Apple retail chief on what to expect at Apple stores on Friday
A list of data points from Johnson's interview follow:
- Apple Specialists should be able to activate customer accounts with AT&T within 15 minutes. "Our expectation is that in 10 to 15 minutes, you'll be set up and ready to go," Johnson said.
- Each of Apple's 185 US-based retail stores aim to handle about 100 customers an hour.
- Apple Specialists will take 30 customers at a time from the line, bring them inside the store, activate their iPhones, then repeat.
- While Apple aims to make sure the activation process is a quick and painless process, it will also take care not to rush customers during their buying experience. "We'll spend as long as it takes with our customers to make sure they're happy with the phone,'' Johnson said.
- On the issue of supply, Johnson said: "[There's] pent-up demand because we haven't had phones for a while. Our goal is to always have enough supply for every customer." Readers can read into that what they will...
- "To make sure customers aren't buying handsets to resell overseas or modify them for use on unauthorized wireless networks, Apple will require customers to pay with a credit card and supply a Social Security number so the device is activated immediately."
- Apple has no current plans to offer the iPhone 3G through its online store, Johnson said.
24 Comments
Since you have to activate every phone you buy right then and there, there probably won't be much demand for people buying 10 at once etc
I've called three different Apple stores, and they've given me three different answers. Here's my situation: I'm eligible for an upgrade, but the account is NOT under my name. However, I am an authorized user, which I have confirmed with AT&T. My question is, would I still be able to go to the Apple store and purchase an iPhone on the day of the launch without the main account holder being there? Basically, would the main account holder need to be there or would they be able to verify with AT&T that I am an authorized user and sell me a phone? I would rather go to an Apple store for the launch than wait at an AT&T store and have them run out of stock. Thank you in advance.
I stilll dont understand why they wont sell them through their online store for say $550 or some such. I am not a big fan of any one service provider, and if there were people who were unlocking them when they were 600 there will be more at any price lower than that. It really seems AT&T is getting the better part of this deal imo. AAPL is gettin a nice subsidy per phone but the loss of the monthly revenue has to offset that nearly completely. Add to that the fact that AT&T is sooooo lackluster in advertising the phone (making AAPL do it at their expense) and I just cant help but to wonder why they are still honoring the exclusivity contract. Is AT&T the only 3G US provider out there?
I've called three different Apple stores, and they've given me three different answers. Here's my situation: I'm eligible for an upgrade, but the account is NOT under my name. However, I am an authorized user, which I have confirmed with AT&T. My question is, would I still be able to go to the Apple store and purchase an iPhone on the day of the launch without the main account holder being there? Basically, would the main account holder need to be there or would they be able to verify with AT&T that I am an authorized user and sell me a phone? I would rather go to an Apple store for the launch than wait at an AT&T store and have them run out of stock. Thank you in advance.
IF they are doing it like AT&T, the authorized user needs to have an ID as proof o how they are AND know the last four SSN of the main account holder. The second party on my AT&T account has never had to supply more than that. Of course, that may not carry over to Apple Stores. I think we'll just have to wait until Friday to get reports.