iPhone X sells out within minutes overnight (video)

ABC News ^ | October 27, 2017 | By ANDREA MILLER

[Swordmaker]

If you're just waking up, you're too late: iPhone X preorders sold out within minutes overnight.

Apple Add Interest

Today marked the kick-off for iPhone X preorders, Apple’s much anticipated 10th-anniversary edition of its iPhone.

Preorders opened at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time and 3:01 a.m. ET for those Apple devotees who wanted to be some of the first to get their hands on the phone that Apple's CEO Tim Cook called the “biggest leap forward since the original iPhone” at its Sept. 12 launch event.

While the iPhone X was gone online in minutes, the phone will be available in stores next Friday, Nov. 3.

Here’s what you need to know about the iPhone X:

Apple has confirmed that stores will have the new phone in stock on Nov. 3 and the company is encouraging customers to arrive early.

"Stores will have iPhone X available for walk-in customers," Apple wrote. Stores open at 8 a.m. Quantities of the phone available are unconfirmed.

[Swordmaker]

Third, Apple was having a problem verifying my AT&T account. So the order didn’t get verified until after 8:00 AM CDT.

I suspect AT&T's password server was in a major traffic jam right after midnight. My issues with it were far more complicated than I described. I got put in the queue right at midnight with a 16 minute wait that turned into about 20 minutes actual time. When it allowed me on AT&T's website to login, it refused to recognize the password that worked fine yesterday when I chatted with a rep about what I planned to do, swapping numbers with my daughter's phones, etc. Now, when it counted the same user name/password combination was rejected as not being valid to login to access my account. I tried it three times, then it allowed me in.

Then AT&T informed me my Daughter's iPhone, which was OK to upgrade yesterday, was not OK to upgrade today. I was only permitted to buy a new device for full price! WHAT???? My NEXT contract seemed to not be available. Chat was "busy" and not available. No back button to try another device. I used the browser's back button and found myself back at the QUEUE now with 21 minutes to wait. . . DAMN IT! I tried to use the forward browser arrow. . . and wound up on the same screen only with 24 minutes to wait! I reloaded the screen and now had 28 minutes to wait! ARRRGGGGHHHH! So I waited the 28 minutes and got to the log in screen again.

Again, it refused to recognize the password that just allowed me in not an hour before. , , and then LOCKED my access for trying too many times in the last hour! There was a CHAT function button for help with password issues, which I clicked on. It promptly opened a chat window, but then popped up an alert to inform me the wait time was 260 minutes. That told me I was not the only one who was being locked out by their server not being able to confirm passwords.

So I used the "forgot my password" and answered my security questions. . . at which point it allowed me to reset my password, then allowed me in. However, NOW none of my iPhones or iPads were available to upgrade except my ex-wife's iPhone 6, and an old iPad which I no longer owned, not even my long paid off iPad Pro. There were not even check boxes to select them for upgrading. ARRRGGGGGHHHHH!

I moved to a different Mac computer, leaving the account open on the other, and attempt to login, on the new computer. AGAIN, a queue, It's now 1:35AM. . . and it says 36 minute wait time. . . but it goes a lot faster than 36 minutes. I am suddenly at the login screen, but NOW it won't accept the NEW password I just created on the last login. GRRRRRRRR! So I again use "Forgot My Password" and again answer my security questions. . . and reset my password BACK to my original password. It takes. . . and I'm in! This time ALL my devices are available for upgrading. . . I select my daughter's iPhone 6s and it goes to a screen I've never seen and Voilá, things go right for the first time. . . and I complete the transaction in about fifteen minutes. . . and it ends up saying my iPhone X will be delivered between November 2nd and November 10th with a confirmation number. It was 2:12AM, more than 2 hours since I started what should have taken twenty minutes. SHEEEESH squared!

When I went back into the other room, the other computer had logged me into AT&T without any problem. . . and AT&T was politely inquiring which device I wanted to upgrade, and all of them were available. . . AT&T is trying to drive me insane.

Everything I saw in upgrading pointed to AT&T's system on the edge of complete breakdown due to overload.

I got an email before 4AM that confirmed everything. At 3:30PM or so, I got a text message saying my AT&T order is ready to ship. WOW!

[Swordmaker]

FWIW - Just got back from China. Seems like every young Chinese has an iPhone.

Some of those are look-alike fakes. There is a cottage industry in make Android phones that look just like iPhones in China that have screens that look alike as well, but they don't work like iPhones. . . Xiaomi, one of the larger makers in China got its start making iPhone fakes.

[Swordmaker]

That’s why the eight wasn’t a fast seller. Folks were waiting for the X

From what I've seen that appear to be legitimate sales numbers for the iPhone 8 and 9 plus, sales numbers are not so shabby. They are only about 15% off a normal iPhone introduction first month numbers. Considering the pending iPhone X introduction, that is phenomenal. . . and the fact that iPhone SE, and 6S and 6S plus are still on the market. This may translate into a huge quarter for Apple.

I know that iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were not available for on-line purchase and immediate store pickup. There was about a week or so delivery wait. That showed they were selling out each day on-line. . . and Apple had a pipe-line backlog, so they were selling quite well. There is still a lot of pent-up demand from people who had not yet upgraded to the larger iPhones, and some are opting for the smaller iPhone SE, especially now that it has the iPhone 7 technology inside.

[Swordmaker]

For starters, where does he get all of the Apple gear that he "gives" away for "free" on his radio show? Yeah, I know he can afford to buy them himself and give them away, just to be nice.

He's said many times, he buys them himself. Your hypothetical means nothing probative. Look at the program logs. Those HAVE to show who is paying the freight in advertising. Apple is not listed. Shoots your hypothetical down in flames.

Then, he spends a LOT OF TIME talking up the Apple gear, and today he spend an awful lot of time talking up the iPHone X, and the next caller was a 12 year old girl that he "gifted" an iPad to. Guess he bought a bunch of those too to give away, "just to be nice".

Yes, he does. . . but it's not "just to be nice," it's to promote his program. Rush is a businessman. He does thing to promote himself. He also thinks, like I do that people would be better off using Apple products. Again, nothing probative in your "evidence."

He does that "giveaway" of Apple stuff very often, and I've never heard him give away any other brand of smartphones or tablets or PCs.

What does that prove? Rush doesn't use or like any other brand of smartphone, tablet, or PC. Why would he foist junk off on his listeners? He is only going to give them what he likes. Again, that proves nothing. Keep flailing away, Adorno.

In any court of law, that would be enough "evidence" to find someone guilty of favoring a brand over all others.

There is now a crime in favoring some brand over another? Since when? Rush prefer the Conservative Brand, or the Trump brand over the Liberal Brand and the Clinton Brand. . . do you condemn him for having a preference? I don't. Why should it be any different for Apple? You are delusional if you think we have to be completely neutral in our choices if we have a platform.

Apple may not be doing any "official" advertising on Limbaugh's show, but Rush spends a lot more time hyping and selling Apple stuff, than if Apple had paid for a couple of commercials.

See, now you admit you really did not know to be a fact what you were stating as a fact earlier in this very thread. You ought to be more careful when making such claims when you really don't know and are just bloviating your unsubstantiated opinions as facturds.

[Swordmaker]

I have the iPhone SE 64 GB because that is the most memory you can get for that phone. I bought it because of the wallet for Apple Pay. I didn’t want to go to the six or the 6+ or the seven or the gigantic phones. I just want a phone that easily slips into and out of a pocket.

No, it's available in 128GB for $449.

[Swordmaker]

Have you ever heard of "product placement" within movies and TV programs and reality shows? No "official ads", but, subtly placed advertising.

Such products are listed in the credits at the end of the movies or program. . . or their logos are obscured in the movie unless they are just unavoidable background signage. Those are the rules of the game. How many times have you seen obvious Apple laptops with the glowing Apple logo obscured or covered? I note them frequently. If they are not, they are likely paid product placement.

Have you ever seen a government required airtime document that HID such advertising? If you do hide advertisers, you lose your broadcasting license. Apple is not a Rush Limbaugh program advertiser. This came out of the radio payola graft of the 1950s and it applies to all advertising on Radio and TV. If a radio program had commercial content, it has to be labelled as paid content. Rush does not label his content as such. Ergo, his Apple comments are sincere and not paid.

Rush was talking Apple way before you give it credit. You can make up all kinds of things, but that is what you are doing. It's called projections. It's the dishonest things YOU'D do if you were in the same position with the power to do them.

I do listen to Rush, which you claim you really don't, and he does not spend all that much time on Apple you seem to think he does. I'd say he may talk about the once, perhaps twice, a month. When he gives iPhones away, he really doesn't talk much about it. He just asks which the caller wants. . . YOU attribute more there than there is.

[adorno]

He's said many times, he buys them himself.

Yeah. Sure. Uh-hum.

But, the price of that gear is probably peanuts compared to the "rewards" he would reap from the "free" advertising. So, try again.

Your hypothetical means nothing probative.

Nothing hypothetical about real and conclusive evidence that points directly at "very fishy" and likely guilty.

Look at the program logs. Those HAVE to show who is paying the freight in advertising.

It doesn't have to be in the program logs, if it's "free" advertising. Get it???? How many people have you ever known that have been paid "under the table" and recorded the shady deals?

Apple is not listed.

Well, who woulda thunk it??? A shady deal not recorded or listed? That never happened before. Has it?

Shoots your hypothetical down in flames.

Only in the mind of somebody that wants to deny the very obvious obfuscation.

No need for me to go into the rest of your post, since you would be the obvious holdout as a "not guilty" in a jury of 12 where everybody else would be a "guilty".

BTW, have you ever thought about how deals can be made away from the "regular" business location? Have you ever heard about the "you scratch may back and I'll scratch your back" type of deals. Those can all occur outside of the boardroom.

BTW, I don't fault Limbaugh for working out any kind of deal, above board or below. It's how "business is conducted". I would do the same if I could get away with it. And I love Rush. It's just about the "stinking" subtle advertising.

[adorno]

Those are the rules of the game.

There you go again. Either being naive or acting naive.

Isn't it quite possible that a product might "accidentally" appear on a show? Or that it could be somehow "placed" in an obvious "can't miss it" position in a scene, and not have to get paid as advertising, because, it was to give the "perception of a real world situation" which demanded REAL everyday used products? IOW, the advertisers would not be listed in the credits, because, it wasn't "intended" (while in reality, they were intended to be seen).

I wouldn't mind doing that kind of accidental advertising, or that "real situation kind of placement". As long as I got paid and didn't have to report it.

[Swordmaker]

So,did you notice how others have noticed the same thing I did? Look it up. I provided one link where somebody else had the same question, and that was from several years ago, and Limbaugh continues with the same "not-really-advertising advertising".

And did you notice that not a single comment was made to that screed? I did. it got ZERO attention in 2012 which is what it deserved for the very reasons I have pointed out. . . RADIO is regulated out the kazoo with advertising required to be reported. Since it was not, it did not happen as this bozo's innuendo tried to claim it was happening. There is just too much money being made elsewhere by Limbaugh to risk losing his affiliates' broadcasting licenses.

See, again, you propose illegalities by suggesting "under the table payments" which would put both Apple and Limbaugh at risk. It just does not happen. . . but in your delusional world. Why would they need to do such illegal things when a straightforward LEGAL advertising arrangement be more to the point and expected and not a problem at all?

Limbaugh has stated numerous times unequivocally he would welcome such a contract to be Apple's spokesperson to the Right because he believe so much in their products.

[adorno]

And did you notice that not a single comment was made to that screed?

You're showing your naivete again.

Comments are not the only way to show agreement with a statement. I would venture to say that for every comment showing approval, that at least 100 others said nothing but were in approval. In addition, there are probably many thousand others who never even read the "screed" but would agree with the premise.

For example, I have not read the vast majority of articles and comments that appear on FR, but I very likely would have agreed with the vast majority of FR commentators regarding whatever the subject was. See how that works?

[aquila48]

No doubt there’s some of that, just like fake Rolexes and Prada purses.

But I was amazed at all the people at the Apple stores.

The other thing that struck me is all the expensive cars I saw on the road - BMWs, Audis, Mercedes, Lexus, Cadillacs, Infinities, Jaguars, Range Rovers... even quite a few Teslas. And just about every brand in the world.

The one thing I didn’t see is a single pick-up truck.

[Swordmaker]

Yeah. Sure. Uh-hum.

Are you calling me a liar? I heard Rush say that, several times. He buys the Apple products himself to give away. YOU are the one who is making the accusation. The burden of proof lies on YOU to prove you case. . . and you are failing miserably. The evidence is completely against your claims. Why would Apple give away something they have ZERO trouble selling? Apple can sell every single iPhone they make. Apple has NEVER given away products as part of a promotion for even their store openings. Why would they give Rush Limbaugh products to give away? Can you show any other time where Apple has given away a single item other than to educational organizations?

Nothing hypothetical about real and conclusive evidence that points directly at "very fishy" and likely guilty.

Only in your mind. See the above. Show us one other time when Apple has given away dozens of iPhones. Ever. I don't know of such an event. In fact, from Apple's own guidelines on such:

"If you choose to give the product away in any form of promotion or use Apple products in promotional materials such as advertising, you must follow these guidelines. Strict adherence is essential because you and/or your company may be held responsible if your use of Apple products for promotional purposes do not conform with the following guidelines. In any event, we reserve the right to revoke our consent to your use of Apple products in your promotion at any time and for any reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Apple products" include: iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPhone, AppleWatch, AirPod, Time Capsule, Apple TV, Apple Gift Cards and iTunes Gift Cards, requires a minimum purchase of 250 units. . ."

. . .

"Purchasing Apple products. You may purchase products for your promotion direct from Apple (via an Apple Retail, Online Store, or Telesales representative) or from your Apple Authorized Reseller. . ."

Rush makes it plain it is a personal gift from him, not the show, not his corporation.

It doesn't have to be in the program logs, if it's "free" advertising. Get it???? How many people have you ever known that have been paid "under the table" and recorded the shady deals?

You are pulling facturds out of your nether regions again, Adorno. What do you think "Payola" was except under the table free advertising of certain products that were not recorded? That's why the penalties are so draconian about losing broadcasting licenses. It's nothing to risk and I again repeat, why do Limbaugh and Apple NEED to do it???? You have demonstrated absolutely ZERO MOTIVE TO DO IT. Apple's books are audited and public.

Participating in such a scheme opens Apple's officers and managers to Sarbanes Oxley penalties of up to $20 million and twenty years in a federal prison for exactly WHAT possible gain???? Such an arrangement would stick out on any audit like a sore thumb with a red-ink nail through it and flags would be waving everywhere. They aren't, so it hasn't happened.

For Limbaugh, were such a deal to be revealed, he would destroy his hard earned reputation, AND lose his radio license, career, and business. Your theory makes ZERO SENSE in any sane world unoccupied by Anti-Apple Hate Brigade members who can find an Apple crime in a sunny day.

You're building a house of cards on a shaking foundation in a quake zone with a blizzard running through the room. It has no basis in logic, Adorno, with no rational motive, because the parties involved could do better with a normal above the table advertising campaign without resorting to subterfuges as you are seeing in your delusional world view.

[Swordmaker]

No need for me to go into the rest of your post, since you would be the obvious holdout as a "not guilty" in a jury of 12 where everybody else would be a "guilty".

There is no crime to place in front of jury. Why don't you join Robert Mueller's task force? Your attitude and concept of law fits in well with the Liberals there.

I would do the same if I could get away with it.

And there's the inherent dishonesty in you. . . the projection I was writing about that makes you find it in others when it is not there.

[Nifster]

I upgraded to an eight plus...really like it. Didn’t wNeed the ten

[Swordmaker]

I upgraded to an eight plus...really like it. Didn’t wNeed the ten

A lot of people are making the same decision. . .

[adorno]

BTW, what the heck is this?

Don't drop your iPhone X: Without AppleCare warranty, repairing the all-screen device will set you back $279. Other damages out of warranty will cost $549.

In other countries, iPhone X repair without AppleCare+ (via MacRumors):

- Australia: $419 for screen repairs, $819 for other damage

- Canada: $359 for screen repairs, $709 for other damage

- Germany: €321 for screen repairs, and €611 for other damage

- United Kingdom: £286 for screen repairs, £556 for other damage

Those repair costs are obscene. And to get 2 years of warranty via AppleCare will set people back another $199 on top of the iPX price of between $1100 and $1400. The purchase price is high enough, so why not include the 2 year warranty with that obscene price?

I may get back to you on the other "contentious" posts regarding the Limbaugh "free advertising". BTW, aren't you also doing "free" advertising for Apple here? FR should look to charging you for every post you make regarding Apple stuff.

[SamAdams76]

There is no satisfying an Apple hater.

Much like a Trump hater, their delusions are deep-seated and based on falsehoods.

Nail on the head. The Apple bashers are no different then the Trump bashers. They are determined to hate - no matter what. No amount of facts will move them. They are close-minded and are bound and determined to show that their hate is justified, even if it means they have to twist the facts to serve that purpose.

It really is a sad statement on our society, that many people are so invested in their pre-conceived notions that they will literally close their eyes, block their ears and go "na-na-na-na-na" so that the facts do not have a chance to change their minds.

Many people are so determined to hate President Trump that even if we had a 6% annual growth in our GDP, had full employment in America, solved the N. Korea and ISIS problems, drained the swamp in Washington and Trump himself dropped hot apple pies on everybody's doorstep, the same people would still hate him and they would actually root against America doing well in the hopes that it would hurt Trump. For example, there are actually Trump-haters who hope to see our troops killed overseas or see high death tolls on domestic terrorist incidents so that Trump will be hurt politically by them. When the hurricanes hit Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico during the summer, Trump-haters were actually dismayed that death tolls weren't higher and that government response was not slow or unresponsive in any way so that Trump would have his "Katrina" moment. The hate is that strong...

I see the same thing with the Apple haters. Here is an American company that has a great story to tell. Started by two guys in a garage back in the 1970s and today it is by most measures the most successful and profitable company in the history of business that disrupted several industries and literally changed the way that people live in a positive way.

Yet they have so many haters. It seems that there are people out there that hate to see other people successful, be it Donald Trump or the Apple corporation. It really is sad to see.

[Swordmaker]

Don't drop your iPhone X: Without AppleCare warranty, repairing the all-screen device will set you back $279. Other damages out of warranty will cost $549.

Use your head for something other than Apple HATE, Adorno.

If you have an automobile accident, does your car's warranty pay for repairing it?

No, it doesn't. You buy insurance against unforeseen accidental damages. It's not a warranty if you DROP AND BREAK something. That's why you buy insurance, Adorno. The AppleCare+ is damage insurance, not a warranty. There is a difference.

Warranties are for failures of the product that are inherent in the design or operation. Apple covers such problems better than any other phone maker free of charge. I've seen Apple give Apple users a completely free replacement MacBook Pro for a defective one THREE YEARS out of warranty because they determined it was a flaw in the manufacturing. No charge. They even transferred her data for her. . . and that was when they were $3000.

As for the price differentials, that answer is simple. The dollar is strong right now in relation to other currencies. . . and other nations have Value Added taxation which adds to the cost of any work done on top of the basic price of the replacement parts.

Add that the price of the OLED screen is expensive. . . and if you damage the iPhone X other than the screens, you basically are damaging a STEEL frame, something very hard to do, and that means replacing the entire device. That means swapping it for a refurbished iPhone X, a costly proposition. Labor to swap parts would be much higher than just exchanging it for the refurb.

[dfwgator]

Don't drop your iPhone X: Without AppleCare warranty, repairing the all-screen device will set you back $279. Other damages out of warranty will cost $549.

It's called an "Otter Box".

[Swordmaker]

It's called an "Otter Box".

I've had iPhones for over ten years, as have my entire family. We don't use "Otter Box" vault like protection, choosing pretty basic cases, nor do we use those transparent screen protectors. Not a single one of us has ever broken a screen on an iPhone. My daughter did succeed in dropping and cracking her hand-me-down iPad Air screen. I handled the replacement of that for about $20 and 40 minutes of my time.