I live about 3 hours from my nearest apple store (Dallas, TX). I thought about driving over there this weekend to try to get an iPhone 11 and trade in my iPhone 7+ in person so i don't have to ship it and deal with potential damages. Is this feasible? I'm not sure of what the demand for the Iphone 11 is, or if you can even just walk into the store and purchase them without some sort of pre-order. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 11 Can i walk in the apple store and buy an iPhone 11?
- Thread starter YouGoGlenCocoa
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I would strongly discourage you doing that. I would order for pickup at that Apple Store or have the phone shipped to your house.
Demand of iPhone 11/Pro has been unbelievably high. There's a really good chance the store doesn't have the iPhone you want. It's just not worth the drive.
Demand of iPhone 11/Pro has been unbelievably high. There's a really good chance the store doesn't have the iPhone you want. It's just not worth the drive.
I would check stock on apple.com and see if it shows that it's available for pick up. You do not have to choose the trade - in option at check out and you can actually do that after you pick up the phone and then request that you'd like to trade in.
Of course certain apple store still does walk-in reservations. It's fortunate that the Apple Store near me no longer has a line, but still can take reservation but generally they don't have them wait in line like last week. it's first come first serve basis based on where they are place in the queue I their system . They just walk up to the person who is on-point (generally who has the iPad at the front store). Again, YMMV.
Maybe watch the stock, you can actually tell how many stocks they have left and this only works on the apple device as the apple.com limits to 2 only. So if you have a device that you like, put it on your bag, and for the quantity keep going up until you it shows "unavailable for pick up" So if you choose 5 but then when you type 6 and then all of the sudden it changes status, that means they have set 5 for online order in-store pick up and the the rest are for walk ins. If you see high number, there is a greater chance that they may have it in stock.
Of course certain apple store still does walk-in reservations. It's fortunate that the Apple Store near me no longer has a line, but still can take reservation but generally they don't have them wait in line like last week. it's first come first serve basis based on where they are place in the queue I their system . They just walk up to the person who is on-point (generally who has the iPad at the front store). Again, YMMV.
Maybe watch the stock, you can actually tell how many stocks they have left and this only works on the apple device as the apple.com limits to 2 only. So if you have a device that you like, put it on your bag, and for the quantity keep going up until you it shows "unavailable for pick up" So if you choose 5 but then when you type 6 and then all of the sudden it changes status, that means they have set 5 for online order in-store pick up and the the rest are for walk ins. If you see high number, there is a greater chance that they may have it in stock.
I would not do a walk in. Use the Apple Store app to check for inventory as early as 7am to place your order for pick up and choose a pick up time. If you arrive there with no one in line with plenty of inventory, you can buy it on spot and cancel your pickup order.
I just ordered a iPhone 11 Pro Max and chose a pickup time for tonight. I am also trading in my iPhone Xsmax and that can only be done by mail. A third party handles that part. It is best to order online and pickup in the store. Apple keeps a few phones for each store and the inventory is released early morning each day. Picking a time slot reduces the waiting time at the store. Since I am on T-mobile but buy unlocked version, I don't need to activate in the store. i just take out old SIM and put it in the new phone.
Thank you all for the help! I see some available at two different stores. If i select them for “pick up today” does that guarantee i can go in and get it, if i were to go in today? Thanks.
Yes because if do the online order for in-store pick up, you already paid for it so there is a 100% guarantee that you will have it in hands today. Just know that if you do the in-store pick up and choose the trade in option at check out, that you must mail it in.
Other option is do not choose that option and once you pick up the device in store then ask them you'd like to do a trade in value and they can do that there at the store.
Thanks for the tip.
Is the online store availability accurate? Is it ever possible where it shows not available at the store but they actually have stock?
It's pretty accurate from what I can tell. I do however want to point out that they set a side for walk in's. So example is say the Apple store receives 25 iPhone 11 Pro Max Gold of the same storage, they will generally set aside 10 or so available for online order in store pick up, while the rest are for the walk ins. I've seen it happen, where apple.com showed it was no longer available for pick up but when I went to the Apple store they actually had that model in stock. YMMV.
Thank you. This has been a very helpful thread. I'm going to try and get an iPhone from a physical store instead of waiting a month for an online order.
I'm a bit confused about the 2nd option. I really would like to trade my phone in at the store, so i dont have to ship it to anyone and risk it breaking on the way there. Am i able to reserve a phone on the app and go pick it up at the store and give them my trade in there?
I did the trade-in with in-store pick up, they checked the front, back cameras, scratches, screen and turned off find my iphone. Got the credit on the spot. I couldn't send it in for the life of me because I'm scared alot of things can go wrong. At least with the in store trade in I get the value right on the spot.
You could also just... call the store ahead of time and explain the situation? They'll be able to tell you if they have stock or not at that very moment. Lol.
My store in Maine had a bunch of 11 pro and 11 available but of course not the size and color I wanted. Person in store suggested checking on Apple site early each day and if they have what you want - order it there for the store pickup. He said stores get supplies each day. Much better to reserve than chance especially with a long drive.
Thanks, i just dont understand how the app works, if i reserve the phone i want on the app, and pay for it, then pick it up at the store, what happens to my in store trade in?
Yes, just as long as you don't have the trade in option in your bag you can do this in store and I've done it this way many times. If you put the trade in option in the bag and you pick up your device then you have to mail it in. Just do the phone pick up only and then ask them for trade in after.
[automerge]1569963832[/automerge]
You reserve the phone and pay it online at check out, then pick it up in store and then after you pick it up, then ask them that you'll like to trade in. That's how I did it with my Apple watch.
Drop by on Saturday morning. Make sure you arrive some 30 mins before opening and you should be OK.
I don’t know how many stores there are in Dallas but if there’s more than one, try to find one that’s closer to the business district and further from malls etc.
I got my Pro Max at Apple WTC in NYC on the 23rd with no reservation whatsoever. Walked in and out in less than 30 mins. Meanwhile Apple 5th Ave had a mile long line.
I don’t know how many stores there are in Dallas but if there’s more than one, try to find one that’s closer to the business district and further from malls etc.
I got my Pro Max at Apple WTC in NYC on the 23rd with no reservation whatsoever. Walked in and out in less than 30 mins. Meanwhile Apple 5th Ave had a mile long line.
when you open the apple store app after selecting the phone you want, that's literally the first question it asks "Do you have an iphone to trade-in?" store trade-in only works if the phone you want is available for pick up and you're able to purchase it thru the app, which I did. Best of luck! I got mine over the app for same day pick up with trade-in..I was playing it cool with my fiance and pretending I wasn't hyped of getting the MG PRO MAX.. 😂