iPhone Upgrade Program Causes Headaches on Launch Day Due to Limited Stock

[recoil80]

100% of all iPhone lease members will want to get a new iPhone, Why not? they already paid for it.

so it's gonna be messy. Apple should've predicted this and start its production months before.

I don't think it is a matter of starting production sooner.
They know how many people are on the upgrade program, they could just start preorder for them in advance (maybe one day before other customers) to find out how many of them are willing to change the phone and gave them the ability to chose the model. I'm not talking about giving them shipping priority, but just be able to preorder

 

[Dirtydutch]

Every year someone like you says something like that and every year you are proven wrong. Apple never withholds production to creat demand.

I agree. Yes there is a possibility they can get a few more out there but, no other company in the world has to reach this ridiculous demand on such an expensive product within a few months whilst producing other items as well. They're not new to this I believe watching any other company try and produce tens of millions of these devices for the general public this quickly for a launch would be incredibly laughable. Think about how little pressure literally every other phone company has to produce. I don't think people take into account how much more a company like this have to accomplish in smaller windows because of the popularity of their product. No one cares about other products like people care about iPhone.

 

[maxsix]

Agreed. I'm surprised no one foresaw this.

The Apple Store Experience is supposed to be a good one. Why offer a program like this without any advantages. Worse it has customers frustrated and upset.

 

[Roller]

I signed up for the IUP yesterday morning. Ordered a 256GB black 7 Plus and was actually surprised that delivery is scheduled for the week of October 4 — I expected November. I agree with anyone who says that existing IUP customers should be able to get into the same queue as everyone else on a first-come, first-served basis. I hope Apple does that for next year's upgrade. There'll probably be a lot of demand for the next iPhone, and I suspect that supplies will be even more constrained than usual. That may be offset by what I expect to be a higher price, however.

 

[Jimpilot]

However you want to cut it, Apple has put customers who showed a comment to them by contract aided by ads that said be the first to upgrade and put them at the end of the line.

I guess they feel like they have us and can do anything they want with us.
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I'm hearing Apple is keeping first week of shipments to the stores reserved for IUP. We shall c.

That that would be nice, may upset some folks though. By what right do IUP people think they don't belong at the back of the line

 

[chaicka]

Why should 'Upgrade Program' users have additional privilege over normal paying users? Are normal full-amount paying users less loyal than those on 'Upgrade Program'?

I have been buying iOS and macOS devices annually using FULL PAYMENT over the last 5-6 years at least. I would definitely expect Apple to be fair and allow FULL PAYMENT users to have a fair chance to grab launch stock.

Oh, by the way to those 'Upgrade Program' users who have NEVER in their life sit in front of their system waiting for Apple Store to open and take orders to new launch products, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL that every year over the last 5-6 years' of new iPhone launch, the hot favourite models get snap up within SECONDS or MINUTES. It is almost like to fight to get it down to the milliseconds (not joking here), not just down to seconds.

My experience was logging in the moment that the Apple Store app was working only to see no availability and no way to pre order an iPhone. Seriously, Apple did not let their most loyal customers even place a pre order.

 

[Weaselboy]

I thought going to the Apple Store was mandatory.

Only if you are upgrading under the program. It sounds like the person you replied to just signed up, so there is no need to go to the Apple Store.

I just signed up for the Upgrade Program along with my iPhone 7 order and my phone is being shipped to my house.

 

[0970373]

So these problems were at the open of reservations? I woke up at my normal time of 6:30a, used the app while I was still in bed and was able to reserve my upgrade - 128gb black iPhone 7 - at a New York store. Same thing last year. Perhaps I'm lucky or the 14th St store has more stock that normal. Definitely sucks for those that stayed up or got up at 3am.

 

[T00n]

Hard pull my credit history every year, I am done with this program.

 

[ckhris1613]

Cancel ur preorders!!!!

 

[Jimpilot]

Why should 'Upgrade Program' users have additional privilege over normal paying users? Are normal full-amount paying users less loyal than those on 'Upgrade Program'?

I have been buying iOS and macOS devices annually using FULL PAYMENT over the last 5-6 years at least. I would definitely expect Apple to be fair and allow FULL PAYMENT users to have a fair chance to grab launch stock.

Oh, by the way to those 'Upgrade Program' users who have NEVER in their life sit in front of their system waiting for Apple Store to open and take orders to new launch products, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL that every year over the last 5-6 years' of new iPhone launch, the hot favourite models get snap up within SECONDS or MINUTES. It is almost like to fight to get it down to the milliseconds (not joking here), not just down to seconds.

I guess previous posters are right. No one gets it.

Let me ask it another way, why should folks not on the IUP get priority for a phone over the IUP?


It's real simple, we just want the same chance you had to get a new phone. We didn't get that, we can't sit in front of the computer and preorder, we can only choose store pickup and they put almost no stock in the stores. So you sat at the computer ONCE and ordered, we have to do it everyday until a store has the stock we want, no future pick up, they either have it right now or you can try again tomorrow. From what others have said it can be for two weeks or more just to get a phone.

Give us a break, we like new phones as much as you do, why are we last priority in the upgrade process when last year they lured us in with ads saying "be the first to upgrade"

 

[gibbz]

Why should 'Upgrade Program' users have additional privilege over normal paying users? Are normal full-amount paying users less loyal than those on 'Upgrade Program'?

I think most of us are not asking for special privileges. I'm not even disappointed about stores being out of stock because I get that managing launch day stock with so many partners is hard. What IUP customers are upset about is that normal customers were given a spot in line when stock ran out, while they were given no such option. In essence they were left dangling in the wind. IUP customers would have been satisfied with a spot on a waiting list at their local store. As it stands, they were told to try again on September 17.

 

[0970373]

Only if you are upgrading under the program. It sounds like the person you replied to just signed up, so there is no need to go to the Apple Store.

I just signed up for the Upgrade Program along with my iPhone 7 order and my phone is being shipped to my house.

I don't believe that current AUP folks like myself should get priority access or anything but really disappointing that Apple couldn't find a way to do the ship & return model for current subscribers.

I actually can't make it to the store to pick up the new phone on 9/16 but I have it on hold anyway for the latest possible pickup time and hope it's still there when I go early on 9/17.

 

[Weaselboy]

I don't believe that current AUP folks like myself should get priority access or anything but really disappointing that Apple couldn't find a way to do the ship & return model for current subscribers.

I agree. Others like some of the carriers or even Gazelle manage to work this out, I don't know why Apple can't. It would seem to help lighten the load at the stores on release day also.

Hopefully Apple will learn from their experience this year and improve the program by next year's release.

 

[jlc1978]

Anyone have any experience with pre-ordering through Best Buy? I was trying to get a 128 gig iPhone 7 Plus in Black. The site said that it would be available for pick-up in October. But I purchased the 256 gig, because it said it was available on release day. Is this usually accurate through Best Buy?

Sometimes. I preordered one a few models ago, went there at my assigned time, and they had no phones. Went to Apple store and bought one the same day. I was not the only one screwed by BB that day, there were a lot of upset customers who can to get a preordered phone and found none were in stock. They apparently didn't bother to verify what they would get from Apple before accepting preorders.

 

[rlavalle]

So these problems were at the open of reservations? I woke up at my normal time of 6:30a, used the app while I was still in bed and was able to reserve my upgrade - 128gb black iPhone 7 - at a New York store. Same thing last year. Perhaps I'm lucky or the 14th St store has more stock that normal. Definitely sucks for those that stayed up or got up at 3am.

iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black is the really hard one to find.

 

[0970373]

I agree. Others like some of the carriers or even Gazelle manage to work this out, I don't know why Apple can't. It would seem to help lighten the load at the stores on release day also.

Hopefully Apple will learn from their experience this year and improve the program by next year's release.

Dammit. *couldn't

You replied before I realized the typo and fixed it. Do a girl a solid and edit "could" to "couldn't." Lol

But yeah. Agree. The master of the supply chain really should have known a better way to handle it.

 

[RedOrchestra]

Hard pull my credit history every year, I am done with this program.

What's a HARD PULL mean, why the concern, and what's the result?

 

[fivetoedbear]

Don't wait for September 17 to try again. Last night, there were no iPhone upgrades available in Illinois at all (just five states had any availability), but this morning, I tried, just for kicks, and I have an appointment for 1 pm on the 16th. I was waffling between 128 GB and 256 GB, and decided to just pay the $4/month more and get the 256 GB that was available.

There seems to be spotty availability of model/carrier/size/color combinations. I'm guessing that perhaps people are cancelling reservations, shipments are getting checked in, or Apple is allocating additional phones to stores. But give it a try, especially if you're in a metro area and have a choice of stores.

 

[Weaselboy]

What's a HARD PULL mean, why the concern, and what's the result?

Pretty good article here that explains it. I think the concern is this hard pull shows in your credit report as a new loan, so potentially lowers your credit score a bit. I suppose if you had a low credit score, this hit to your score could lower the score enough that you might get denied maybe a new home loan or auto loan for example. But for most people with good credit, this temporary small dip in credit score is not going to matter that I can see.

My bank offers free access to my FICO score, so I'm curious to see if my signing up for this yesterday results in any dip in the score next month.

 

[Markarian421]

Don't wait for September 17 to try again.

I saw the same thing, last night a 256GB 7+ appeared at the local store. Unfortunately it was for the wrong carrier. But it was new stock. Unfortunately this morning when I try to check I get this.

 

[nrvna76]

Out of curiosity.. couldn't I trade my 128gb 6S plus to Att for their $650 deal towards an iPhone 7 and go back to Next? I think I owe $540 or so, which is what Apple is technically giving me in trade. Not sure if I'm missing something.

 

[Phone Junky]

Why should 'Upgrade Program' users have additional privilege over normal paying users? Are normal full-amount paying users less loyal than those on 'Upgrade Program'?

I have been buying iOS and macOS devices annually using FULL PAYMENT over the last 5-6 years at least. I would definitely expect Apple to be fair and allow FULL PAYMENT users to have a fair chance to grab launch stock.

Oh, by the way to those 'Upgrade Program' users who have NEVER in their life sit in front of their system waiting for Apple Store to open and take orders to new launch products, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NORMAL that every year over the last 5-6 years' of new iPhone launch, the hot favourite models get snap up within SECONDS or MINUTES. It is almost like to fight to get it down to the milliseconds (not joking here), not just down to seconds.

It's like you haven't even read this thread.

 

[mhornback2]

What a joke. We have to check the reservation system daily beginning on the September 17th. Who has the time to do this. Apple please revise your advertisement to First to Join, Last to Upgrade!!!

Do we know for sure this is the case? Perhaps we'll be able to reserve a phone and a estimated time of arrival starting next Saturday?

 

[RedOrchestra]

It's like you haven't even read this thread.

Comprehension and handwriting are no longer in vogue.