Friday, June 18, 2010

Letter to Apple - Status of White iPhone 4

Dear Apple,

There are many loyal iPhone customers who are very upset by the lack of communication we are receiving from you. We understood according to Steve Jobs' keynote speech at WWDC that there would be two colors of the iPhone 4 available at launch, black and white. Many of us were so excited about the ability to pre order or reserve our new iPhone 4 on June 15th that we stayed up late the night before hoping to be one of the first to pre-order or reserve our iPhone 4.

However, we were instead greeted with a statement that says "White iPhone currently unavailable for pre-order or in-store pickup." For those of us who had our hearts set on getting the white version, not only are we crushed but we're extremely confused. What does this statement really mean? Will the white iPhones be made available for pre-order or in-store pickup before the launch on June 24? If not, will the retail stores have the white iPhone 4's available on a first come first serve basis on June 24? If not, when will they be made available?

While we're upset by the white models not being available, we're even more upset with the lack of information coming from you, Apple! Many of us are die hard Apple fans who have camped out for each of the 3 previous iPhone launches. Without knowing what to expect at launch, we do not know how to plan. We do not want to camp out to be one of the first through the doors at 7am if there is no chance of getting a white iPhone. Some have to travel quite a distance to get to the nearest Apple store, some need to re-arrange their schedules, request off of work and make other arrangements in preparation for the iPhone launch, but how can we do so if we do not know what to expect? However, if we do not get any more information on what's going on and as a result decide not to camp out but later find out that the white iPhones were available to those who did, that will come as a huge blow.

There is also another aspect to this situation that you need to consider. A majority of females are primarily interested in the white iPhone. It's a softer, more fashion forward option. So, the lack of the white and the looming uncertainty of its future availability has the unfortunate effect of alienating many female loyalists.

We know things happen that cannot be avoided at times. So, if something happened during the manufacturing of the white iPhones that required a delay in their release, then this could be understood if the situation was made known to all of us who are frustratingly waiting for word. However, without an official update on the matter, all we're left with is the feeling that Apple does not care about the consumers. I guess I just hold you, Apple, in such high regard that I expected a little more. I have converted many to the Mac/Apple world and am always bragging about how much more Apple cares about making the customer happy, about how Apple products just work. Well, right now, things aren't just working and many are not happy. Please, restore our faith in the Apple brand and let us know what's going on. A simple website announcement could go extremely far in restoring our faith in you.

Please consider what I've shared and release an official statement on the status of the white iPhone 4's in the next day or two. I'm including links to some forums, blogs, and websites on this issue so you realize that there is a large outcry amongst your would-be iPhone 4 customers regarding this issue.

Your Loyal Apple Fan,
Shelly Mares

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=937194

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=937247

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2461091&tstart=0

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/06/15/businessinsider-wheres-the-white-iphone-4-apple-says-its-coming-as-quickly-as-we-can-2010-6.DTL

http://cnmnewsnetwork.com/121175/iphone-4-pre-order-and-white-iphone-missing-from-virtual-shelves/

http://www.beatweek.com/news/6548-white-iphone-also-missing-from-apples-iphone-4-promotional-efforts/

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/06/15/att_sold_out_of_iphone_4_pre_orders_as_best_buy_halts_white_pre_orders.html

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/iphone-4-8gb-iphone-3gs-pre-orders-open-minus-white/

2 comments:

Bob said...

Nicely written. Let's hope Steve takes time to respond, hopefully something a bit more insightful then, “It will come" or “You won’t be disappointed."

Unknown said...

You have Great knowledge about iPhone.