You mean checking out online? That exact scenario happened to plenty of people (and probably still does). Until you have paid for the device on the online system, it can be bought out from under you as it currently stands.
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Apple Store limiting iPhone sales
- Thread starter m3nphls
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You mean checking out online? That exact scenario happened to plenty of people (and probably still does). Until you have paid for the device on the online system, it can be bought out from under you as it currently stands.
This is why store stock for reservations differs from store stock for online personal pickup purchases.
We are discussing exactly that (and why I don;t believe it needs to be that way).
You're right, I've seen that happen firsthand (have it in the cart, checking out, then it's gone).
I'm assuming there is a reason Apple has divided up its online and in-store stocks this way that isn't fully clear to us, or it could simply be an old policy that no one has bothered to challenge.
Oh wow... they are available for in store pickup around here. 6+ 64G in Gold and Silver.
Or the employee can go check their "online" inventory in the store and then reserve it on the spot before they grab it from the back.
But, that's not what they've chosen to do. They have 3 separate inventories for a reason. Walk ins, Online and replacements. If you can't understand that, then I guess no amount of explaining is going to help.
Until inventories level out, that's the way Apple is doing it.
They do want to sell them. And they are. As fast as they can produce them.
It sucks that demand is outstripping supply, but until that situation flips, you are going to have to play the game.
Because they already handed out so many reservations that day that they're concerned about being able to activate them all before they close that evening.
So I actually spent a significant amount of time finding a phone and ended up talking to plenty of managers, both in person and over the phone, as well as Apple reps via their apple care (is that what they call it?) line. Basically the best info I was able to get is that this USED to be the rule but it isn't anymore, however it still may be residual ly in place in various regions. I can confirm that pretty much every Apple Store within 200 miles of me (essentially the New England market) is operating this way.
I experienced this last Saturday when I went to my local Apple Store to buy my 6. I was planning to buy it via AT&T Next, so it wasn't a problem for me. However, there were a lot of people who wanted to buy the 6/6+ at full price without a contract. The store had a manager going around and telling people that they were only selling the 6/6+ to those who were signing a contract. The people who wanted to buy the 6/6+ full price would have to come back Monday when they could buy it. I thought it was a bit odd, but it seems like other Apple Stores were doing this as well.
I posted this yesterday, but here's what finally worked for me to get my 6+ SG unlocked T-Mo. I went to the store at opening time. Stood in line. When the Blue shirted guy came around with his phone to check stock, he told me there were none available. I then chatted with him for a few seconds, and then he told me almost secretively "come back tomorrow morning, I'll probably have the one you want." I went back the next day and he was right...
If that involves me going into the back room and having to touch my ankles, then yes, I did.
Watched a businessman buy 20 iPhones while working on my own upgrade. A few hours later my dad went to the same store and saw a person with literally bags of phones, and unfortunately they were likely headed overseas. I'm just jealous of the first guy. Overheard him drop $10,000 on the phones. I want the money to do that. 
Watched a businessman buy 20 iPhones while working on my own upgrade. A few hours later my dad went to the same store and saw a person with literally bags of phones, and unfortunately they were likely headed overseas. I'm just jealous of the first guy. Overheard him drop $10,000 on the phones. I want the money to do that.
They were likely for his business, in which case, open a business, and you can be him.
I think enterprise owners don't have the same limits as private line accounts in terms of buying new devices. I know there are some who have boatloads of unlimited data lines and it is literally cheaper for them to buy devices outright because of the data their workforce uses. It all goes on a business credit card which easily have hundreds of thousands in credit.
They were likely for his business, in which case, open a business, and you can be him.
I think enterprise owners don't have the same limits as private line accounts in terms of buying new devices. I know there are some who have boatloads of unlimited data lines and it is literally cheaper for them to buy devices outright because of the data their workforce uses. It all goes on a business credit card which easily have hundreds of thousands in credit.
I'd love to, but it's more of a damn I'm jealous.
but yeah it was billed to multiple cards from what the rep was telling me.
Watched a businessman buy 20 iPhones while working on my own upgrade. A few hours later my dad went to the same store and saw a person with literally bags of phones, and unfortunately they were likely headed overseas. I'm just jealous of the first guy. Overheard him drop $10,000 on the phones. I want the money to do that.
When I was in my local Apple Store buying my 6+, the guy helping me said that earlier in the week a lady came in and bought 150 iPhone 6s and 6+s for her business. She called ahead and talked to the store manager, came in, paid with Amex and a couple of employees helped her carry all the bags to her car. $120,000+ for the lot.
I'd hate to have been waiting in line for a phone and witnessed that transaction!
Last weekend I went to the apple store looking to get a new MBA plug, I saw a big line of 20-30 people and asked if that was for iphone 6/6+. They confirmed it was but that it was for cash buyers with no plan (they were all resellers) and that they were filling them one at a time while inventory allowed but if that there was a separate line for contracts. I got a reservation for 2 phones on contract, there was one person in front of me, within 10 minutes an apple employee walked up to me and handed me my two phones. By the time I finished setting up and registering my phones they had sold out of the remaining stock of 64+128 6/6+.
I think that the parity queues were a really good way to make it fair for both macfans and resellers.
I think that the parity queues were a really good way to make it fair for both macfans and resellers.
This must vary by store. In Boston, on launch day and for at least the next week, there were only two lines: pre-orders and everybody else.