Posted Jul 01, 2007 at 09:53PM by Glen D. Listed in: Cellular Phones Tags: AT&T, California, Seattle, New York, iPhone
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iPhone - Image 1There's no doubt that the Apple iPhone's launch was a runaway success, and new owners of the handset couldn't be happier. But Gizmodo reports some flimsy incidents that might dampen the parade a bit.

According to the report, AT&T might be cashing in on the launch by forcing consumers to buy two accessories if they want to get the handset. This happened in two stores in Seattle, one in California, one in New York and a weird variant of the act in North Carolina.

According to sources, consumers who waited in long lines to buy the iPhone were required by shopkeepers to purchase two of the product's accessories. If they didn't, they were simply denied the privilege of trading. In the New York branch, it took a man hollering that AT&T was doing illegal stuff to get them to sell without forcing accessories.

In one Seattle store, a source reports that AT&T had 20 units in stock and declared them sold out after 10 people entered the shop. However, they did offer the remaining people that they could get them handsets through "special deals" within a couple of days if they ordered two accessories along.

Gizmodo also reports that there are sources saying that AT&T personnel were required to sell products on a given quota. Unless they perform according to the company's benchmarks, they were subject to termination.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, accessories weren't forced on buyers but accessories were placed within the package of the iPhone. This way, the store was able to charge an additional 10 percent for restocking if the box was reopened.


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4 Comments


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   by Justin (Unregistered) - 2007-07-02
 » I wouldn't be surprised if...

Apple had a hand in this as well. I used to work at the Sharper Image back when they sold iPods...and it was Apple policy that at holiday time, when stocks of Ipods were tight, that the iPods had to be sold in bundle form, or people had to be told we were out of them.

Apple makes very explicit deals with its distributors...so I wouldn't be at all surprised if they not only knew about this, but endorsed it.

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   by yup (Unregistered) - 2007-07-02
 » Too much

Wow, these people who bought the iphones must really be loaded, or at least really stupid. $600 for a phone? I think not. you can buy an ipod and a very good phone for less than that! And the awesome mobile web? That's why we have computers. I can see using it to check email, but is it really worth it?


   Re: Stealth (Unregistered) - 2007-07-02
 » LOL

Or a creative vision M 30GB for $299 than that S.H.I.T, Besides spend money on a ps3 it does everything plus more.
   by canhuck (Unregistered) - 2007-07-02
 » It's Common Practice

for stores to declare they're sold out with maybe 20 units left so that if there's a problem with one of the units sold they can immediately be exchanged.



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