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If you know someone at the local shipper, sure. But out of the millions that get into hands on launch day. The percentage of someone getting early has got to be less than 1%
You don’t have to know someone at local shipper. If you follow this forum for years it has happened in past. Quite rare, but not impossible. We are talking millions of deliveries. We are dealing with artificial holes on shipments. Not the typical thing shipping companies strive for. Yes way way less than 1%.

There will also be some phones that disappear. Also rare but it has and will happen. $1,000 devices grow legs.
 
Def a rumor and yes it is unheard of. It just doesn’t happen. Now could there be mistakes, sure but everybody knows not to deliver before.
Every launch there are a couple of verified cases of people getting their phones early. It happens.
 
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