Direct your anger here?
The iPhone 4 launch in New Zealand is in chaos. People have been lining up at various different stores only to be turned away. Some are blaming Vodafone, some Apple and some the apparent stock shortages of the device in the country. Who is to blame?
Long story short – we, along with the rest of the iPhone community have no evidence as to why the iPhone 4 has been delayed in New Zealand. There have been no press releases, no new information, just speculation.
MagnumMac and Vodafone stores around the country have been putting up various signs announcing that they will not be selling the iPhone 4 – some go into detail by blaming stock shortages for example, and some as vague as referring customers to Apple’s website.
Vodafone are active on their twitter account, but have obviously been reluctant to say anything to the potential buyers waiting for official word on the situation.
Apparently, Paul Brislen from Vodafone went in person to the Queen Street retail store in Auckland to tell the fanfare that there was no launch today, and that he may have more information later in the day for public announcement.
So for now, all we know is that retail stores in New Zealand are unable to sell the iPhone 4 – whether they have stock or not.
What have your experiences been with the iPhone 4 launch? Let us know in the comments below.
Maybe we should all boycott apple and voda and buy Androids and Blackberrys! from Telecom!
(Username 4.0.1 has made 18 comments)
i blame vodafone’s Paul Bislen, obviously it was his statement that made apple not want to give them the authority to sell. This can be seen since he had to personally come down early morning to tell everyone it’s not going to be for sale. Paul Bislen screwed up big time, I would fire him if I was vodafone owner
(tonie has made 26 comments)
This is just total BS! I stayed up all night. The internet is on 24-7 why didn’t we get informed right before. We could have slept, not wasted time waiting and gone to work.
(Michael11234 has made 3 comments)
Michael11234 wrote:
i agree f*ck them all
(tonie has made 26 comments)
VODAFONE WEBSITE NOW HAS IPHONE4 IMAGE ON HOMEPAGE?! WTF!
(daniel has made 26 comments)
Lol @daniel this changes everything again… again
(samhopkins has made 1 comment)
Oh man, that banner asking for pre-register info. on the vodafone site is not doing them any favors. This is a real mess
(sharpy has made 26 comments)
Vodafone Lambton are selling them at 12pm today, on account only (no outright purchases)
(sharpy has made 26 comments)
What an amazing PR stuff up from both Vodafone and Apple. It feels like a total slap in the face for loyal and enthusiastic customers.
(djrichard has made 19 comments)
sharpy wrote:
Yeah i just read that someone else said Vodafone were selling at 12 as well…this is madness
(camtab has made 468 comments)
The iPhone banner on the mobile version of the site is still there too! Fail @VodafoneNZ
(NZR109 has made 3 comments)
samhopkins wrote:
This phone changes the way you hold the phone, changes the date it’s supposed to be launched, changes the way we hyped for phone but only to be disappointed/furious by it, and changes Vodafone’s marketing & PR sh*tness. When Jobs said this phone will change everything, he MEANT it!
(5linging5lasher has made 16 comments)
Geez, go to a public phone box already why dontcha?
(B.Hanson has made 15 comments)
@ camtab:
Yep I rang the store and he confirmed it. I rang MagnumMac and the nice lady explained they can’t sell it due to Vodafone ‘restrictions’ (whatever that means) and are waiting on them to give the go ahead, but they were/are one of the official sellers of the iPhone 4 in NZ. So heres hoping they will now sell it today.
(sharpy has made 26 comments)
Obviously Paul Brislen knows he has job waiting for him somewhere else… like public relations manager at BP’s Florida branch office.
The difference between the Telecom CEO’s public handling of their embarrassing situation and Vodafone’s treatment of their customer base is quite stark. Vodafone seems to think they can piggyback on Apple’s branding strengths. They can’t.
(ALFA has made 25 comments)
Just called VF retail at Lambton Quay and they confirmed that they’re selling iPhone 4 today at noon, but “No Outright”.
(pacharawit has made 48 comments)
ACROSS THE DITCH
In Australia, the launch went much more smoothly, with iPhone 4s going on sale at midnight.
Optus, Telstra and Vodafone/3 bent over backwards to ensure the wait was an event in itself. Singer Kelly Rowland greeted customers at Optus, Vodafone plied its faithful with free booze and Telstra offered fine cuisine.
Telstra treated loyal Sydney queuers to Apple-inspired food prepared by MasterChef contestants, including winner Adam Liaw and runner-up Callum Hann. The fare on offer included pork belly with apple sauce, apple tarts, apple crumble and a giant iPhone cake.
In the countdown to midnight, the band Kisschasy entertained the crowds before MasterChef judge Matt Preston presented the first in line, Sam Dunster, with the first handset by lifting up the lid on his silver cloche.
Vodafone/3 customers in Sydney ditched the queues altogether as the telco threw a lavish party at the Ivy, with free food and drinks and entertainment by Martini Club until 3am. Customers registered their purchase at Vodafone’s George Street store at 10pm and simply strolled over to collect their handsets at midnight.
- Stuff.co.nz
Aussie Talco’s treat their customers like gods lol F$*k NZ need some competition!
(anand_patel18 has made 2 comments)
Geez, if you need to make a call that bad go to a public phone box already why dontcha?
(B.Hanson has made 15 comments)
vodafone website updated
http://www.vodafone.co.nz/iphone/
(viking325i has made 13 comments)
Also, the manager of a certain Authorized Reseller I was with called the HEAD of Apple NZ and he said he knew as much as the oublic, at 8:30am this morning. That was the bad sign.
Then he just txted my friend a few moments ago and according to Apple NZ, Vodafone will be selling it at select retailers from 12pm today. Very small shipment though.
(Sprok has made 74 comments)