Apple Restricts iPhone 7 Reservations to Upgrade Program Members

[MacRumors]

Apple recently updated the confirmation email it sends to customers who reserve an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus to clarify that in-store reservations are now limited to iPhone Upgrade Program members in the United States.

Apple allows upgraders to reserve an iPhone through its iPhone Upgrade Program reservation system for pick up in store, but many customers were able to bypass the program and pay in full or with carrier financing instead upon arriving at their local Apple retail store.

Old wording:

Can I change to a different form of payment for the iPhone Upgrade Program?
Yes. You can also upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing or purchase it at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.

New wording:

Can I change from the iPhone Upgrade Program to a different form of payment?
Yes. You must be currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program, so that you can upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing, or purchase at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.

MacRumors reader DSTOFEL was one of many customers previously able to reserve an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus online and pay for it outright at an Apple Store without enrolling in the iPhone Upgrade Program:

I did this last Sunday and it went off without a hitch! I used the iPhone Upgrade Program reservation link to reserve my iPhone 7 at my local Apple Store. I was not a member of the iPhone Upgrade Program at the time and had no plan to join it. I showed up at the store, they had my phone and I just told them I wanted to purchase at full price. Not a problem!

But since the change in wording, it appears that Apple has already turned away some non-upgraders attempting to purchase an iPhone through the Upgrade Program reservation system without signing up for the program.

MacRumors reader vsp attempted to purchase an iPhone 7 for full price last night, for example, but an Apple retail employee allegedly would not let him:

I just tried this earlier today and wasn't able to purchase one I reserved with a different carrier. According to the clerk, they received notice yesterday that some of the iPhones were reserved for people enrolled in the Upgrade Program and they couldn't sell to me outright.

While many other MacRumors and Reddit users have faced the same situation since yesterday or so, some customers have still managed to reserve an iPhone and pay in full or with carrier financing. For that reason, your mileage may vary, and non-upgraders are recommended to call their local Apple retail store and request to speak with a manager before placing a reservation.

For its part, Apple's reservation page has always noted that a 24-month installment loan through Citizens Bank, which finances the iPhone Upgrade Program, is required -- this change just cements it. In other countries where the iPhone Upgrade Program does not exist, such as Canada, all customers are able to use Reserve and Pick Up regardless of their payment method of choice.

Article Link: Apple Restricts iPhone 7 Reservations to Upgrade Program Members

 

[WilliamG]

This will still depend on the rep involved. I know plenty of people who got this email with the changed terminology who had absolutely zero trouble buying a device. The Apple reps' POS on their iPhones will still offer it as device only when rung up.

Apple still royally messed up this launch, but that's another story altogether.

 

[Gooberton]

This is rediculous!! Can't give them preferential treatment . Apple screwed this whole launch up soooooo bad !

 

[bladerunner2000]

How low Apple has fallen....

 

[seatton]

If I did not care about the 650 dollar trade in with VZ, I would do the upgrade program with Apple.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Okay, but lets get this straight. People that reserved the phone for IUP but planned on changing it to full price were still getting hit with the credit check before they got their phone. The credit check is done at the time you reserve the phone online. I can verify this as 4 people in my family joined the IUP this year, all online reserved for in-store pickup. The credit check was the date they reserved the phone, not picked it up. You had to supply your social security number during the checkout process. Your full social, not just the last 4 for carrier purposes.

 

[typegeek]

As a person from the midwest where nearly no phones for 7+ came in store, it is really frustrating to have this option taken away. Been refreshing day and night trying to reserve in store pickup. My 5s is tanking and I am starting to worry I'll be without a phone soon...Guess I'll go haunt the store app and try to get lucky for stock for in full purchases.

 

[s2000gtx]

They found the loop hole we been using smh

 

[BootsWalking]

I think the phones may be easier to obtain overseas. IMO the strong initial demand for the 7/7+ in the USA owes to the free-upgrade promotion that T-Mobile started and all the USA carriers copied.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...eculation-of-lower-iphone-7-sales-outside-u-s

 

[Babu Life]

Did this today, and the guy still let me do it, i was skeptical with the email and asked apple chat about it, they said no, but i thought why not and give it a try.

 

[Born Again]

guys dont buy into the hype. wait another year.

We iphone 8 users are going to laugh at you rocking the old iphones with the big bezels as the new iphone wont have a home button.

so essentially you're paying $400+ to rent the iphone from apple if you upgrade next year.

 

[pat500000]

This is rediculous!! Can't give them preferential treatment . Apple screwed this whole launch up soooooo bad !

Apple says: "join our program."

 

[44267547]

If I did not care about the 650 dollar trade in with VZ, I would do the upgrade program with Apple.

The $650.00 is a complete trap. You have to pay FULL retail for the iPhone of your choice first, then once you receive your new device, you send in your old iPhone, which takes THREE months to apply only as a bill credit. Allegedly, you can request the $650.00 to be applied your credit card.

The point is, Verizon wants you to pay full retail first, which is a joke. And your previous iPhone has to be in 'Good working condition.'

 

[jerry16]

guys dont buy into the hype. wait another year.

We iphone 8 users are going to laugh at you rocking the old iphones with the big bezels as the new iphone wont have a home button.

so essentially you're paying $400+ to rent the iphone from apple if you upgrade next year.

Thanks for the advice, but I'll spend my $400 as I see fit, not how some random dude on the internet thinks I should spend it.

Plenty to justify the 7+. Keep laughing all you want, I'll have the next iPhone as well.

 

[sniffies]

Thank God I was in before the lock.

 

[felixroqu3]

guys dont buy into the hype. wait another year.

We iphone 8 users are going to laugh at you rocking the old iphones with the big bezels as the new iphone wont have a home button.

so essentially you're paying $400+ to rent the iphone from apple if you upgrade next year.

Im pretty sure most of us who have the 7 are upgrading regardless to next years model. So you won't be laughing at anyone.

 

[Mlrollin91]

guys dont buy into the hype. wait another year.

We iphone 8 users are going to laugh at you rocking the old iphones with the big bezels as the new iphone wont have a home button.

so essentially you're paying $400+ to rent the iphone from apple if you upgrade next year.

I think you're missing the idea of the program. Its so you can upgrade EVERY year.

 

[DotCom2]

Ahhh the perpetual pendulum swings yet again.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Apple is really starting to F things up.

 

[puckhead193]

what if i want to join the upgrade program, can i reserve online? (i'm still under my 2 year contract from my 6 plus)

 

[colburnr]

Im pretty sure most of us who have the 7 are upgrading regardless to next years model. So you won't be laughing at anyone.

Lol...yes...we will.

 

[felixroqu3]

Okay, but lets get this straight. People that reserved the phone for IUP but planned on changing it to full price were still getting hit with the credit check before they got their phone. The credit check is done at the time you reserve the phone online. I can verify this as 4 people in my family joined the IUP this year, all online reserved for in-store pickup. The credit check was the date they reserved the phone, not picked it up. You had to supply your social security number during the checkout process. Your full social, not just the last 4 for carrier purposes.

I did this and the IUP reservation system only asked for my Apple ID to confirm the time/location of the reservation and i paid full price for it.

 

[Danoc]

I think the phones may be easier to obtain overseas. IMO the strong initial demand for the 7/7+ in the USA owes to the free-upgrade promotion that T-Mobile started and all the USA carriers copied.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...eculation-of-lower-iphone-7-sales-outside-u-s

Every country is different. Apple can indeed manage to sell the iPhone differently. In Canada we have got good stocks almost every morning at 8am in every store for everyone. Stocks still are gone quickly of course around 10am.

 

[WilliamG]

Okay, but lets get this straight. People that reserved the phone for IUP but planned on changing it to full price were still getting hit with the credit check before they got their phone. The credit check is done at the time you reserve the phone online. I can verify this as 4 people in my family joined the IUP this year, all online reserved for in-store pickup. The credit check was the date they reserved the phone, not picked it up. You had to supply your social security number during the checkout process. Your full social, not just the last 4 for carrier purposes.

No they weren't. There's no credit check when reserving the iPhone through the regular reservation.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

We should sue!