I was told the same, and I placed my order around the same time as you. No communication or anything. I rang them on monday and was told "by the 30th" ... Went on Web chat to double check it today and was told "by the 14th of october"
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Carrier iPhone 7/7+ Preorder (UK)Three network
- Thread starter Danny80y
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When I initially did the upgrade over the phone, I was quoted 30th Sept, but told there was a possibility of it being delivered at the latest on 14th Oct. The guy I was speaking to had very good English.
I have a feeling that is the correct estimate they have in front of them, and that the varied responses we've both gotten since are awkward expressions of that initial estimate. Unless something has changed within the last few hours, as it seems to have done for many.
Same here.
Honestly, I'm thinking of cancelling and going for a normal iphone 7, since I can guarantee having that before I go away at the end of the month
I don't think it's quite as simple as that though... Lot's of people always moan about Apple (and other companies releasing popular products) restricting numbers, or not releasing numbers.
In truth, when it comes to manufacturing you have to have a sustainable model - sure they'll be a ramp up at the start of production, a period of higher production, then a ramp down to a lower sustainable normal production.
Whilst you're stockpiling though before going on sale and during ramp up, you need to be able to store raw materials, employ staff, store completed products, and then ship them. All of those things cost money - and the more you stock pile the more space, materials and staff you need. The more courier capacity you need. The more storage your retail partners and carriers need. If you make enough to meet initial demand for day one or week one, then capacity in all those things needs to be massive - to then have 80% not be needed a week later.
From a business sense, it's not really viable - and even if Apple could do their bit, their suppliers and couriers probably couldn't do theirs. A more sustainable model across a longer period of time works better... Not just for Apple and their partners, but even for people hired. Sure the "meeting demand for day one/week one" model might create more jobs - but it'd be for a much shorter period of time with higher layoffs -- a more sustainable model creates less overall jobs, but they're more permanent jobs and more longer-term contracts.
You then need to look at something like the iPhone 7/7 Plus. There's two version (7/7Plus) in 5 colours in 3 different storage sizes all in 3 different carrier bands/techs. That's 90 SKUs. That's an enormous number of different products!
Everything Apple did to stockpile these different products before release would be based on educated guesses. Making 7 Pluses is likely to take longer and definitely uses more materials, so the numbers manufactured in the same time period would have to be lower (the 7 and 7 Plus are almost definitely separate production lines so you can't just switch capacity from one to the other).
Of course, once pre-orders opened, Apple gets an idea of which of the SKUs are in higher demand, and they can adjust production accordingly. Maybe not between the 7 and 7 Plus, but between the 45 variants of each in order to meet pre-orders as fast as possible, whilst making the manufacture and shipping process as sustainable as possible....
I'm losing patience with Three!
I've accepted that launch day delivery was not going to be possible - however, I have not had a delay SMS/e-mail of any sort. I wasn't too bothered - it only would have told me what I already knew.
Instead, I had a call from someone at Three this morning who proceeded to tell me that I would get the handset by the 4th November. I told him I did not believe this was correct as I'd previously been told 30th September - he then claimed that the 30th September was the revised date for those expecting delivery on 16th September. I told him I was one of those people - he then claimed when I ordered I was told my order would be delivered by 7th October. He was incredibly rude and condescending. I told him it was irrelevant as I wasn't getting the handset on release date anyway and would possibly be calling to cancel if I was able to obtain the handset elsewhere.
And now I've just had another telephone call from someone at Three who was calling to update me - I did not tell her about my previous call as I wanted to hear what she had to say - she claimed my handset was ordered for the 16th September but would now be delivered by 30th September and as an apology she was manually applying the £5 to my account.
I then told her about the call I had previously received and she went away and came back with the response that the previous agent was advising 4th November as a worst-case scenario!
I've lost confidence in Three. I wouldn't have cared too much about the handset being delayed - carriers across the world are in the same position on stock - what I do care about is poor customer service - yes, we've all been given a lot of information but it's useless if it's completely incorrect!
I've accepted that launch day delivery was not going to be possible - however, I have not had a delay SMS/e-mail of any sort. I wasn't too bothered - it only would have told me what I already knew.
Instead, I had a call from someone at Three this morning who proceeded to tell me that I would get the handset by the 4th November. I told him I did not believe this was correct as I'd previously been told 30th September - he then claimed that the 30th September was the revised date for those expecting delivery on 16th September. I told him I was one of those people - he then claimed when I ordered I was told my order would be delivered by 7th October. He was incredibly rude and condescending. I told him it was irrelevant as I wasn't getting the handset on release date anyway and would possibly be calling to cancel if I was able to obtain the handset elsewhere.
And now I've just had another telephone call from someone at Three who was calling to update me - I did not tell her about my previous call as I wanted to hear what she had to say - she claimed my handset was ordered for the 16th September but would now be delivered by 30th September and as an apology she was manually applying the £5 to my account.
I then told her about the call I had previously received and she went away and came back with the response that the previous agent was advising 4th November as a worst-case scenario!
I've lost confidence in Three. I wouldn't have cared too much about the handset being delayed - carriers across the world are in the same position on stock - what I do care about is poor customer service - yes, we've all been given a lot of information but it's useless if it's completely incorrect!
Unfortunately they seem to be dropping the ball a bit in terms of information. I've just called to cancel my 7Plus upgrade to change for a different one, gotta wait 24 hours before I can change the order, but before I did that he told me estimated delivery had changed for the plus to the 14th october instead of the 30th of september
It's not just Three, unfortunately. I did speak to someone there yesterday about the whole communication thing though, and they were understanding and agreed with me (like they did two years ago though, and improvements were meant to have been made - and it's obvious they haven't).
That got me to thinking that maybe Networks and retailers over-promise on their deliveries, maybe before Apple confirm the number they'd be getting. If so, it's really bad from a customer perspective (and wrong).
Honesty and communication would make things much better for us all.... But then I read someone else's comment on the EE thread in reply to someone else making the same point about honesty - that leads to people going and placing orders elsewhere (because they'd wrongly think they'd get it sooner)... And as a natural extension to that it could lead to cancellations.
I don't know what the answer is - but poor communication and lack of transparency is really frustrating. A campaign that promised "Absolute honesty, truth and transparency" for order and delivery dates would probably sit well with many of us... But things can genuinely still go wrong (production yields, courier (international and domestic) issues, etc, etc). And whilst it might sit well with consumers, the money people and execs inside Networks would probably still have major concerns over losing custom to other Networks....
Yep I've also been told 4th November. I am hoping this is worst case scenario and that Apple will get stocks out over the next week so we can all enjoy our phones within 1-2 weeks. It grates on me that I paid the upgrade fee on the 9th September and my next bill will be at the new higher rate despite not even receiving the handset. I've told them i'll be expecting a credit.
I spoke with Three this morning, and they told me, that my order has been pushed back to the 28th of October.
(BTW it's an 7 Plus, 32GB & Silver)
That's strange as you can order one today with an est ship date of the 17th..
I know. It is strange.
I am hoping I'll get it by then, or maybe even before Mid October.
EDIT: I just checked their website, and if you were to buy one, it say 14th October.
For what it's worth, I will stick with Three. I know all carriers are having similar issues regards to stock and price plans elsewhere are poor in comparison.
For those looking for credits/discounts etc. I've managed to have the £99 upfront charge waived (customer options/retentions) £50 gesture of goodwill credit (from customer relations in the U.K.) and £5 delay credit. So I'm up £154 and I won't be getting the handset any quicker elsewhere.
For those looking for credits/discounts etc. I've managed to have the £99 upfront charge waived (customer options/retentions) £50 gesture of goodwill credit (from customer relations in the U.K.) and £5 delay credit. So I'm up £154 and I won't be getting the handset any quicker elsewhere.
So you suggested on the phone to Three that you might cancel your order because it had been pushed back, and had the upfront free waived? Good deal.
DPD Took my phone for a wee drive today Jet Black 128GB didn't attempt delivery when i last tracked it stated being returned to sender!! Called 3 Sales team who to be fair couldn't explain what went wrong and guaranteed a new handset for Monday....just received my email confirming phone arriving Monday now given the stock levels and so called worldwide shortage of Jet Black models it's amazing 3 can dispatch a phone before even receiving the other one back...lol
Just called Three - better than expected news on my expected delivery date.
Just to restate: I ordered a 128GB iPhone 7 Plus in (Matte) Black, as an upgrade, sometime just before 9:41am on 9th. I was given an expected delivery date of 30th Sept, but told there was a possibility of it being delivered at the latest on 14th Oct.
On my call just now, I was initially told '30th Sept." I quizzed the rep a bit, and she seemed pretty confident that it was very unlikely the iPhone would end up being delayed after that date. The rep also explained that it could come early. So that's good news.
Given that I never received a text/email/call from Three advising me that my delivery would be delayed, I'm hopeful that I ordered early enough to be more prioritised.
I suppose I can't very well angle for discounts, though.
Just to restate: I ordered a 128GB iPhone 7 Plus in (Matte) Black, as an upgrade, sometime just before 9:41am on 9th. I was given an expected delivery date of 30th Sept, but told there was a possibility of it being delivered at the latest on 14th Oct.
On my call just now, I was initially told '30th Sept." I quizzed the rep a bit, and she seemed pretty confident that it was very unlikely the iPhone would end up being delayed after that date. The rep also explained that it could come early. So that's good news.
Given that I never received a text/email/call from Three advising me that my delivery would be delayed, I'm hopeful that I ordered early enough to be more prioritised.
I suppose I can't very well angle for discounts, though.