I have heard the same thing from multiple Apple chat reps.
Funny. I just called my local Apple Store to see if they had the touchbar models for demo. He said no, he said they've played with them, but haven't actually gotten any in the store to Demo and that there were so many pre-orders, at least for my local store, the demo models are delayed anyway and it'll be several weeks.
I told him I pre-ordered, and just wanted to check them out before they came in. He told me two things that were interesting.
1) We've evidently fallen into the "Holiday Return Policy". Meaning we can return these for a full refund all the way until January 7th. I'm not sure why any of us would, but, it's cool that that's an option. He told me "You'll probably get yours way before we get any in here to display, so just play with it and if you don't like it, bring it here and we'll refund it no questions asked".
Honestly, I'm not "worried" about my order, I just wanted to play with them!
2) He reiterated what the rep said. He said "Yeah people are really excited for these, they've been calling customer service asking for faster shipping they had to tell us in the stores make sure not to do that for anyone we help pre-order because it'll actually slow things down".
He also said I might get it as early as next week, but admitted he's just getting that information "online like everyone else".
Apple Store employees have told me in the past that they basically don't know anything we don't know. They huddle over watching the Keynotes just like we do (why don't Apple Stores have keynote watching parties? That'd be so fun!). They also have no idea when shipments are coming in, for security reasons. One told me they aren't even told when to expect any sort of shipments. Shipments always just 'show up', no employee knows when to expect them.
Basically, if an Apple Store employee gives you some "insider knowledge", they're blowing smoke.
Oh great now I'm worried
Since others have been refunded, I'm thinking Apple might be 'fixing' those that got "expedited". You probably have nothing to worry about; but I would still caution folks from calling in and asking for faster shipping. There's no good that can come of it.
