Apple to Launch Personal Pickup for iPhone 5 Tonight

I remember trying to do this last year with the iPhone 4s. Just know that as soon as 10 p.m. hits the reserve site will get hammered and you will see out of stock notices on some of the phones - depending upon what carrier, color, and size you want.

I remember having to try for several different nights before I could actually get one reserved for pickup the next day.
 
Last edited:
WAPilot said:
So is it 10pm local time, EST, PST?????

I'm in the 2-3 week group... Suppose to be here around the 11th of Oct. If I cancel my online order do they update AT&T immediately so I can get the contract rate?

This article needs more info.

----------



You made a funny...iPhone 5 accessories. baaahahahaha
Click to expand...

They got those Macs... Those could will work with that new Lightening cable.

But yeah, other than extra Apple cables or Apple adapters... Both short on stock... There isn't much to add-on sell right now.
 
The people who have the phone delivered to them are a different breed than people who prefer to walk right in the store and buy.
 
Slightly off-topic question here, but for those of you who may have done this in previous years when you prepay online the night before, do you need to present the credit card used to pick-up the phone?

Reason I ask is I was going to pay for mine with a card that's under my wife's name. I could bring it with me, but as its not technically my card I don't want them to give me guff about it.
 
mabhatter said:
No, this is the opposite. Apple is making these as fast as they can. They are basically tallying up what goes from the factory to on the plane to the stores each day. Each store is only getting a case or two each day. Apple is putting the contents of that shipment online the night before.

It's an amazing piece of supply chain management. Apple is finding new owners for the iPhones within HOURS of the iPhones packed from the assembly line.

Sure, they are also doing online orders, but really that's a separate fulfillment center process. Apple is ALWAYS going to put the Apple Stores first because those are the flagships... And they want iPhones on iShelves!!!
Click to expand...

Exactly.

If Apple made the decision to not release a single phone to stores until the online orders were fulfilled (let's assume, hypothetically, that we're talking all online orders placed before the official launch) then the stores would sit empty for weeks. This would be horrible for Apple. There's probably a lot of people who make the decision to buy an iPhone after they've seen their friends, or read a review that came up late. But that impulse to buy is going to wither away if their only option is to join the 4-week line at the online store.

It makes much for sense to Apple to at least have some stock in the stores, even if there's just a few phones each day. That way people who have gotten a late impulse to buy the phone can try to reserve one each night. They might have to try a few times, but they'll eventually get the version they want.
 
I really don't get why people are complaining about this. They did the same thing last year for the 4s. If you didn't get your preorder in within the first 30 minutes then you should have just cut your losses. After the 30 minute window passes you are almost guaranteed not to get your iPhone on launch day. So your next step would be to wait in line at a store or suck it up and wait the extra week or two. For those that are able to reserve a phone this week there still will be a line to wait in when you get to the store, the only difference is, is that you know you are guaranteed a phone. People should just stop complaining....
 
So how exactly will this work? Come 10pm will there be a reserve button that appears on the iPhone page online? Or where exactly will it be? Thanks for the help guys!
 
roxychicx23 said:
I really don't get why people are complaining about this. They did the same thing last year for the 4s. If you didn't get your preorder in within the first 30 minutes then you should have just cut your losses. After the 30 minute window passes you are almost guaranteed not to get your iPhone on launch day. So your next step would be to wait in line at a store or suck it up and wait the extra week or two. For those that are able to reserve a phone this week there still will be a line to wait in when you get to the store, the only difference is, is that you know you are guaranteed a phone. People should just stop complaining....
Click to expand...

Thank you. Couldn't have said it better myself... It's like American's expecting the government to fix their problems...

"Feed me, give me a place to live, make more jobs so I don't have to work as hard to find one. Wah wah wah."

Analyze history and make the best decision possible.
 
roxychicx23 said:
I really don't get why people are complaining about this. They did the same thing last year for the 4s. If you didn't get your preorder in within the first 30 minutes then you should have just cut your losses. After the 30 minute window passes you are almost guaranteed not to get your iPhone on launch day. So your next step would be to wait in line at a store or suck it up and wait the extra week or two. For those that are able to reserve a phone this week there still will be a line to wait in when you get to the store, the only difference is, is that you know you are guaranteed a phone. People should just stop complaining....
Click to expand...

I did this last year for the 4S when online reservations became available. I was able to reserve online, I believe it had to be after 9PM to make the reservation. The following day I went to the Apple store after work and as expected there was a bunch of customers standing around waiting. I assumed I was going to be there for awhile. I didn't know what the protocol was for people who reserved a phone and so I flagged down an employee and told them I had phone reservation. The rest was cake. He verified the phone I had reserved, went through the purchase process and was literally out of there in 15 minutes. The longest wait time I had was when the employee went to the back to retrieve the phone. I remember leaving the store feeling I had robbed the place! LOL

I would definitely recommend this route for anyone instead of waiting at the store and wondering if will be able to get the phone you want.
 
350TX said:
I did this last year for the 4S when online reservations became available. I was able to reserve online, I believe it had to be after 9PM to make the reservation. The following day I went to the Apple store after work and as expected there was a bunch of customers standing around waiting. I assumed I was going to be there for awhile. I didn't know what the protocol was for people who reserved a phone and so I flagged down an employee and told them I had phone reservation. The rest was cake. He verified the phone I had reserved, went through the purchase process and was literally out of there in 15 minutes. The longest wait time I had was when the employee went to the back to retrieve the phone. I remember leaving the store feeling I had robbed the place! LOL

I would definitely recommend this route for anyone instead of waiting at the store and wondering if will be able to get the phone you want.
Click to expand...

Where exactly on the website will it say make a reservation?
 
what's the limit on reserving a phone? I'm trying to get 2 - upgrading both my lines on my account.

would it be advisable to add both phones to my cart before 10PM comes around?
 
Now how do I get ATT to oblige ?

Knowing ATT and their moron attitude, I am not sure what is the risk in cancelling my pre-order and taking this route?

Well. I hate ATT:mad:
 
Bad information?

I just "Chatted" with an Apple Online Specialist who said "the retail stores have been mis-informed and there is no Personal Pickup available at this time."

Here's to hoping the "Specialist" is just last to know, and not the first to break the bad news...
 
If they've sold out of the initial batch of iPhones as has been suggested how can they offer this next day collection service? They must have plenty of iPhones sitting in their AppleStores which means they can't have sold out.
 
cameronfree said:
I just "Chatted" with an Apple Online Specialist who said "the retail stores have been mis-informed and there is no Personal Pickup available at this time."

Here's to hoping the "Specialist" is just last to know, and not the first to break the bad news...
Click to expand...

I just received the same information. I hope they're wrong...
 
Shaun said:
If they've sold out of the initial batch of iPhones as has been suggested how can they offer this next day collection service? They must have plenty of iPhones sitting in their AppleStores which means they can't have sold out.
Click to expand...

yeah. it is confusing. if they have stock apple should distribute them all the retail stores including the carrier stores and the third party store.
 
eastern time

Why if they say 10 pm eastern time in Vegas out of the store there is a display stating the same hour? Should be 7 pm... No?
 
If I do this tonight, how am I notified that the phone will actually be there tomorrow? Talked to the store I plan on purchasing from and they said they are currently out of stock (as of earlier today).
 
"I understand that lots of the local Apple Stores have been misinformed that you were able to reserve your new iPhone 5 here online, then pick it up in your local Apple Store. However, at this time we do not have this option available here for you. No worries though. If you would like, I would be happy to help you place your order here online with me, then if you find an iPhone 5 in your local Apple Store before your new iPhone ships out to you, you can cancel here with us that way you still do not miss out on your new iPhone."

That is the answer I got when I "chatted" the "specialist".
 
macpro2000 said:
"at this time" very true...it hasn't happened yet.
Click to expand...

Yeah but I would consider this a complete melt-down of communication. All employees should be as equally informed.

Apple Retail tells it like it is, but Apple Online talks in code? C'mon...

----------
Samsonp said:
"I understand that lots of the local Apple Stores have been misinformed that you were able to reserve your new iPhone 5 here online, then pick it up in your local Apple Store. However, at this time we do not have this option available here for you. No worries though. If you would like, I would be happy to help you place your order here online with me, then if you find an iPhone 5 in your local Apple Store before your new iPhone ships out to you, you can cancel here with us that way you still do not miss out on your new iPhone."

That is the answer I got when I "chatted" the "specialist".
Click to expand...

I love your use of quotes....
 
This is awesome, considering people who've pre-ordered on the 14th still haven't received their phones...
 
Just spoke with my local Apple store and confirmed that the "reservation" process will begin at 10:00pm.

At this point, I think:

Apple Retail > Apple Chat Specialist

... If not, stores across America will have a fun time dealing with unruly customers tomorrow...
 
cameronfree said:
Just spoke with my local Apple store and confirmed that the "reservation" process will begin at 10:00pm.

At this point, I think:

Apple Retail > Apple Chat Specialist

... If not, stores across America will have a fun time dealing with unruly customers tomorrow...
Click to expand...

I am hoping that you're right about :apple: Retail > :apple: Chat Specialist because here is the response I've got from the Chat Specialist.

ScreenShot2012-09-24at51321PM.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top