Your opinion: Buy from site or wait for in store?

ccfan007 · Oct 4, 2014

So I've recently cancelled my Pre-Order through AT&T (6+ 64gb silver) and now have the option to buy the phone I want either through Apple.com or wait for the Apple Store to have it in stock. Which seems to be the better choice?

The reason I ask is recently I've seen a lot of people claiming they have ordered through the apple website and are receiving their phones within days of their recent orders. I've also seen people say they have been able to buy their phones in the store when the stock becomes available.

I obviously want to choose the easiest quicker way to get my phone but don't know which to wait for lol. Any advise is great! Thanks.

brokenarrow184 · Oct 4, 2014

I want to hear opinions too. I currently don't have one preordered and have been watching store stock like crazy. I feel like maybe I just order with Apple and relax but when will it get here? I read that some that ordered sept 12th still haven't got theirs but some who ordered in the last few days are receiving shipping notifications..

----------

I also know if I order from Apple itll lock up my upgrade eligibility and if I see one in the store I won't be able to buy it cause my upgrade eligibility will be locked. I've canceled 3 other preorders and the last 2 took multiple calls and several days to reset.

12vElectronics · Oct 4, 2014

For a 6+, I'd order online. Plenty of 6's instock at all my local Apple stores..

JeremyE · Oct 4, 2014

I ordered a SG Plus 64GB on Verizon 9/19 and estimate of 10/20 at the earliest. I know it's not AT&T.

It seems people are getting really lucky with their shipments, some at least, yet I never see picture proof though..

As for Apple store stock, it varies so much, and even when it comes available sometimes you have to instantly jump on it.

tonyy · Oct 4, 2014

Order online and avoid the hassle of watching store stock and lines at the store. My brother ordered last week and his delivery date was sometime next week. It arrived last night.

Shadowbech · Oct 4, 2014

If you can wait just order from apple.com, but if you want it sooner then you can wait and for it to become available. You can use istocknow.com and keep checking for the availabilities.

mdlooker · Oct 4, 2014

I cancelled my ATT order for my 6 Plus because they were giving me a late November delivery date. That was after I saw the models I wanted for in-store p/u at Apple. I was going to buy it in another state that had them available and have it mailed to me but I lucked up and got it in my town.

So it'll be a crap shoot to try to get it for in-store p/u though it's not impossible. The 6 shouldn't be much of a problem but the 6 Plus may give you a couple of challenges.

meagain · Oct 4, 2014

Order online at Apple.com - hunt for phones at store and using the site floating around - then when you get one cancel the online order.

davidgnomo · Oct 4, 2014

Online ... a 6 + is almost impossible to find here in Italy and the situation will be like this for weeks, while I'm getting the one I ordered at the Apple Online Store next Tuesday ...

brokenarrow184 · Oct 4, 2014

Problem with att is if you've already canceled once with att and u now order with Apple you'll just have to wait till it ships, because if u see one pop up in a store your eligibility won't reset in time for u to buy it. I've canceled 3 different orders and my second order thru Apple took a couple phone calls and it reset the next day.

cypressc · Oct 4, 2014

Wait in line!

I got a 128gb Grey 6-plus yesterday. They are out there. And with idevicechecker and istocknow, it's never been easier.

And if waiting in a line is just too much, you might as well wait anyway, because ordering online is what, 3-4 weeks?

In two weeks, these phones will be readily available. Pretty much every new iPhone is impossible to get for a few weeks. And then, by early October the supple starts catching up. Apple is simply cranking out too many a day for there to be shortages for long, even with a more globalized marketplace.

Delmar · Oct 4, 2014

Just have some patience. The stock shortages will end eventually.

circa7 · Oct 4, 2014

cypressc said:
Wait in line!

I got a 128gb Grey 6-plus yesterday. They are out there. And with idevicechecker and istocknow, it's never been easier.

And if waiting in a line is just too much, you might as well wait anyway, because ordering online is what, 3-4 weeks?

In two weeks, these phones will be readily available. Pretty much every new iPhone is impossible to get for a few weeks. And then, by early October the supple starts catching up. Apple is simply cranking out too many a day for there to be shortages for long, even with a more globalized marketplace.

EVERY time I've seen an "in stock" phone on either of those sites, my local stores have NOT been in stock. Not sure where theyre getting their data but for Northern California at least, its bogus.

mobutt · Oct 4, 2014

I'd go with the in store option. If You really scour it shouldn't be more than a week until you get one.

brokenarrow184 · Oct 4, 2014

circa7 said:
EVERY time I've seen an "in stock" phone on either of those sites, my local stores have NOT been in stock. Not sure where theyre getting their data but for Northern California at least, its bogus.

I agree with u, as far as Target and BestBuy goes. Saw the Plus I wanted was available on istocknow at Target so I called them and they laughed. Same happened with BB.

nyfliiboy · Oct 4, 2014

Order in store. I tried to preorder from At&t the first day and had a late october-november date. Waited for apple to update the in stock list and secured one the next day at Apple waiting 2 hours in line. Great thing was that they made sure they had what you wanted while you waited in line.

Maggiep67 · Oct 4, 2014

circa7 said:
EVERY time I've seen an "in stock" phone on either of those sites, my local stores have NOT been in stock. Not sure where theyre getting their data but for Northern California at least, its bogus.

It's fairly accurate. I scored a 6 plus from Arden Fair Tuesday and picked it up the next day.

I have noticed a pattern with the No CA stores; most of their stock updates between 2:00 - 4:00 every day. That's when I got mine.

rui no onna · Oct 4, 2014

Maggiep67 said:
It's fairly accurate. I scored a 6 plus from Arden Fair Tuesday and picked it up the next day.

I have noticed a pattern with the No CA stores; most of their stock updates between 2:00 - 4:00 every day. That's when I got mine.

Seems around the same for SoCal. That said, I think there might be a slight delay from when the stores inventory the shipment to when the info posts on the website. I was at the mall yesterday to consolidate our Verizon devices and decided to check out the Apple Stores at Americana and Galleria (and check out the 6 in the process). I believe both received shipment around 12-2pm. I had an alert setup from istocknow for the 6+ 128GB and I didn't get the email alerts until around 4:30pm. That said, they really were available for pickup when I checked Apple website. Alas, doing Next so pickup isn't an option.

Starfyre · Oct 4, 2014

Wait in store! You'll get it faster, unless you don't care when you get it.

mjb59463 · Oct 4, 2014

Apple stores are largely luck of the draw for now inventory, while apple.com's wait times are 3-4 weeks for plus models. If you order from Apple.com it's guaranteed, but if you get lucky at the store, it is certainly quicker.

I was in the same predicament, and decided to order from Apple.com. I decided rather have my specific order a little later than running around from store to store trying to find what I want (which might not happen for a while either).

Just my experience.

Your opinion: Buy from site or wait for in store?

macrumors newbie

macrumors member

macrumors 68040

macrumors regular

macrumors 6502a

macrumors G3

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68030

macrumors 6502a

macrumors member

macrumors regular

macrumors 6502

macrumors regular

macrumors 6502

macrumors member

macrumors regular

macrumors regular

Contributor

macrumors 68030

macrumors 6502

Our Staff