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I read your post, I understand your post. But I will be signing up for IUP. I too had phone conversations with Apple execs about this and they said they know things went horribly wrong, it's not how they wanted it to play out and they're certain there will be a much better system in place for next year. So I think those of us not yet signed up can sign up in the knowledge that next year IUP customers will get a much better deal. Don't freak out over some clear teething issues that everyone will have forgotten about the minute they get their iPhone 7 in their hands and the plastic cover is off and it's shiny, new and you're happy.
 
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.

Yes I understand that. Please follow the exchange in its entirety. My position is based on what I would not be at all surprised to see for next year.
 
I read your post, I understand your post. But I will be signing up for IUP. I too had phone conversations with Apple execs about this and they said they know things went horribly wrong, it's not how they wanted it to play out and they're certain there will be a much better system in place for next year. So I think those of us not yet signed up can sign up in the knowledge that next year IUP customers will get a much better deal. Don't freak out over some clear teething issues that everyone will have forgotten about the minute they get their iPhone 7 in their hands and the plastic cover is off and it's shiny, new and you're happy.

I agree with your post. They do know it was a mess, and like any company who wishes to stay in business, they will work to improve it. I am in agreement that it will be different next year and HOPEFULLY better. I do wish they would issue a clear statement and everyone was on the same page.

As many frustrations go, mine is from a lack of communication. If I would have received an email verifying my reservation and a time to pick up, I'd feel a heck of a lot better. Cleaning up a mess can be hectic, but hopefully it gets cleaned and stay that way!
 
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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 guess I missed the part in the IUP terms & conditions where it says that those in the program move to the front of the line, are VIPs, or are somehow guaranteed the new phone on day one. If it's in there, please cite it for me, because I will be the first to jump on the pulpit with you to burn Tim Cook at the stake over it.

The program is a zero interest 24 month loan that says that you can upgrade after 12 months if you trade in your old phone. It says nothing about launch day or guaranteeing anyone a phone on a certain date. Did they screw up with limiting the number of phones to IUP members this year? Yes. Despite it not being in the contract, should they have put IUPs first in line as a gesture of treating your most loyal customers right? Sure. But it's the first renewal cycle of this program. It happens. And yes, it sucks, but to stomp your feet, act like a spoiled child, and join in on a class action lawsuit is beyond stupid & ultimately makes programs like this go away because Apple will simply say it's not worth it.

Just my opinion.
 
I guess I missed the part in the IUP terms & conditions where it says that those in the program move to the front of the line, are VIPs, or are somehow guaranteed the new phone on day one. If it's in there, please cite it for me, because I will be the first to jump on the pulpit with you to burn Tim Cook at the stake over it.

The program is a zero interest 24 month loan that says that you can upgrade after 12 months if you trade in your old phone. It says nothing about launch day or guaranteeing anyone a phone on a certain date. Did they screw up with limiting the number of phones to IUP members this year? Yes. Despite it not being in the contract, should they have put IUPs first in line as a gesture of treating your most loyal customers right? Sure. But it's the first renewal cycle of this program. It happens. And yes, it sucks, but to stomp your feet, act like a spoiled child, and join in on a class action lawsuit is beyond stupid & ultimately makes programs like this go away because Apple will simply say it's not worth it.

Just my opinion.

If it makes you feel better, you could report the member of support you dealt with originally as supplying you with false information. i.e telling you that you had a reservation when in fact you didn't. Apple wouldn't want their staff being dishonest.
 
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.

Uh no you will not be able to do this. AUP/IUP orders are required to be activated before you leave the store they don't just give you an unocked phone and say have a nice day (even though they should ..)
 
If it makes you feel better, you could report the member of support you dealt with originally as supplying you with false information. i.e telling you that you had a reservation when in fact you didn't. Apple wouldn't want their staff being dishonest.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt for now to see if I have one. Maybe I misunderstood. The rep today seemed confident I would have one after speaking with management, even though their systems could not yet confirm it.

If I go in tomorrow and I don't have a reservation then I will be quite upset, having being told I would. And yes, I think Apple would want to know that experience.
[doublepost=1473966018][/doublepost]Emai
Just missed a phone call from Apple from my call on Monday, voicemail said emails will be going out today.

Emails confirming reservations?
 
I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt for now to see if I have one. Maybe I misunderstood. The rep today seemed confident I would have one after speaking with management, even though their systems could not yet confirm it.

If I go in tomorrow and I don't have a reservation then I will be quite upset, having being told I would. And yes, I think Apple would want to know that experience.
[doublepost=1473966018][/doublepost]Emai


Emails confirming reservations?

She said I would get an email with my pickup options for the choices I made on the phone Monday morning.
 
Calling for me is useless. I received a follow up email with a link to do the reservation myself. So, if you can verify your upgrade phone online, reserve it. After reserving, I can no longer see the full inventory.
[doublepost=1473969541][/doublepost]
Calling for me is useless. I received a follow up email with a link to do the reservation myself. So, if you can verify your upgrade phone online, reserve it. After reserving, I can no longer see the full inventory.


Edit: I received confirmation email for my reservation and also a reminder email today.
 
I guess I missed the part in the IUP terms & conditions where it says that those in the program move to the front of the line, are VIPs, or are somehow guaranteed the new phone on day one. If it's in there, please cite it for me, because I will be the first to jump on the pulpit with you to burn Tim Cook at the stake over it.

The program is a zero interest 24 month loan that says that you can upgrade after 12 months if you trade in your old phone. It says nothing about launch day or guaranteeing anyone a phone on a certain date. Did they screw up with limiting the number of phones to IUP members this year? Yes. Despite it not being in the contract, should they have put IUPs first in line as a gesture of treating your most loyal customers right? Sure. But it's the first renewal cycle of this program. It happens. And yes, it sucks, but to stomp your feet, act like a spoiled child, and join in on a class action lawsuit is beyond stupid & ultimately makes programs like this go away because Apple will simply say it's not worth it.

Just my opinion.

Front? Not saying that. The current issue looks like a miss, an error. What you don't do is penalize, intent or not, in a case like this. As for the interest of the loan, that is immaterial. It's just a number. 0, 1, 2 or whatever.

All I'm saying is that this was avoidable with a little bit of foresight and validation of the upcoming process. When the issue arose, let folks know.
 
I had signed up for the program last week and tried ordering a phone for pickup, right when the website opened. Despite confirming my order within a few minutes of the website opening, I was only given the option to have the phone mailed to me (several weeks out). I was not given the option to reserve one and go to the store for pick-up.

I called into Apple, like the OP did and had a similar experience. I explained that I felt I was penalized for being a program member, and would have preferred to have done an in-store pick up. In the end, Apple did nothing to improve the situation.

I ended up canceling my order, and my enrollment in the program. The experience was frustrating, and I have no interest in paying more, to be in a program that penalizes me. And, the thought of going through this crap in 12 months (11 by the time I get my phone), wasn't pleasant.

I decided that the added cost and the added hassle was not worth it.
 
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Uh no you will not be able to do this. AUP/IUP orders are required to be activated before you leave the store they don't just give you an unocked phone and say have a nice day (even though they should ..)
So I read your post and decided to call 800 My-Apple once more. Unsurprisingly I was connected with a different person at Apple that eventually agreed that I shouldn't have a problem activating the phone with my AT&T sim card even thought it said Verizon on the Apple website. I guess we will find out tomorrow...
 
My experience:
-I entered the IUP program 10/16/2015
-March 2016, I called AT&T to verify my iPhone was unlocked as I was travelling to Europe. AT&T said it was not, give them 72 hours to unlock it and I would receive an email confirmation. Never got it, called AT&T, had to send them the receipt that I bought the phone with the IUP, then they unlocked the phone.
-Sept 9, 0301?, shortly after 3AM EST, no stock for reservation for iPhone 7+ in my state and three surrounding states within reasonable drivng distance. Got message that if I couldn't find the model I was looking for, "Check again on Sept 17", wtf.
-checked every morning and every night for the next several days, noticed stock varied but never what I wanted (128GB, silver or gold)
-Sept 13, called 1800-My-Apple. Was told I should call back on the day of release at 8AM to reserve a phone, that "all system issues would be fixed by then"
-Sept 13, called again, waited an hour and gave up
-Sept 13, 11:30PM, noticed all stores suddenly had stock in almost all models, capacities, and carriers! Reserved iPhone 7+ 128gb gold for pick up on Friday at 5:30PM
-Immediately noticed my reservation wasn't showing on my Apple Account nor Apple Store app on my iPhone. But I have an email confirming it
-Sept 14, called Apple, three times. All three specialists have no record of my reservation in their system. All three could not fix issue. All three recommended "just showing up" at the beginning of my reservation window.
-Sept 14, noticed a thread on this forum saying another user was told you need to pay 12 installments prior to coming in to pick up. Called Apple, again, was told I could pay my 12th payment in store

At this point, just crossing fingers that I am not driving an hour to an apple store tomorrow to pick up an iPhone I might not be able to get. I'll stick to IUP though, I don't want to use the AT&T Next program because I have a grandfathered unlimited data plan

Just to remind you. You CAN do an installment with NEXT on a grandfathered unlimited data plan. then you are still paying the same amount as you are right now, but it is all on one bill.
 
Wow, so I just got an email saying one of my phones will be available to pick up tomorrow. You have to ask for a manager and show them the email.

Problem is they reserved two for me (one for wife), haven't heard on that one yet, but assuming it will be there too.

Seems like a lot of confusion still, but at least I have an email to show.
 
Can you come anytime?


Wow, so I just got an email saying one of my phones will be available to pick up tomorrow. You have to ask for a manager and show them the email.

Problem is they reserved two for me (one for wife), haven't heard on that one yet, but assuming it will be there too.

Seems like a lot of confusion still, but at least I have an email to show.
you
 
I think its in Apple's best interest to keep the IUP and grow it (at least from a financial perspective). By retrieving 1 year old phones, refurbishing them and then re-sell the same phone again even at a reduced price than a first year, they produce a nice margin on the same phone. So yeah...I think they would want to have IUP members step into the front of the line.
 
Just to remind you. You CAN do an installment with NEXT on a grandfathered unlimited data plan. then you are still paying the same amount as you are right now, but it is all on one bill.
Not what I was told, twice, at two different stores. They both told me I HAD to switch to a shared data plan. If things don't go well with my reservation at Apple tomorrow I'll hop over to AT&T and try again. Honestly, I'm scared to let AT&T touch anything with my account; I've had two friends lose grandfathered data plans in the store because someone in the store screwed up, recognized it before leaving the store, and couldn't fix their mistake.
 
Does anyone know if you have to bring the original box, charger, lightning cable, headphones etc. with the iPhone you're trading in??
 
Just forwarded my email with the initial interaction with the Apple Rep on Sunday.

I reached out to the Apple Rep via the phone. Email. No luck and I never heard back.

Sent Tim a long email. I'm sure he won't read it but someone else will and they'll maybe do something about it.
 
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