Woman at store says phone not on sale until July 19th?!?!

[JackImageX]

Ok. I couldn't help but share this. I called the AT&T store near my house to ask if they were going to be selling the Captivate early. The woman who answered the phone said "Oh, no, that's not on sale until the 19th. We won't know how many we have until then."

Now, I know that's BS.

Is anyone else getting the run around from AT&T? I realize this is just a clerk at a store but I've seen other stories where AT&T store employees are just out in left field when it comes to their products. This phone is pretty big and for AT&T to not realize that shows just how short-sighted they are.

 

[Jeremy]

Ok. I couldn't help but share this. I called the AT&T store near my house to ask if they were going to be selling the Captivate early. The woman who answered the phone said "Oh, no, that's not on sale until the 19th. We won't know how many we have until then."

Now, I know that's BS.

Is anyone else getting the run around from AT&T? I realize this is just a clerk at a store but I've seen other stories where AT&T store employees are just out in left field when it comes to their products. This phone is pretty big and for AT&T to not realize that shows just how short-sighted they are.

Completely depends on who you talk to... I'm sure some AT&T employees don't even know the phone exists... sad I know...

 

[jperiod]

I called a store and had a similar experience, when I suggested that on the web it said the 18th, he corrected himself and said oh yeah it is the 18th. He also said they had not received theirs yet and didn't know how many they would have. It kind of makes you wonder if AT&T really wants to sell a lot of these phones. There has been relatively little marketing of this phone in advance of the launch. Interesting that I read an article on the web that said that AT&T is spending more money on marketing than Verizon. I wonder what they are spending it on.

 

[JackImageX]

Completely depends on who you talk to... I'm sure some AT&T employees don't even know the phone exists... sad I know...

Jeremy, you were right, it depends who you talk to. I guess that's the nature of retail. I called another store in the area (further away but within a driving distance) and the experience was completely different. Although they weren't selling it early, they would have it tomorrow. He actually was willing to talk about the phone and didn't treat me like I wanted to take a dump in the store. (guess who gets the sale?).

I think that AT&T is a bit complacent with the iPhone and their Blackberry offerings and they don't realize the potential of Android. I hope they get over this (a CDMA iPhone may wake them up). I so much want to dump my iPhone 3G and get a phone that works and doesn't pause to think before every action you try to take with it.

 

[JackImageX]

I called a store and had a similar experience, when I suggested that on the web it said the 18th, he corrected himself and said oh yeah it is the 18th. He also said they had not received theirs yet and didn't know how many they would have. It kind of makes you wonder if AT&T really wants to sell a lot of these phones. There has been relatively little marketing of this phone in advance of the launch. Interesting that I read an article on the web that said that AT&T is spending more money on marketing than Verizon. I wonder what they are spending it on.

I wonder how it's going to be 6 months from now, when there are some pretty strong Android offerings and people have grown tired of the iPhone and the limited nature of the iOS platform.

 

[Crucial_Xtreme]

In NC, some stores are allowing you to get them today. Some will make you wait until tomorrow.

 

[ptb127]

My local AT&T store has 4-5 full wall posters of the iPhone 4 hanging in them and nothing else remotely close to advertising for any other phone, including Blackberries. It's a shame because this Samsung is the first phone to actually COMPETE with the iPhone and not get blown out of the water (all relative to the AT&T network)

 

[icebike]

I talked to my Business account rep at my AT&T store today (17th).

He told me they were available tomorrow,
He let me play with one for an hour, even make calls
He told me how many they have in stock (only 25 at that store).
He also offered to reserve a couple for me if I committed right there and then.


Without Apple holding a gun to their head, AT&T can be pretty forthcoming.

Captivate is a NICE NICE phone. Love my Nexus One, but I could easily go for a Captivate. 16Gigs built in means most people will have no need for a MicroSD card (unless you have a ****load of music to put on).

The screen on medium was as bright as my N1 on BRIGHT setting.
No shovelware on the phone that I could find.

 

[Kyle Gibb]

I called a store and had a similar experience, when I suggested that on the web it said the 18th, he corrected himself and said oh yeah it is the 18th. He also said they had not received theirs yet and didn't know how many they would have. It kind of makes you wonder if AT&T really wants to sell a lot of these phones. There has been relatively little marketing of this phone in advance of the launch. Interesting that I read an article on the web that said that AT&T is spending more money on marketing than Verizon. I wonder what they are spending it on.

They are trying to convince people they sell devices not named the iPhone. Apple does all iPhone marketing, I have never seen an AT&T TV ad for it.

 

[BDaddy68]

For those speaking with AT&T reps today, are you speaking w/ resellers or Corporate stores? I tried both today and my experience is the Corporate stores have the inventory in stock and ready to go and the resellers have not received their shipments yet.

Regarding advertising and the heavy influence upon the iphone: I spoke with a clerk at the Corporate store today and mentioned that AT&T finally had a phone worthy of iphone competition. What I received in return was a 5 minute speak on how superior the iphone was in every way. I stood there and kept my mouth shut ; AT&T must brainwash these people.

 

[Jeremy]

For those speaking with AT&T reps today, are you speaking w/ resellers or Corporate stores? I tried both today and my experience is the Corporate stores have the inventory in stock and ready to go and the resellers have not received their shipments yet.

Regarding advertising and the heavy influence upon the iphone: I spoke with a clerk at the Corporate store today and mentioned that AT&T finally had a phone worthy of iphone competition. What I received in return was a 5 minute speak on how superior the iphone was in every way. I stood there and kept my mouth shut ; AT&T must brainwash these people.

I spoke to both types of stores in my area and they bit confirmed they would have them in stock Sunday.

 

[JackImageX]

For those speaking with AT&T reps today, are you speaking w/ resellers or Corporate stores?

It was a corporate AT&T store. I went to another corporate AT&T store and mentioned my experience and the guy told me "we hear that a lot" (referring to the other store). It's possible the problem is with a certain someone at a specific store (you know the type - the "It's not my job" type).

I hope to get mine tomorrow morning. If I don't, I'll have to get it online.

I did get a chance to play with an HTC Aria when at the store today. I have to say, I like that little phone. I felt the interface and speed were great (I'm coming from the "no-options" iPhone 3G so the bar is pretty low). If the Captivate is that speedy, I see it being a great experience.