iPhone 5 Flies Off Metro Detroit Store Shelves
ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Demand for the iPhone 5 has been so strong, Apple has delayed some shipments. WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell reported Friday there was enough supply to ensure retail outlets had enough to attract lines and media coverage.
People lined up outside retails stores nationwide, including right here in metro Detroit, for the iPhone 5. AT&T Vice President and General Manager Brian Ducharme seemed surprised people showed up at the company's Royal Oak store hours before it was scheduled to open.
"That's crazy," Ducharme said. "I was talking to a few of them and I said, why didn't you just order this online? And he said, there's something about being the first one here. There's people here worried about being seen and missing out on work. It's just a frenzy and it's an exciting fun day."
There are a lot of reasons people give for wanting the new iPhone.
One customer said that it's supposed to be life-changing. Another customer said that he had an old Apple phone and he got a lot of apps for it so he could have to move all his apps over.
iPhone 5 buyers talking to WWJ said they decided the 4G screen capability, larger screen, lighter weight of the new model is justification for standing in line to get one. There are only two colors available: black and white.
Ducharme ran down the price list.
"There's three different phones," he explained. "They're $199 for a 16 GB, they're $299 for a 32 GB and $399 for a 64 GB. Those prices are with the new two-year contract. For some reason you don't want to subscribe to a two-year contract then they'll be more."
Ducharme said there's also an activation or upgrade fee of $36 per phone, depending on if you're switching to an iPhone from a non-Apple phone, or just stepping up from an iPhone 4.
MORE: CNET's iPhone 5 Review: Finally The iPhone We've Always Wanted
