iPhone 4 NZ Launch Date

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726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#361559 2-Aug-2010 13:42

MikeyPI:

Yup no doubt, I would question wether they were allowed to say anything first.....

I wouldn't. VF are the distributor for NZ. How close they came to losing that no one knows, but by staying silent they are at least equally (if not totally) complicit in this mess.

It's not in Apple's nor VF's interests to disclose what went on, but unless they do they're entitled to cop a fair amount of criticism over the way it was handled, 'cos lets face it, it was piss poor.

The other thing we can assume, is if Apple were to distribute the iPhone in New Zealand to all Apple resellers direct next year, this problem would not occur again.

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#361598 2-Aug-2010 14:30

dclegg:
ahmad: I would be interested to know your thoughts on my thoughts about the iPhone 4 launch.

My thoughts about the iPhone 4 launch in New Zealand

I am just as keen to hear criticism of my post as well as any other comments.

One thing your post doesn't mention (and this has been consistent across all reporting I've seen of this launch fiasco) is Apples press release earlier in the week which mentioned that the iPhone 4 would be available for outright purchase from authorised resellers, which as we all know never eventuated. I note you did mention that VF refused to sell the phone outright, but when I asked in a Vodafone store a couple of months back they said that this was the standard policy for their brick and mortar stores, so no real surprises there.

I hinted at this but didn't go into it in more detail because the post was already a gigantic wall of text. While Apple said this in the press release, resellers were referring back to Apple and saying that Apple themselves would announce exactly which resellers, but not until Friday morning.

So Vodafone stores don't sell any phones outright whatsoever? Seems ludicrous if you just broke your phone and need one that you can buy a "normal" Nokia? Or is this only an iPhone policy (if so it is not enough just to say that it is "standard company policy" but not to actually inform people of this policy when attracting them to the iPhone with the marketing material.

It's almost a "bait and switch" situation of misleading advertising and promotional material to be honest.

And to answer those posts above regarding XT failure vs. iPhone 4 launch failure, I am not putting the 2 on a par. I'm simply saying that XT dealt with the problems in a way which I personally feel was honest and open. That is as opposed to the secret squirrel iPhone launch which mislead "valued" customers and actually hurt their existing customers more than customers on another network.

mattk

255 posts

Ultimate Geek

#361606 2-Aug-2010 14:36

ahmad:
dclegg:
ahmad: I would be interested to know your thoughts on my thoughts about the iPhone 4 launch.

My thoughts about the iPhone 4 launch in New Zealand

I am just as keen to hear criticism of my post as well as any other comments.

One thing your post doesn't mention (and this has been consistent across all reporting I've seen of this launch fiasco) is Apples press release earlier in the week which mentioned that the iPhone 4 would be available for outright purchase from authorised resellers, which as we all know never eventuated. I note you did mention that VF refused to sell the phone outright, but when I asked in a Vodafone store a couple of months back they said that this was the standard policy for their brick and mortar stores, so no real surprises there.

I hinted at this but didn't go into it in more detail because the post was already a gigantic wall of text. While Apple said this in the press release, resellers were referring back to Apple and saying that Apple themselves would announce exactly which resellers, but not until Friday morning.

So Vodafone stores don't sell any phones outright whatsoever? Seems ludicrous if you just broke your phone and need one that you can buy a "normal" Nokia? Or is this only an iPhone policy (if so it is not enough just to say that it is "standard company policy" but not to actually inform people of this policy when attracting them to the iPhone with the marketing material.

It's almost a "bait and switch" situation of misleading advertising and promotional material to be honest.

And to answer those posts above regarding XT failure vs. iPhone 4 launch failure, I am not putting the 2 on a par. I'm simply saying that XT dealt with the problems in a way which I personally feel was honest and open. That is as opposed to the secret squirrel iPhone launch which mislead "valued" customers and actually hurt their existing customers more than customers on another network.

I think the 'there is no network at the moment' status demanded a little more info from XT... But I did appreciate the steady flow of information from telecom on the failure even though I didn't seem to be affected.

The apple/vodafone silence was rubbish. If you promise something in business, you have to deliver. Love to know how many people bought their iphones in 'two installments' on friday. =D

scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#361618 2-Aug-2010 14:47

Is anyone checking their Apple order daily... In the hope that it says Shipped (because, err I'm not)?

dclegg

2806 posts

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#361632 2-Aug-2010 15:02

scotteffone: Is anyone checking their Apple order daily... In the hope that it says Shipped (because, err I'm not)?

Heh... umm... I didn't check my order earlier this morning either ;-)

And while we are on that subject... did any other Mac users have difficulties ordering under Snow Leopard using Safari (5.0.1)? I got server disconnection errors reported to the browser, and yet I was able to order with no problems using FireFox. In fact, I see the same problem still any time I attempt to access my account information or order status.

myndlyz

472 posts

Ultimate Geek

#361642 2-Aug-2010 15:10

scotteffone: Is anyone checking their Apple order daily... In the hope that it says Shipped (because, err I'm not)?

umm no not really....life goes on for me, i'll get that damn phone when i get it!! lol

i'm already over what happened on friday, i know that apple/and or/vodafone really screwed up their customers that day. if it was apple, oh well last chance for them. if it was vodafone, well two years and two screw ups is too (two) much for me, so that is why when i eventually get my phone, i'll be porting my number to xt and give them a go

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#361697 2-Aug-2010 16:13

We'll never know if VF and Apple were equally responsible or if their 'agreement' meant one was gagged and the other was choked......

Either way Vodafone come out worse off because they're selling something people stayed up all night to want. Because people couldn't get their fix from VF it's primarily VF's fault.... It's they way yer mind works.

I suspect Apple are more culpable in all this than they'll fess up to whether because they short supplied stock, tried to change the rules or did any other number of things that we'll know nothing about.

Suffice to say, disgruntled as y'all may be with apple, it'll pass because it's all about them and their wonder box. VF won't be quite as lucky.

Sharesies

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Handsomedan

7294 posts

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#361700 2-Aug-2010 16:18

oxnsox: We'll never know if VF and Apple were equally responsible or if their 'agreement' meant one was gagged and the other was choked......

Either way Vodafone come out worse off because they're selling something people stayed up all night to want. Because people couldn't get their fix from VF it's primarily VF's fault.... It's they way yer mind works.

I suspect Apple are more culpable in all this than they'll fess up to whether because they short supplied stock, tried to change the rules or did any other number of things that we'll know nothing about.

Suffice to say, disgruntled as y'all may be with apple, it'll pass because it's all about them and their wonder box. VF won't be quite as lucky.

I completely agree Oddsox.

VF have been left bruised and battered while the big green machine (Apple) are sitting pretty, despite numerous bouts with bad press, dodgy stock levels and arrogance that goes beyond even the worst of Fijian Dictators.

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

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JimmyC

726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#361708 2-Aug-2010 16:26

oxnsox:
Suffice to say, disgruntled as y'all may be with apple, it'll pass because it's all about them and their wonder box. VF won't be quite as lucky.

If VF screwed up, here's hoping they lose exclusive rights to the iPhone next year. If it was an Apple problem, then VF should grow a pair and say the iPhone is not worth the continued hassle. There. Stick it to Apple! Imagine the press that would get... They'd get a ton of credit for that too in NZ 'cos as a nation we don't like being told what to do by big fish.

VF have a great network here. They should stand by that and their customers, not a phone. Right now they're not doing either.

PoLiGnAc

113 posts

Master Geek

#361710 2-Aug-2010 16:27

dclegg:
scotteffone: Is anyone checking their Apple order daily... In the hope that it says Shipped (because, err I'm not)?

Heh... umm... I didn't check my order earlier this morning either ;-)

And while we are on that subject... did any other Mac users have difficulties ordering under Snow Leopard using Safari (5.0.1)? I got server disconnection errors reported to the browser, and yet I was able to order with no problems using FireFox. In fact, I see the same problem still any time I attempt to access my account information or order status.

i think i will start checking daily from next week. Hahaha. I ordered using iPhone 3gs safari on 3g network. No problems there.

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek

#361719 2-Aug-2010 16:36

Plan confusion. Migration and termination of existing plan confusion. Micro-sim confusion. Hidden costs. Delayed activation of data... none of these things should be affected in any way, shape or form by a logistics problem with stock or relationship issues between supplier and distributor.

These are fundamental parts of running a telecommunications business and they should be well and truely ironed out before the product even arrives in the country.
Vodafone have had ages to prepare for this launch. To get these very basic things so very wrong in this day and age is frankly alarming and just shows how little respect they have for their customers.

If the phone had launched without delay and with sufficient numbers to meet demand, these basic errors would be of a much greater magnitude. Thats a scary thought.
It was probably a blessing for Vodafone that they couldn't meet demand. If you are going to have your pants pulled down in public, its probably better if you don't also have a raging hard-on to add to your embarrasment.

scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#361724 2-Aug-2010 16:51

myndlyz:
scotteffone: Is anyone checking their Apple order daily... In the hope that it says Shipped (because, err I'm not)?

umm no not really....life goes on for me, i'll get that damn phone when i get it!!

Life goes on? LIFE GOES ON! What the hell is wrong with you man! Haha, but seriously I'm not checking my account.

scotteffone

215 posts

Master Geek

#361725 2-Aug-2010 16:52

JimmyC:
oxnsox:
Suffice to say, disgruntled as y'all may be with apple, it'll pass because it's all about them and their wonder box. VF won't be quite as lucky.

If VF screwed up, here's hoping they lose exclusive rights to the iPhone next year. If it was an Apple problem, then VF should grow a pair and say the iPhone is not worth the continued hassle. There. Stick it to Apple! Imagine the press that would get... They'd get a ton of credit for that too in NZ 'cos as a nation we don't like being told what to do by big fish.

VF have a great network here. They should stand by that and their customers, not a phone. Right now they're not doing either.

I'd give vodafone props if they came out and said that too. Even if every iPhone user buggered off I'm sure they would be ok.

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#361754 2-Aug-2010 17:31

JimmyC:
oxnsox:
Suffice to say, disgruntled as y'all may be with apple, it'll pass because it's all about them and their wonder box. VF won't be quite as lucky.

If VF screwed up, here's hoping they lose exclusive rights to the iPhone next year. If it was an Apple problem, then VF should grow a pair and say the iPhone is not worth the continued hassle. There. Stick it to Apple! Imagine the press that would get... They'd get a ton of credit for that too in NZ 'cos as a nation we don't like being told what to do by big fish.

VF have a great network here. They should stand by that and their customers, not a phone. Right now they're not doing either.

Agreed Gym. But unfortuneately for us all VF is an iceberg and VFNZ is just a little bergy bit that floats alongside.... not obviously connected on surface.....

Maybe when apple breaks away from their AT&T shackles they'll change the way they do things globally.... or maybe not. Until then we have to accept that despite evidence to contrary in other VF product launches that they really do have their focus on their customers.....

ahmad

1937 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#362097 3-Aug-2010 08:58

Well my blog opinion about the launch has been picked up over on the other side of the world it seems:

Voda NZ answers iPhone 4 complaint - with a song

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