Several weeks after a debut that included long lines to buy Apple latest iPhone 3G model, the company has tweaked its store hours and sales procedures in an unprecedented attempt to improve the customer experience. According to a Web page, most Apple stores will open two hours earlier at 8 a.m. to give customers a longer time to buy the new iPhone. The page also said, “We’re adding staff to help you get up and running as quickly as possible,” so customers can be prequalified while they’re in line. The buyers will then receive a claim ticket which can be redeemed immediately for an iPhone, or any time the same day up to 6 p.m. iPhone availability at the stores is still spotty at Apple’s stores, more than two weeks after the handset’s introduction. The black 8 Gb model is the most rare model, while the white 16 Gb is more commonly in-stock.According to insiders, iPhones delivered on one day will not be sold until the next day. This procedure is intended to insure that “green lights” on the iPhone status Web page will accurately reflect the next day’s actual stock of iPhones.
One other small rule of the new claim ticket system: having a ticket does not allow you to leave, return and immediately go to the head of any line that may have formed while you were gone. The claim ticket you receive only insures that a iPhone is being held for you until 6 p.m. If you return at 4 p.m. to find a line,for example, you’ll be required to stand in that line and wait behind others who want to buy an iPhone before you can purchase you reserved iPhone.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t know what you’re talking about. I went into my local Apple store and bought an iPhone and was in&out in ten minutes. This was on Tuesday, July 29th right after lunch.
Well Pete Sake, your Apple Store isn’t every Apple Store.
If you are going to share your experience, please let us know what store location.