Apple Restricts iPhone 7 Reservations to Upgrade Program Members

[AZhappyjack]

How were you pushed back to the line anymore than anyone else? I had a pre-order that was repeatedly delayed. I cancelled it and got on in store using the reservation system that was available at the time, followed the rules and got my iPhone Plus. EVERYONE was pushed to the back of the line here dude (or dudette).

I WAS unhappy that my phone was pushed to the back of the line, but I decided to do something about it rather than bully people online that got what they wanted first.

I don't get why these IUP people think they should get special treatment. No one has explained this 'privilege' that they think they own.

Like you, I got a delivery date later than I wanted. Like you, I went looking for a solution - an available iPhone 7 Plus, and bought it.

Why can't they do likewise? Instead, all they can do is sit back cry 'foul'.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I don't get why these IUP people think they should get special treatment. No one has explained this 'privilege' that they think they own.

Like you, I got a delivery date later than I wanted. Like you, I went looking for a solution - an available iPhone 7 Plus, and bought it.

Why can't they do likewise? Instead, all they can do is sit back cry 'foul'.

Seriously?

Read the thread. No one is demanding preferential treatment. No one.

 

[Ronnoco]

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.

Don't laugh, the 7S next year is going to rock!. Lol

 

[Atreyu25]

Obviously you don't grasp what happened.

As an IUP upgrade customer I was limited to STORE STOCK. Since this was a PRE-ORDER situation there WAS NO STORE STOCK. As members of the IUP program we were made to sit on the sidelines while new customers snapped up all the devices.

As to "bullying people online" that would be those of you falsely castigating IUP members as complainers and cheaters trying to get preferential treatment.

Ok I hear you but a couple big observations:
Stock was made available at stores for reservation. I used to live in Gresham so I know Apple is near by. A quick car ride to WA and you have other places to purchase. So you're not screwed.

Regular customers were screwed too by pre orders. Let's all blame Angela for her batched launch and enjoy our toys together. You will have yours soon I'm sure!

 

[Ronnoco]

I don't get why these IUP people think they should get special treatment. No one has explained this 'privilege' that they think they own.

Like you, I got a delivery date later than I wanted. Like you, I went looking for a solution - an available iPhone 7 Plus, and bought it.

Why can't they do likewise? Instead, all they can do is sit back cry 'foul'.

I had several ATT reps tell me that Apple runs the show. They generally do whatever they want with inventory, including moving it from a carrier to their own stock for their customers first. I'll never order from a carrier again. It's back to Apple (The Boss) next year for the iPhone 7S.

 

[northofnowhere]

All this bitching about who's right, who's wrong, who's getting preferred treatment. Sounds like a bunch of spoiled little children .....
Can we not get back to the point of this thread? Are there people out there that this is working for? Local stores here in LA had a lot of availability this morning, but I didn't give it a try. Of course they all went very quickly.

 

[Atreyu25]

I don't get why these IUP people think they should get special treatment. No one has explained this 'privilege' that they think they own.

Like you, I got a delivery date later than I wanted. Like you, I went looking for a solution - an available iPhone 7 Plus, and bought it.

Why can't they do likewise? Instead, all they can do is sit back cry 'foul'.

I mean, I do understand his frustration. He is paying a premium to have a new device annually. Apple just screwed everyone this year is all.

 

[AZhappyjack]

I mean, I do understand his frustration. He is paying a premium to have a new device annually. Apple just screwed everyone this year is all.

That's exactly the point. These IUP customers did not pay a premium. They are paying exactly the same as the rest of the iPhone buyers - no more, no less.
[doublepost=1474742068][/doublepost]

No, IUP should get selective treatment for phones. Simple as this: the day of the unveiling a new phone, or even earlier, survey your IUP members and determine if they will upgrade or not. If not, just look up IUP #s, free up that much stock, then assume they will upgrade between Day 1 and Day 8 of the phone's release period. If not, the phone(s) go back to inventory for others to buy. I want IUP to have a separate inventory to avoid further clutter.

They didn't anticipate the demand because of Samsung's historic flub.
[doublepost=1474680909][/doublepost]

That still doesn't change my idea about setting stock aside for specific purposes: IUP pile, pre-order pile, and then walk in if you want a rudimentary system.

Seriously?

Read the thread. No one is demanding preferential treatment. No one.

I did. Now you can read the quotes.

 

[jerry16]

Don't laugh, the 7S next year is going to rock!. Lol

I'm sure it will

 

[schruberg]

Glad I reserved my two Verizon models before this kicked in (I have AT&T).

Purchased both in full with no hesitation from the sales rep.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Ok I hear you but a couple big observations:
Stock was made available at stores for reservation. I used to live in Gresham so I know Apple is near by. A quick car ride to WA and you have other places to purchase. So you're not screwed.

Regular customers were screwed too by pre orders. Let's all blame Angela for her batched launch and enjoy our toys together. You will have yours soon I'm sure!

Yeah, I know all of that. I was on the store at 3 minutes after the site went live for pre-orders and every single store in Oregon and SW Washington was sold out. From go.
[doublepost=1474747201][/doublepost]

I did. Now you can read the quotes.

Let me put it this way: No one RATIONAL is asking for preferential treatment,

 

[mojomaniak]

As I'm reading this thread, the doorbell rings and the UPS guy's standing there w/ the delivery that was rescheduled and supposed to be delivered on 9/26/2016. They're definitely trying to make up for delayed shipments.

 

[Noel Mendex]

Holy cow. Are you kidding me with this article?? People were gaming the reservation system for the IUP to get to the front of the line???

That makes the third time Apple has burned IUP members like me, and shame on you people who cut in line.

Crybabies like you wanted to sue Apple for not being able to pre-order your phone. You and everyone on that program should've sucked it up and waited in line on launch day like everyone else. Order it through your carrier. I ordered mines on Tuesday and kindly asked if my order can be expedited. I got shipping confirmation next day and phone arrived Thursday. Thanks T-Mobile!

 

[jerry16]

You and everyone on that program should've sucked it up and waited in line on launch day like everyone else.

You clearly don't understand the initial situation. The IUP members got hosed on pre order night. Apple screwed up. Apple corrected their screw up. Direct your frustration to Apple, not the IUP members because they're as innocent as anyone else in this mess.

 

[northofnowhere]

So was anyone able to do this today? Reserve and pick up in store without currently being part of the IUP?

 

[MathersMahmood]

Well that's not good. People are going to be p'd off.

 

[eebrown]

Crybabies like you wanted to sue Apple for not being able to pre-order your phone. You and everyone on that program should've sucked it up and waited in line on launch day like everyone else. Order it through your carrier. I ordered mines on Tuesday and kindly asked if my order can be expedited. I got shipping confirmation next day and phone arrived Thursday. Thanks T-Mobile!

Maybe they should get preferential treatment, are not people in the IUP paying more for their phone due to the fact they have to purchase apple care, or am I understanding that wrong and apple care is optional? Also if they turn in their phone after a year do they get part of the purchase price on the apple care back?

 

[Surf Monkey]

Crybabies like you wanted to sue Apple for not being able to pre-order your phone. You and everyone on that program should've sucked it up and waited in line on launch day like everyone else. Order it through your carrier. I ordered mines on Tuesday and kindly asked if my order can be expedited. I got shipping confirmation next day and phone arrived Thursday. Thanks T-Mobile!

I'm not a "cry baby" and I didn't "want to sue" anyone. When you try to attack people at least choose battlefields they're actually standing on.
[doublepost=1474757596][/doublepost]

So was anyone able to do this today? Reserve and pick up in store without currently being part of the IUP?

I saw a lot of people trying at my Apple Store, but the only ones I saw actually getting upgrades were IUP members.

 

[meldea]

One question that has not been clearly answered yet is if the stock which can only be reserved by IUP will be available to non-IUP customers physically in the store.

 

[AZhappyjack]

One question that has not been clearly answered yet is if the stock which can only be reserved by IUP will be available to non-IUP customers physically in the store.

It seems that it varies by store location.

 

[gazmac]

I thought TimCook was meant to be a logistics wizard? It sure ain't Angela from Burberry. Wake at 6am every morning to try and reserve 7+ black or jet black on the IUP for pick up. Still no luck. Worst launch experience ever.

 

[Cristinamacrumor]

OR ... how about just having a pile of phones for people to buy, and pay for them any way the customer chooses.

Does Best Buy have separate stock of new XBoxes or 75" 4K televisions - one pile for those who pay cash, one for VISA, one for American Express and one for Best Buy credit cards?

Yes, I would like to walk into an Apple Store, and be able to buy a Verizon phone iPhone 7 without providing contract details, since I plan to use it on page plus or Ecomobile cdma.
[doublepost=1474790648][/doublepost]

I'd be happy too, but it's not available to MVNO, prepaid, or reseller customers regardless of their credit.

I am in the same boat, I would like to try different Mvnos (Ecomobile, page plus, boost, cricket) for the next year or so to figure out which one works best for me. Coming from a ip4 on att Gophone, would prefer to at least be able to preorder the iPhone 7 online or physical Apple Store without signing up for one of the 4 major carriers. I would be willing to pay for it full price. It appears that my two choices at the moment are waiting or signing up for Verizon with the intention to cancel. If anybody has any successful experience in getting an iPhone 7 Verizon model without having to provide major carrier detail, please share. Thank you
[doublepost=1474790825][/doublepost]

I don't get why these IUP people think they should get special treatment. No one has explained this 'privilege' that they think they own.

Like you, I got a delivery date later than I wanted. Like you, I went looking for a solution - an available iPhone 7 Plus, and bought it.

Why can't they do likewise? Instead, all they can do is sit back cry 'foul'.

Did you need to submit one of the big 4 carrier details? Thanks

 

[Phightinphils]

How did Apple not anticipate the demand? Every year the launch day demand increases. Every year they sell more phones than they did the previous year.
[doublepost=1474680129][/doublepost]

Take the email with you to the store and make them comply.

No, I'm saying the article is false. Myself and countless others have still been able to reserve while using carrier

 

[AZhappyjack]

Did you need to submit one of the big 4 carrier details? Thanks

No carrier/ account details were required (or even asked about), but I did need to select a carrier by name from the 'Big 4'.

 

[OriginalAppleGuy]

So here's something interesting. I signed up with the 6S Plus last year. Glad I did. I've been watching istocknow for my local stores interested in a 7 Plus 256GB (AT&T). Stores have been empty. But when I check the Apple upgrade reservation process, I could make a reservation for one that didn't appear on the istocknow site. Before yesterday (Sat 9/24/16), the reservations were for the 30 before the time I could request one. So if I looked at 7:50 PM, my reservation would be at 7:30 PM. Technically, that meant I could be at the store and reserve a phone. Saturday was different.

Around 10:15 AM I looked at istocknow and no 7 Plusses were available anywhere. I figured I'd try the Apple upgrade reservation process and found I could reserve a 7 Plus Gold AT&T 256 GB for 11:30 AM. Didn't believe it would be there, but figured I'd try just to see so reservation away!

Surprise surprise, I walked out of the store yesterday with not only the Plus 256, but decided to get a regular 7 for the wife (she has my old 5S). Woo hoo!

Moral of the story, Apple is holding phones that don't appear in inventory (yes I checked the Apple website after not seeing in iStocknow) for those on the Apple financed every year upgrade program. Not only was I able to "trade in" my 1 year old excellent condition 6S Plus 128 GB Gold for $539.08 (beat that anywhere!) but I also had access to "private stock." Best program ever!
[doublepost=1474822711][/doublepost]

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)

I'd have to say technically yes. When I went in for my upgrade I had to make it clear to the guy setting me up I was upgrading and needed to trade in my current 6S Plus. If my wife wanted my Plus instead if the smaller option, I may have let him sign me up for the new plan without trade. He started over so I could trade and cancel my old "finance" plan.