600/
thanks loki!
Saddest part of the article besides people getting trampled, is: “Apple was outbid by some $4 million by Dell — $20 less for each Windows-based laptop — and Henrico County schools are in the process of transitioning away from Macs.”
God forbid that children will be subjected to Dell craptops over a measly $20 per unit.
Guess our kids aren’t worth very much, especially in Henrico County.
“I should not have to wait in a freekin line to drop $700 (8GB iPhone + bluetooth earpiece) on any product. “
No one is putting a gun to your head mister oompaloompa
twilightmoon,
That’s not an iPhone in his front pocket, he’s just happy to see you.