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iPhone 11 Pro First Time Buying for In-Store Pickup on Launch Day...

KfirGuy

KfirGuy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 22, 2018
9
4
Aiken, SC
Howdy folks!

This is probably a bit of an amateurish question, but this will be my first time upgrading on Launch Day (farewell trusty 8 Plus).

I ordered a Midnight Green 11 Pro 64GB on Friday morning and was able to select in-store pickup at my local Apple Store for the 20th. It had me go ahead and pick a time slot to come and pick the device up, and I selected 4:00-4:30 PM, as I’d be able to go straight from work.

But today the question has struck me - does that mean I have a guaranteed phone on the 20th? Will the Augusta store there be holding a phone for me when I arrive at 4? Or if throngs of people descend on the store, could they be sold out by the time my scheduled pickup arrives?

My only ever time buying for in-store pickup was comfortably after launch day for the 3rd Gen iPad Pro, so I didn’t have anything to worry about.


Cheers in advance for the answers!

KfirGuy
 
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Your phone will be held until end of the day if it is on annual upgrade scheme. If you do not collect it, then it goes back into general store stock.

Edit. If you paid for it will hold it regardless for longer until you collect it so will not lose it.
 
Last edited:
Personally for me, in store pick up is the way to go. You paid for it right?

Morning of when the store starts to scan in stock you will start to get Apple store notifications. An iPhone with your name will be held and ready to go.

It’s extremely organized and imo the best way to get a launch day iPhone.
 
KfirGuy said:
Howdy folks!

This is probably a bit of an amateurish question, but this will be my first time upgrading on Launch Day (farewell trusty 8 Plus).

I ordered a Midnight Green 11 Pro 64GB on Friday morning and was able to select in-store pickup at my local Apple Store for the 20th. It had me go ahead and pick a time slot to come and pick the device up, and I selected 4:00-4:30 PM, as I’d be able to go straight from work.

But today the question has struck me - does that mean I have a guaranteed phone on the 20th? Will the Augusta store there be holding a phone for me when I arrive at 4? Or if throngs of people descend on the store, could they be sold out by the time my scheduled pickup arrives?

My only ever time buying for in-store pickup was comfortably after launch day for the 3rd Gen iPad Pro, so I didn’t have anything to worry about.


Cheers in advance for the answers!

KfirGuy
Click to expand...
Yes, since you already paid for it, it is your phone and they will not (and hopefully not) release that phone to someone else. Heck, you can even go the next day it will still be yours. They hold it for 14 days before they cancel the order and send that one back. Also the way this works is that when you order for in-store pick up, they take that one and put a label with your name on it and put it on the different shelf along with other order that were already paid for.

The only difference is the "Walk-in" Reservation. So if someone missed the pre-order and had a 2-3 week out ship date and wants to secure a launch day device, they simply can go early in the morning, line up and reserve the phone they want and choose the time they'd like to pick it up. In this situation, they will hold it till the end of day. If they don't pick it up, then it will go back to the stock available for the next day.
 
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Koobs said:
Not to be an ass, but preordering is the point of making sure they have one in stock for you.
Click to expand...

No offense taken, I definitely realize that’s the point. But while I pre-ordered and input payment info, they’ve not billed me or charged me for the whole value of the phone yet (just a $1 charge), so it had me wondering.


iapplelove said:
Personally for me, in store pick up is the way to go. You paid for it right?

Morning of when the store starts to scan in stock you will start to get Apple store notifications. An iPhone with your name will be held and ready to go.

It’s extremely organized and imo the best way to get a launch day iPhone.
Click to expand...

I input payment info.... but they’ve not charged for the phone yet based on what I can see on my card. That was part of what had me nervous....
 
KfirGuy said:
I input payment info.... but they’ve not charged for the phone yet based on what I can see on my card. That was part of what had me nervous....
Click to expand...

They definitely will, so make sure the funds are ready. Its possible you will be charged day of, or event the day after pick up. Ive even had instances where Apple charged me then the charge went away. Then came back a few days later.
 
Don’t mean to hijack the thread, but I have a question along similar lines. I have reserved an iPhone 11 Pro for pickup at my local Apple store - I haven’t yet paid anything as I’m going onto the iPhone Payments plan, which can only be set up in store. I presume Apple will hold my device until my pickup slot? Booked in for 5-5:30, as can’t get there any earlier due to work.
 
iapplelove said:
Personally for me, in store pick up is the way to go. You paid for it right?

Morning of when the store starts to scan in stock you will start to get Apple store notifications. An iPhone with your name will be held and ready to go.

It’s extremely organized and imo the best way to get a launch day iPhone.
Click to expand...
If I can get shipment on the right date (release day), I’ll take shipping any time. I’ll hold for pick up at UPS, swing by at 9 and pick it up in a few minutes.
 
xfusejc said:
If I can get shipment on the right date (release day), I’ll take shipping any time. I’ll hold for pick up at UPS, swing by at 9 and pick it up in a few minutes.
Click to expand...

I still prefer in store pick up. Got my launch day iPhone 6 Plus and was home by 8:15am. Almost the same with my launch iPhone X.

Plus you walk out with a perfect phone that’s activated. Any issues and it’s addressed then and there.

I guess for me since the local Apple store is less than 10 minutes from home so it’s pretty convenient.
 
My pick up window is 1100-1130. How early can I show up and still get help? Can I arrive early and will they let me pick up or is it strict?
 
miamialley said:
My pick up window is 1100-1130. How early can I show up and still get help? Can I arrive early and will they let me pick up or is it strict?
Click to expand...

I"m sure you can show up early and just explain but it should be fine. Last year when there was a server down around my pick up time, I couldn't pick it up at my scheduled time. So I had to come back an hour later and I was still be able to be seen despite that my time I choose 3:30 pm but was seen at 4:30 pm ish.
 
miamialley said:
My pick up window is 1100-1130. How early can I show up and still get help? Can I arrive early and will they let me pick up or is it strict?
Click to expand...
Pretty sure the order page says the item can not be retrieved early.
 
the only stipulation is you cannot pick it up before 4pm. They will make you wait until your pick up window. You can however pick up anytime after your pick up time.
 
How long will they hold your phone after your scheduled pickup time? I’m picking up mine in the morning. My wife’s pickup is in the afternoon but she’s now going to be traveling and won’t be able to trade in her current phone/pick up her new phone until Sunday. Will they hold her new phone until then?
 
Tyler23 said:
How long will they hold your phone after your scheduled pickup time? I’m picking up mine in the morning. My wife’s pickup is in the afternoon but she’s now going to be traveling and won’t be able to trade in her current phone/pick up her new phone until Sunday. Will they hold her new phone until then?
Click to expand...

Typically 14 days.
 
In store pick up is pretty painless. i had to choose in store last iPhone since mine wasn't coming up for home delivery by the time i got through. picked the earliest pick up time. got home to be here to sign for hubbie's phone when it was delivered via UPS. didn't really care for the hour drive to apple... but at least i got my phone on launch day!

to answer your question: barring any shipping issues to get phones to the store... your phone will be there reserved just for you!
 
Just got off phone with apple staff 5 minutes ago he said they hold it for 14 days afterwards..
 
This is my first year doing in-store pickup as well - am I able to leave the store with the phone unactivated and still in-box, so I can activate and set it up at home outside the craziness of the Apple Store? Or do I have to activate it there?

If it matters, I’m upgrading via iPhone upgrade program.
 
Rambaldi said:
This is my first year doing in-store pickup as well - am I able to leave the store with the phone unactivated and still in-box, so I can activate and set it up at home outside the craziness of the Apple Store? Or do I have to activate it there?

If it matters, I’m upgrading via iPhone upgrade program.
Click to expand...

You can do either or. Setup in store with their assistance or on your own at home.

The latter is better if you use iTunes encrypted backups and have an Apple Watch to pair, etc.
 
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