Other Changing iPhone pickup time

[Yandawg]

I just placed an order for pickup of a pro max at 8:30 on Friday at my apple store. Has anyone had any luck with changing to an earlier time that wasn’t an Option during payment of phone? Or has anyone been able to go in 30 minutes prior when they open at 8 and go ahead and pick it up then? TIA

 

[4sallypat]

Apple store pickups are very strict on times - 15 minute window.
They check your QR code when you line up.

If you can't make that time, open a chat line with Apple support - they can change your pickup time.

If you are asking if they will open earlier for you than normal hours, then I'd say no.

 

[sjperformance]

For my moms iPhone 12. Had an instore pick up weekend of release (Sunday 4:15pm). Went at 2:30PM. Before I got in line showed the security guard my bar code. In and out within 15 mins.

 

[Shadowbech]

Apple store pickups are very strict on times - 15 minute window.
They check your QR code when you line up.

If you can't make that time, open a chat line with Apple support - they can change your pickup time.

If you are asking if they will open earlier for you than normal hours, then I'd say no.

I guess it depends? I never had issues with coming in early or being late to pick up my stuff. But I do agree around launch day, I'd go as planned. I choose 3:15 to 3:30 pm slot as I get done with work at 3 pm. But you should have issues picking it up later then your time, and I've done this many times where I intentionally choose the earlier time but then I go in after work, they never had problems with me like this.

 

[4sallypat]

On launch day and weekend there is an air of strict rules for pickup.

People without a reservation were standing around but not let in.

When I went to pickup the 12 Pro at the Apple Store that launch weekend, there was a strict line up at a specified reservation only line, get scanned by security, and only let you in if you were 10 minutes early to your window time.

I was in/out in less than 5 minutes total.

They did not offer to setup the new phone and instead just bagged it and sent me off.

I did get an email afterwards to go one to one with a virtual Apple genius person for setup, data transfer, phone activation, etc...

I didn't need to use that service - I just placed my 11 next to the 12 and it found each other when I turned on the 12 - all data, apps and history was transferred within 15 minutes!

Easy peasy...

 

[itsmilo]

Apple store pickups are very strict on times - 15 minute window.
They check your QR code when you line up.

If you can't make that time, open a chat line with Apple support - they can change your pickup time.

If you are asking if they will open earlier for you than normal hours, then I'd say no.

huh? Here you can show up whenever as long as you have an QR-Code. Actually you can pick it up anytime within a 14 days window here. There is an extra line for pick ups that don’t even lead you inside the store itself. They have some side door where you get your item and if you wanted to check out anything else in the store, you have to go back in the no appointment line which takes FOREVER because people with an appointment (time does not actually matter) have priority

 

[4sallypat]

huh? Here you can show up whenever as long as you have an QR-Code. Actually you can pick it up anytime within a 14 days window here. There is an extra line for pick ups that don’t even lead you inside the store itself. They have some side door where you get your item and if you wanted to check out anything else in the store, you have to go back in the no appointment line which takes FOREVER because with an appointment (time does not actually matter) have priority

Well it might be your Apple store's policy, but my Apple Store (Brea, CA) had very strict rules on launch weekend due to the crush of people wanting to take a look at the new phones.

They tend to relax after the initial launch weekend...

Security actually shooed away people without reservations - probably due to the fact the store was located inside a mall and scared of the virus.

 

[itsmilo]

Yeah I guess it depends on the locations. Us germans tend to be too impatient to line up for anything besides toilet paper.

the Launch of the Apple Watch Series 6 was actually pretty bad here. Their whole system broke down, including their in-Store wifi across Germany so everyone before 3 PM missed their pick up time windows and therefore showed up later around the same time

 

[Shadowbech]

With Apple store near me (Apple Hilldale in Madison, WI, (not Apple Hillsdale, as that is in CA I believe)), is express pick up with 4 windows, so I'm sure they will allow up to 4 customers in, and the rest would have to wait outside socially distancing 6 feet apart. But if they are only doing pick ups, I'm sure the line would go fast. I'm not too worried because it takes me 10 minute to walk there from my work place. I would think even if you check in 10 minutes early and goes longer than usual, I'm sure they will let you still stand in line

 

[Yandawg]

awesome! Thanks everyone for all of the information!!!!