Delayed shipment puts iPhone on hold
Delayed shipment puts iPhone on hold
The opening weekend for the official launch of two new iPhone models in Cambodia hit a few bumps when the Kingdom’s two authorised iPhone resellers faced supply-side issues.
Telecom company Smart, one of the two licensed resellers, was forced to turn away customers who had pre-booked the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus handsets after its shipment of Apple smartphones did not arrive in time for Friday’s highly anticipated release.
“Because of a shipment delay, the iPhone release has been delayed too,” said a customer service representative at a Smart branch in central Phnom Penh. “It could take a week to come in, but if it comes in earlier we will call and inform our customers.”
One Smart subscriber who had pre-ordered an iPhone 6S and paid a deposit said he was deeply disappointed when he arrived at a Smart branch only to find the new smartphone was not there.
“Customer service called me on November 11 to pick up my iPhone on November 13,” said Sa Hang Lam. “I am disappointed that I did not receive my phone, but even more so because I wasted my time coming here as they did not inform me.”
He said Smart customer service representatives told him on that he might have to wait a week or longer until the first shipment arrives.
Over at iOne, the Kingdom’s other licensed iPhone reseller, some customers who pre-registered to purchase a phone were able to pick up their handsets.
Kao Damaityma, marketing manager of iOne, said the company’s branch on Mao Tse Tung Boulevard opened at 6am on Friday for pre-registered customers.
There were no lines, as was the case with the release of the iPhone 6 last November, but by early afternoon the branch had run out of certain colours and configurations.
“A shipment will come next week to meet the demands of those who pre-registered, who are mostly seeking the new rose-gold model,” Damaityma said.
She added that walk-in customers who had not pre-registered were able to queue and purchase iPhone 6S and 6S Plus handsets at the company’s branch in Canadia Tower.
More than 100 handsets were sold before stocks ran thin.
“It went better than last year and customers were happy,” said Damaityma.”
