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iPhone Upgrade Program Causes Headaches on Launch Day Due to Limited Stock
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Honestly, I think the internet kind of has an echo chamber effect that doesn't reflect reality all that well. There was a lot of howling about the headphone jack issue, but in spite of that I don't think there was ever any chance that demand was going to be small, and I don't know why some people thought it would be. Apple's almost always been behind on supply with few exceptions, I'm not surprised that this year isn't any different.
If they release OLED next year you will be very unhappy to not get the phone on launch day.
What a dumpster fire.
I waited up refreshing the stupid store page, it came up almost ten minutes late, not at 12:01. When I selected my 256GB Black 7 Plus it said it would be delivered on 9/16. I signed up for the Apple Upgrade Program and provided all my Verizon info an navigated through the VZW info, and by the time I finished my order, it suddenly became 9/27-9/29 delivery.
Well, I won't even be home then, I'm leaving for two weeks on 9/21, and the stupid site assured me I would receive it on 9/16, until they took my money.
Speaking of money. The Upgrade Program tells me they will charge me a total of $111.63 up front, in two transactions:
"Your credit card will be charged two separate transactions.
1) Any applicable shipping costs and sales tax will be paid to Apple. Sales tax will be calculated based on the full price of iPhone and on any other items in your order.
2) Your first monthly installment will be paid to Citizens One. After that, your credit card will be charged every month by Citizens One."
Instead, I get the attached charge on my Amex. $137.25. No second charge, just one giant over charge.
So I call Apple this morning, and sure I figure it must be a lot busier than usual. But I've been on hold for exactly 1 hour and 41 minutes now, listening to the same horrific music over and over (FFS Apple, just loop Mozart and Chopin).
I haven't had a iPhone since the 4, I really thought by now they would be well past this pathetic amateur hour BS, but it seems they still have no idea wtf they're doing.
I waited up refreshing the stupid store page, it came up almost ten minutes late, not at 12:01. When I selected my 256GB Black 7 Plus it said it would be delivered on 9/16. I signed up for the Apple Upgrade Program and provided all my Verizon info an navigated through the VZW info, and by the time I finished my order, it suddenly became 9/27-9/29 delivery.
Well, I won't even be home then, I'm leaving for two weeks on 9/21, and the stupid site assured me I would receive it on 9/16, until they took my money.
Speaking of money. The Upgrade Program tells me they will charge me a total of $111.63 up front, in two transactions:
"Your credit card will be charged two separate transactions.
1) Any applicable shipping costs and sales tax will be paid to Apple. Sales tax will be calculated based on the full price of iPhone and on any other items in your order.
2) Your first monthly installment will be paid to Citizens One. After that, your credit card will be charged every month by Citizens One."
Instead, I get the attached charge on my Amex. $137.25. No second charge, just one giant over charge.
So I call Apple this morning, and sure I figure it must be a lot busier than usual. But I've been on hold for exactly 1 hour and 41 minutes now, listening to the same horrific music over and over (FFS Apple, just loop Mozart and Chopin).
I haven't had a iPhone since the 4, I really thought by now they would be well past this pathetic amateur hour BS, but it seems they still have no idea wtf they're doing.
Attachments
Really? I cannot image the courts work that fast. If memory serves, they made amends within a couple of weeks in 2010 and a couple of days in 2007.
No, it does not say that though it was heavily implied by Apple.
But, I don't even care about that. Tell me that my pickup date is Oct 21st. I don't care. But don't tell me I have to go to Apple's site every damned day and check to see if a local Apple Store near me just randomly happens to get the iPhone configuration I'm interested in.
Because what's really happening is that someone who orders after me, they get a ship date and their product arrives on Oct 21st. I can't place an order. I have to keep checking back and anybody who goes on the Apple site each day and beats me to the exact phone config I want beats me and gets an appointment and I have to try again on another day.
I think that's what most of us are upset about. If they told me that I could get my phone in 3 weeks, I would just sit back and wait for the email telling me it's at my local Apple Store and I can go pick it up. I don't want to be penalized and have to fight for my phone every day.
I'm almost certain you won't be able to pick up a black one.
Shortly after the iPhone 5 came out someone brought their black iPhone to the Apple store and attempted to trade it for the white one and they made it very clear all their stock was already assigned based on appointments (meaning he had to take a new black one since that's what he had). They did not have any extras to trade him. With how backordered Apple is already I'm almost certain you're stuck with whatever color you ordered. The only chance I think you have of getting a black one is if you get there super early and are able to buy one of the phones they have for sale for walk-in customers. Your reservation won't help you at all.
Yup, and I've been watching them do this for the past 9+ years.
NOT TO MENTION...
If you've got to make 12 payments before an upgrade, two extra payments this time puts us two months past any future release date for future iPhones (assuming they continue to release around this time each year). So those of us early-bird AIUP adopters may possibly NEVER see another launch day iPhone again. Way to go.
So you can't place an order in this programme and get an estimate date? If that's so it sucks. Anyway, my initial comment was about the use of word "loyal customer" I don't think one customer should be treated better then another.
For a phone that 'everyone' says is going to flop, it sure sold out quickly.
It will take a few months before we know for sure. Additionally, a lot of people are unaware that a new redesigned iPhone 8 is only 9-12 months away, so for them, this design is good for the next two years based on Apple's history in recent years. They'll be surprised next year when there's no 7s.
What really amazes me are the people that aren't able to get the iPhone they want, so they "settle" for a different one just to get it now. SMH. For what these things cost, I would get what I wanted or I wouldn't get anything. NEWSFLASH! Apple will make these things for the next year. You CAN get what you want with a little patience. Your life will go on even if you aren't the first one on your block with the new iPhone.
This was my experience as well. I haven't seen anyone get a JetBlack upgrade so far. We were indeed screwed because you have to upgrade in store, you were limited to launch day stock in local stores only.
That's exactly it, we were told to come back next Friday at 8am....we aren't in line, we don't exist, but my payment sure does!
"or customers can attempt a walk-in purchase on a first come, first served basis."
We were briefed in our store that there will be no walk in sales of iPhone 7/7Plus until online orders and "the rush" is over.
We were briefed in our store that there will be no walk in sales of iPhone 7/7Plus until online orders and "the rush" is over.
What bothers me about this whole upgrade program (and why I feel the need to chime in here) is that 1) most of you probably never read your agreement and hence haven't made the required number of payments to upgrade, and 2) many of you feel that because you are in the upgrade program you are instantly Apple's most loyal customers (you are not). I think you are all being ridiculous. Drop out of the program. Others just as ridiculous as you will take your place.
Is this your first time doing a pre order? You only waited 10 mins and are complaining? Yes, it sucks you had to get up and wait, but that is an Apple pre order at its finest. The store NEVER comes online at 12:01 or 3:01 or whatever :01 time. It is always been at least 4 minutes if not more.
It's gotta be different. Even the upgrade program site says it's based on availability. Did anyone do something like this last year when the program just rolled out?
Apple better darn well learn from this huge gaff, because the demand for the iPhone 8 will be massive and this sort of fiasco will not help their image nor those of the various carriers & retailers.
While the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus became available for pre-order at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time this morning, some customers enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program were unable to select the model, carrier, color, or storage capacity they desired due to limited stock seemingly as soon as orders began.
MacRumors reader Pbrutto of Allentown, Pennsylvania said that there were no iPhones available for him to pre-order, while many other existing iPhone Upgrade Program members were unable to order the specific model they wanted from Apple retail stores in their local areas, even immediately at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.MacRumors reader Markarian421 shared a similar experience:The underlying reason appears to be that iPhone Upgrade Program members were placed into a separate stream than regular pre-order customers, and forced to reserve a new iPhone from a local Apple retail store -- many of which were sold out. Some customers were not even able to access the reservation system at all, and instead received the following message just minutes after pre-orders began:Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program lets customers upgrade to a new iPhone after just six months, as long as they have made at least 12 payments towards their current smartphone and trade it in upon upgrading. The leasing program is financed through Citizens Bank in the United States.
Today's experience has left many iPhone Upgrade Program members frustrated, and questioning whether they will enroll in the program in the future. In the meantime, Apple's in-store pickup reservation system for regular customers resumes September 17 in the United States, and select other countries, or customers can attempt a walk-in purchase on a first come, first served basis.
Article Link: iPhone Upgrade Program Causes Headaches on Launch Day Due to Limited Stock
Come on Apple!
I don't think lack of patience is necessarily the issue. If IUP people were told up front that they weren't likely to get what they were looking for day one because they were forced to reserve for in-store pickup, there'd probably be a lot less outrage. The program came with an implicit expectation that folks would be able to use this for hassle-free launch day upgrades and a lot of people relied on that implication, and that obviously is not happening as was expected. And I do agree with you, I wouldn't settle for less than I wanted. I'd be annoyed, and just end up sucking it up and waiting. That doesn't mean the way Apple handled this is good, though.