yes no, but no, but yes..

So, I just thought, what hell, n boarded the CPW numpty bus @ 3:30pm, much later than others, but I was in town.. in CPW asking about iPhone stock!?

My order went though without an issue... something must be wrong!

Email confirmation of my order...hmm.. seems to be working..

Text.. confirming order and collection from local CPW... ok.. happy smiles and nod of approval from work colleagues.

Friday 11th July 2008, 7am, off to local CPW, arrive to find small que of three others.. this could work!

8:03am doors open and I'm sat with CPW staffer... looks like I'm sorted!

Present paperwork showing order confirmation... this was a BAD MOVE!

Confusion abounds, delivery not in.. mine's on the delivery.. no problem I say I'll just take one from stock now... CPW staffer goes off to get it..

Sat with new 16GB iPhone 3G in front of me.. this could work!

But.. I can't take that one.. no no.. its not mine..

Cancel my web order...

If I cancel the web order then you have to wait 30 days before you can order ( I think that is probably A LIE!)

So, I have one in front of me, but I'm not allowed it.. most annoyed..

As is the guy next to me, trying to get his iPhone 1.0 upgraded..

computer says no!

Told to come back when the delivery arrives.. mine will be on the pre 9 delivery...

One vente caramel macchiato and two silk cut graphite later I back in O2 and breathing down their necks! But the coffee & ciggerette breath does nothing..

They stand their ground..

My phone is NOT on the pre 9 delivery.. but it WILL be couriered to the store between 12-2:30...

Thank CPW staff for their help, after all they are just pawns in a rather bad game of MouseTrap...

2:30 pm.. call and speak to nice girl from CPW...

We have no record of you order what so ever.. well I have one email saying you ordered it, but nothing else...

She took my details and promised a call back as / if / when it arrived...

Some time later that day.. I received an email.. from CPW...

"Thank you for ordering the iPhone 3G!

You'll be pleased to know that you'll soon be on your way to becoming the owner of this revolutionary mobile phone.

We're currently experiencing high demand for this product, so there maybe a small delay with the delivery of your new iPhone 3G. But don't worry this will be sent to you on Saturday 12th July."

Cool (other than I'm now about 100 miles from the CPW store, its a work thing!)

Monday.. Monday is fine.. I can do Monday.. it is after all only a phone...

then I get...

"unfortunately, the item you ordered is temporarily out of stock. We do make every effort to ensure that only items that are in stock appear on the website, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

O..K... its arriving TOMORROW, but its out of stock!?

The road to iPhone 3G continues... I await more contradicting emails...

But.. I'm sure it will all be ok...

And I may even get some free airtime?

CPW just a little bit Phoney now

Right, well after being stitched up with my online order (see earlier comment), I found a little CPW away from the main shops with only 10 people queueing. I was 6th in line and got my order through 1st! Sadly, can't pick it up until Monday.

I did find joy walking past 4 other O2 and CPW shops near Liverpool Street, to get to the Farringdon CPW, with about 200odd people waiting, all added up. It took 5 minutes to sort things out, after waiting about 20 minutes. Nothing wrong with a bit of Schadenfreude!!!

Didn't need me coat in the end, putting it away.