Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone Xcited

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 13, 2017
131
69
Arizona
Hi everyone,

I am curious if anyone has had experience with pre-ordering an iPhone throughout Best Buy? How easy or difficult was it? When did the pre-order go live?

Reason I am going through Best Buy for the iPhone X (despite having T-Mobile) is to get the Verizon version in order to have maximum carrier compatibility.

I will also post my experience here is well come tonight.

Thanks!
 

KingslayerG5

Suspended
Oct 16, 2017
1,254
1,292
My experience may not be helpful because it happened over seven years ago when iPhone was still exclusive with only AT&T.

All I remember was I lined up on pre-order day. Might have been June 16. Paid $50 down. Then a BB employee asked me to pick a time and I told them about 9am. Called BB a few days later asking what number I am with pre-orders? She told me #11.

I went there on launch day (June 24) before the store (Best Buy, Cerritos) opened like 9am. Got my 32GB black iPhone 4 within 30 minutes. The activation is what takes the most time. Paid close to $400 because $299 with contract + state tax from the unsubsidized price of $700.

Went to the grand opening of an Apple Store at Cerritos Mall after because I wanted to buy a bumper. Phone felt slippery in my pocket. Was inside that store within 10 minutes while hundreds of people were walk-ins and still waiting outside the mall. Got a free black shirt, water, and applause.

Saw The Karate Kid reboot after which was pretty mediocre at AMC Norwalk but didn't care because I was so ecstatic of my new 4. Best and easiest launch experience ever. Better than PS3's which was total chaos and had a few people killed.

I'm on T-Mobile myself but would definitely go for the Verizon model if trying to get it from BB. Unlocked like a Pixel. I just don't know how their process works now. Good luck. Stay safe. Have some fun that day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhone Xcited

Complex757

macrumors 6502a
Sep 10, 2016
694
701
I haven't gotten a Best Buy phone since the 6. I didn't have a problem. From what I understand a lot of the problems are store specific. How organized they are. And I've heard at times shipment numbers have changed. I had gotten several phones from them before the 6 and never had a problem. I always made my reservation early and picked it up early, so I wouldn't have a problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhone Xcited

xxjonoxx

macrumors regular
Jun 9, 2009
110
17
Took my 6S+ in Rose Gold 16GB like two weeks after launch date to come in. And I preordered in the store the day they went live. And I worked at the store, so the night before launch day I knew it wasn’t coming in so I went to go camp over night at the Apple store to get one. And even the , I had to settle for gold as they had already sold out of rose gold.

I personally would not put faith into Best Buy for preorders. Every time I have used the carrier website or Apple.com I have gotten the phones on launch day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iPhone Xcited

iPhone Xcited

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 13, 2017
131
69
Arizona
I haven't gotten a Best Buy phone since the 6. I didn't have a problem. From what I understand a lot of the problems are store specific. How organized they are. And I've heard at times shipment numbers have changed. I had gotten several phones from them before the 6 and never had a problem. I always made my reservation early and picked it up early, so I wouldn't have a problem.

Did you reserve online or in store?

Took my 6S+ in Rose Gold 16GB like two weeks after launch date to come in. And I preordered in the store the day they went live. And I worked at the store, so the night before launch day I knew it wasn’t coming in so I went to go camp over night at the Apple store to get one. And even the , I had to settle for gold as they had already sold out of rose gold.

I personally would not put faith into Best Buy for preorders. Every time I have used the carrier website or Apple.com I have gotten the phones on launch day.

Do you know when BB pre-orders go live? Is it around the same time as Apple or later in the night/day?
 

ET3SW

macrumors regular
Nov 6, 2011
196
98
TX
I can only speak for my recent experience when preordering the Note 8. But it was a painful experience. I ended up cancelling and ordering direct with Verizon like i always do. In fact if i log in to my best buy account right now it still shows my pre order status as pending shipment..So that should tell you something
 

Gooberton

macrumors 65816
Jun 20, 2010
1,280
672
Horrible, last two years it was pushed back weeks from what they said at checkout. Silver lining is last year I got a free 100 dollar gift card cause it took literally 3 weeks longer
 

Zaned303

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2015
481
308
Centennial CO
I’m torn I’m going to try Apple first via Verizon payment plan and if I don’t have an order number by 104am mdt I’ll try Best Buy direct buying the phone outright (256gb Verizon X Silver). Happy Hunting everyone I hope it all works out
 

Mr.Bigglesworth

macrumors regular
Sep 9, 2016
159
236
Best Buy do not in any instances guarantee a Launch Day phone. The workers that work the cell phone area along with the rest of the employees of the store run the show and 9/10 times take the phones for them selves ( they buy them under their own contract ) or they hook the employees of the store after they all ran through the stock pile.

Do not trust them by any means.
 

iFranciscoMata

Suspended
Sep 12, 2017
79
46
New York
Best Buy do not in any instances guarantee a Launch Day phone. The workers that work the cell phone area along with the rest of the employees of the store run the show and 9/10 times take the phones for them selves ( they buy them under their own contract ) or they hook the employees of the store after they all ran through the stock pile.

Do not trust them by any means.


Actually I was a mobile manager at a Best Buy Mobile location. And we never could get an iPhone for 1-2 weeks after launch. Plus if you preorder than once the phone is received in our inventory. The OMS (Ordering System) automatically takes it out of inventory to create a slip that has your name on it.
[doublepost=1509071363][/doublepost]
Best Buy do not in any instances guarantee a Launch Day phone. The workers that work the cell phone area along with the rest of the employees of the store run the show and 9/10 times take the phones for them selves ( they buy them under their own contract ) or they hook the employees of the store after they all ran through the stock pile.

Do not trust them by any means.


Now if there is a store that isn’t following policy. Sure they could put an iPhone x under store display which will cause it not to go off on OMS (Ordering System) and buy it them sleeves and remove it off store display. but that isn’t policy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stephen1108

Knowimagination

macrumors 68020
Apr 6, 2010
2,228
1,288
There is no way to guarantee a launch day delivery through a best buy preorder. It really isn't worth it for something like wanting a Verizon phone.
 

JayIsAwesome

macrumors 68000
Sep 8, 2013
1,505
1,490
Texas
Best Buy do not in any instances guarantee a Launch Day phone. The workers that work the cell phone area along with the rest of the employees of the store run the show and 9/10 times take the phones for them selves ( they buy them under their own contract ) or they hook the employees of the store after they all ran through the stock pile.

Do not trust them by any means.

Can't help but laugh at this. The phones that come in are for customers. And how do you know that Apple employees aren't hiding phones for themselves? Or Walmart employees? Or Sprint employees? But with that being said, nobody is hiding anything, especially with the crazy ass budget that best buy and other cell phone stores usually have on iPhone launch day. Plus if an employee was caught doing that, that's easily grounds for termination. It's like hiding black Friday items from the public and keeping it for yourself. Huge no no. Such a stupid/ridiculous reason to get fired
[doublepost=1509072527][/doublepost]
There is no way to guarantee a launch day delivery through a best buy preorder. It really isn't worth it for something like wanting a Verizon phone.
Tbh, there's really no guaranteed launch date delivery with any retailer. The phones could easily get backordered, whether you go through Verizon, Best Buy, or Apple. Preordered phone doesn't necessarily mean it'll be there on launch day, especially when it comes to an iPhone
 

That70sGAdawg

macrumors 6502a
May 23, 2008
808
358
Athens, GA USA
They try to charge $100 more than the Apple store price for full price purchases. They dont always actually receive enough phones, or keep your reservation. I would go direct to Apple, or your carrier.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gathomblipoob

santaliqueur

macrumors 65816
Aug 7, 2007
1,014
578
They try to charge $100 more than the Apple store price for full price purchases. They dont always actually receive enough phones, or keep your reservation. I would go direct to Apple, or your carrier.
I noticed that. $1099 for 64GB, $1249 for 256GB.
 

Knowimagination

macrumors 68020
Apr 6, 2010
2,228
1,288
Tbh, there's really no guaranteed launch date delivery with any retailer. The phones could easily get backordered, whether you go through Verizon, Best Buy, or Apple. Preordered phone doesn't necessarily mean it'll be there on launch day, especially when it comes to an iPhone

The difference is that when Apple sells you a phone they know a range of dates they can provide it in. Best Buy stores don't know how many phones they are getting so they have no idea how many preorders they will actually be able to fulfill on launch day. Unless they have made some major changes to their preorder systems lately this is how it is. If they have made changes then great, but I have had to many bad preorder experiences with them and seen too many others go through it to put any trust in Best Buy.
 

JayIsAwesome

macrumors 68000
Sep 8, 2013
1,505
1,490
Texas
I will
The difference is that when Apple sells you a phone they know a range of dates they can provide it in. Best Buy stores don't know how many phones they are getting so they have no idea how many preorders they will actually be able to fulfill on launch day. Unless they have made some major changes to their preorder systems lately this is how it is. If they have made changes then great, but I have had to many bad preorder experiences with them and seen too many others go through it to put any trust in Best Buy.
Usually retailers don't know what the inventory will look like, from Best Buy to Apple to Carrier stores. Hell I've seen where Best Buy has a better selection of phones than the apple store in my area. Or Apple has a better selection than Best Buy. Or the local Verizon or AT&T store has them both beat. You just never know. With an iPhone, it's usually a gamble b/c you may get your phone on launch day but then again it may get backordered. I've called a few in my area and asked about inventory and they have no idea. But with that being said, ordered how you want and hopefully it comes in on time :)
 

iPhone Xcited

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 13, 2017
131
69
Arizona
Thank you for the feedback, everyone.

In that case, do you think it would be smart to order a backup device on the Apple Store app? I would have to order the T-Mobile version (that is my carrier). I really wanted the Verizon version but if it is as nightmarish of an experience as some of you make it out to be, then that sort of tips the scale in the other direction. Decisions, decisions... :confused:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zaned303

Zaned303

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2015
481
308
Centennial CO
Actually I was a mobile manager at a Best Buy Mobile location. And we never could get an iPhone for 1-2 weeks after launch. Plus if you preorder than once the phone is received in our inventory. The OMS (Ordering System) automatically takes it out of inventory to create a slip that has your name on it.
[doublepost=1509071363][/doublepost]


Now if there is a store that isn’t following policy. Sure they could put an iPhone x under store display which will cause it not to go off on OMS (Ordering System) and buy it them sleeves and remove it off store display. but that isn’t policy.


Well Best Buy saves my ass! Apple App Store was a mess and couldn’t reach Verizon to process the upgrade and kept timing out. While I waited for Apple I easily got a 109% confirmation on my instore pickup on 11/3 for a Verizon SG 256GB IPhone X! So without Bestbuy I’d be shanked lol I got lucky pure and simple
 

KingslayerG5

Suspended
Oct 16, 2017
1,254
1,292
I'm at Best Buy in Yorba Linda now and signing up for a pre-order. Told me delivery for mine is Nov 10 which I don't care. Again, NOT an OCD launch day rat racer.

10th for an iPhone Ten sounds right to me. But here's the thing, I'm doing it because it's free and I can back out at anytime. When I went to Verizon, I had to open another account with them.

There is a likely, likely chance I won't go through with it. I just went to the gaming section and four Nintendo Switches are available. Second time ever I have seen them at the store.

I'm going with Best Buy because if I signed up with Verizon, they told me I have to sign up for a one month contract and it's almost the same as the $100 charge from BB.

Check BB. The delivery time for me is only Nov 10th confirmed to me again. I'm actually typing this up while I sign up for this pre-order. Nothing to lose, folks. Well, $1100-$1250 + taxes if you go through with it.
 

Two Stacks

macrumors 6502
Apr 22, 2015
261
117
New Orleans
As a current BBY Mobile employee, in the past and present we have NEVER been allowed to hold ANY Apple product for ourselves, no Black Friday items, no "hot items" (think NES/SNES classic).

Source: 12 years as an employee (2005), 3 of those in Operations Leadership.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zaned303

Zaned303

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2015
481
308
Centennial CO
As a current BBY Mobile employee, in the past and present we have NEVER been allowed to hold ANY Apple product for ourselves, no Black Friday items, no "hot items" (think NES/SNES classic).

Source: 12 years as an employee (2005), 3 of those in Operations Leadership.

Thanks for proving my point. I know bad things happen by all vendors on preorders this is MERICA after all lol however it’s wasn’t as bad as some of the earlier posts made it sound. Like an evil back room geek squad IPhone X preorder hording conspiracy lol
Thanks buddy I am humbled by your honesty
 

Zaned303

macrumors 6502
Apr 21, 2015
481
308
Centennial CO
Hi Everyone-
I did find a nice way to triple check your BB preorder of the Iphone X will be avliable if your slated for the 11/3 shipping or instore pickup. I was able to login and find the active upgrade order BB triggered when I ordered the Iphone X on launch day at 106am MDT. I then got on Verizon chat and was able to confirm using the Verizon Wireless order number the Iphone X is slated to complete its processing and be ready for use on 11/3 YAYA it doesnt remove the human element being your Iphone goes MIA etc etc however it is a nice indicator to see if your truely set for shipping or pickup later this week ;)
 

bnekic

macrumors 65816
Sep 19, 2013
1,090
336
Cleveland, OH
Hi Everyone-
I did find a nice way to triple check your BB preorder of the Iphone X will be avliable if your slated for the 11/3 shipping or instore pickup. I was able to login and find the active upgrade order BB triggered when I ordered the Iphone X on launch day at 106am MDT. I then got on Verizon chat and was able to confirm using the Verizon Wireless order number the Iphone X is slated to complete its processing and be ready for use on 11/3 YAYA it doesnt remove the human element being your Iphone goes MIA etc etc however it is a nice indicator to see if your truely set for shipping or pickup later this week ;)

I ordered a full price $1,249 phone from Best Buy with a “Get it by Fri Nov 3rd” status. No updates on my order yet.
 

stephen1108

macrumors 65816
Sep 30, 2007
1,105
357
I’m a Best Buy Mobile employee for over 2 years so I can chime in on this.

The company recently overhauled their cellphone pre-order system beginning with the Note 8. Before we weren’t able to guarantee a date for customers to come get their phone, but with the new system customers are now given a “Get it by” date and those dates have proven accurate with the Note 8 and the iPhone 8.

So I feel confident that the date you’re given should be the date you’re receiving your phone, if there aren’t any truck shortages or DC shortages. Those would be unforeseen circumstances that could affect any company.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.