iPhone 5 Best Buy Preorders

[edtorious]

I preordered last Friday and I was not given an appointment. The mobile department sent me an email confirming my preorder and then another email sent from Best Buys confirming my reserve and to wait if my order is ready to be picked up.

I hope to hear from them tomorrow, if not, I'll call them myself to confirm what their plans are for preorders but no matter what they will say, I will come in early on launch day maybe around 8 am or earlier than that and get in line in front of the store.

The guy who took my preorder, suggested I get in line still even though I reserved, because sometimes they can only get as much on launch day, so whatever they get on launch day it's still first come and first serve basis only but only to those who reserved. They will not sell to those who did not preorder.

Let's say they only got 10 64GB White Verizon iPhone 5 on launch day but there are 20 people who preordered it, the first 10 who get to pick it up first will get it, but the other 10 will have to wait for the next batch to come in.

 

[fighterfoo]

Let's say they only got 10 64GB White Verizon iPhone 5 on launch day but there are 20 people who preordered it, the first 10 who get to pick it up first will get it, but the other 10 will have to wait for the next batch to come in.

Incorrect. The first 10 to pre-order will be the ones getting the phones. You will receive an email when yours is ready to pick up.

 

[vailfiregirl]

This thread on the Best Buy forum has a ton of good information in it. Look for posts by DanK, a BB Mobile employee.

Here's one thing he said -
Will everyone that pre-ordered have a phone on launch day? No.
Will most people? Absolutely.

There is a high priority placed on allocating units for pre-orders that is consistently taking place throughout this week, at each level down from corporate to the stores.

Even I don't know inventory levels coming yet, but yes most stores will have stock left over. Not in every model of course, but there will definitely be some.

I am hopeful that they will call or e-mail today or tomorrow so I can get it this weekend.

 

[edtorious]

Incorrect. The first 10 to pre-order will be the ones getting the phones. You will receive an email when yours is ready to pick up.

That may be true but some people who got the call when they got to the store, their preorder was gone, the BB employees did not hold on to it and instead gave it away to others who picked it up instead even though they were not emailed or called but still they did preorder.

And so I might not want to take a chance to rely on their calls or emails and just assume they will hold on to it even if I don't pick it up later.

 

[aDRock1154]

I wouldn't rely on them to call/e-mail... I'd go there asap if it's convenient for ya

 

[MrXiro]

Well I can be at mine first thing in the AM. But I have an iPhone 5 preordered using my sisters upgrade (who lives in a different state) from Apple due to receive Oct 5th. Am I able to pick up the one from best buy without canceling the apple preorder until after I have the phone in my hands? I don't want to cancel my order to risk the best buy purchase and find myself with no phone at all.

Does anyone know if Best Buy will actually let me buy the phone if I have one on preorder from Apple though? Cause won't my phone's eligibility be compromised since it's already preordered?

 

[Applejuiced]

Oh my god, I laughed so hard when I read this man. Same thing happened to me. Got my iphone 4s literally like a week later. Best buy was so unorganized with their S*#^. Never again with best buy. I wanted to break the managers face. He didnt know what was going on. Even though I was the 2nd person in line to pre order

I hear you.
They're clueless.
And that best buy is like 20 minutes away from my house.
I had to drop everything and drive all the way there for nothing.

 

[vailfiregirl]

fwiw, I got a call today (actually I missed a call from the same number yesterday) and made an appointment for Friday. So for my store at least, the process is working as they said it would.

When I made the appointment, the guy reiterated that if Friday didn't work for me, they would hold my phone until they close Sunday night and I could make an appointment for Saturday or Sunday or just come in and get it. Since I have plans Saturday, I went ahead and made the appt for Friday.

 

[808geek]

fwiw, I got a call today (actually I missed a call from the same number yesterday) and made an appointment for Friday. So for my store at least, the process is working as they said it would.

When I made the appointment, the guy reiterated that if Friday didn't work for me, they would hold my phone until they close Sunday night and I could make an appointment for Saturday or Sunday or just come in and get it. Since I have plans Saturday, I went ahead and made the appt for Friday.

I hope I get a call from them today as well. Although I already have an appointment set up for Saturday afternoon. But if they don't receive in enough phones then it doesn't really matter

 

[Willie5566]

You need to be piss tested if you think you will be able to walk up to a Best Buy and buy a new phone. Pre-orders will be filled first and I bet they won't even be able to fill those. Your best chance to walk up and buy one on launch day will be an Apple store since all their pre-orders are being shipped direct.

 

[brandnewrock22]

Because Best Buy is so worried about its employees "spilling the beans," they are given little to no information before launch day. While Apple and carrier store employees are given trainings and pre-order/launch day guides, Best Buy still doesn't even know if they're getting any on launch day.

It is very true that your experience can vary from store to store, but the company as a whole is always unprepared for Apple product launches.

 

[cakelover]

Yeah I'm a Premiere Silver member too. RZ is the only reason I'd buy the iPhone in California. I was having my iPhone shipped to IL to save 44 dollars on taxes. Cali likes to charge the unsubsidized amount of taxes on subsidized phones. So my 200 iPhone became a $255 iPhone, which is downright ridiculous. Of course RZ only gets me 5 bucks in points so it's not THAT big a deal.

You can get IL sales tax on your phone if you have it shipped there?

I called AT&T about sales tax question. The customer service told me that the sales tax is based on the billing address. She said if I want to renew my plan outside of CA, but still keep billing address in CA, then the phone I get will be charged the sales tax per CA law.

I'm confused. Everyone said the different thing.

I ordered one on AT&T website. I wanna change the shipping address to avoid the sales tax. However, if the sales tax will be charged on
unsubsidized amount, it makes no sense to ship outside of CA then.

Any advice?

 

[bidwalj]

I was the first one to preorder at my best buy and hope everything works out. My the time I got done with my paperwork, there were about 50 people in line. The only concern I have is that I was the one of the few for Verizon. Most wanted the AT&T model. At any rate, I'm prepared for a trip to the apple store line.

 

[MrXiro]

You can get IL sales tax on your phone if you have it shipped there?

I called AT&T about sales tax question. The customer service told me that the sales tax is based on the billing address. She said if I want to renew my plan outside of CA, but still keep billing address in CA, then the phone I get will be charged the sales tax per CA law.

I'm confused. Everyone said the different thing.

I ordered one on AT&T website. I wanna change the shipping address to avoid the sales tax. However, if the sales tax will be charged on
unsubsidized amount, it makes no sense to ship outside of CA then.

Any advice?

I ordered mine from Apple and the main AT&T account address is my parent's home in IL. I switched it to my CA address just to check and it raised the price from $211 to $255. I think if you order from AT&T you have to get it sent to your AT&T billing address with no way around it though so I think you are SOL in regards to sticking it to the state of CA, as it is I might end up just getting one from best buy in CA to take advantage of the 6 mo no interest financing/rz points and I decided to switch my phone to white 32gb since I originally ordered a black 16gb from apple and I am pretty much stuck with that since there is no likely chance I will be able to swap it for a white 32gb on a walk in anytime soon, not to mention if I do, do that I will be paying CA tax again.

 

[ElZeus]

Anybody know what time best buy will open on launch day?

 

[MrXiro]

Does anyone know if Best Buy will actually let me buy the phone if I have one on preorder from Apple though? Cause won't my phone's eligibility be compromised since it's already preordered?

If you used an upgrade to preorder on apple already your upgrade is as good as used up unless you cancel your preorder first. Just found that out from best buy first hand for any of you wondering. Also was told not to bother just walking in on fri unless I get a email from them.

----------

Anybody know what time best buy will open on launch day?

8am at my local store.

 

[cakelover]

I ordered mine from Apple and the main AT&T account address is my parent's home in IL. I switched it to my CA address just to check and it raised the price from $211 to $255. I think if you order from AT&T you have to get it sent to your AT&T billing address with no way around it though so I think you are SOL in regards to sticking it to the state of CA, as it is I might end up just getting one from best buy in CA to take advantage of the 6 mo no interest financing/rz points and I decided to switch my phone to white 32gb since I originally ordered a black 16gb from apple and I am pretty much stuck with that since there is no likely chance I will be able to swap it for a white 32gb on a walk in anytime soon, not to mention if I do, do that I will be paying CA tax again.

So I can change my billing address to non-CA state, eg. VA, and then have item shipped to me with VA's sales tax? Customer service rep said I can make phone order and then they will be able to change shipping address. I will test if it works.

 

[rdbecker]

I put in my pre-order at Best Buy at noon on Saturday. Not sure if I should be optimistic.

 

[TeenageiPhone]

I put in my pre-order at Best Buy at noon on Saturday. Not sure if I should be optimistic.

Same. Maybe 10 or 11am EST. And mine is a super uncommon model (64gb white for verizon). If it weren't for the financial benefits I got from getting it through Best Buy, I never would have done it! But I couldn't show up to preorder it any sooner so it is what it is. I just hope I get it by next weekend.

 

[MrXiro]

So I can change my billing address to non-CA state, eg. VA, and then have item shipped to me with VA's sales tax? Customer service rep said I can make phone order and then they will be able to change shipping address. I will test if it works.

Yeah you get the tax of where ever the phone ships to.

 

[808geek]

I called earlier and my store isn't opening early, its normal hours at 10am. I ordered in the afternoon on Friday so hoping to get in on the 1st shipment but for some reason I doubt I'll make that list. Others have reported getting phone calls from BB to come in on Friday to pick up their phones and some even got phone calls yesterday. So far nothing for me.

 

[mzd]

I called earlier and my store isn't opening early, its normal hours at 10am. I ordered in the afternoon on Friday so hoping to get in on the 1st shipment but for some reason I doubt I'll make that list. Others have reported getting phone calls from BB to come in on Friday to pick up their phones and some even got phone calls yesterday. So far nothing for me.

Well, it depends on your local store. The Best Buy near me is not doing appointments. I will just get an email either tomorrow or Friday (hopefully) telling me it is in and to come pick it up.

 

[mediaprodguy]

So after reading a lot of the pre-order stuff on the forum and after having ATT cancel my pre-order due to the billing/credit card fiasco (it is all over the forum), I pre-ordered my device at apple and shipment is set for October 10th.

After reading what seems to be positive news from best buy pre-orderers, best buy hasnt had a crazy overload in pre-orders as one might suspect.

While i technically do not have a pre-order, i have a reserve, BUT they assured me that i will receive an e-mail when my phone arrives and the sales guy told me he has not pre-ordered or reserved a 64 gig yet for ATT..... that left me feeling a little more happier (as that was the model i was reserving). The guys sounded very confident that I would receive an e-mail for pickup on Friday.

Hoping for some truth to this and that this pans out in my favor.

Tossing this nugget out there for anyone else looking for a "possible" way of scoring an iphone friday........ if you were looking for the higher GB models, there may be hope without a frustrating line.

I was also told that any lines at the store on Friday DO NOT get a phone before the pre-orders / reservations are filled - only left over models outside of those orders will be available - anyone who doesnt pick up their preorder/reserve in accordance with the time window given in the email (i think 24 hours?) will yeild their order to walk-in customers. Sounds like either sometime Saturday or Sunday / you may be able to pick up iphones again for those who failed to get their items....

hope this nugget of information was useful

the store i ordered from had a rough total of 60 iphone orders - they stated that for launch of the 4s, they received more than 60 phones for launch..... fingers crossed

 

[808geek]

Well, it depends on your local store. The Best Buy near me is not doing appointments. I will just get an email either tomorrow or Friday (hopefully) telling me it is in and to come pick it up.

I have an appointment for Saturday afternoon. They were doing appointments at the time of pre-ordering. They said if I didn't make the shipment because too many orders in front of me, they would call and reschedule the appointment. I'm hoping the get enough AT&T 32gb white. When I checked yesterday they said majority of their orders were for AT&T.

After reading what seems to be positive news from best buy pre-orderers, best buy hasnt had a crazy overload in pre-orders as one might suspect.

While i technically do not have a pre-order, i have a reserve, BUT they assured me that i will receive an e-mail when my phone arrives and the sales guy told me he has not pre-ordered or reserved a 64 gig yet for ATT..... that left me feeling a little more happier (as that was the model i was reserving). The guys sounded very confident that I would receive an e-mail for pickup on Friday.

Hoping for some truth to this and that this pans out in my favor.

Tossing this nugget out there for anyone else looking for a "possible" way of scoring an iphone friday........ if you were looking for the higher GB models, there may be hope without a frustrating line.

I was also told that any lines at the store on Friday DO NOT get a phone before the pre-orders / reservations are filled - only left over models outside of those orders will be available - anyone who doesnt pick up their preorder/reserve in accordance with the time window given in the email (i think 24 hours?) will yeild their order to walk-in customers. Sounds like either sometime Saturday or Sunday / you may be able to pick up iphones again for those who failed to get their items....

hope this nugget of information was useful

the store i ordered from had a rough total of 60 iphone orders - they stated that for launch of the 4s, they received more than 60 phones for launch..... fingers crossed

I thought about ordering the 64gb and probably should have, but my space always hovers around 16-17gb, so 32gb has been sufficient enough for me for the past 2 years.

Best Buy gives 72 hours for pick up after 1st initial call to you for pick up. That and they should be emailing when your phone is ready for pick up.

 

[rainking]

I pre-ordered and got this email just now. Does this guarantee anything?

barcode Your reserved order will be ready for pickup - Friday, September 21, 2012

9/20/2012
Order Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear :

Your reserved order will be ready for pickup at the VESTAL NY Best Buy store #1380 on Friday, September 21, 2012. Please pick it up between Friday and Sunday, September 23, 2012, to avoid order cancellation.

You'll need to bring:

Your state-issued photo ID
The order number (Store receipt or print out of this email)

Only the person whose name appears on the order may pick it up.

When you head to the store:

Go to the Best Buy Mobile department to pick up your order. Please allow extra time if you're activating a new mobile device.
If you're switching to a new phone, bring your old phone with you. We'll help you make a smooth transition.
The person named on the mobile contract must be present for store pickup.
Questions? Call Best Buy Mobile at 1-877-702-2211 (6:00am to midnight CT).

1Get up to a $300 Best Buy Gift Card when you trade-in your mobile phone. Learn more.

Thank you.
Best Buy Customer Service

ORDER DETAILS Order date: 09/20/2012

BEST BUY Order number:
QTY PRODUCT DESCRIPTION STATUS
1 VZW IPHONE 5 16GB BLACK
SKU: 6738229
Will be picked up by: Reserved for pickup at the
VESTAL NY store 1380

Questions? Call us at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). For faster service, please have your order number ready when you call.