AT&T, Apple Randomly Canceling iPhone 4 Orders
AT&T made a mess of iPhone 4 preorders last week. There were server problems and system failures. As the day wore on, AT&T staff started taking preorders with a pen and paper. Eventually, preorders sold out and AT&T and Apple could register no more.
Apple said it was the biggest first day of preorders the company had ever had, and there were likely plenty of people disappointed they didn't get a chance to reserve themselves an iPhone. However, some of the folks who thought they were lucky enough to get one are disappointed too. It looks like Apple and AT&T are randomly canceling preorders with no explanation.
Last week there was word that some people were having their preorders canceled by AT&T without any notice. At the time, it was said that this was because some people had accidentally ordered more than one iPhone 4 by clicking submit too many times. However, an increasing number of people are receiving emails and it looks like some of them only ordered one iPhone in the first place.
Gizmodo reports that it has received multiple tips from readers regarding the issue. Despite an email from someone purporting to be an AT&T rep explaining that only extra preorders are being canceled, some readers say that even though they only ordered one phone, only one iPhone 4 showed up on their bill and their contract with AT&T was renewed for two more years, they still received an email to say their order had been canceled.
One reader way down in the comments of the Giz piece says he knows why it's happening. After speaking with both Apple and AT&T (at the same time because he was sick of getting the run around), he discovered that the two are canceling some orders because they've run out of phones.
"After spending around 2 hours going back and forth between Apple and AT&T I have finally found the answer people. To find out this truth, I had to have a manager representative from both Apple and at&t on a 3 way conference call. This is why my pre-order was CANCELLED. It wasn't because I had paid with a debit card, or had paid my bill a few days late.
It was because Apple and AT&T sold me a phone that did not exist. They physically ran out of phones to sell, and booked too many pre-orders to fulfill. AT&T said this, and I quote:
"We received over 600,000 pre-orders for the new iPhone 4, and you ordered yours on the 16th. Unfortunately we don't have extra phones for the people who ordered this late into the pre-order and you will receive an e-mail anywhere from June 24th to July 1st stating when the new iPhone is again ready for order"
Kind of shady isn't it? I had a delivery date, $248.00 was taken from my bank account and my service has been renewed another 2 years without an iPhone 4 to show for it. Im glad to have gotten the straight answer I was looking for, but this is a SERIOUS fuckup on AT&T's end and I even blame Apple for letting me order this phone when no stock was available.
TL;DR
If your iPhone 4 order got cancelled for no reason, it's because they ran out of iPhones and you ordered too late."
Still no official word from AT&T or Apple on this but we'll keep your posted.
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This just means the Ebay peddlers are going to raise their prices again. This really does change everything again.
I preordered my iPhone at 5:30 eastern time on the 15th.and got through after a couple of times. I received the confirmation email about 3 hours later. I received an email on Sunday the 20th stating it was shipped from Hong Kong via FedEx and would be here on the 24th or sooner.
I understand that with the breakdown in the system mistakes were made and phones were ordered that didn't exist. It could have happened to any company (the fact that it was Apple/AT&T does make me giggle a little) but if they go and cancel a phone then the people should be getting a full refund plus the 2 year renewal should be canceled until the new phone is actually available.
I preordered my iPhone at 5:30 eastern time on the 15th.and got through after a couple of times. I received the confirmation email about 3 hours later. I received an email on Sunday the 20th stating it was shipped from Hong Kong via FedEx and would be here on the 24th or sooner.
I am so glad I went an Android Phone... heh
"...but this is a SERIOUS fuckup on AT&T's end..."
so f-word is fine in article but not in comment/replies.
On other note, AT&T is basically just a general f-up.
so f-word is fine in article but not in comment/replies.
They were quoting another source, but expect an article update that partially hides the text especially now that you pointed it out.
I don't see why people even bother with AT&T. Evo blows Iphone out of the water (just about any droid does) for the same price, and both sprint, and verizon data/talk services are superior to AT&T. Who the hell would want to own an apple product anyway?
Zunes and Droids ftw imo.
its b/c they used a debt card! the system did not tell them they could not and well they cant use a debt card to order....i work for at&t and thats what the problem was for some of our customers
I don't get it. Why such desperation for a what is just a glorified phone. I had the option to update with my old 3G but I no longer want anything to do with AT&T or Apple. The 3G didn't make my life any better and may have made it worse with sketchy service and overpriced bills. You desperate iphone people need to get real.
I don't get it. Why such desperation for a what is just a glorified phone. I had the option to update with my old 3G but I no longer want anything to do with AT&T or Apple. The 3G didn't make my life any better and may have made it worse with sketchy service and overpriced bills. You desperate iphone people need to get real.
have THAT PC Brigate!!!!!111!!111!!!11!!1oneone!
*Post edited by moderator* Cool it on the language.
As Lex & Terry put it best...
"the iphone is that "hot chick" that cheats on you repeatedly with your friends... but yet, you still crawl back to her looking for affection and denying her wrong doing."
i dumped that chick before the 3gs came out.
I am so glad I went an Android Phone... heh
Me too, it's one more pre-order that I was able to get. Thanks.
Apples is full of douchebags, but worse of all are the people who are selling their children to make sure they get the IPHONE.
This just in, who cares?
Could careless. When this thing can wake up and go to work for me is when i'll buy one. Hell, i will camp out for one at that point.
no matter what happened,there still have tons of ppl willing to pay overprice phone or computers from Apple, or else they wont have a big fancy shop with only little products and tons of worker inside.
I wonder how much they getting paid hourly ~ 50bucks ?! haha
The folks at Apple ought to give a call to any local gas station attendant who knows a think or two about inventory management.
Oh, and selling something for cash that you do not have is fraud. Even if you return the money, you are liable for replacement costs. Someone should buy an iPhone for $5000 on ebay and sue Apple/ATT for the difference (plus attorneys fees).
I would do it myself, but then I would be stuck with an obsolete phone with inferior service..
Lazy workers in foxconn factories!! Sick joke aside thats just bad business. Pretty sure it won't hurt Apple either way AT&T on the other hand, you kinda expect that sort of thing from.
I am sure Apple will cought up in about a month with the pre orders.
Until HTC manages to slim EVO 4G down, I don't think I'll pick this over iPhone 4.
typical toms a title thaT IS MISLEADING
no matter what happened,there still have tons of ppl willing to pay overprice phone or computers from Apple, or else they wont have a big fancy shop with only little products and tons of worker inside.I wonder how much they getting paid hourly ~ 50bucks ?! haha
Average pay rate for an intermediate position is $26.50/hr.
I don't understand this whole "overpriced" concept ... it's the same price as nearly every other decent smart phone ... $199.
If you purchase an iPhone4 off of eBay for $5000 you are just as ridiculously out of your mind as a person buying a beer bottle for $1.5 million. It's just particles.
The iPhone4 is a great phone, if it wasn't there wouldn't be 600,000 pre-orders for it. That's the bottom line.
Average pay rate for an intermediate position is $26.50/hr. I don't understand this whole "overpriced" concept ... it's the same price as nearly every other decent smart phone ... $199. If you purchase an iPhone4 off of eBay for $5000 you are just as ridiculously out of your mind as a person buying a beer bottle for $1.5 million. It's just particles. The iPhone4 is a great phone, if it wasn't there wouldn't be 600,000 pre-orders for it. That's the bottom line.
But wait! you missed this point, this is the rabid anti-apple bashing forum disguised as a message board.... Get with the program, facts dont matter, just bash Apple!
I don't trust unverified messages. I'm never a fan of gossip in news. But even if it is legit, it's nothing new to pre-orders for any product.
They were quoting another source, but expect an article update that partially hides the text especially now that you pointed it out.
Why? I even see the word 'fuck' in my local paper every now and then. Granted, a small local, still.
Fail on you Apple.
You also fail on making a decent phone. The only thing that interests me in the iPhone phone is the LCD, but 1024x480 LCD and better (yet lower resolution) OLED screens already exist.
AT&T sickens me. I dont know how much more effort they can put into completely screwing up and keep their customer base. At this point it is just insane. They have only 2 decent offerings of smartphones currently: The Blackberry line, and the iPhone. They neuter the android platform so bad its laughable, and the rest are junk any way. Between sorry customer service, mediocre pricing and a ton of out right anal rape, its a miracle they have the customer base they do on wireless as its a voluntary selection, unlike their land service. If you factor in AT&T Wired, AT&T Wireless, and AT&T Internet (The absolute WORST is their DSL support, if something is actually broken on their end you'll spend weeks trying to get it fixed, talking to Habeeb the janitor who calls himself "Jim")
At this point a boycott is in order in my opinion. Screw AT&T and all they stand for. The only way to show them they suck is to man up, and move off. Do not use anything. Boycott Boycott Boycott!!!
Average pay rate for an intermediate position is $26.50/hr. I don't understand this whole "overpriced" concept ... it's the same price as nearly every other decent smart phone ... $199. If you purchase an iPhone4 off of eBay for $5000 you are just as ridiculously out of your mind as a person buying a beer bottle for $1.5 million. It's just particles. The iPhone4 is a great phone, if it wasn't there wouldn't be 600,000 pre-orders for it. That's the bottom line.
Apple store employees make $26.50 per hour? That's about $57000/year. Not bad for sales clark position.
Average pay rate for an intermediate position is $26.50/hr. I don't understand this whole "overpriced" concept ... it's the same price as nearly every other decent smart phone ... $199. If you purchase an iPhone4 off of eBay for $5000 you are just as ridiculously out of your mind as a person buying a beer bottle for $1.5 million. It's just particles. The iPhone4 is a great phone, if it wasn't there wouldn't be 600,000 pre-orders for it. That's the bottom line.
http://www.buy-mphone.com/acatalog/iphone-4-32gb.html
iPhone 4 does look like a decent phone but SIM free the 32gb version is twice the price of the Desire, so yeah I would say overpriced.
It's a damn phone! Geezz
They knew why they were canceling the order when they were canceling and yet they chose to play games.
Apple needs to put treating its customers with honesty and respect over preserving its image.
Take the initial cost and 24 month of service and its adds up to about double what I spend when building a new desktop. That's a rather significant purchase and I'd be very annoyed if place an order, was billed and was then was given the run around.