Do what AT&T does with Next. Send the customer a pre-paid shipping label and ask them to return the phone in the shipping box the new one came in.
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iPhone Upgrade Program Causes Headaches on Launch Day Due to Limited Stock
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Do what AT&T does with Next. Send the customer a pre-paid shipping label and ask them to return the phone in the shipping box the new one came in.
Gained an hours worth of driving next Friday and 128gb of storage, but I got my black 7 plus!
I tried to buy the 128GB 7 Plus in Matte Black for pickup with the upgrade program but there were only two stores in the country with stock. I purchased it full price online and will attempt to do a return / rebuy next Friday... seemed like the best option.
Same thing every year Apple always under produces to make demand seem more than it is. They are masters of trying to hype product launches. Seem to always screw the enthusiasts who really want the phone. In a few months when all the rabid fanboys get the device you won't have to wait long for this phone.
I will never do Apple's "Upgrade" program again. The completely screwed us over - this is the first year since 2007 that I haven't been able to get the phone I wanted at launch - and I woke up at 3am EST. Apple this is not the way to treat your most loyal customers on your loyalty program. I plan on paying off my contract and selling my phone to gazelle when i finally get the new iPhone.
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Or have a separate method to get wait-listed instead of being lumped with other in-store reservations (since apparently these stores won't even have all configurations available on day one).
Was wanting a 7+ 256GB Black and none of the stores around me had it available last night. At around 7am this morning I checked the system again and was somehow able to reserve a 7+ 256GB Silver for 8am. I am hoping I can switch it to Black while I'm there otherwise I'm not taking it. I'm starting to regret enrolling in this program last year.
Hmmm this was my biggest fear of the upgrade program and another reason why I didn't pull the trigger last night. I had visions of me not being able to upgrade to iPhone 8 next year and it looks like I might be correct.
As someone who WANTED to upgrade this time around, I feel confused as a customer who does not know:
1. If the lack of headphone jack will negatively impact how I am used to using my phone.
2. If the giant 7+ will fit in my pockets or be usable in all situations because I really wanted the dual cameras for food photos (I love to cook).
3. I'm due for an upgrade on ATT which pretty much means nothing any more (really don't want another 2 year contract or to pay $850+ out of pocket..
For almost 10 years I have bought the new phone every 2 years on launch day at a subsidized price, sold my old phone (which I owned) to pay off the subsidized price of new phone and then was on my way.
Too many choices, too many question marks, not enough upgrades.
As someone who WANTED to upgrade this time around, I feel confused as a customer who does not know:
1. If the lack of headphone jack will negatively impact how I am used to using my phone.
2. If the giant 7+ will fit in my pockets or be usable in all situations because I really wanted the dual cameras for food photos (I love to cook).
3. I'm due for an upgrade on ATT which pretty much means nothing any more (really don't want another 2 year contract or to pay $850+ out of pocket..
For almost 10 years I have bought the new phone every 2 years on launch day at a subsidized price, sold my old phone (which I owned) to pay off the subsidized price of new phone and then was on my way.
Too many choices, too many question marks, not enough upgrades.
That's terrible considering how expensive the program is. Apple screwed up. They should've sent out emails already saying you get it on the 16th. That alone would make it worthwhile to many.
Every time I read "as soon as the store was available", I want to point something out: I was on 2 PC's, a Mac, an iPad, and an iPhone last night. Only the iPad became available first. It was 15 minutes before the iPhone app became available next. That tells me that there was a queue that many aren't aware existed, which muddies any of the facts we're putting together to say what was and wasn't ready to go.
Give it time early adopters are mostly the fanboys. They always make less than demand to make it seem sought after.For a phone that 'everyone' says is going to flop, it sure sold out quickly.
The worst part about is that Apple doesn't bother to explain the process ahead of time. The people are left to discover this on their own.
This was exactly my experience. This is absolutely absurd. They need to find a way to make this right for iPhone Upgrade Program. This is the whole intent of the Upgrade Program. There was no way to place a pre-order unless your phone was in stock at the store.
I think the thing is this... every year there are whole parts of the process that are obviously overlooked.
Under no circumstances should anyone ever use this program if you want to buy on launch day.
I think the thing is this... every year there are whole parts of the process that are obviously overlooked.
Under no circumstances should anyone ever use this program if you want to buy on launch day.
Man what a mess. I could only get the App Store app to load up on my phone and the first couple of times I opted to upgrade my phone it sent me to apple.com/retail. When I finally did get through to the website upgrade page there were no 7+ models for T-Mobile anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area. Now I'm supposed to wait and keep trying after next Saturday. In addition to that I don't even know if I'm going to actually get approved for an upgrade since they do a whole new loan application with a whole new credit check and my credit is no longer what it was despite my account with Citizens being in good standing. I actually feel bad for telling people what a great deal the IUP was after this disaster.
Macrumors, can you try and get an answer from someone as to how Apple iPhone Upgrade Program enrollees will determine which model iPhone 7 they will be getting? Will they be allowed to choose a Verizon variant even if they use T-Mobile in an effort to have a phone that is fully unlocked and actually usable in countries that still use CDMA networks? It would seem like the only fair way to treat customers who enrolled early in a program billed as giving you access to an "unlocked iPhone" that can be used on "any carrier," but now with two different models that is not exactly the case! Some of us enrolled in this program for the "unlocked phone" benefit alone and limiting us to only getting a phone that corresponds to the carrier we use in our primary country is extremely disengeuous! Please get to the bottom of this before 9/16.
Has anyome on the iphone upgrade program been able to reserve a jet black model? Seems like it was unavailable for just about all upgrade program members from the start.
I was able to reserve a matte black 7 256. But jet black was not available from the start (12:06am, the first time I was able to see the store from the IOS app)
I was able to reserve a matte black 7 256. But jet black was not available from the start (12:06am, the first time I was able to see the store from the IOS app)
The reason you need to be in store is to apply for another "loan". This really needs to change, use Apple Pay somehow to guarantee the loan.
For a phone that 'everyone' says is going to flop, it sure sold out quickly.
No wonder ... there were only 125 available.
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?
The part that sucks most about this is the program gives you the impression that it's the most ideal way to upgrade on launch day, when in its current form it obviously isn't.
Agreed. I had to look all over NJ to reserve a black iPhone 7 Plus 256gb but was finally able to.
They make less than demand because the demand is absolutely off the charts.
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The thing is that you don't know when the app was available to others. My apps didn't kick in until 12:20 or so.
Except that this wasn't "first come, first served". The opposite in fact. Being in the upgrade program actually conferred a disadvantage, from what it says in this news story. And if so, that's odd. I've wondered for a while why Apple had no loyalty or rewards program.. this clearly demonstrates that they have no interest in that sorrt of customer profiling, or they just don't need to bother when they can sell out of every product they make... so don't need to care who they sell it to.