Iphone availability

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Iphone availability

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 24684 30-Jul-2008 22:08

I notice that the Vodafone site claims all models to be available. I have been to one shop in Dunedin.... "No- maybe tomorrow" - that was on 29th July. Went to a shop in Queen St today and got "No - dunno" from a rude airhead with more hair gel than manners.

Anyone got any idea how the stocking thing works - seems the black 16G run out quickest.

Torque

306 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

Reply # 152852 30-Jul-2008 23:09

I'd hazard a guess and say that refers to the online store, not physical stores.

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 152857 30-Jul-2008 23:30

Perhaps... they have a list of dates (in the past) saying "sold out", "more in" etc....... I sure know why I'm an economist not a marketer.... too many games for me!

Hey thanks

thegeekboy

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 14

Reply # 153107 31-Jul-2008 19:34

The heading in there states "Online Stock".
It should be safe to assume that's their online shop...

The "Vodafone stores" part doesn't offer too much info though...

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Vodafone

Reply # 153112 31-Jul-2008 19:44

The online store volume does indeed only refer to stock in the online store.

The shops themselves sell out rapidly so it's a case of letting your fingers do the walking and finding a store near where you'll be with stock and seeing if they are willing to hold something for you. It varies from shop to shop... some sell out in minutes, others are a bit more laid back about it all.

And yes, the 16GB model is very popular. That one sells out in moments.

Anthony Doesburg in the Herald had a good piece about his hunt for one... I'll see if I can find the URL.

Best of luck,

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

Madmax77

152 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 153113 31-Jul-2008 19:57

Allow me to assist Mr Brislen

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10523459

Good piece!

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 153143 31-Jul-2008 23:05

Thanks for all that guys - and the link. Today Lower Queen St shop in Akl tells me two weeks till they have any. Back in Dunedin now I shall check their shop tomorrow....

B

djbutt

16 posts

Geek

Reply # 154717 6-Aug-2008 18:33

Have to say that the Vodafone process here is crazy. I ordered online last week, went through the process, but hadn't read the fine print on the site which said that only prepay customers could order online, rather than existing account customers. So I found that out today, that because I already am a Vodafone customer I have to play lucky dip going to stores, but if I wasn't already a customer, I could have the phone I want. A good way to treat your longtime customers like 2nd class citizens.

VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Vodafone

Reply # 154727 6-Aug-2008 19:02

You need to go in to a store when you're an existing customer so they can sort out your existing account to make sure you're signed up either for the correct plan and that you've taken care of any early termination fees that may apply.

Can't do that online.

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

Madmax77

152 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 154731 6-Aug-2008 19:13

PaulBrislen: You need to go in to a store when you're an existing customer so they can sort out your existing account to make sure you're signed up either for the correct plan and that you've taken care of any early termination fees that may apply.

Can't do that online.

Paul

Along with this, you cannot currently sign up either online or instore for iPhone if you are a prepay customer (unless you intent going On Account)

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 154805 6-Aug-2008 22:51

have to say in fairness to Vodafone that while the shop experience was average, I ordered online and it was fine. Ordered last Thursday and it arrived today - all good, unpacking now - and it is the hard to get 16G black model.

djbutt

16 posts

Geek

Reply # 154809 6-Aug-2008 23:27

PaulBrislen: You need to go in to a store when you're an existing customer so they can sort out your existing account to make sure you're signed up either for the correct plan and that you've taken care of any early termination fees that may apply.

Can't do that online.

Paul

I understand that Vodafone may have some internal process that requires me being in a store, although I thought that with NZ's electronic transactions act we were past such quaint processes. I am just saying that I am an existing customer looking to buy a high-value product, where actual availability is spotty and available inventory is what everyone is looking for. So to have prepay or non-customers able to purchase from you when I can't just feels like a snub. Why not just handle my enquiry over the phone or via email?

BTW, I have been on my account for nearly a decade so I am not looking at early termination fees, and given that the iphone device comes with its own specific plan I fail to see how I could get the "wrong" one.

motorwayne

840 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Reply # 154876 7-Aug-2008 10:28

Thelonious : Great to see you went for the iPhone and not the Blackberry!

Good on you.

motorwayne

Thelonious

61 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 154879 7-Aug-2008 10:35

Difficult decisions - really more around account / provider arrangements and all that... I can report:

- set up very easy, Itunes walks you staright through it
- already there is a software and a firmware update which happens automatically on initiation
- synchronisation with (my complex) Outlook contacts, notes, calendar etc all happened very easily

A bit of internal re org required on my PC relative to music, vids and like drama but nothing out of the way.

The company challenge for Vodafone now is that they have a brilliant product with their name tied to it - what a great opportunity to benchmark their support to the same high standard!!

Cheers