Slashdot Mirror


Some Smartphone Salesmen Aren't Sold on the iPhone X (cnet.com)

A CNET reporter visited four carrier stores to ask their salesmen if they'd recommend an iPhone X. But after visiting stores for Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, "I couldn't even find a salesperson to tell me it was the best iPhone I could buy." So he finally tried asking three salesmen at Apple Stores -- and still got equivocal answers. An anonymous reader quotes CNET's report: "Well, it depends on what you like," the salesman said, somewhat coyly. "The biggest problem I have with it is using Face ID for Apple Pay. You really have to put the phone at a certain angle or it doesn't work." He started with a problem. I was already suspicious. I was in something of a hurry, but I asked him: "So are you selling a lot more of these than other phones?"

He turned into a high-ranking member of a political party. "All our phones sell well," he said. Which sounded not entirely reassuring. Indeed, it sounded like a "no."

Chatting next with an Apple store "Genius" (who was testing his iPhone 6), CNET's reporter was told that "The X and the 8 are the same phone... Inside, I mean. With the X, you're just paying the extra money for the design." Unfortunately, that salesman's $999 iPhone X was wrapped in an ugly pink case, because after four weeks he'd already cracked it. And a third Apple salesman -- who touted the glories of an OLED screen -- also kept his iPhone X in a case at all times "It's glass," he explained. "You'll definitely need a case."

"But what about not being able to see the lovely phone?"

"Get a see-through case," he replied with a smile.

6 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. I won't pay that sort of money for any phone by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd like to think I'm past the "ooh, I want the new shiny" thing - more or less. Going forward, my "new phone" budget is going to be roughly $500, and it's going to be spent every 3-4 years.

    But, in any case, this reads like a hit piece. "Tech writer goes into a story with an agenda, manages to confirm it."

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:I won't pay that sort of money for any phone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Two years? My 6s isn't even 2 years old, and it is 3 generations behind their "latest and greatest".

      Never again will I buy an Apple product.

  2. Upcoming earnings call by Camembert · · Score: 4, Insightful

    End of this month is Apple’s quarterly earnings call, which will include the commercial effect of iphone X. Then we will know whether they were succesful or not. I still see people queuing to pick up their X at the local Applestore, hence my bet is on it being a commercial success, despite cherry-picked negative articles on slashdot.

    1. Re: Upcoming earnings call by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You see nobody lining up because the launch was over two months ago.

      Anyway this is a CNET article, which is automatic garbage. The writer samples a few people, rejects any response that doesn't fit the agenda.

      I mean they could actually wait for financial figures instead of anecdotal sales rep opinions, but it's more fun to write a scandal sheet than something based on actual sales figures right?

  3. Re: iPhones drove smartphones to the masses... the by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The 7 lost the headphone port. That's when they lost me.

  4. Re:Obligatory Dilbert by sad_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    this is so true.
    have you ever seen anybody use an iphone without a protective case? never ever seen it.
    but, ooooh, the design is so pretty and it is so thin.

    yes, but you can't see any of that with your ridiculous, ugly, fat case (which you bought on the cheap?) around it

    --
    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.