[MartinCron]

The overall message that I need to be the one to remove a product from its packaging and that if anyone else does it, then my whole experience is ruined feels whiny and entitled to me.

I get where the guy is coming from. I appreciate quality of experience as much as anyone, and each time I purchased an iPhone in store (three times now) it was at an Apple store and they did it the "right" way. I would even feel a bit annoyed if I didn't get the "proper" experience, but I'm mature enough to understand the magnitude of the infraction, and I wouldn't whine about it in public.

This is unboxing a goddamn phone, not your wedding night.

[nickwoodhams]

Point taken.

I didn't write about it to whine, I wrote about it to plant the idea that AT&T should have some stricter requirements from Apple.

Apple has had a profound affect on my life and my way of thinking. I've had some emotional experiences with some Apple products in the past. I consider that a gift. I think that shouldn't be undermined for anything.

If the rep was encouraging and shared in my excitement, imagine the change in sentient from this one small change.

[MartinCron]

I'm pretty sure AT&T does have strict requirements from Apple, and that this one retail employee just dropped the ball or has some (also understandable) distaste for the iPhone-as-fetish-object ritual and is just choosing to opt out of it.

A carrier's experience will always be inferior to an Apple Store experience. That's news to no one.

[powertower]

This isn't necessarily entitlement, it could be a combination of 1) having paid for a product and wanting to be the only one handling it and 2) OCD.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Though there is clear evidence of some idol worshiping going on here with the author of this peace (in regards to Apple). But IMO that's another story.

Personally, I'd want to open the box myself without anyone else handling what's clearly mine. Especially not some lame ass that couldn't care less if he damaged the device.