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Want an iPhone 3G? Here's what you do…
If you've been waiting to get your hands on an iPhone 3G, be prepared to keep waiting. AT&T only takes advance orders, and Apple stores are sold out across the country. You've got two options: go through AT&T's direct fulfillment plan and be patient, or keep an eye on which stores have the iPhone in stock and get camp there as early as possible. The 5th Avenue store here in New York City had iPhone units in today, but they also had a five hour line, and there certaintly aren't enough phones to go around.
How will you know when the iPhone 3G is back in? Apple is making sure the word gets out only through its site and stores. iPhone availability tracking sites outside of Apple such as TopMuffin have found themselves cut off from the company's stock numbers. A prospective iPhone buyer's most reliable recourse is to give the nearest Apple store a ring or check Apple's website after 9 o'clock at night (wherever you are), for the following day's availability.
And that's how it looks right now, folks. Pay in advance and wait for AT&T to call you to pick up your phone, or keep an eye on Apple and take your chance in line.
Via Reuters
By Just J at 7:51 PM ON 07/24/08
This is the worst way to get a new iPhone, as everyone will be able to see the stock, and if "your" store has any, the line will be long.
Instead, call in the afternoon or evening. Often, a store that started the day with no iPhones, and which therefore does not have people waiting in line in the morning, will get a delivery during the day. If you call between 3:00pm and an hour or so before they close (depending on how long it will take to get there), you can find out if they have any left from any shipments that day, and how long the line is. That's how I scored my iPhone last Friday night at a Chicago are store that was theoretically out of iPhones that day (and that really was out of them the next day, as I got the last 16GB Black they had).
By GreatGodPanDemic at 8:13 PM ON 07/24/08
Absolutely pathetic. I guess anybody whose life is so empty that they've got to try to fill the void by acquiring the latest pop culture gadget that they've been brainwashed into believing will somehow transform their life would have plenty of free time to engage in this ludicrous iphone hunting. Let me tell ya something, even if I go out to eat and there's a wait at the restaurant, bam, I'm out of there. Nothing, NOTHING is that important. Let me rephrase, there are things in life that are important, but a consumer-culture pop-fad tech-toy gadget ain't one of them. Get an iLife, people.
By etedamour at 10:27 PM ON 07/24/08
"Pay in advance and wait" is a little misleading. AT&T will ping your debit or credit card to make sure you have adequate funds when you buy the phone, but you won't actually be charged until the phones ships. For what it's worth, I ordered mine from AT&T on the 15th and was told I'd have a three week wait, but it arrived today.
(And simmer down, Pandemic. People who take the time to post a rant about why they're not joining the club are pretty high up there on the pathetic scale, too.)
By thor79 at 1:26 PM ON 07/25/08
Yeah...I"m glad I made the trip to the downtown Chicago Apple store from the far western suburbs when I did (July 14th). I went when I knew they still had plenty of stock. An early 3 hour wait (got there at 7am) knowing you get one versus taking a shot in the dark at stores that may or may not have them, I'll take the early wait every time. No point in waiting in a line these days. You're better off just ordering one from AT&T.
By stella at 12:39 AM ON 07/27/08
LOL Ete, bravo!
By JAck at 9:14 AM ON 07/27/08
Went and ordered my iphone yesterday at AT&T. If you want a white 16GB it only take 3-4 days. A friend got hers in 2.
By DIMONIUSIS at 5:06 AM ON 08/02/08
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DIMONIUSIS:
Greetings! We group hackers from Russia. We are engaged breaking of programs of various purpose. Today we have crac...More »