iPhone 4s at store after cancelled pre-order

[dwill05]

FWIW

I don't think anyone knew ahead of time that it would be easier to get by walking into the store than by preordering. For all the previous iPhone releases, lines at the stores were much larger than the demand and for those releases, it was easier to to preorder than find one at the store back then.

[nottoday]

dwill05 if things were so unpredictable, unmanageable, and uncomummunicable, why were internet preorders prioritized over store orders?

[Barb198]

Hey all - you can also file a complaint with the FCC -www.FCC.gov - I did.

[dwill05]

I was speaking about preorders in general, whether on line or in store from Apple and AT&T vs. not preordering anywhere and just walking in on launch day and buying one. I don't know anything about preferences for online preorders vs. store preorders, or if it's even true.

[Barb198]

I did preoder in the store . The same store that refused to sell me one since it was a preorder but sold to people right in front of me who did not preorder.

[nottoday]

dwill05 if you've following the compliants here, on other threads, and on the macrumors boards , the debacle is that store preorders were in effect backorders.   What is the point of proudly claiming an open priority system with "orders processed on a first come first served" basis" when that is not what ATT did?

[dwill05]

So, to be completely clear, you're saying that someone who ordered online at 3pm on Oct.7 already got their phone from FedEx or UPS, while another person who preordered the same phone from the local AT&T store at 9am on Oct. 7 (i.e. 6 hours earlier) isn't getting it? You are comparing preorders to preorders not preorders to walk-ins, right?

[nottoday]

I'm giving up on venting on this board.  The messages will soon be wiped without record of the frustration,and not helped by the posters intent on defending ATT's perfect handling of the launch.

[dww0311]

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nottoday wrote:

dwill05 if you've following the compliants here, on other threads, and on the macrumors boards , the debacle is that store preorders were in effect backorders.   What is the point of proudly claiming an open priority system with "orders processed on a first come first served" basis" when that is not what ATT did?

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That is exactly what AT&T did - it processed orders on a first come first served basis. In other words, as orders transitioned into the processing queue, they were fulfilled. Your mistake is in assuming that you placing your order at a store at a certain time means that your order has priority over any other order placed anywhere else via any method (online, phone, etc.) simply by virtue of the time that you ordered. This is inaccurate.

When an order is placed, it has to go to a queue waiting to be processed. Online orders simply got into that queue faster than orders placed over the phone or in stores, and as a result folks choosing those slower methods got backordered.

You will note that NOWHERE does it say "orders fulfilled on a first come, first serve basis".

Look, it boils down to a gazillion people all trying to get one of a limited number of devices. When there aren't enough to go around, some folks get disappointed. This time around, that's you. Take your business elsewhere if you feel that is justified. Best of luck to you, but all this incessant whining is just pointless.

And the person that filed an FCC complaint?? Sheesh, get some perspective. It's just a phone ...

[dww0311]

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nottoday wrote:

I'm giving up on venting on this board.  The messages will soon be wiped without record of the frustration,and not helped by the posters intent on defending ATT's perfect handling of the launch.

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There wasn't perfect handling. AT&T allocated too much stock to the stores and not enough to online orders. It isn't difficult to see why it would. The last time around, folks jammed stores while relatively few people preordered online. The problem there is that this time around, people flooded preordering and largely ignored the stores.

Yes, AT&T dropped the ball, but trying to predict the future is messy business.

Realistically, as I said, nothing would have made these folks venting happy other than getting a phone in their hands on launch day. No matter what AT&T did, a large number of folks wouldn't have gotten them BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OF THEM TO GO AROUND ON LAUNCH DAY.

So no matter what AT&T did, SOMEBODY would be on here whining about it, because somebody is always going to be left standing without a chair when the music stops. We on here who aren't here to vent have just learned to sidestep it. In a few weeks most people will have gotten their phones, and the whining will die down (until the next phone comes out ...)

[nottoday]

dww0311, a proud iphone 4s owner, posting 290 comments this week alone.  I would definitely call that passionate, perhaps as passionate as those who felt a bit betrayed by ATT.

[dww0311]

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nottoday wrote:

dww0311, a proud iphone 4s owner, posting 290 comments this week alone.  I would definitely call that passionate, perhaps as passionate as those who felt a bit betrayed by ATT.

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LOL, most of my comments are advice to other users, which is what this forum is SUPPOSED to be about. Unfortunately, once a year we get overran .

Truthfully? We don't care, and we're tired of hearing all of you whine. You didn't get a phone. Too bad so sad. Life goes on.

Vent by canceling your service and heading over to Sprint or Verizon. THAT would at least have a point. {please keep it courteous}

[Barb198]

I know it is just a phone but this is no way to treat customers. Not being able to cancel a preorder and basically holding us hostage is totally unacceptable to me.

[nottoday]

Wow, great response.

[dww0311]

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Barb198 wrote:
I know it is just a phone but this is no way to treat customers. Not being able to cancel a preorder and basically holding us hostage is totally unacceptable to me.

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I agree that it should be easier to cancel a pre-order, but once a phone has been allocated to a placed order, it can not be canceled because AT&T can not risk the phone shipping out even though the order was canceled.

As long as a phone has not been allocated, the order CAN be cancelled. It's just a matter of getting the right person on the phone. I agree that should be easier too, but it is what it is.

[dww0311]

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nottoday wrote:

Wow, great response.

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It's what happens after one has read about the 9 hundred millionth thread talking about the same whiny thing that nobody here has the power to correct. It gets old.

We've suggested to management that a separate topic be opened up for ordering / shipping / customer service complaints. That way, you folks can vent to your heart's content without drownng out the folks that actually come here for legitimate help with their phones (which, as I said, is what this forum is SUPPOSED to be for ...)

[nottoday]

dww0311, thanks.  I get your role, and when I get my phone eventually, it will be a good forum to come to. The title of the thread seemed fitting for the vent.  A separate venting section is a good idea, especially as a substitute for ATTs instant feedback texts, but as you say, it will only be good for a week.  Perhaps for the next release ...

[moviehelen]

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dww0311 wrote:

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nottoday wrote:

Wow, great response.

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It's what happens after one has read about the 9 hundred millionth thread talking about the same whiny thing that nobody here has the power to correct. It gets old.

We've suggested to management that a separate topic be opened up for ordering / shipping / customer service complaints. That way, you folks can vent to your heart's content without drownng out the folks that actually come here for legitimate help with their phones (which, as I said, is what this forum is SUPPOSED to be for ...)

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DWW, speaking of being patient and not complaining, why don't you take a break from the forums for a couple of weeks and let the pre-order mess die down?  

[dww0311]

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nottoday wrote:

dww0311, thanks.  I get your role, and when I get my phone eventually, it will be a good forum to come to. The title of the thread seemed fitting for the vent.  A separate venting section is a good idea, especially as a substitute for ATTs instant feedback texts, but as you say, it will only be good for a week.  Perhaps for the next release ...

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I think it serves two purposes. It lets the folks looking for help get the help they need, and it puts all of the process complaints (which are legitimate, but which as users we can't address) in one place, where the folks here that DO work for AT&T (there are a few) can deal with them effectively.

[dww0311]

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moviehelen wrote:

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dww0311 wrote:

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nottoday wrote:

Wow, great response.

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It's what happens after one has read about the 9 hundred millionth thread talking about the same whiny thing that nobody here has the power to correct. It gets old.

We've suggested to management that a separate topic be opened up for ordering / shipping / customer service complaints. That way, you folks can vent to your heart's content without drownng out the folks that actually come here for legitimate help with their phones (which, as I said, is what this forum is SUPPOSED to be for ...)

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DWW, speaking of being patient and not complaining, why don't you take a break from the forums for a couple of weeks and let the pre-order mess die down?  

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I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I'm not the only user ill about it. We're not the ones causing the problem.

[ShaunMN]

Hey folks, lets stay on topic please, and always keep it courteous. Thank you.

[RDUBiker]

Same here....been with AT&T (switched from Verizon to get the iPhone about 2.5 years ago) and just ordered two 64gb i4s from them on preorder.  Told it would take 21-28 days, yet the locals are walking into stores and getting them off the shelf.  Customer service can't tell me where in the queue I am, local store (only one I visited so far) says they can't cancel....

I wonder how they'd feel if I was to simply refuse delivery and go to Verizon right now?  I wonder if maybe then they'd somehow suddenly be able to find out when my order is shipping and/or get it to me faster....

[esez]

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nottoday wrote:

dwill05 if you've following the compliants here, on other threads, and on the macrumors boards , the debacle is that store preorders were in effect backorders.   What is the point of proudly claiming an open priority system with "orders processed on a first come first served" basis" when that is not what ATT did?

---

That is exactly what AT&T did - it processed orders on a first come first served basis. In other words, as orders transitioned into the processing queue, they were fulfilled. Your mistake is in assuming that you placing your order at a store at a certain time means that your order has priority over any other order placed anywhere else via any method (online, phone, etc.) simply by virtue of the time that you ordered. This is inaccurate.

When an order is placed, it has to go to a queue waiting to be processed. Online orders simply got into that queue faster than orders placed over the phone or in stores, and as a result folks choosing those slower methods got backordered.

You will note that NOWHERE does it say "orders fulfilled on a first come, first serve basis".

Look, it boils down to a gazillion people all trying to get one of a limited number of devices. When there aren't enough to go around, some folks get disappointed. This time around, that's you. Take your business elsewhere if you feel that is justified. Best of luck to you, but all this incessant whining is just pointless.

And the person that filed an FCC complaint?? Sheesh, get some perspective. It's just a phone ...

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with regards to Dww0311

ahahaha this comment about perspective is coming from the person who already HAS an iphone 4S..... you lost the right to complain about complainers the second you got that "just a phone..."

[esez]

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nottoday wrote:

dwill05 if you've following the compliants here, on other threads, and on the macrumors boards , the debacle is that store preorders were in effect backorders.   What is the point of proudly claiming an open priority system with "orders processed on a first come first served" basis" when that is not what ATT did?

---

That is exactly what AT&T did - it processed orders on a first come first served basis. In other words, as orders transitioned into the processing queue, they were fulfilled. Your mistake is in assuming that you placing your order at a store at a certain time means that your order has priority over any other order placed anywhere else via any method (online, phone, etc.) simply by virtue of the time that you ordered. This is inaccurate.

When an order is placed, it has to go to a queue waiting to be processed. Online orders simply got into that queue faster than orders placed over the phone or in stores, and as a result folks choosing those slower methods got backordered.

You will note that NOWHERE does it say "orders fulfilled on a first come, first serve basis".

Look, it boils down to a gazillion people all trying to get one of a limited number of devices. When there aren't enough to go around, some folks get disappointed. This time around, that's you. Take your business elsewhere if you feel that is justified. Best of luck to you, but all this incessant whining is just pointless.

And the person that filed an FCC complaint?? Sheesh, get some perspective. It's just a phone ...

[Nikki1291]

Just called Ecommerce Department that handles online orders (pre-ordered 4S on 10/9). The order was cancelled with no problems o any additional questions and the line was back to discounted equipment upgrade elgibility status within 10 min.       1-866-391-0749 or call the premier line at 866-499-8008 and have them transfer you to Ecommerce department.

[RDUBiker]

Fantastic!  Nikki, that rocks, I just called them and they canceled mine too, no questions asked, just waiting on online upgrade eligibility to reverse so I can go to the local Apple store and get my 4s.

Thanks for posting that!