You should get her name and write to Tim Cook about your experience.
That lady was spouting nonsense... If she told the same thing to EVERYONE that asked her, it's going to create a mad house during the launch day.
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In-store reservation process on 9/25
- Thread starter kjotwani
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That lady was spouting nonsense... If she told the same thing to EVERYONE that asked her, it's going to create a mad house during the launch day.
I promise this is what I was told. And I know it's not true, but you know there's no point in debating with someone like that. It's sad tho. I've grown so accustomed to the Apple Store employees at least at my local store being so misinformed. This is far from the 1st time something like this has happened there.
But for the 4 and 5, you were not given a reservation time slot like they are this time. You were just given the "privilege" of waiting in line for a phone that was reserved for you that day.
This time is different. I preordered a phone (just did it on Tuesday the 15th) and was given a thirty minute time slot.
The reps really are clueless. I had one the other day who insisted that you wouldn't be able to buy a full price phone for the first 2 months.
I understand, however I don't have that much confidence they will honor the 30 min window. Speaking to local Apple store they also admitted they may hold the phones longer if the line is long. It may be a mess if people all start showing up outside their "pickup window" (creating a massive pickup line outside the store). Mixing the people who show up too early along with those stuck in the line causing their 30 minute slot to be missed.
Guess we'll see in a few days! Thankfully my local UPS customer center/hub is nearby so I just stop there after work and pick up my box on 9/25.
Taken from the reservation email apple sent out:-
What should I expect when I arrive at the store?
When you come in for your reservation, let a Specialist know you’re there to pick up your iPhone. Once you’ve checked in, we can answer all your questions and help you set up your new iPhone just the way you like.
If you’re purchasing iPhone with a carrier plan, please allow at least 30 minutes to complete your purchase.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
You can’t change or cancel your reservation online. However, if you’d like to change the model you reserved, a Specialist can check the availability of a different iPhone when you come in at your scheduled time. Due to high demand, the availability of some models and reservation times may be limited.
What if I’m late for my reservation time?
If you’re late, or if you miss your scheduled time altogether, we may not be able to hold the model you reserved, and you may have to make another reservation. So please arrive as close to your check-in window as possible.
What should I expect when I arrive at the store?
When you come in for your reservation, let a Specialist know you’re there to pick up your iPhone. Once you’ve checked in, we can answer all your questions and help you set up your new iPhone just the way you like.
If you’re purchasing iPhone with a carrier plan, please allow at least 30 minutes to complete your purchase.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
You can’t change or cancel your reservation online. However, if you’d like to change the model you reserved, a Specialist can check the availability of a different iPhone when you come in at your scheduled time. Due to high demand, the availability of some models and reservation times may be limited.
What if I’m late for my reservation time?
If you’re late, or if you miss your scheduled time altogether, we may not be able to hold the model you reserved, and you may have to make another reservation. So please arrive as close to your check-in window as possible.
That all sounds great in theory, so hopefully they enforce the actual pickup time (have heard mixed messages from in store staff when I asked over the weekend).
*Also noticed in-store reservations are now closed through apple.com and re-open 9/26 for all US stores.
I honestly think the stores have some leeway on launch days. I visit 2 different Apple stores depending on my schedule, the slower store is always chaotic and the busier store is run very tightly, you can't even get in the store without checking in with an Apple employee. Launch at the slower store is awful, but you are more likely to get a phone. Store #2 checks in the line outside, tells you EXACTLY what stock they have, and an estimate of your chances.
How many people per time do you think they booked? 10 or over 100?
It would be one thing if everyone was buying phones outright, but with phone plans/activation, the apple update plan, etc. it will be chaos.
It would be one thing if everyone was buying phones outright, but with phone plans/activation, the apple update plan, etc. it will be chaos.
There is LOTS of conflicting info among the Apple customer service personnel and the Store personnel, i just called Customer service to ask them if I have a reservation for 9:30am on the 25th, but for some reason or the other i arrive later, I'm i still guaranteed to receive a phone? She replies saying as long as you pick it up within the day of your reservation you're good, doesn't have to be right at your time, rather before the store closes for the day.
Then i call the store directly, and the rep at my pick-up store informs me I MUST be there at my actual time, but its also not guaranteed you'll be seen by your appointment time.
So they don't guarantee my time reserve, nor do they want you arriving any later.
They need to come to an agreement as to what info is correct !!
Then i call the store directly, and the rep at my pick-up store informs me I MUST be there at my actual time, but its also not guaranteed you'll be seen by your appointment time.
So they don't guarantee my time reserve, nor do they want you arriving any later.
They need to come to an agreement as to what info is correct !!
Cardiff Apple Store said the same thing last year - the phone is held until close of business, and you can turn up at any time to get it in the day
Are you in the US? UK?
That doesn't seem right. They won't go by the time of the reservation? I'm pretty sure they will.
It is surprising such important details are not clarified and communicated across staff 4 days before release. Signs of a post "Steve" apple....
Right. Just had a chat with a rep and I can confirm what the OP said. However, each reservation has a unique code so your iPhone won't be sold!! The only reason it might be sold is if you're more than 15 minutes late. If you're late, that's your fault!!
If a person with a reserve time of 1300 gets there before a person with a reserve time of 0900 they will be served before them but as I've already mentioned, each reservation has a unique code so there's nothing to worry about.
Screenshots of chat below.
If a person with a reserve time of 1300 gets there before a person with a reserve time of 0900 they will be served before them but as I've already mentioned, each reservation has a unique code so there's nothing to worry about.
Screenshots of chat below.
Attachments
I can beat that easily - when I bought my Mac Pro OG in 2007, the girl there not only didn't know if they had the ATi upgrade GPU, but hadn't heard of ATi.
Having said that, she was really eager to help, and most of the other employees at the Apple store are the same. That makes them better than 95% of the electronics stores here in the UK instantly.
There you have it! That's why sites like these are so popular. The only way consumers can get some decent information.
Being more than 15 mins late is possible if everyone decides to line up hours before their scheduled time... especially in the morning, the line would be enormous! .. you would have to line up hours prior to make the time... vicious cycle!
Yes. This is very annoying. I woke up at 3AM I made my appointment for 8AM so that I could pick up my phone quickly and not be late to work. Now if a bunch of people with reservations after mine show up a little before me, I'm going to be waiting hours for my phone.
Hmm if that's the case, the smartest people reserved later hours. They can come earlier and their reservation won't expire until much later.
Not buying it. The reps have absolutely no clue as to how things are going to be handled on launch day. There's just no way that it's going to just a free for all. For one thing, if what we're hearing is true about them only holding the phone for 3 hours. What happens if I show up for a 8AM appointment at like 7:30 and there's 200 people ahead of me and I don't get in until 2PM? What if I have a reservation for the next day or don't even have a reservation. You really don't think that they will check people in and take them in order of reservation?
The reservation email says "Be sure to check in with a Specialist at the time you selected." Then below a heading that says "Check-in window" it gives you your time slot (8:00AM-8:30AM in my case). So you've got to check-in during that 30 min window. Even in the screenshot of your chat session, the rep told you that you needed to check-in within 15 min of your time. Does it make any sense to think that they are then going to send you to the end of a line of people who's check-in time is hours after yours?
The bottom line is this: A free for all where you just all line up and are taken in that order is the exact opposite of having a reservation system.
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