Apple Stores Delay Some iPhone XS and XS Max Pickup Orders Due to 'Last Minute Logistical Issues'

[hendrixe]

My delivery was rescheduled from today till tomorrow. Not sure why something that is a yearly event and known cannot be handled correctly. Hopefully Apple will come out and provide an explanation as in the end from a customer perspective they are responsible. There was no issue getting my money though.

 

[chromite]

Why even comment if you're just going to **** on people for being excited about a product? I myself need to test several apps for work on the thing, which is why I need my phone today otherwise I have no way of getting it for two weeks which also screws up the exchange of my old phone. It's a huge huge headache if I don't get it today. It's not a "status symbol" its for my job.

It’s not the end of the world, bud.

 

[hendrixe]

The area is under flood watch from typhoon Manghut and I'm sure the flight routes out of Shenzhen where a mess from the high winds.

I would think that this could all be part of "weather prediction" and getting some flights out sooner then. Why do they hold them in China for days on end instead of already getting them here then.

 

[BootsWalking]

I would think that this could all be part of "weather prediction" and getting some flights out sooner then. Why do they hold them in China for days on end instead of already getting them here then.

Because it's marginally cheaper to do so. It's all about the profit margin with Apple.

 

[PrestoMovie]

I went to the Mission Viejo, CA store to do a pickup today for a 9am reservation. There was a walk in line but the reservations had no line, they were taking us immediately. One specialist managing the line said that stock was very bad today and referenced these logistics stories. The specialist who took my reservation didn’t say anything about not being able to fulfill all reservations, but she did say they had none for walk ins and had very limited stock.

Ha! That’s the store I’m supposed to pick my XS Max from today. Was supposed to be 8:30-9, but it got delayed. I’m just really hoping they come in today. I took today off and won’t have any other time this weekend to get it.

 

[sigma8]

At 11am UPS said it was scheduled for delivery by the end of Today (9/21), but now (at 1pm) it says it's scheduled for deliver by Monday (9/24) end of day. Both then and now, the last "detail" point was an arrival scan super early morning in Kentucky (I'm at least a 10 hour drive from Kentucky).

Hoping this mistake was itself a mistake and then I still get it today, but I guess I shouldn't hold my breath.

 

[mojoApple]

At 11am UPS said it was scheduled for delivery by the end of Today (9/21), but now (at 1pm) it says it's scheduled for deliver by Monday (9/24) end of day. Both then and now, the last "detail" point was an arrival scan super early morning in Kentucky (I'm at least a 10 hour drive from Kentucky).

Hoping this mistake was itself a mistake and then I still get it today, but I guess I shouldn't hold my breath.

Mine just went to EOD Monday 9/24 as well for the iphone. For the watch, they've just given up estimating by giving an estimate of "Scheduled delivery information is not available at this time. Please check back later."

 

[hendrixe]

How will people live using their ancient iPhone X for another couple days?

I'm in the boat. Delivery pushed out till tomorrow. I honestly do not know. Absolutely destroyed. Been Googling for survival skills to try to survive this event. Best I could find right now is get some beer and huddle up till the door bell rings tomorrow.

 

[drae94]

What’s up with Apple? I had an in store pick-up time for 8:30am on Sep21st, received an email 12:25am from Apple there has been ‘a logistical issue’ , 2am online chat w Apple advised to go to store for appointed time, 6am spoke w Apple to confirm pickup, again advised to go to store for scheduled pickup if no email received by 7:30am. Order status was still saying pick up for 8:30am. Guess what - no email received, I arrived at store for 8:30am and no phone for pick up.

 

[mikesilv]

It's not just Apple products, this has been going on for a week with other orders I've placed to be delivered through various delivery services (UPS, Fedex, DHL, USPS). All of them had operations severely crimped by hurricane Florence. And I live in California, so it's created a backlog nation-wide.

This isn't rocket science, folks.

 

[idark77]

Unbelievable. A lot of money for nothing. Stupid Apple...

 

[AppleMark]

Yeah I mean it’s the end of the world. Folks are going to die because they couldn’t get their precious status symbol today.

To be fair to the OP, that is not a relevant comment. If he sees it as status symbol or not has nothing to with it and none of our business.

However, when you pay £1000 / $1000+ for an item a week in advance with a delivery date set by the supplier, you should be allowed to dare expect it to arrive on that day / time. No?
[doublepost=1537550879][/doublepost]

Because this appears to be a small issue with a handful of UPS/FedEx trucks having moved late and the delay is from morning until the afternoon, so to expect Apple to give out free product as a way to “make it right” is ridiculous. As for your very odd situation regarding needing it today for work or not having any access to the world for two weeks, and your putting all your eggs in one basket... how is that Apple’s fault?

Putting aside your strong opinion about the OP's priorities that do not match your own. I remember John Lewis messing up an order a few years ago for a TV and they gave me a £30 voucher as compensation without me asking. JL are not a trillion dollar company. Although I agree and doubt Apple would do the same.

 

[admjhndly]

I called UPS. Apparently there was a flight delay and my delivery is rescheduled for Saturday. #firstworldproblems

I am just a little annoyed because I ordered right at launch and other people around me are getting theirs delivered. Oh well. I did get Watch 4 and it is sweet.

 

[CWallace]

What I don't understand is why Apple makes this a sprint to the finish line every year.

Why can't the phones get shipped to all the country destinations on the Apple keynote day, in volumes appropriate to previous year's orders, so that those phones are local to those countries when pre-ordering begins? Then, you don't have to fight with customs at that point.

I am going to hazard a guess that the devices were updated to the final version of iOS 12 / Watch OS 5 that went live on Monday within the past week and therefore could not be packaged and shipped until then.

And yes, Apple could either just ship with the previous OS, but then everyone has to update when they un-box and that's not "magical". And they could also ship with a pre-final version of the OS, but if a show-stopper bug pops up before the final version is released, that's really not "magical".

 

[iApplereviews]

IMO they shouldn't wait until the end of the day to fulfill pre orders with remaining stock. Walk in stock should be pulled first to fill as many remaining orders as possible. I got my phone delivered on time so didn't affect me just my opinion.

 

[hendrixe]

I called UPS. Apparently there was a flight delay and my delivery is rescheduled for Saturday. #firstworldproblems

I am just a little annoyed because I ordered right at launch and other people around me are getting theirs delivered. Oh well. I did get Watch 4 and it is sweet.

I am really more annoyed that neither UPS or Apple informed those customers (me included) about the delay. I had received an email from both companies yesterday that it will arrive today. But now nothing from either that it has been delayed. Inform your customer!

 

[Sugadaddy]

Some stores have stock for walk-in customers but not for reservations?? If that's the case, then it's a logistical F-UP!

 

[mojoApple]

I am going to hazard a guess that the devices were updated to the final version of iOS 12 / Watch OS 5 that went live on Monday within the past week and therefore could not be packaged and shipped until then.

And yes, Apple could either just ship with the previous OS, but then everyone has to update when they un-box and that's not "magical". And they could also ship with a pre-final version of the OS, but if a show-stopper bug pops up before the final version is released, that's really not "magical".

I see your point.. but they could also release the gold master of the IOS12 weeks sooner than the keynote update the phones the next week.. ship the phones to various countries according to previous year(s) volumes, and have them local by the keynote, then slap a shipping label on them after pre-order. it is all about scheduling and project managing.

 

[JPack]

I am going to hazard a guess that the devices were updated to the final version of iOS 12 / Watch OS 5 that went live on Monday within the past week and therefore could not be packaged and shipped until then.

And yes, Apple could either just ship with the previous OS, but then everyone has to update when they un-box and that's not "magical". And they could also ship with a pre-final version of the OS, but if a show-stopper bug pops up before the final version is released, that's really not "magical".

iOS 12.1 beta was built and ready even before the keynote. Apple is weeks ahead in terms of software. I think this is more of a security issue around product launches rather than a production issue.

 

[chrono1081]

Because this appears to be a small issue with a handful of UPS/FedEx trucks having moved late and the delay is from morning until the afternoon, so to expect Apple to give out free product as a way to “make it right” is ridiculous. As for your very odd situation regarding needing it today for work or not having any access to the world for two weeks, and your putting all your eggs in one basket... how is that Apple’s fault?

First, not once did I mention anything about "getting something for free."

Second, I didn't "put all my eggs in one basket". I was told yesterday I need to go on a work trip for the next two weeks. This was unforeseen by me and my employer. I also requested trade in boxes last week to trade in my old phone and watch, those boxes need to be sent back within 14 days, so I can't send my current phone out until my new one comes. And I also have apps I need to test because in the real world, no one gets new devices right away. Our vendor doesn't even offer them for sale until the official release day so my work place won't even get them for two months minimum.
The devs know this so we work together to test on each others devices until our test lab gets the new equipment.

Third, I'm not blaming Apple, I'm not blaming UPS, it's unfortunate, I'm simply calling out the person who is falsely claiming that people are mad "because they're not getting their status symbols today". I simply stated that for some of us, it's not a status symbol.

 

[mojoApple]

iOS 12.1 beta was built and ready even before the keynote. Apple is weeks ahead in terms of software. I think this is more of a security issue around product launches rather than a production issue.

Yeah.. That may be true, but I also think the public, who keeps a close eye on every single beta that is released, already knows what is going to be in the next IOS. I don't think it is so much of a security issue at that point as poor planning, scheduling and project management.

 

[iApplereviews]

Some stores have stock for walk-in customers but not for reservations?? If that's the case, then it's a logistical F-UP!

Ya article says some stores will have limited stock for walk-ins. I mean maybe just stores that had all their pickups filled. I would hope they would pull pre orders from the walk-ins to fill those

 

[Sugadaddy]

Ya article says some stores will have limited stock for walk-ins. I mean maybe just stores that had all their pickups filled. I would hope they would pull pre orders from the walk-ins to fill those

If it's the case, just buy one as a walk-in and cancel the pre-order.

 

[AFDoc]

From check in until OTD with my Xs Max was 7 minutes.

 

[JPack]

Yeah.. That may be true, but I also think the public, who keeps a close eye on every single beta that is released, already knows what is going to be in the next IOS. I don't think it is so much of a security issue at that point as poor planning, scheduling and project management.

It's more about the hardware. The shorter the production ramp and the more intensive it is, the less likely hardware gets leaked.

Apple could distribute their new devices to sellers early, but I think that's just asking for leaks.