iPhone lines cut off on East Coast and Midwest, west side still rockin'

This'll come as no surprise to those of you that've been following our worldwide line / stock watch, but with lines hitting six hours long, Apple's started capping them so that stores can close and prepare for tomorrow. Reports of line capping are coming mostly from larger stores in the East Coast and Midwest, but the Glendale Apple store in California is reportedly capped as well. Interestingly, while carrier stores worldwide have all sold out, we've heard that most Apple stores have had more than enough inventory -- one tipster reported that delivery trucks were being used to store overflow, since the main stock rooms were full at his local store -- so we're guessing the lines have more to do with the slowness of the activation process catching Apple off-guard. It certainly wasn't smooth sailing today, but eventually things started working, and it seems like anger's turned to love for a lot of folks. And isn't that the basis of every good relationship? Oh, right. So who's going to get up and do this all again with us tomorrow?

[Ben @ Jul 11th 2008 10:53PM]

ANYBODY who spent a whole week or even more than an hour in line for the iPhone 3G needs to get a life! Its is a piece of plastic and metal not superman!!

[Ben @ Jul 11th 2008 11:00PM]

sorry for the double post....it was an accident.

[deyanimay @ Jul 11th 2008 11:06PM]

Its alright i ranked you up to counter the trolls. BTW my reply below was a joke don't take it personal.

[gabe @ Jul 11th 2008 11:13PM]

ben u speak the troof

i have u minus though - not sure why - i hate apple fanatics

[Matt @ Jul 11th 2008 11:19PM]

I walked into my local AT&T store and asked. The first answer was "no"... then the guy thought of something and asked if I was a current AT&T subscriber. I said "not yet" and he told me to hold on a second, and then went into the back room. When he came back out he said they had exactly ONE 8GB phone that had been on hold for someone who never showed up, and it was mine if I wanted it. Hell yeah, I did. A friend had gone to the Apple Store and had been waiting for almost 3 hours when I got my phone (no wait at all), and he waited another hour before he got a chance to snag his. I should also add that, surprisingly, AT&T had my phone number ported over from Sprint in under 2 hours. That's damn impressive... now if only my phone would decide if it gets 1 or 5 bars in my apartment. It seems to depend on which way the breeze is blowing.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 12th 2008 1:22AM]

That's the exact same words she used when I handed her a battery-powered nighttime companion.

[Tony @ Jul 12th 2008 1:55AM]

@ Matt

It took them 2 hours to port a phone number?
When I ported to T-Mobile from AT&T it took all but 10 minutes.

[CraigJ @ Jul 12th 2008 3:07AM]

@Tony: Given the volume of activations today, I think 2 hours to port a number from Sprint is actually kinda impressive.

[skunkMG @ Jul 12th 2008 6:13AM]

actually I don't think there's any metal on the phone anymore, at least externally.

[fhlh @ Jul 12th 2008 8:02AM]

I think it's hysterical your post is low-ranked...

I'm betting someone behind the scenes at engadget low-ranked you after spanking to his iphone2.0 for the 400th time....

[AremidPhoenix @ Jul 12th 2008 12:27PM]

Yeah and even if it WAS superman...you couldnt buy him so...yeah relax!

[Simon @ Jul 12th 2008 11:38AM]

You people so fat!!!!

I guess that's why they call America the land where everything is bigger!!!

[jroc @ Jul 12th 2008 11:53AM]

I agree completely. And to add to it, you will get thousands upon thousands that will wait in line to get their latest apple toy but when you take away their civil liberties and freedoms via a big brother police state they wont even move a finger.

[Dave @ Jul 12th 2008 12:20PM]

@jroc

Agreed. Sadly, these will probably be the same people asking the US gov't for a bailout when they can't make the monthly payments on their mortgage, credit card, etc, because, once again, they have over-extended themselves.
Being a 5th generation American citizen, I think it's truly pathetic the lack of accountability we hold not only to our government, but ourselves as citizens.

[deyanimay @ Jul 12th 2008 9:03PM]

@jroc

Yeah but Americans are lazy. Which is easier stand in line or take political action?

[Carlos @ Jul 11th 2008 10:53PM]

this is bull..... I got up at 630 am .. in louisiana (Sulphur) and got my iphone... but I haven't been able to activated... itunes says some sh1t about SSL 3.0... it's been 18 hours

[MbZ-buGSy @ Jul 14th 2008 10:19PM]

Why dont you try with a hammer, im sure it will resolve your problem.

[Ben Den. @ Jul 11th 2008 10:54PM]

ANYBODY who spent a whole week or even more than an hour in line for
the iPhone 3G needs to get a life! Its is a piece of plastic and
metal not superman!!

[willyboy @ Jul 11th 2008 10:58PM]

Yes. It is.

[deyanimay @ Jul 11th 2008 10:58PM]

Anyone who makes another account to double post should get a life.

[deyanimay @ Jul 11th 2008 11:00PM]

*Disclaimer: I am not an owner of any apple product therefore I am not defending apple in any way shape or form.

[Ben @ Jul 11th 2008 11:01PM]

the double post was an accident

[Snitch @ Jul 12th 2008 9:40AM]

I spend 6 hours in line to get one for my wife, would i do it again???? No F*****G way, also if you have the old model you should test drive the new one before signing for 2 extra years cause 3G is a bit faster than edge but it might not be as fast as you think it is. My own opinion, if you have the old model you might wanna hold on to it a bit longer cause $15 extra a month for the new one is not worth it i believe

[Rob @ Jul 12th 2008 11:41AM]

Lol your just as guilty for surfing the interwebs then posting a flame comment on a comment page for a post about iphone. EPIC FAIL
So you didn't get the phone? muahahahaa

[Tinu @ Jul 11th 2008 10:54PM]

More iPhone posts tomorrow? =)

[Lein @ Jul 11th 2008 11:09PM]

You know it. There hasn't been a "what would you change" yet.

[Ellianth @ Jul 11th 2008 11:18PM]

lol

[SPARTEN II @ Jul 11th 2008 10:54PM]

I got to an Apple Store in Atlanta at about 8:15 this morning, and I didn't get inside until 4:00. They had plenty left and I got the iPhone I wanted.

It was all worth it.

[Matt @ Jul 12th 2008 2:55AM]

I was at the AT&T store in Athens, GA at 5:45AM, was 20th in line. By 8am there were 100 people in line. I was out of the store by 9 with my phone, no problems. I'm happy.

[Jake @ Jul 11th 2008 10:55PM]

A release of iPod touch software would be a good start...

[Yan @ Jul 11th 2008 10:58PM]

Does anyone know if they're cutting off the line at the 5th Avenue store in New York?? It's normally open 24x7 so wondering if they're going to keep selling throughout the night.

[Justin @ Jul 11th 2008 11:03PM]

Had a crazy time today - ended up taking upwards of 7 hours, but I met a lot of cool (like literally, there were like B-C list stars in line with the rest of us) people. According to the great Apple girl who activated me, they are open through the night and recommended people come in after 11 or so. Migrated with the same group of people through a few AT&T stores and eventually ended up at the Fifth Ave store. Seriously, it was a fun day.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 12th 2008 1:29AM]

I love that area where the Apple Cube is located. I can just snatch somebody's iPhone and run north into Central Park to lose whoever tries to chase me. Plenty of places to hard in the dark. Even New York's Finest don't like going in there at night. I hope this doesn't deter you from standing and waiting in line. We all gotta survive in this economic crisis, you know.

[Ella @ Jul 12th 2008 11:17AM]

I got to the Cube after midnight Friday, and the Apple employee at the back of the line said AT&T was offline until 7 a.m., so purchases were at a standstill. Apple was trying to think up a runaround for the folks in line, but I bailed at that point. Wonder if that will happen to them all weekend...

[Cycomachead @ Jul 12th 2008 1:29PM]

Hmm good question. Anyway Brea Mall in Brea CA was capped sometime between 4-5 and at 4 it was said that it might go past nine already, apparently they were having problems.

I've gotta say: this launch seems very un-Apple and un organized. With iPhone's being able to be activated in iTunes then we could all do it at home.

[John @ Jul 11th 2008 11:04PM]

What was the problem with the idea of giving more stock to AT&T Stores so they can actively use their salespeople to actually sell the iPhone instead of hustle preorders?

I walked into my AT&T store today and there were about 12 employees standing at the door waiting for something to do. I have no problem with waiting a few extra days instead of waiting in line for 4 hours at our Apple store down the road, but common sense says to move the product as efficiently as possible using everybody that's being paid.

[John @ Jul 11th 2008 11:06PM]

Oops sorry double post, had some serious lag there...

[AwlAmericanDawg @ Jul 11th 2008 11:15PM]

The same thing happened when I passed by an AT&T store, I was going to a Target Store and next to the Target there was an AT&T store and there were no lines and hardly any people inside, mostly what you saw through the windows were just the Employees. They even had the "Please wait to be served" or something line that sign out there...

[chris @ Jul 12th 2008 11:15AM]

i think apple gets 100 more bucks for signing new customers.

[John @ Jul 11th 2008 11:05PM]

What was the problem with the idea of giving more stock to AT&T Stores so they can actively use their salespeople to actually sell the iPhone instead of hustle preorders?

I walked into my AT&T store today and there were about 12 employees standing at the door waiting for something to do. I have no problem with waiting a few extra days instead of waiting in line for 4 hours at our Apple store down the road, but common sense says to move the product as efficiently as possible using everybody that's being paid.

[Jeff Snugglebutton @ Jul 11th 2008 11:15PM]

It was Apple's idea not to give ATT more phones. Two fold, Apple salespeople would make less money and this would allow for year 6 when Apple becomes it's own carrier.

[John @ Jul 11th 2008 11:25PM]

I guess you're right, but for the short term it would also make sense to cut down on Apple staff costs and make AT&T pay for the bitchwork in exchange for asking to have all iPhones activated in store, taking up valuable resources and staff

[skunkMG @ Jul 12th 2008 6:08AM]

Apple retail salespeople don't get paid commission and I'm pretty sure AT&T salespeople get paid by AT&T not Apple.

[John @ Jul 12th 2008 8:57AM]

That's exactly why it'd make sense to make AT&T use people they pay for to activate the iPhones in store.

The activation limitation was what slowed down the purchase process to a crawl, taking up more time per sale than usual transactions.

[snowwy66 @ Jul 11th 2008 11:10PM]

walked into the local store today too. everyone standing around. apparently the entire inventory around this state was sold out in the first 2 hours. which is halfway between west coast and midwest states

[Sam Packard @ Jul 11th 2008 11:14PM]

I went to the Burlingame, CA Apple Store at 7:30 AM and got in at 1:30. I got the iPhone I wanted and the activation process was pretty smooth.

[gabe @ Jul 11th 2008 11:17PM]

dont u think your time is better well spend at work where you make money and coming back on the weekend

[kirk @ Jul 11th 2008 11:21PM]

It took 4 hours for me to get to the counter at the Apple Store Domain in Austin. The process took me 5 minutes from there. The upgrade to my ATT account took a minute tops. Then he walked me to a guy to activate it. Once the phone was started, iTunes activated it in just a few seconds. Then I was out of there.

With the activation problem taken care of, the real hold up was people that were at the front and learning that they weren't eligible for an upgrade. On dude didn't have photo ID. A few people were on their parents account and not able to make changes. This after standing in line for hours! A few people at the counter were still hemming and hawing about what calling plan they wanted.

The new phone is great. But if I had to do it again, I'd wait until the lines are gone.

[Luke @ Jul 11th 2008 11:21PM]

Seems like AT&T got shafted pretty big on stock compared to Apple. Waited in line since 4 in the morning. Was number 28 in line and when I got in there they were already sold out of all of their 16gb iPhones, black and white. Pretty pissed off. I'm in central Illinois and there were at least 100 people in line. What's the big deal, Apple?

[Superstition @ Jul 11th 2008 11:58PM]

Central Illinois here too... same story. What a crock. It wouldn't have been too bad if they had at least let people know a rough estimate of their stock. If you were number 60 in line, it would have been nice to know if they only had ten 16-gb ones. Instead, their only update was "We're out".