Agree with iceman, I joined with the 6s last year, got my email last week I was eligible, went online and reserved my 7 for tomm at 10am. Got an email today reminding me today that all was good for tomm. I'll report back here if I get problems.
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Apple Upgrade Program - Buyer Beware
- Thread starter tylerdw89
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If you're paying full price, no loan/no carrier incentive, you should be able to walk out of the store with an unopened box.
makes more sense to purchase for full price, sell it and buy new ones every year. you come out ahead as you can typically get more than 50% of what you paid for it..
Personally I think that is a cop-out.
If I enjoin into a business contract I expect all parties to abide by it and extensive notification should be used if something is amiss. Especially true if it involves loans or banking. The "I am an adult .." is not adult at all.
To me this was a complete miss by Apple due to lack of effort on their part. No, I am not a participant.
Just my opinion.
I just talked to Apple again, they said that if someone told me I had a reservation I do. He did find it odd that I was not given a specific time.
For some bizzar reason, neither the store nor they at Apple know who and when reservations are until the system updates in the morning.
Anyways, I have very little confidence.
For some bizzar reason, neither the store nor they at Apple know who and when reservations are until the system updates in the morning.
Anyways, I have very little confidence.
When I tried to order my phone last Friday I saw that all the AT&T version of the 7+ were sold out in my area. I figured since the phones in the apple upgrade program are unlocked it didn't matter the carrier and picked the Verizon option spec'ed the way I wanted. I just got off the phone with 800 MY-APPLE who agreed that should be fine, but was curious if anyone thought I'd have a problem on Friday since I don't have a Verizon contract nor do I have any plans to create one at this time.
Apple seems to have been working hard this week to fix the snafu last Friday. I doubt we'll have the same problem again next year.
That being said, I'm a fan of the program even if it's not the absolute cheapest way to upgrade every year. Knowing that I'm just turning in my phone tomorrow without needing to locate the box and accessories and without wasting my time dealing with craigslist and swappa buyers looking for a deal is totally worth it to me.
That being said, I'm a fan of the program even if it's not the absolute cheapest way to upgrade every year. Knowing that I'm just turning in my phone tomorrow without needing to locate the box and accessories and without wasting my time dealing with craigslist and swappa buyers looking for a deal is totally worth it to me.
The Apple Upgrade program was never meant to give you the best chance of obtaining a new phone every year at launch.
All it meant was that it offered a way to trade in your phone for a new model (and start the process all over again) easily.
Hopefully, Apple will improve the process so more of you have a good chance of snagging new models at launch, but that was never how this program was ever marketed (afaik).
All it meant was that it offered a way to trade in your phone for a new model (and start the process all over again) easily.
Hopefully, Apple will improve the process so more of you have a good chance of snagging new models at launch, but that was never how this program was ever marketed (afaik).
IUP screwed me and continues to screw me. I was on the Apple Store the instant that pre-orders started. All phones sold out at the three locations near me. So as per the note on the pre-order page, I called Apple and was told by the IUP team that they'd make it right for me, who they described as "one of Apple's VIP customers." After three canned emails telling me to expect a callback in 48 hours...
Nothing.
So let's not pretend that IUP worked correctly this year. As an early adopter of the program I got left high and dry. I'm far from the only one.
Nothing.
So let's not pretend that IUP worked correctly this year. As an early adopter of the program I got left high and dry. I'm far from the only one.
I got lucky and my guy called me Tuesday night to walk me through the process of reserving my phone. Once I cancelled my backup preorder I was able to see full stock and reserved a matte black 7+ 128GB at the store I asked for. All in all I'm glad they made good on fixing my situation but it's still not perfect.
No one claimed it did. The problem is that it locked us out of pre-ordering while the phones sold out to non IUP people.
That's besides the point. The point of contention is existing IUP customers did not have equal access to the same stock as everyone else for preordering. Apple has severely limited the stock for those customers. They're not asking for VIP status, only that they have equal access to the same stock at pre-ordering.
Just missed a phone call from Apple from my call on Monday, voicemail said emails will be going out today.
Interesting thread. Though my initial plan was to stick with my 6+ and hold out for the "iPhone 10 Year" mega-revision next year, I've of late been contemplating the IUP as a somewhat pain free way to get a 7+ but easily trade up next year when the super phone is released.
But after reading this, my take is that unless Apple decides to elevate IUP customers to the very front of the pre-order line (which seems like it'd be a good decision for Apple), then it's going to be a massive cluster next year. Yes, the 7/7+ is a decent model upgrade over prior. But if the rumors about the "X" are true then next year is when the next mega upgrade cycle will occur.
But after reading this, my take is that unless Apple decides to elevate IUP customers to the very front of the pre-order line (which seems like it'd be a good decision for Apple), then it's going to be a massive cluster next year. Yes, the 7/7+ is a decent model upgrade over prior. But if the rumors about the "X" are true then next year is when the next mega upgrade cycle will occur.
I don't agree with that. I think it should be like a lottery for all customers. Right now, Apple has severely limited the stock for existing IUP customers. It's only fair that everyone (first time enrollees, those paying in full, existing IUP customers, etc.) have equal access to the same stock at pre-ordering. If they run out, then they run out and no one group will be more hurt than others.
Do we know for a fact that Iup customers had limited access that differed from the other groups that tried to pre-order?
And hopefully that will be improved if that is true.
Still doesn't change what the Iup plan was designed to do though.
I feel for those that were disappointed. But fighting to get a timely delivery on the new phones happens every year. That won't change even if Iup is tweaked.
Apple stated that a backend error didn't allow stock for IUP preorders that they had allocated, so now they are trying their best to make it right.
That's nice that you think that but it has no bearing on the reality of businesses in the world today. They segregate customers all the time based on all sorts of factors i.e. Far more than simply price - think about airline upgrade status or any loyalty or affinity program.
It's extremely common for businesses to do it and there's a reason for it - customer lock in and better predictability/visibility of earnings.
Who is a better customer - the one who gets a new phone every year? Or every two years?
The answer is simple. Which is why it wouldn't be remotely surprising if apple moves IUP people to the front next year. And they should.
I'm not sure that this is a good idea.
By giving them such preferential treatment over all others, you create conditions where it becomes very easy to reserve phones that will go direct to eBay, CL, etc...IOW for profiteering.
I'd rather an allotment for Iup members, an allotment for each of the 4 carriers, and allotments for the Apple stores and other retailers like BB, etc.
Profiteering may still happen but at the same time, the end-users have a chance of getting phones as well.
Maybe you don't understand how the program works. Your credit is checked and you enter into a contract. Yes you can pay it off early (if you sold the phone) but it still dings your credit.
The scalpers are not going to do this.
Maybe so, but giving Iup users this preferential treatment isn't good. Someone will think of a way to abuse the system.
And if I'm a Verizon or AT&T plan holder looking to buy a new phone, why should Iup members get preferential treatment over me?
Because customers who are contractually locked into buying new p
Because customers who are contractually signed up to buy a new phone every single year are more valuable to Apple than other customers. Don't be surprised when they get preferential treatment.
Except they're not getting preferential treatment and are actually getting worse treatment this year because of a screw-up/backend error on Apple's part.
They're not contractually obligated to upgrade each year. It's only if they choose to.
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Iup members may elect to buy every year, not all do. I'd be curious as to the percentage that do upgrade every year though.
If Apple decides to give them special privileges, of course there's little I can do. But there might be outcry if it happens.
I don't care either way. When I get my next phone and there's a wait, I'll wait.