Post iPhone 3G Launch Reflections, Part III

After the clerk had run my credit card and taken all my personal information, he guided me to another station, where another Apple Store employee was supposed to walk me through the activation process. Having stood in line for what felt like ages, I was really in no mood to have someone tell me what I had already read about online and knew from the first generation iPhone. My iPhone was activated, the clerk told some perfunctory things about the new GPS, Exchange, and other additions, and I was itching to leave. I told him I didn’t have any questions, which seemed to disappoint him. When everything was done, I purchased a case and made my way home.

Upon arriving home, I took a shower and a short nap. It felt like I had gone through some great ordeal. On the bright side, I had my new iPhone 3G. With a new line of service. And a new phone number. That I didn’t want or need.

Part of me wanted to wait until the next day to work it all out, but my natural impatience got the best of me. I called AT&T and explained my plight to the unnaturally bubbly woman who answered the phone. She understood and tried to help me, but ultimately had to forward me to an “activation specialist.” (Notice how no one is just a ‘representative’ anymore; they’re a genius, a concierge, or a specialist.) I explained my issue again, and at first the activation specialist wasn’t sure she could help me. I tried to explain it again, at which time she came up with the simple idea of switching the SIM cards. Unfortunately, I would have to go to my local AT&T Store to get a new SIM card. I thanked her for her time and resolved to go to the AT&T Store the next day.

By this time, members of my family had come home. I was telling them about my day and my sister offered to take me to the AT&T Store to get it done and over with. Again, my natural impatience won out. We made our way to the AT&T Store. I noticed one or two people lingering outside the store, but I didn’t make much of it. After parking, we went up to the woman wearing an AT&T shirt who looked stressed and tired. I told her that I had an issue with my phone service, thinking that she would just let me go in. Unfortunately, they had instituted the same system here as at the Apple Store. One customer, one clerk, and no one was allowed into the store unless they were paired with a clerk. Given that the line was only four people deep, we decided to tough it out.

Next: I have to explain the whole thing over again and we witness the rudest people on the face of the planet.