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AT&T: Less iReady Than iAm
Posted 07/07/2008 at 11:11:09am | by
Ray Aguilera
Reason #432 to buy an iPhone 3G at the Apple Store.
In case you haven’t heard, the iPhone is coming. If I had a nickel for every time someone has asked me , “Hey, what’s up with the new iPhone?” I’d have a giant, heavy bag of nickels. So yeah, I guess people are pretty excited.
AT&T’s anticipating doing a ton of business in iPhones later this week, so much so that they put together a series of videos on how customers can become “iReady” for the iPhone. iSort of gagged at the iOverly-cute iPun, but seeing as how iHate waiting in long lines, iGave the videos a spin to see what iCould do to make procuring my new iPhone a little less painful.
The videos are hosted by Larry Meyer, a friendly-looking dude who’s got “important news” about how you can be ready to buy a new iPhone. Larry helpfully details all the info you’ll need to hook up your new iPhone 3G: name, address, photo ID, Social Security number, blood-type, favorite Smurf, left pinky-toe, etc. Larry also recommends that new AT&T customers head over to an AT&T store before Friday to do a credit check in advance, speeding up the process of getting your new phone on the 11th.
Figuring that the less time I have to spend in an AT&T store Friday, the happier I’ll be, I dutifully headed over to my local store over the weekend.
Ray: I’m here to get iReady.
AT&T Guy: [Blank stare, 10 second pause]
Ray: You know, iReady.
AT&T Guy: [Continues to stare, then looks at computer screen, then back to staring at me.]
Ray: I want to buy an iPhone—
AT&T Guy: Those aren’t on sale yet.
Ray: Right. But I’d like to get iReady to buy one.
AT&T Guy: [Starts typing, then thinks better of it. Goes back to staring.]
Ray: The guy on the website says I should come and get iReady to buy my iPhone.
AT&T Guy: Website?
Ray: Um, yeah, your website.
AT&T Guy: Uh... [stares]
Ray: Can you help me with that?
AT&T Guy: So… [really long pause]? What do you want me to do? Do you need a phone?
Ray: Uh, yeah. An iPhone—
AT&T Guy: We don’t have those—
Ray: Yeah, we covered that. You guys suggested people come in to get iReady, to speed things up on Friday. Who do I need to talk to about that?
AT&T Guy: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Ray: Don’t I need to do a credit check or something?
AT&T Guy: Uh... [looks confused]
Eventually, I did convince him to run a credit check. When it was done, I asked if I needed some sort of confirmation number so that they could pull up my info on Friday. He said something about not being sure they’d be able to do that. In the end, after much hesitation, he scrawled a ten digit number on the back of someone else’s receipt and handed it to me. I’m not entirely convinced it actually means anything.
“Is this what I’ll need on Friday to have them call up my credit check?,” I asked.
He just sort of shrugged, and called over the next person in line.
I think I’m iReady. I’m not so sure AT&T is, though.
[Update: 7/11/08 4:34 PM]
I've called my local AT&T store, to see if there are any more iPhones in stock. They have answered the phone, and immediately hung up on me... THREE TIMES! AT&T, judging by our interactions so far, I'm super stoked to be on the verge of being your prisoner customer for the next two years.
I am Sooooooo not upgrading
Submitted by Fatsvernon (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 13:58
I am Sooooooo not upgrading to the 3G. No box for me to open, no "Apple" experience, no home activation, no real need for GPS as the current maps features do me fine, no need for 3G as I'm usually around wifi. And Edge, for me, isn't THAT bad.
The 2.0 software upgrade is free, staying with my current plan is way cheaper, not buying a new phone when mine still kicks every other phones ass is way cheaper.
Don't get me started on standing in line for activation.
Yep, my little iBuddy and me are doing Juuuuuust fine. And just think, if everyone thought like this, you can be sure that Apple would rethink this relationship with AT$T and we'd get some REAL motivation to upgrade.
Mean time.....guess it's just me.......right?
Submitted by jennielf (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 20:25
I am with you on that one.
I got this phone a year ago and I love it. The maps have saved me more than once, and EDGE is slowish, but not that big of a deal to me...
Besides I'm usually in WiFi zones anyway....So, you are not alone...not at all. :)
Submitted by Darla Mack (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 14:17
Please don't think I am laughing at you personally... but that story is funny as hell!!! It goes along the lines of the AT&T reps saying... "we won't know anything until the day of", which is what I've been getting.
Submitted by idoefx (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 14:32
I went to my local AT&T store where I bought my first iphone and had questions about the calling plans. I too got a blank stare, followed by his realization that he had a piece of paper which was a print out from the website. As he read it like a third grade book report I realized I'm doomed on Friday. I'm getting in line as early as possible to be first in and hopefully out. I don't know if this is out there in all the forums but AT&T is only allowing one phone per paying customer on opening day. The following day you can buy 3. So if you and your significant other are getting phones, both must be present on opening day.
Submitted by Torgo Jackson Creek (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 14:38
That reminds me of the time I tried to buy propane at KMart.
"What's that?"
"It's a gas."
"Gas? Like for a car?"
"No."
Submitted by Ben (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 14:44
I had a similar experience at my AT&T store on Thursday last week. I went in and they did know about the preliminary credit check. They ran this on me and it came back just fine. I asked if there was some kind of receipt or something that I needed and if they would have a separate line for those who had the pre-check done already. The rep said no and I asked if they would have any way to distinguish the people who had the credit check done and I got the same answer...."No". The rep told me that they probably would have to run the credit check again the day of because the credit checks only stay in the system for about 3 days...What the heck? What is the purpose of me coming in to try to help you (AT&T) speed things up on launch day, when all your going to tell me is that I will have to go through the whole three ring circus again? If there was an Apple store close to me and not within a 2 hour drive I would be right over there. I don't think AT&T has thought the whole thing through.
What they should have done is had a place online where you can provide all the needed information (credit check, phone you want, etc.). Then print out a special page with a bar code or a special number on it to say you took these steps already...then you could go into the store and get into a special line for those who are "iReady". I guess AT&T isn't much for planning. I just hope come launch day that I am not spending 120-14 hours standing in a line just because AT&T didn't plan things through for the best customer experience.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 15:50
I guess they suggest this iReady just to reduce the number of angry customers who stayed in the long line on Friday for a 5 hours and didn't get anything. Nothing to with speeding up the process.
As for Apple store - I think there will be no difference, since (If I got it right) you'll have to activate iphone in the store ion the moment of purchase anyway, no matter of where are you buying
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 18:06
Word to the wise. For those of you who have not yet confirmed whether your local AT&T retailer will have their heads pulled out in time to get you iReady, multiple credit checks run during a period of only a few days can show up on your credit reports as derogatory activity. For those of you who are married with joint credit status that purchase one phone per customer and have to check credit twice, that's four credit checks in a week on your report.
Submitted by silk95 (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 15:39
Went to my Local ATT Store in Greenbelt, Md Got the same exact response when I asked about getting I-ready they had no answers as to what to do for D-Day, act like videos were not on there web site!! Good luck on Friday!!!!!!
Submitted by iAm iReady (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 15:43
I feel lucky! My local AT&T store (just two blocks from an Apple Store) was iReady. I printed out the "iReady" form from the AT&T website, filled it out and took it to my local AT&T store. They ran the credit check and gave me two receipts. One for the transaction fee ($0.00) and one that confirms my credit check. The guy there told me that I will still wait in line like everyone else but will be able to skip the credit check part during check out, which is suppose to be the longest part of the purchase process. I guess the problem must be the individual stores. Let's hope it is not systemic.
Submitted by Ben (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 16:16
I guess I will be making another trip to the AT&T store and tell them about your experience with getting a slip that shows that I went through the credit check. I am glad to hear someone is getting the process. The scary part with the whole thing is that it was the manager that waited on me...
Submitted by MDominguez (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 15:59
I also went last Thursday to find out about my ability to upgrade and found the staff person reading from the iReady form from the website. Seemed like I knew more about the process than she did.
Turned out I won't be able to upgrade until August. Seems like they might need that long to get things figured out.
Submitted by Cafealmediodia.com (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 16:23
Now that even Paraguay is getting the iPhone, what is going on with Puerto Rico???
I happen to be one of those that went on vacation to the mainland and bought one. I activated it just fine with iTunes.. but now that the activation has to be IN-STORE ... I am screwed !!!
Puerto Rico is one of those very few places that is not a country... not a state ... is part of the US.. but it is not at the same time. We are US citizens but can't vote for the President. Walmart ships to Guam (another colony) but not to Puerto Rico ... And Apple does NOT even know Puerto Rico is part of PLANET EARTH !!
Sprint is VERY HAPPY as they will be selling those new cheap imitations like crazy here because .. THERE IS NO FREAKING iPHONE IN THE ISLAND !!!!!
APPLEEEEEEEE !!!!!! WAAAAAAKEEEEEEEEE UUUUUUUUUUUP !!!!!!!!!!
BTW, Listen to our music ... will you? www.cafealmediodia.com
Yeah... it's on iTunes too.... look for "Cafe al Mediodia"
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-07-08 03:26
Hey,
Stop bashing Guam...we are not a colony but rather an organized, unincorporated territory of the U.S. We like to say "America's day begins in Guam!"
We have the same problems with companies not knowing about us...and thinking we are some other country. Come on Apple...stop disenfranchising your constituents!
Submitted by EJMiv (not verified) on Mon, 2008-07-07 16:43
and iGot nowhere. iWent to the at&t store in Surprise, AZ, last Sat, and they told me they couldn't do the credit check until Friday the 11th, because they're supposed to be getting a new system for the launch date, so it's a waste of time for them to do it before the 11th, and then again on the 11th. The manager there confirmed it too. But, iFeel like they're just either being lazy, or they don't know what they're supposed to do. Why would at&t corporate have these directions posted for perspective business, just to have people who decide to get iReady left totally unable? I feel like at&t isn't lying to us - they just leave their associates out of the loop.
Submitted by PeppWaves03 (not verified) on Tue, 2008-07-08 06:12
So we are a business trying to get iready for the launch. All we wanted was to open up a business accoutn and buy 6 iphones for our employees. Needless to say I tried emailed ATT, calling ATT, visiting the store, and got nowhere. FInally on the iready website found how we could open up the business account, tried callign them after receiving an email and foudn out there was 1 person aswering the business account line! Finally after leading 3 voicemails got a hold of the guy and walked me through what i needed. Needless to say ATT and Apple, you guys dropped the ball on this one.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 2008-07-08 13:05
Apple didn't drop the ball. ATT did. They haven't been holding up there end of the bargain when Apple signed this contract from day one.
Submitted by Damian (not verified) on Tue, 2008-07-08 17:39
I think I had better luck with my business account, and it does seem that there's just one guy handling the business accounts. No matter how many times I call I only get Eric.
I was able to get my business iReady in about 3 steps. However, business opening an account or upgrading, can NOT go to the apple store to get a phone. They MUST be ordered through ATT, and they do not accept pre-orders of the phones to get them on Friday. I have to call back on Friday to get the business account open, pay for the phone, and THEN have it shipped to me via fedex...What a bunch of crock..... I dumped ATT as my wireless carrier over 8 years ago, and I haven't looked back.. however, I want this iPhone so freaking bad, that I'm going to swallow my pride and go with them again for a freaking two years. Nothing wrong with my current carriers, but I want this toy in my hands NOW.. can't wait another year.
The good thing is that the phone and the monthly plans can be written off as a business expense.
Submitted by nayrk (not verified) on Tue, 2008-07-08 07:51
I'm sorry to hear all of you get crappy service from AT&T, but every time I go to my local store here by South Bend, IN. Everyone there is always very helpful and if the rep I'm talking to dosen't know the answer right then, another one is either looking up the answer or chiming in to answer.
As far as getting "iReady" no problem. Of course I gotta pay full price for the iPhone (but I was planning on paying full price for the 1st one) so no biggie for me.
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