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iPhone Reservation Pickup Experience

Bizzle79

Bizzle79

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 1, 2011
45
25
New England
i had a semi-bad experience at the Apple Store this evening. I usually hate on posts like his but wanted to put this out there because I don't think I read about anyone with a similar experience.

So many people have reported being able to reserve an iPhone online and then pay full price (device only). I placed an order (7 plus 128gb black ATT) shortly after midnight for pick up at the Apple Boylston Street between 6 - 6.30pm.

I arrived at the store around 5.30 and joined the line and was called upon at 6pm. I showed them my reservation and told them I was paying in full. They both (a genius and genius in training) said OK and I thought this should be quick. A few minutes later they returned with no phone. Why?

They said that the phone I reserved was solely for IUP only and I couldn't buy it full price. I said I believe I could do this and I had read it online and seen many do this. We went back and forth and they said they would speak to a manager. About 30 minutes later they returned and said he (the manager) was going to make a "one time exception" and sell me the phone. Sigh of relief

So did I do something wrong or is there something funny going on here?
 
My person didn't even mention the IUP. She asked if I was paying in full. I asked if I could use Att Next. She said yes and I was out of the store in 15 minutes.

It explicitly says you don't have to use the IUP to pay in the reservation email.
 
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radioking said:
My person didn't even mention the IUP. She asked if I was paying in full. I asked if I could use Att Next. She said yes and I was out of the store in 15 minutes.

It explicitly says you don't have to use the IUP to pay in the reservation email.
Click to expand...
My experience was the exact same. not a mention of IUP
 
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Show them the email. It says you can pay in full, use IUP or carrier financing. The retail teams were poorly trained about this.
 
I wonder if next year apple will restrict this where you really do have to get IUP without any other options.
 
radioking said:
My person didn't even mention the IUP. She asked if I was paying in full. I asked if I could use Att Next. She said yes and I was out of the store in 15 minutes.

It explicitly says you don't have to use the IUP to pay in the reservation email.
Click to expand...

Exact same here. I was in and out in 10 mins - paid outright. Even mentioned that I selected the Verizon model despite having an AT&T account - she said it was no big deal and that the phone is unlocked anyway.
 
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The email itself says you can buy it as you wish:

Can I change to a different form of payment for the iPhone Upgrade Program?
Yes. You can also upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing or purchase it at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.
 
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Reserved for 12:00pm, decided to move away from AT&T Next and opted for the Apple Upgrade Program, was out and done within 20 minutes.

Done going through AT&T for my pre orders.
 
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That's what's I read from all the experiences here. Can't recall if my email had the text but I told them that option was there. I read it before I reserved the phone. It was just annoying that I was at the store for over 1 and a half hours. I didn't mind lining up for 30 minutes but frustrated that a 15 minute appointment took 1 hour
 
I kinda had a similar experience yesterday. Made a reservation for pick up. Showed them the bar code, and told the guy I would pay full price, guy went to pick up the phone, but came back and said since the reservation is for IUP only, so they would not be able to sell at full price. But he made another reservation on the spot for a full price purchase, then he went to pick up the phone and I paid for it and walked out.
 
I was asked if I wanted to do IUP or pay for the device in full. I chose paying in full because I wanted to use it on T-Mobile. The reservation process sucked though, they had a line for reservations and we waited at least an hr before they started processing people. I think they dedicate 1 person for reservations, because the same person took multiple people 1 at a time.

Only until we said something did they start pulling more people to help the reservations. But the check in time was useless, they still made you wait.

This was the Pasadena, CA store.
 
I made a reservation for a pick up tomorrow at a store 2 hours away but I'm a little concerned. My significant other picked his phone up from a closer Apple Store on Sunday and his e-mail said what others have, he can choose carrier financing or pay in full. However, my confirmation e-mail has changed the wording of that question. It now states:

Can I change from the iPhone Upgrade Program to a different form of payment?
Yes. You must be currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program, so that you can upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing, or purchase at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.

I will call in the morning and ask. Not wasting 4 hours of driving.
 
Can you reserve an iPhone if you already got one through the Apple Store app and want to exchange due to either wanting a higher capacity and/or different color?
 
gdjsnyder said:
I made a reservation for a pick up tomorrow at a store 2 hours away but I'm a little concerned. My significant other picked his phone up from a closer Apple Store on Sunday and his e-mail said what others have, he can choose carrier financing or pay in full. However, my confirmation e-mail has changed the wording of that question. It now states:

Can I change from the iPhone Upgrade Program to a different form of payment?
Yes. You must be currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program, so that you can upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing, or purchase at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.

I will call in the morning and ask. Not wasting 4 hours of driving.
Click to expand...




Woah, that is different! Let us know what you hear back from them :/
 
gdjsnyder said:
I made a reservation for a pick up tomorrow at a store 2 hours away but I'm a little concerned. My significant other picked his phone up from a closer Apple Store on Sunday and his e-mail said what others have, he can choose carrier financing or pay in full. However, my confirmation e-mail has changed the wording of that question. It now states:

Can I change from the iPhone Upgrade Program to a different form of payment?
Yes. You must be currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program, so that you can upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing, or purchase at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.

I will call in the morning and ask. Not wasting 4 hours of driving.
Click to expand...

Well I read it a little differently from you. The question is stated as a person wanting to change from the IUP to a different way to pay. So in order to change FROM an IUP, you should already be ON an IUP. I don't think it applies to people not on IUP.
 
idyll said:
The email itself says you can buy it as you wish:

Can I change to a different form of payment for the iPhone Upgrade Program?
Yes. You can also upgrade your iPhone to carrier financing or purchase it at full price. Ask a Specialist for more information.
Click to expand...
My email says that I must be currently enrolled in the iup program in order to utilize carrier financing or pay in full.
 
They changed the verbiage then because it wasn't worded like that two days ago when I made my reservation and picked up the phone.
Interesting. What's the big deal anyways?! They are making money, the same amount, either way
 
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Anyone try to pick theirs up today and have them give you trouble?

I want to cancel my Verizon JB order and just pick up the matte black today..
 
idyll said:
Anyone try to pick theirs up today and have them give you trouble?

I want to cancel my Verizon JB order and just pick up the matte black today..
Click to expand...

I am in the same boat. I reserved one this morning and I want to continue on ATT Next. I am going to call the apple store in a few mins to make sure I am able to pick up my reserved phone and use it on NEXT.
 
Statusnone88 said:
Reserved for 12:00pm, decided to move away from AT&T Next and opted for the Apple Upgrade Program, was out and done within 20 minutes.

Done going through AT&T for my pre orders.
Click to expand...


So you had a choice to pick which you wanted? As in ATT next or iPhone upgrade program. Have reserved a 7+ but want to do next because of ATT trade in program, but dont want to drive an hour just to be told i need to use their program
 
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I too have a reservation for an AT&T 7+. I have T-Mobile but just want to pay outright with cash. UGhh...about to sell my phone so I can go to this reservation but don't want to be stuck without a phone if they won't let me buy it cash
 
mr lee said:
I am in the same boat. I reserved one this morning and I want to continue on ATT Next. I am going to call the apple store in a few mins to make sure I am able to pick up my reserved phone and use it on NEXT.
Click to expand...
DJLAXL said:
I too have a reservation for an AT&T 7+. I have T-Mobile but just want to pay outright with cash. UGhh...about to sell my phone so I can go to this reservation but don't want to be stuck without a phone if they won't let me buy it cash
Click to expand...


According to this thread
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-and-reserved-picked-up-in-store-how.2000501/

Its possible for what we are trying to accomplish
[doublepost=1474648774][/doublepost]Talked to apple chat. they said that reservations are for iPhone upgrade program only
 
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