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For those of us that didn't pre-order

W

wnxgenral

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 14, 2008
286
16
Slept through my alarms, first time I've failed this game. What are my options? I'd like to find a 7+ Jet Black.

Should I go on launch day? I live in a major city with a flagship store... People will line up for days... Can't afford to take off work.

Should I just wait until 9/17 and try to "reserve and pickup"? I remember seeing a website that showed inventory by retail location. Does anyone have that link?

What are others doing that have the same situation as I?
 
Someone will undoubtedly put up one of those inventory tracking websites which will tell you when a local store has stock available for pickup. Best bet is going to be checking that religiously and prepare to make a mad dash when you see it in stock. That or find an "in" at a carrier store or Best Buy to tell you when they get a shipment in the back.
 
Best bet is wait overnight or order now and wait. The 7+ Jet Black will be tough to find for a long while.
 
Preordered a 7+ Jet Black last night with a 4-6 week shipping date, it took much more time than usual because I had to fill in the information for the upgrade plan and the app was throwing out errors because of the traffic. This is going to be the first time I miss launch day in years.

Anyway, I'm planning to check out the local flagship store in the evening on launch day. Last year when 6s launched I went to the same store in the evening to return some other stuff, they had plenty of phones left in stock for people without reservations. Would recommend you do the same if you have the time.

If I had no luck on launch day I would definitely go for the reserve and pickup option. I believe the website is www.istocknow.com
 
IMO they will show up in the stores (in limited quantities). Which actually pisses me off! I didn't order, nor did I want Jet Black... but they've done this in the past with the phones and watches.. they cut off the people who get up in the middle of the night to preorder.... and they get these long wait times for orders... but then apple sends the coveted color to the stores.... rather than being first come (i.e. preorderers on line) first served... it's "screw you preorderers" let's give them to the folks who come to the store!

rant over... sorry!!!!
 
caligurl said:
IMO they will show up in the stores (in limited quantities). Which actually pisses me off! I didn't order, nor did I want Jet Black... but they've done this in the past with the phones and watches.. they cut off the people who get up in the middle of the night to preorder.... and they get these long wait times for orders... but then apple sends the coveted color to the stores.... rather than being first come (i.e. preorderers on line) first served... it's "screw you preorderers" let's give them to the folks who come to the store!

rant over... sorry!!!!
Click to expand...

It's just good business sense. People who preorder have a guaranteed phone arriving. Meanwhile, people who walk into the stores may still be able to obtain stock as impulse buyers, but they have no guarantee of obtaining a device. Everyone wins.
 
caligurl said:
IMO they will show up in the stores (in limited quantities). Which actually pisses me off! I didn't order, nor did I want Jet Black... but they've done this in the past with the phones and watches.. they cut off the people who get up in the middle of the night to preorder.... and they get these long wait times for orders... but then apple sends the coveted color to the stores.... rather than being first come (i.e. preorderers on line) first served... it's "screw you preorderers" let's give them to the folks who come to the store!

rant over... sorry!!!!
Click to expand...

I don't know, I think it's fair to give both people who buy online and those who walk in a chance to get the phone. Those who preorder definitely have an advantage. They are guaranteed a phone, even if not on launch day. Walk ins may go home empty handed and with know promises.
 
It just rubs me wrong that if we make the effort to get up in the middle of the night... we end up waiting so that someone can walk into a store and walk out with a phone (this didn't happen to me/us this time... we were fortunate with our orders... I'm thinking of other times it's happened and it really did/does irritate me!)
 
Its a Plot I tell you ?

Apple had 463 Retail Stores in 2015. Not Including The Carriers and Big Box Stores Nationwide.

All the Other Vendors can Almost be Counted on your Hands & Toes

Each Store gets a bunch of product for Just Demos, Training, and Replacement for Defective Merchandise.

For Launches they establish Virtual Stores called PRE-ORDERS to handle the Additional Demand

These Virtual Stores Don't Require Demos, Training and Service Replacement Spares.
That Way more product can get pushed out to satisfy demand.
However The Tap for whatever is HOT like Jet Black will be CUT OFF SO that the Walk in stores will have something to Show, Demo, Sell and or Replace.

Apple Every Year Has Sold Out Of Its Production Runs no Matter How Large the Initial Quantity

A Tin Foil Hat with Every Launch
 
I slept through my alarm too and still have not ordered. I'm trying to figure out if it is smarter for my to buy the phone at full retail or to do the device payment plan?
 
caligurl said:
It just rubs me wrong that if we make the effort to get up in the middle of the night... we end up waiting so that someone can walk into a store and walk out with a phone (this didn't happen to me/us this time... we were fortunate with our orders... I'm thinking of other times it's happened and it really did/does irritate me!)
Click to expand...
I get it. At the same time, they don't want to limit this to online only. Some aren't ble to order online even (upgrade program for TMO users comes to mind, though it may not be limited to that).

I am in this boat with the watch. It is all I wanted and I won;t be getting a launch day watch... oh well. Called tmobile today and ordered a 32GB black 7 for my wife... launch day delivery. Go figure lol. I might try and see if they are doing separate lines or what have you for the watch. See if I have a chance. But I won't do the overnight line thing anymore. Had some god awful experiences with the 6. No thanks.
[doublepost=1473457388][/doublepost]
Tokenfreak said:
I slept through my alarm too and still have not ordered. I'm trying to figure out if it is smarter for my to buy the phone at full retail or to do the device payment plan?
Click to expand...
Relative terms we are speaking here. What are you leaning towards and why?
 
lordofthereef said:
I get it. At the same time, they don't want to limit this to online only. Some aren't ble to order online even (upgrade program for TMO users comes to mind, though it may not be limited to that).

I am in this boat with the watch. It is all I wanted and I won;t be getting a launch day watch... oh well. Called tmobile today and ordered a 32GB black 7 for my wife... launch day delivery. Go figure lol. I might try and see if they are doing separate lines or what have you for the watch. See if I have a chance. But I won't do the overnight line thing anymore. Had some god awful experiences with the 6. No thanks.
[doublepost=1473457388][/doublepost]
Relative terms we are speaking here. What are you leaning towards and why?
Click to expand...

I keep flip flopping back and forth between both. Not leaning more one way or the other. Its about the same cost I think.
 
Tokenfreak said:
I keep flip flopping back and forth between both. Not leaning more one way or the other. Its about the same cost I think.
Click to expand...
You are basically required to pay an additonal $100 (over two years) for Apple care through the upgrade program. It is a 0% APR loan, essentially.
 
caligurl said:
It just rubs me wrong that if we make the effort to get up in the middle of the night... we end up waiting so that someone can walk into a store and walk out with a phone (this didn't happen to me/us this time... we were fortunate with our orders... I'm thinking of other times it's happened and it really did/does irritate me!)
Click to expand...
Don't be too salty lol trust everyone on here when they say the jet black is gonna be a problem for a lot of people for at least a month. Only a lucky few will most likely get it on the 16th, but if I'm sure there's a somewhat decent chance to get the regular black on a walk in
 
Could you just order it now, and get it when it shows up? I don't understand the need to have it it on launch day?
 
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Since I live so close to the Michigan Ave store in Chicago, I believe they'll be getting in shipments of the Jet Black... is it a reasonable idea to track the inventory websites every night and then once it's in stock at 1 of the 3 stores in Chicago... to "reserve and pick up"?

I tried this with the Milanese 42MM and didn't work too well, no stores ever got that model in stock.
 
Q-Dog said:
Could you just order it now, and get it when it shows up? I don't understand the need to have it it on launch day?
Click to expand...
;)

I do, but those days are well past me. 2 years ago was my last "Jump In On Command" to catch the thrill. After 5 iphones, I can wait till it's convenient. In fact, I still use the 5S - Hah!

Interesting is the fact that the buzz here seems the same this year, in spite of the fact that the press is poo pooing the product for it's lack of outward redesign. As always, the upgrades are fantastic, so users will prove the press wrong yet again.
 
Miss the 3:00 am order time....... Going to try launch day walk-in, if not then 9/17 reservation online and pick-up in the store. Still trying to figure out if I can reserve a Verizon phone without a Verizon account? Anyone know?
 
Camping out is really the only option at this point if you want one launch day, especially if you want Jet Black, which is probably in super limited supply like the Gold 5s was for a long time.
 
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