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iPhone SE in-store availability

B

bloodypom

Cancelled
Original poster
Nov 7, 2011
14
0
Hi all

I am in New Zealand, we don't have any Apple Stores here so I'm at novice about how they work. I will be in California in mid May and hoping to pick up an iPhone SE in an Apple Store while I'm there. Are unlocked, unsubsidised iPhone SE's widely available at Apple Stores? Apple.com doesn't seem to give any indication of stock availability, but I'd be surprised if stock of this particular model was hard to come by?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!

Steve
 
I would say that by mid-May, any Apple Store you walk into will have ample stock of whatever configuration you want. Since this isn't a flagship iPhone, I don't see there being major supply issues.
 
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bloodypom said:
Hi all

I am in New Zealand, we don't have any Apple Stores here so I'm at novice about how they work. I will be in California in mid May and hoping to pick up an iPhone SE in an Apple Store while I'm there. Are unlocked, unsubsidised iPhone SE's widely available at Apple Stores? Apple.com doesn't seem to give any indication of stock availability, but I'd be surprised if stock of this particular model was hard to come by?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks!

Steve
Click to expand...
Since the launch last week, supply has been limited for many color / storage configurations. It should be vastly improved by the time of your trip to California. Get the mailing address ZIP Code of where you will be during your visit and check the US Apple online store for availability.

Select the Buy button and then chose your color / storage configuration and select SIM-free and you will see an option at the bottom below the "Continue" button for Available for pickup. Enter the ZIP Code for the area of your trip and you can check the stock in multiple Apple retail stores. :cool:

Dave
 
dave006 said:
Since the launch last week, supply has been limited for many color / storage configurations. It should be vastly improved by the time of your trip to California. Get the mailing address ZIP Code of where you will be during your visit and check the US Apple online store for availability.

Select the Buy button and then chose your color / storage configuration and select SIM-free and you will see an option at the bottom below the "Continue" button for Available for pickup. Enter the ZIP Code for the area of your trip and you can check the stock in multiple Apple retail stores. :cool:

Dave
Click to expand...

I have tried this method about every hour on the Apple website to try to get a 64gb Space Gray SIM-Free model. Not once has it EVER showed stock of the phone for the past 3 days.

I am hesitant to believe they haven't received any of these phones in the past 3 days. My guess is they get them in store and sell them in store only and they aren't available for purchase online and pick up.

I was hoping with checking every hour that once the shipment comes in I can pay and pick mine up in store but it hasn't popped up for me at all yet. I will continue to try but at this rate it seems like my Apple store and surrounding stores are getting no stock of anything.
 
I know that the 3 Apple stores near me have not received any iPhone SE stock since Friday. They do expect stock tomorrow morning (before 12 PM).

Dave
 
No stock in Los Angeles Metro right now and I've been told to just order online but I expect supply will be better by mid-May.
 
barry.wiestling said:
I have tried this method about every hour on the Apple website to try to get a 64gb Space Gray SIM-Free model. Not once has it EVER showed stock of the phone for the past 3 days.

I am hesitant to believe they haven't received any of these phones in the past 3 days. My guess is they get them in store and sell them in store only and they aren't available for purchase online and pick up.

I was hoping with checking every hour that once the shipment comes in I can pay and pick mine up in store but it hasn't popped up for me at all yet. I will continue to try but at this rate it seems like my Apple store and surrounding stores are getting no stock of anything.
Click to expand...
There is actually no need to guess. I have been through this with multiple Apple stores. THey literally have a different "buy or reserve online for in store pickup" and "walk-in in store purchase" groups of phones to sell. I have had it be the other way around, where they had phones I HAD to order online but I couldn't just buy it while I was in the store; the issue was that ATT Next wasn't an option online on my account... long story slightly shorter, I missed out on the 6 plus on launch day. Ended up buyig at Best Buy a few weeks later.
 
lordofthereef said:
There is actually no need to guess. I have been through this with multiple Apple stores. THey literally have a different "buy or reserve online for in store pickup" and "walk-in in store purchase" groups of phones to sell. I have had it be the other way around, where they had phones I HAD to order online but I couldn't just buy it while I was in the store; the issue was that ATT Next wasn't an option online on my account... long story slightly shorter, I missed out on the 6 plus on launch day. Ended up buyig at Best Buy a few weeks later.
Click to expand...

Does this mean the only way you can find out what's available in the store is to actually keep visiting in person? I tried calling my local store a couple of times this weekend but could never get through to someone. The automated system placed me in a queue for several minutes and I just gave up.

When I was at the store Thursday evening, one of the sales folks told me that the "pick up at store" option would be an accurate representation of availability.

They had plenty of phones available, just no sim-free ones.
 
Last edited:
So I checked every hour again today and still no stock of the 64gb SE at any Apple Store within 200 miles.

It's very hard to believe Apple can't stock it's store with a device that isn't even a flagship phone that the large mass wants. I didn't see this coming at all.
 
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Just took my 16gb in today and grabbed a 64gb no problem.

Thing is - where I live is about 80% Chinese people - and in this city - Chinese people LOVE rose gold, and gold phones. So those colours are all out of stock.

So, I just stay with the silver and there is lots of stock. BC, Canada.

Anyways OP - by mid May there should be plenty of stock at any Apple store.
 
barry.wiestling said:
It's very hard to believe Apple can't stock it's store with a device that isn't even a flagship phone that the large mass wants. I didn't see this coming at all.
Click to expand...
I'm betting Apple didn't either. They were probably expecting low demand so they purposely didn't manufacture a whole lot. Guessing initial demand caught them unawares.
 
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Joshitect said:
When I talked to one of the people at the store, she said to say "manager" during the automated process and it would put you through to someone.
Click to expand...
Yes. I learned this because of trying to find out about Apple Watch accessories stock. The app wouldn't tell you anything for weeks. Had to call to know if they had something.
 
rui no onna said:
I'm betting Apple didn't either. They were probably expecting low demand so they purposely didn't manufacture a whole lot. Guessing initial demand caught them unawares.
Click to expand...

The combined power of nearly all iPhone 4S, 5, 5C and 5S users waiting (im)patiently for Apple to do the right thing.

:p
 
Stock available at the Metro Centre and Eldon Square stores in Newcastle now too. Just ordered for pick up. First time I've seen stock since they first went on sale.
 
Joshitect said:
When I talked to one of the people at the store, she said to say "manager" during the automated process and it would put you through to someone.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. That worked.

The person I spoke to said they receive stock every day but they don't know what they will receive. He also said that in all likelihood if they do get phones of a model that have been ordered by customers for in-store pickup, it will get allocated to those customers.
 
I had no problem to get my 16gb iphone SE. They had a few units left for Sprint and At&t even if Apple's website showed no stock for store pick-up.

But I guess that 64gb models and unlocked models are harder to get
 
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