Despite a recent pre-launch sales brief sent internally telling employees that the iPhone will be on a first come, first served basis and that no wait list of names will be taken and NO pre-selling is allowed, that’s not really case according to Channel Checkers.
In a survey conducted by Channel Checkers, 64% of the 36 AT&T phone stores it surveyed reported keeping a waiting list for the Apple iPhone. The other 36% of the surveyed stores said they’re selling the iPhone on a first come, first served basis only.
“It was apparent to us that stores reps were keeping their own waiting lists,” said Channel Checkers. “As most are compensated on commission basis it makes sense that waiting lists would proliferate as the launch date closes in.”
Channel Checkers also reported the average number of names on each waiting list was 25, with one store in New York City stated as “we cannot give out that figure but the waiting list is running into the thousands”, another store reported that the number of calls for the phone was “indeterminable” as the numbers were massive.
“Our take is that demand for the iPhone is probably going to surprise even Apple fanatics in the early days,” the group said. “We expect sell-outs and complaints about lack of availability.”
AT&T’s official comment on the survey: “We are not taking pre-orders for the device,” said AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel.
I hope that the Apple stores aren’t taking unofficial wait lists. Also, something tells me we’re not going to find out the official launch date until the first day of WWDC on the 11th at the earliest.