In-Store Pre-orders can be canceled... I just did...
I've gotten tired of checking the order status site, and everytime it shows "Backordered"... I was not one of the late ones, or one that ordered after this "so-called" cutoff. I was a loyal ATT customer who completed my transaction for the pre-order before 10am CST on day 1.
Here is my store: I went into Corporate ATT Store "A" at 0930 CST on Friday 7 Oct 2011 and pre-ordered a 16GB White 4S... Only reason I had to do this instore was I have a grandfathered unlimited iPhone data package and did not want to lose it. I was in and out in a few minutes. I received the email confirming the order @ 1138 CST that same day. In reading everything on this and other sites, I met the cutoff...
However, after reading the last 200 pages here I have to state that my pre-order was more of a backorder-order. I never receiving shipment confirmation just like most of the people that pre-ordered in a corporate store and did not have their orders filled either... This is poor customer service on so many levels. Many of us, based on what has been posted, feel as if we were mislead and availability was misrepresented.
So, I read several posts from people who are backordered too and being told that they could do nothing but wait... "NO CANCEL FOR YOU!!!" for 2 to 3 weeks minimum... I thought this could not be right, so I called the store I completed my pre-order (Store "A") with and got the same information. I immediately called a different corporate store "B" (that was actually closer) and was told if the website shows it is backordered and not shipped, they can cancel the order, even though it was a direct fulfillment from another store, and oh, btw, they had them in stock... I high tailed it to them.
Just got back... My experience is this. I was able to do what most said could not be. I had my pre-order that was on backorder canceled. I was able to obtain a white iPhone 4s (albeit in 32GB since all the 16GB were gone...oh well) in store using my upgrade. The d-bags at store "A" will never see anymore of my business and I will only deal with walk-in activations/upgrades after today. No more pre-orders.
If you are one of the unlucky who did the pre-order in the store and it shows backordered, then go to your local ATT corporate store and ask for the pre-order direct fulfillment to be canceled. It can be done, I just had it done.
Good luck and don't accept what the first d-bag tells you... It is obvious from so many stories here that there is obviously some stores willing to upset their loyal customers just to make an extra dollar. Not sure why. No information has been consistent and it seems to depend on who you get to help you.
Don
