Over a thousand people queued outside the Apple store in London to get their hands on the iPhone 4. Those using their right hands to do so are probably happier than those using their left.

The problem facing left-handed users has received a great deal of publicity, and Apple have unfortunately demonstrated that their customer relationship skills fall far below the level of their designs.

Steve Jobs is reported to have said “Just avoid holding it in that way“, while Apple’s official advice is to “avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band“.

Pardon?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a PC user, but I like my iPod and I love my iPad. But what a terrible way to treat your customers.

The problem is caused by a design flaw, and I can’t help but feel that Apple have underestimated the significance of the problem.

Why? Because the main thing that sets Apple apart from their competition is the quality of their designs. And there’s a definite cumulative effect that comes from seeing Macs, iPods, iPads and iPhones. Sooner or later most of us will at least consider their next purchase being from the Apple store. Yet by slapping their users so dismissively, Apple will have shot themselves neatly in the foot.

It’s true that hardcore Apple fans will probably buy anything that comes out of Apple World, but trying to dismiss a fundamental design error as insignificant won’t win much by the way of popular support.