iPhone 13 mini Apple Store pick up experience

[Cyberguycpt]

So I preordered my iPhone at 5 minutes after they went live to pick up in store at 12:30 pm last Friday. I arrive today to get my phone and was told it was about a 2 hour wait for pickups. Like what’s the point of having a reservation with a 15 minute time frame if it’s going to be 2 hours. But all together it took about 45 minutes from start to finish. But you can believe I was fuming when she said 2 hours. Like I get overestimating but she was about to see the bad side of this black man. Lol.

 

[Bstephens]

Total fail today for me. I got there at the Crabtree store at 7:30 this morning and reserved 2 pro maxes to buy later and when I got there after waiting an hour in line they had the phones ready but I couldn't buy them in the store with the Apple Card installments. They said I had to buy online for pick up when the stock refreshes as they where capped for the day.

 

[beach bum]

So I preordered my iPhone at 5 minutes after they went live to pick up in store at 12:30 pm last Friday. I arrive today to get my phone and was told it was about a 2 hour wait for pickups. Like what’s the point of having a reservation with a 15 minute time frame if it’s going to be 2 hours. But all together it took about 45 minutes from start to finish. But you can believe I was fuming when she said 2 hours. Like I get overestimating but she was about to see the bad side of this black man. Lol.

When I did my pickup this morning, a lot of people worked with the reps to do a phone to phone setup, buy add-ons, or they had problems with their carrier activations, etc. Some people had problems with their payment methods. Things happen, but I’m glad you didn’t have to wait the full 2 hours.

 

[russell_314]

I think they underestimated the demand. I had to wait at least an hour. The line was very long. No point in taking it out on the person working though because they don't have anything to do with the planning.

 

[Shadowbech]

My experience was different. I went in 30 minutes earlier than the time slot I choose. I got the phone and out in 3 minutes.

It’s odd how each Apple Store handles it differently. My Local Apple store had 2 separate lines. 1 for walk-in reservations and the other line was for those who pre-ordered for in-store pick up.

 

[ThaDoggg]

Best to order online and have it delivered to your house. Especially if you can secure release day.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Life is too short and fragile to get worked up over having to wait a little longer to get something as frivolous as an iPhone (compared to the grand scheme of things). I had to wait a little longer but, it didn't bother me. I recognized other people were doing their job the best they could with an ever changing situation.

Time for some people on here to get some proper perspective on their life.

 

[jamezr]

I ordered online at release day to pickup at the Apple Store at 8:15AM
Could not have been easier. Walked right up got checked in and was in the store setting up my new 13 PM and returning my 12 PM in 10 minutes. I transferred all my data to my new phone and was out of the store in 30 minutes.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I think they underestimated the demand. I had to wait at least an hour. The line was very long. No point in taking it out on the person working though because they don't have anything to do with the planning.

Definitely understand, My only problem is was when they said two hours when they knew it wasnt gonna be that long. Secondly all I wanted Who was grab my phone and go I didn’t want to activate it all I wanna do is get me in and let me go but that wasn’t an option. I was more mad with Apple for making all these reservations when they know their short handed in the first place.

 

[Lihp8270]

Definitely understand, My only problem is was when they said two hours when they knew it wasnt gonna be that long. Secondly all I wanted Who was grab my phone and go I didn’t want to activate it all I wanna do is get me in and let me go but that wasn’t an option. I was more mad with Apple for making all these reservations when they know their short handed in the first place.

Maybe if they took less reservations then you wouldn’t have been able to secure one at all.

Then you would be complaining you couldn’t get one.

 

[huntercb]

Currently in line at the NYC UWS store and it’s bananas. There’s probably 150 people in line and the line is tortuously slow.

I truly didn’t expect this. Definitely looking at a solid 1.5 hour wait.
Next time it’ll be shipped. 😂

 

[littlestash]

I went to the store in Williamsburg Brooklyn and it was a breeze. I was an hour late (appt was for 10, but i got there at 11am) but the line for appointments went very quickly. I waited less than 10 minutes. I heard a guy standing in the walk-in line say he had been there for about two hours 😬

 

[cypressc]

I went to the Austin, Texas (Domain) location with a noon appointment to pick up two phones. The line was four wide around the building and two stores down.

But about every 15 minutes, about 2/3 of the line that was there when I showed up would empty out.

There was a separate line of Apple employees, and every 15 minutes, they would start pairing people in line - This is David, he'll be helping you. This is Alice, she'll be helping you.

There were about 40-50 employees in line, and they burned through the line that went around the block.

Once inside, I got my phone in about 3 minutes.

So easy and efficient. From parking to back in the car was 20 minutes.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Maybe if they took less reservations then you wouldn’t have been able to secure one at all.

Then you would be complaining you couldn’t get one.

Lol I ordered within the first five minutes. I think I would’ve been fine.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I think but also irked me was that someone came up that was an hour and a half late and they put them to the front line. Like why are they getting rewarded for bad behavior. Had they come at their appointed time the line probably could’ve been smaller.

 

[newellj]

My experience was different. I went in 30 minutes earlier than the time slot I choose. I got the phone and out in 3 minutes.

It’s odd how each Apple Store handles it differently. My Local Apple store had 2 separate lines. 1 for walk-in reservations and the other line was for those who pre-ordered for in-store pick up.

Did you have a trade-in or anything that made more than just picking up an online purchase? I went in to pick up an IUP iPhone 13PM and a Mini 6. It took 35-40 minutes. There were lots of things, like they couldn't find the iPad for a while, and the iPad trade-in took some time. But most of it was just that everything seemed slow.

 

[hellojohnny]

My experience was different. I went in 30 minutes earlier than the time slot I choose. I got the phone and out in 3 minutes.

It’s odd how each Apple Store handles it differently. My Local Apple store had 2 separate lines. 1 for walk-in reservations and the other line was for those who pre-ordered for in-store pick up.

My experience was similar to your too. Some people tried to pick up their order that didn't have a reservation time from 8-8:15 a.m. and they turned them away or made them wait for their pick up time. My store was in California. Very organized and went smoothly.

 

[iHeartsteve]

My pick up time was 8:15am and I was the 4th person in line. Got in right at my time slot. missed the standing ovation because they cut it off at only the 3rd person. At my store they were only letting a few people in at a time.

went back to my store around 2pm and the line was so long! my Apple watch was not pairing with my new iPhone 13pro. Luckily an Apple rep didn’t make me wait in the line and just escorted me inside and asked a specialist to assist me.

 

[shaown]

At the NYC UWS store - got here at 545pm, still in line at 815pm

 

[daddyd302]

I waited about 15 minutes and about 15 minutes inside the store. The sales girl wanted to make sure I got the right rebates/credits with T-Mobile. I waited and listen to her, even though I wanted to leave, she was very nice so I just waited and wasn't even annoyed at all. I appreciated her helping me.

 

[F308gt4]

Waited about 45 minutes in SoCal. But, it started pouring rain with lightning and thunder. Totally not expected for SoCal. Got soaked. About halfway through, the Apple employees came around with umbrellas for us to use, which was nice even if a little too late for us. Got my phone and headed back home to setup.

 

[koolhand79]

I think but also irked me was that someone came up that was an hour and a half late and they put them to the front line. Like why are they getting rewarded for bad behavior. Had they come at their appointed time the line probably could’ve been smaller.

Which store did u pick up from? I had the same thing happen at Manhattan Village. I waited for over an hour, they said they just had way to many appointments. They didn’t even bother asking about your check in time because it didn’t matter

 

[slpslee1]

My appointment was for 8:30 - 8:45. I got stuck in traffic--it's normally a 15 minute trip but made it right before 8:30. I showed the scan code in my Wallet, was directed to the back of the store, and was walking out with phone in hand by 8:35. It was a super busy day so I didn't even have a chanced to open the box until after lunch, but at least I wasn't sitting around waiting for UPS.

 

[justdefend]

Fairly straightforward this morning in SoCal. Appointment set for 8:45, stood in line for about 10 minutes, walked out of the store with the iPhone 13 mini at 9:01. All employees were upbeat and friendly during the process.

 

[aneftp]

Hope it’s better tomorrow mornjng. I have 10am appointment tomorrow for pickup. The reason I chose pickup is I just went to trade in my iPhone 12 Pro 256 for $640 credit automatically adjusted to my $1100 iPhone 13 pro max 128gb order

I don’t want to Mail in the iPhone 12 Pro and risk any chances it’s lost or damaged or whatever. I rather have apple store employee handle it directly.