Still Without An iPhone 3G? Apple's Making It Easier To Buy One
If you're still without the second coming of the Jesus Phone (Woe be unto you, Tiny), Apple's making it easier to get your hands on the still hard to get iPhone 3G:
Your favorite Apple Retail Store is making it easier and more convenient to purchase an iPhone 3G. All stores will now open at 8:00 a.m. every day but Sunday and, to accommodate demand, we're adding staff to help you get up and running as quickly as possible. Customers will be prequalified to purchase while in line and will receive a claim ticket for an iPhone 3G. Your ticket can be redeemed on the spot or -- if it would be more convenient to return later the same day -- by 6:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. on Sundays).
No more standing in line waiting for people to buy and activate the phone all in one go. Now you can come back later in the day to finish the transaction.
Good luck, and remember to check the iPhone availability tool after 9PM the night before to make sure the Apple Store has your model in stock.
Apple Retail Open Early, Issuing Tickets [MacRumors]
Den Den Boy
Posted to In Your Pocket on 29 July 2008
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: Apple, Apple Store, iPhone, iPhone 3G, retail
Yeah, according to the employees at The Beverly Center in Los Angeles, last Saturday was the first day they tried it. It seemed to work out pretty well. Wait times were not reduced in any way, shape, or form (2 hours of my day total). However, the claim ticket they give you assures that you will have an iPhone. Rather than just waiting around in line without knowing your fate.
I picked up my iPhone in SoHo two days ago using this new method - I showed up in the AM and waited for about an hour, got a ticket, and came back in the evening.
Still a crazy long wait, but better than spending all day in the heat. Some people seemed to think the ticket would allow them to jump to the head of the line, and were pretty vocal about their disappointment. But if you pay attention in the first place, it's a pretty good system. They're certainly trying to accommodate everyone, and it's nice to see some innovation in "people moving."