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.