iPhone 4 rush is on: where 4 art thou iPhone 4?

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 07:52

Your IT - Mobility

Reports of an iPhone 4 scarcity since its Australian release last week abound with all of the carriers claiming to be inundated with demand far exceeding supply. All of a sudden carriers and their retail channel partners are calling the shots while consumers are being forced to stand in line and grovel if they want to get their hands on Apple's precious device.

The big three, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, are all short of iPhone 4 stock, while Vodafone's Australian subsidiary 3 is basically a no-go zone at present. In fact, this could well be significantly affecting sales of other product.

Callers to the 3 telephone sales enquiry line over the weekend and on Monday were put on hold for 30 minutes or more.

In this particular consumer's case, after several unsuccessful attempts to get through to the 3 direct sales department, a trip to the local neighbourhood 3 shop proved equally fruitless. In fact it was an eye-opener.

The 3 shop seemed strangely empty, with nary a customer in sight, even though it was the middle of the day.

As a long standing 3 customer, who is about 18 months into a 24 months contract with three phones for the family, this is normally about the time that 3 start inundating me with offers to upgrade to new phones on a renewed contract. Not at this time, however.

Since the salesman at the counter was doing nothing and looked bored, I casually enquired as to the possibility of upgrading my contract to a new contract with three iPhone 4 phones. He looked at me incredulously and simply said: 'Not a chance!'

I protested that I was a long standing 3 customer of many years and was 18 months into my current contract. He said that if wouldn't matter if I was 22 months into the contract (I note he didn't say 23), there would be no orders for iPhone 4 taken unless I was prepared to pay the contract break fee.

What astounded me though was that the salesman didn't even try to sell me an alternative - perhaps an Android phone? Apparently the only thing that 3 is interested in selling at the moment is iPhone 4.

So there you have it folks, if you want an iPhone 4, this artificially created shortage - and let's face it that's what it is - is enabling the mobile carriers to treat customers like they're doing them a favour by selling them something. That's the way it used to be if you wanted to have a phone connected to your home in the 1950s.

However, don't despair because about 1 month from now - probably less - things should return to normal and once again your carrier will be begging you to upgrade your plan with great offers. They'll be falling over themselves to sell you an iPhone 4 - and poo-pooing reports about its alleged dodgy antenna.

Of course if you really must have an iPhone 4 right now then you have every right to stand in line and let your carrier treat you like a shmuck for the privilege of giving them your money.