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Carrier AT&T: iPhone 16/Plus/Pro/Pro Max US Pre-Orders, Orders, and Delivery Status Thread (2024)

I ordered my pro on Wednesday got it delivered on Thursday by FedEx and took it into AT and T store and had it set up on Friday
 
doccho said:
I just finished a chat with AT&T's trade-in customer service, and here’s the outcome:
  1. I am unable to modify the trade-in made through my online order. In my case, I pledged to trade in my iPhone 14 Pro Max when ordering the iPhone 16 Pro Max. To make any changes, I would need to cancel the current trade-in and start a new trade-in process.
  2. Once the trade-in is canceled(which I have done with the chat rep.), I have two options:
    2-1. Visit tradein.att.com to submit a new trade-in for a different device. In this case, I’ll be trading in my iPhone 12, which qualifies for the $1,000 credit.
    2-2. Alternatively, I can visit my local AT&T store and process the new trade-in with the iPhone 12.
Once I receive the iPhone 12 from my son, I’ll visit the local AT&T store to proceed with the new trade-in. I’ll keep you updated.

(edit: the instruction from the chat rep.)
Taylar: Go to the link above I sent https://tradein.att.com/ Select the Device you want to TRADE IN, Make, Model, Storage Capacity (If you do not see your device, use the 'Search' function at the bottom of the screen.) Answer questions and enter * pieces of information you will need to create the Trade. PROMO CODE: TRADEOFFER24 Click on Continue Enter Personal information Select a Shipping method and you will have the options. “Print Shipping Label” “Shipping Materials” or “Drop off to the Store” Select to continue to complete the trade.

Taylar: Yes you can resubmit it once I make the cancellation for you. This is only for the trade in portion that you are doing you will not be reprocessing for a new phone.
Click to expand...
I stopped by my local AT&T store on Saturday to process my second trade-in, and it was handled successfully. Here’s an outline of my experience so far:
  1. I pre-ordered an iPhone 16 Pro Max on 9/13 via att.com for the first time (I usually order from apple.com and handle my trade-ins with AT&T without any issues).
  2. I initially pledged my iPhone 14 Pro Max for the trade-in, entered the IMEI, and received a confirmation email and also the trade-in kit with 16PM delivered.
  3. I later realized that AT&T was offering a $1,000 credit for the iPhone 12, which was a significant change compared to previous years.
  4. I visited my local AT&T store to inquire about modifying my trade-in from the 14PM to the 12. Eventually, I canceled the 14PM trade-in and waited for my son's iPhone 12 to arrive as presented above.
Here’s what happened on Saturday:
  1. I submitted a new trade-in for the iPhone 12 by entering the IMEI and phone details again at tradein.att.com, as instructed.
  2. I opted to drop off the device at the local AT&T store.
  3. I received a confirmation email for this new trade-in.
  4. When I visited the AT&T store on Saturday, I was fortunate that the same manager I spoke with previously was there.
  5. However, she couldn’t process the trade-in because the AT&T system had logged it as a regular trade-in, not the $1,000 promotional trade-in.
  6. The store manager reminded me, "I told you not to re-enter the information through the website but just bring the device to me." (I didn’t recall her mentioning this previously.)
  7. Instead of heading home, I contacted the trade-in representative through the AT&T app. Luckily, the chat rep. were very helpful and quickly canceled the second trade-in I made online.
  8. I went back into the store and informed the manager that I had canceled it.
  9. She confirmed by showing me her iPad screen, which indicated that there was no pending trade-in.
  10. Finally, she processed the iPhone 12 as a new trade-in for the iPhone 16 Pro Max without any hassle. She provided me with a trade-in receipt showing the $1,000 credit over 36 months for my account.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend visiting a local AT&T store if you can. The current trade-in process is more cumbersome than in previous years. While I understand AT&T is trying to automate the process, it created unnecessary complications for customers like me.
 
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doccho said:
I stopped by my local AT&T store on Saturday to process my second trade-in, and it was handled successfully. Here’s an outline of my experience so far:
  1. I pre-ordered an iPhone 16 Pro Max on 9/13 via att.com for the first time (I usually order from apple.com and handle my trade-ins with AT&T without any issues).
  2. I initially pledged my iPhone 14 Pro Max for the trade-in, entered the IMEI, and received a confirmation email and also the trade-in kit with 16PM delivered.
  3. I later realized that AT&T was offering a $1,000 credit for the iPhone 12, which was a significant change compared to previous years.
  4. I visited my local AT&T store to inquire about modifying my trade-in from the 14PM to the 12. Eventually, I canceled the 14PM trade-in and waited for my son's iPhone 12 to arrive as presented above.
Here’s what happened on Saturday:
  1. I submitted a new trade-in for the iPhone 12 by entering the IMEI and phone details again at tradein.att.com, as instructed.
  2. I opted to drop off the device at the local AT&T store.
  3. I received a confirmation email for this new trade-in.
  4. When I visited the AT&T store on Saturday, I was fortunate that the same manager I spoke with previously was there.
  5. However, she couldn’t process the trade-in because the AT&T system had logged it as a regular trade-in, not the $1,000 promotional trade-in.
  6. The store manager reminded me, "I told you not to re-enter the information through the website but just bring the device to me." (I didn’t recall her mentioning this previously.)
  7. Instead of heading home, I contacted the trade-in representative through the AT&T app. Luckily, the chat rep. were very helpful and quickly canceled the second trade-in I made online.
  8. I went back into the store and informed the manager that I had canceled it.
  9. She confirmed by showing me her iPad screen, which indicated that there was no pending trade-in.
  10. Finally, she processed the iPhone 12 as a new trade-in for the iPhone 16 Pro Max without any hassle. She provided me with a trade-in receipt showing the $1,000 credit over 36 months for my account.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend visiting a local AT&T store if you can. The current trade-in process is more cumbersome than in previous years. While I understand AT&T is trying to automate the process, it created unnecessary complications for customers like me.
Click to expand...
I completely missed that you did the trade-in via tradein.att.com on your previous post.

You did the same thing @normanfox did, doing the regular trade-in at tradein.att.com rather than during the ordering process. This is good info for how to correct it.
 
Last edited:
Mr. Jenkins said:
I competely missed that you did the trade-in via tradein.att.com on your previous post.

You did the same thing @normanfox did, doing the regular trade-in at tradein.att.com rather than during the ordering process. This is good info for how to correct it.
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s how it happened, but I was instructed by the chat representative who canceled my first trade-in to follow this process. He kindly explained the steps to avoid having to cancel and reprocess a new order for the 16PM, so I decided to try the online method again to expedite things.

However, it didn’t go as planned. My conclusion is that it’s best to visit a local AT&T store to complete the entire process, except for placing a new order for the iPhone 16/Pro/Max, which still seems to be the most effective and fastest option if you want to avoid waiting longer.
 
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dave006 said:
Let us know what they offer. Just remind them it is New Defective since the Warranty is actually from Apple.

Dave
Click to expand...
NOT DOA as it turns out. Local AT&T store got it working: you must hold the power button down for about 10 seconds on a pristine device before anything happens. No where anywhere is this explained.
 
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doccho said:
I stopped by my local AT&T store on Saturday to process my second trade-in, and it was handled successfully. Here’s an outline of my experience so far:
  1. I pre-ordered an iPhone 16 Pro Max on 9/13 via att.com for the first time (I usually order from apple.com and handle my trade-ins with AT&T without any issues).
  2. I initially pledged my iPhone 14 Pro Max for the trade-in, entered the IMEI, and received a confirmation email and also the trade-in kit with 16PM delivered.
  3. I later realized that AT&T was offering a $1,000 credit for the iPhone 12, which was a significant change compared to previous years.
  4. I visited my local AT&T store to inquire about modifying my trade-in from the 14PM to the 12. Eventually, I canceled the 14PM trade-in and waited for my son's iPhone 12 to arrive as presented above.
Here’s what happened on Saturday:
  1. I submitted a new trade-in for the iPhone 12 by entering the IMEI and phone details again at tradein.att.com, as instructed.
  2. I opted to drop off the device at the local AT&T store.
  3. I received a confirmation email for this new trade-in.
  4. When I visited the AT&T store on Saturday, I was fortunate that the same manager I spoke with previously was there.
  5. However, she couldn’t process the trade-in because the AT&T system had logged it as a regular trade-in, not the $1,000 promotional trade-in.
  6. The store manager reminded me, "I told you not to re-enter the information through the website but just bring the device to me." (I didn’t recall her mentioning this previously.)
  7. Instead of heading home, I contacted the trade-in representative through the AT&T app. Luckily, the chat rep. were very helpful and quickly canceled the second trade-in I made online.
  8. I went back into the store and informed the manager that I had canceled it.
  9. She confirmed by showing me her iPad screen, which indicated that there was no pending trade-in.
  10. Finally, she processed the iPhone 12 as a new trade-in for the iPhone 16 Pro Max without any hassle. She provided me with a trade-in receipt showing the $1,000 credit over 36 months for my account.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend visiting a local AT&T store if you can. The current trade-in process is more cumbersome than in previous years. While I understand AT&T is trying to automate the process, it created unnecessary complications for customers like me.
Click to expand...
So you turned in your iphone 12 before you receive iphone 16? Does it mean that you would get credit even before they charge you monthly for iphone 16?

If this is true, you would not have to wait for more than 3 years. This is important since you would be eligible to trade in this iphone 16 three years from now. This deal would expire on 10/10, and if your old phone is still under 3 years contract, then you can't trade in before the deal expires
 
So is there anybody that had or has an expected delivery date but it arrived before the said date
 
robertburgess12 said:
Ordered the 16 pro max 256gb black on 9/20. Nothing yet
Click to expand...

I ordered 2 16 PM on the 16th. I am showing a ship date of Oct 21st but I did receive an email this morning asking me to review the 2 IPhones I have ordered but not yet received.

Hopefully this is a good sign that the order may get filled sooner… or, I’m just being overly optimistic.
 
normanfox said:
This deal would expire on 10/10, and if your old phone is still under 3 years contract, then you can't trade in before the deal expires
Click to expand...
You can always trade-in your device early even when on a 36 month Installment Agreement. You just need to pay off the balance on the Installment Agreement. Then you can keep, sell or trade-in your device. You can even do this as part of ordering your new device.

Dave
 
normanfox said:
So you turned in your iphone 12 before you receive iphone 16? Does it mean that you would get credit even before they charge you monthly for iphone 16?

If this is true, you would not have to wait for more than 3 years. This is important since you would be eligible to trade in this iphone 16 three years from now. This deal would expire on 10/10, and if your old phone is still under 3 years contract, then you can't trade in before the deal expires
Click to expand...
1. I received my iPhone 16 Pro Max on 9/20/24.
2. I canceled my first trade-in for the 14PM on 9/23, which I pledged on 9/13 online.
3. I set up my second trade-in attempt with the iPhone 12 via tradein.att.com on 9/27.
4. I canceled this second trade-in on 9/28, helped by my local AT&T store, because the trade-in was logged as a plain trade-in without 36-month credit.
5. Finally, I successfully completed my third trade-in attempt with the same iPhone 12 at a local AT&T store on 9/28.

AT&T doesn't double-credit on any number. I had already paid off my previous iPhone 13 Pro Max two months in advance, which means I won’t be receiving credit for those two months from the previous promotion. However, I successfully secured a credit-backed order for the 16PM this time around.

To clarify, you can place a new iPhone order with the 36-month credit applied only after paying off any prior promotion for the earlier device on the same number.
 
doccho said:
I had already paid off my previous iPhone 13 Pro Max two months in advance, which means I won’t be receiving credit for those two months from the previous promotion.
Click to expand...
Actually, you will receive these two credits. As long as you pay off the device, but do not upgrade your line with AT&T, you will continue to receive the credits.
 
wickedrm said:
Actually, you will receive these two credits. As long as you pay off the device, but do not upgrade your line with AT&T, you will continue to receive the credits.
Click to expand...
Yes, that’s my understanding as long as I keep the account and phone number. However, I decided to pay off the 13 Pro Max to place the new order for the 16 Pro Max(upgrade with AT&T) earlier. I thought it would be better to receive the 16PM sooner rather than wait for the two remaining credits and get the 16PM much later.

I received my 13 Pro Max in late October 2021 because I hesitated and was late in placing the order at that time. So the lesson learned: always order the iPhone on the first day!
 
I see what you’re saying now, your two remaining installments were for months after the new iPhone came out. Makes sense. And yeah, it’s nice to be on schedule for launch day!
 
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dave006 said:
You can always trade-in your device early even when on a 36 month Installment Agreement. You just need to pay off the balance on the Installment Agreement. Then you can keep, sell or trade-in your device. You can even do this as part of ordering your new device.

Dave
Click to expand...
the the point is to trade in when a phone is release and not have to pay off early and lose credit that ATT would give you.
 
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