I'll share the trick I learned. Got two iPhone 5, one on Friday and second on Saturday!! Use RadioShack website to search inventory. If you live in a metro area with many zips, try all different ones. It doesn't appear to search a large radius. I live near Dallas and had to search a dozen or so. Once you find one showing in a store, here's the trick, it's all in what you tell them. Don't take the just sold last one or they are reserved/spoken for answer!! You must ensure them that you will buy accessories upon activation. This is their big thing! Some stores will even have one person "checking inventory" (as if they don't know) while another gets on phone to feel out if you are interested in cases or apple care. They won't let em go without this assurance. With one of ours, when I first called, she said that it is reserved. I called her back and said I will come right now and buy accessories too. She stopped dead and said what kind? Like the care plan? I interrupted her saying a case, screen protector, and yea whatever you need. I didn't promise the care plan, thank goodness, because I didn't get it. Anyways, she said you know what, I got you. Just come on in right now, and ask for me. If they say, I just sold last one, say dang you should've waited Id have gotten bunch of accessories to help you out. If they say we are making a list and the manager will start calling in order when she gets here, say ok put me down because I can come now and buy lots of extra stuff. After we bought ours, I had couple stores calling me wanting me to come in! So, just thought I'd share what worked for me twice in 2 days!!
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iPhone 5 Reservation at Apple Store
- Thread starter Marco123
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Also when there was a small crowd of people lined up at the Valley Fair Apple store this morning, the Microsoft store employees were taunting us and making gestures, overall acting incredibly unprofessional
Of course they were. I mean, look at all those people lining up to buy the latest Windows phone.
So the thing that confused me was is it 10pm est or pacific when you're in CA? Because I noticed that you could check the stock after 7pm here in CA..
Apple's own website says 10pm LOCAL TIME.
Good idea, and thank you for sharing. I personally have an issue with their policy of charging $500 if you deactivate your service, especially when that is more than the ETF from AT&T. I turned one down at Radioshack for that reason, and they said it is because AT&T charges them the ETF, then they charge the customer. Regardless, it is still more than AT&T, and they are selling the device only for a $50 premium over Apple.
i do not see where the etf is $500. can you link me?
EDIT:
arram: if i purchase an iphone 5 through radioshack, and decide to cancel my service, do i have to pay etf to radioshack as well? or just att $325
Melissa A Redbird: You would just have to pay the early termination fee to us
arram: so not to radioshack?
arram: as well?
Melissa A Redbird: That is correct.
Last edited:
It was on my friend's receipt. They charge the retail cost of the phone minus net subsidized price. They charge $699.99 full retail, minus $199.99 for the phone= they charge your card $500 if you cancel service within the first 90 days. Not sure if AT&T would still charge you or not, I wouldn't risk it though. If you have an Apple store near you, try going in when they open. Here is Phoenix, they have had them available for walk in every day apparently. I walked in 30 minutes before they opened and snagged a 16GB AT&T for my partner, going in this morning to try and get the 32GB for me.
EDIT: Here is an article about it. http://redtape.nbcnews.com/_news/20...-double-dose-of-termination-fees-hassles?lite
i called radioshack and they said pay only at&t etf. but you're right not worth it, so im going to return the phones and cancel my plan since its not been 14 days yet.
I am jinxed. Reserved this att phone Saturday night for my daughter. Made an appointment with Genius for Sunday, (even though they never said we needed one).
Got the confirmation email for pickup.
On way to appointment, a family emergency came up and my daughter had to drop me off making her 10 min late for appointment. They told her she needed to wait until they could squeeze her in. A half hour later they told her the 'Reservation system' was down and they couldn't give her a phone. She has to call the store today.
I'm not sure what to make of that. It sounds a little suspicious.
They sure are making it difficult for her to spend a lot of money to replace her free droid phone. 20 minute drive each way, 45 minutes trying to call them back from work, ... It's an unpleasant first Apple purchase experience for her all around.
Radioshack is the worst. They always try to push things onto you that you don't need and hound you until you just give in or tell them to stop bothering you and let you say. I hate going into that store for anything because I know I'll be harassed the whole time I am there.
Radioshack is trying to reinvent themselves. Reinventing into a used car salesman is not the way to do business. I wonder who is running these companies. Radioshack is a damaged brand; now it's damaged even more. I too get the used car vibe when I am there.
Question to those who have purchased at 10pm online at Apple.com and then went to pick up their phone the next day - Has anyone switched up the service at time of purchase? What I mean is have you been able to pay full price for the phone when you ordered a subsidized phone through the system?
I purchased one last week on my wife's line with her upgrade and realized that I was killing her unlimited (not a big deal as she uses no data - facebook and email is all) - I tried to switch the purchase to an open line, but the Genius stated I couldn't because the transaction was already basically completed - I was there to pick up the phone and sign paperwork.
What I wanted to know is if anyone had a similar experience where they were either upgrading (subsidized) or adding a line - and then at the Apple store paid full price for the phone without the added line/subsidy?
I purchased one last week on my wife's line with her upgrade and realized that I was killing her unlimited (not a big deal as she uses no data - facebook and email is all) - I tried to switch the purchase to an open line, but the Genius stated I couldn't because the transaction was already basically completed - I was there to pick up the phone and sign paperwork.
What I wanted to know is if anyone had a similar experience where they were either upgrading (subsidized) or adding a line - and then at the Apple store paid full price for the phone without the added line/subsidy?
Is there something wrong with the system or are there really no iPhones tonight??
I have no clue but its PISSING me off, 3rd night in a row nothing in the WHOLE east coast any size or color
There are very few Verizon phones around, especially white ones. I've been looking for weeks for a 32GB model.
This is insane. I walked into an Apple store on a Saturday night at a busy mall 4 weeks after release and bought 2 of the iPhone 4 without problem. There were tons of them there. How can there be basically no phones anywhere in the US a month later? I thought this was Cook's specialty.
Nothing is available anywhere. These shortages are becoming ridiculous. Even during the launch of the iPhone 4, I was able to get a phone the night the phone came out after Apple got a second shipment in. Not sure what's going on, over a month later, that none of these can be found anywhere.
My experience with reserving on Apple.com
I wanted to share my experience with Apple.com
I live in the philadelphia area, and I was trying to buy a 16g white iphone5
I began checking at roughly 9:55 pm. No phones available.
I entered by zip in at exactly 10:00 EST, (I have my comp set to the Navy Master Clock)
There was ONE in stock in an Apple store in NY.... 14th ave i believe
I decided to refresh the page less than 15 seconds later, to see if maybe some other phones were uploaded in the meantime. Nothing was available, including the 1 phone in New York. I refreshed for a couple more minutes, and still nothing
So.... I think the system will upload the ENTIRE inventory at 10 pm.
good luck to all
I wanted to share my experience with Apple.com
I live in the philadelphia area, and I was trying to buy a 16g white iphone5
I began checking at roughly 9:55 pm. No phones available.
I entered by zip in at exactly 10:00 EST, (I have my comp set to the Navy Master Clock)
There was ONE in stock in an Apple store in NY.... 14th ave i believe
I decided to refresh the page less than 15 seconds later, to see if maybe some other phones were uploaded in the meantime. Nothing was available, including the 1 phone in New York. I refreshed for a couple more minutes, and still nothing
So.... I think the system will upload the ENTIRE inventory at 10 pm.
good luck to all