I think is is a limited issue. That is I signed up for the apple yearly upgrade program and went in at 3:20am EST and was able to get my black verizon 128gb without a problem for launch day and my spouse was able to as well at about 3:40am. The only shortage I saw was for the Jet Black which I hear was selling out equally for everyone annual upgrades and regular customers. So imagine this was more just general glitches rather than a separate limited inventory for upgraders.
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iPhone Upgrade Program Causes Headaches on Launch Day Due to Limited Stock
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I got into the upgrade selection process pretty quickly and T-Mobile wasn't an option for any stores. What pisses me off about that is that it's the same damn device as the AT&T one except for the bundled SIM card. If you're on T-Mobile you're basically lower priority to Apple.
Its not an Apple loan its a third party. The process wont change unless Apple is the bank. That aint going to happen.
Did you have to enter your carrier information / phone number / etc to complete your reservation?
Does Apple usually send out the next batch of iPhones in October? If so, I will just get it then.
It's only partially a production issue. The real problem is that current customers have to pick up in store instead of receiving it by mail. The carriers don't make you turn in the trade-in phone in person and Apple shouldn't either. Send out the phone and a return shipping box or envelope. If they don't send it back within 14 or 30 days or whatever, you bill them for the remainder of the previous installment plan. This isn't rocket science. Come on, Tim, you're a logistics/supply chain guy!
I'm basing this off of every single opening weekend sales. 10 million is typical. You realize to manufacture something like this, ship, and sell that many in opening weekend is off the CHARTS for ever consumer electronics device in existence?
Again, conspiracy theory - and a dumb one at that. The more they can sell, the more quickly, the less articles calling Apple doomed...the more money they make...the higher their stock climbs.
I was up and ready at 3:00am ET today. All that was available in the Carolinas (where I am) was the silver, gold, or rose gold 128 GB iPhone 7 Plus. I am hoping (probably a long shot) that at least a black iPhone will be available in store...we shall see. I guess it really doesn't matter because at the end of the day, it will likely be in a case anyway.
Oh yeah I'm fully aware of that, but the fact that you can initiate an entirely new IUP loan online but not do a "new loan" online on upgrade makes little sense. Especially when the various carrier programs allow you to do that already. All they need to do is tell you "you have X days to return the old phone, we'll give you a pre-paid shipping label. If you don't return it in that period of time, the balance of the loan is due in full immediately." I don't see why they need you in person for a guarantee. They have the only program doing this...
I'm sure Apple values the people dropping the full price rather than the IUP customers that will put nothing down initially. They get all their money rather than lending out a device that isn't paid for up front. I'm not saying it's fair but it would make sense. Most of the people on the IUP won't even end up fulfilling the full price of the phone before they upgrade again. So Apple probably just wanted the guaranteed full retail buyers.
This program is not underwritten by Apple. Your good Apple customer status is meaningless.
Yeah, I agree with you on that. But what I don't see is why a program specifically tailored for people who want to upgrade every year to the new iPhone can't have a simpler process to get that new iPhone. It's seriously ******** at the moment for iPhone upgrade program users. It feels like we got shoved to some secondary line/stream of limited supplies at Apple Stores, while the rest of the folks got to dip into the readily available national warehouse inventory.
This is exactly what happened to me. Signed in immediately. No black options anywhere near where I lived. By the time I figured that out even the white/silver were down to 256gb only. I guess I'll politely ask if there are any black models at store opening next Friday but have resigned myself to having a white iphone for a year. Might be nice...haven't had one since the 5S. It's crazy (I'm crazy) that I would pick this instead of waiting a few weeks for a black model to be available. In the 1980s I would have to wait 6-8 weeks for a floppy disk with a game on it. Now I can't wait a few weeks for a $900 phone.
This whole thing is stupid. Because I did AT&T Next 12 Month and I bought a 6S Plus on launch day I can't buy an iPhone 7 Plus until 2 weeks now. So now the shipping dates are pushed out, I might not get my phone until December. I wish Apple would just pick a date and stick with it. I might not even bother upgrading this year. I would think they would see this and fix it, because I am pretty sure I am not the only one in this boat. Others might decide to skip this upgrade as well.
I know it's not an Apple loan, it's Citizens Bank. And yes, you can use Apple Pay with a credit card to guarantee the purchase...then handle the loan after. And yes, one day Apple should be the one doing these loans - and yes, it can happen.
Not an Apple upgrade customer, however I think this is very unfair.
No matter how you are purchasing, you should have equal opportunity.
These upgrade customers should have had access to the same stock and Apple should have treated this as a "ship to store" service, not rely on store stock.
I know logistically it may be difficult to wrangle, but they owe the effort.
No matter how you are purchasing, you should have equal opportunity.
These upgrade customers should have had access to the same stock and Apple should have treated this as a "ship to store" service, not rely on store stock.
I know logistically it may be difficult to wrangle, but they owe the effort.
I have never had an issues getting a phone on launch day. For many they get up to late. The dont pre-login to sites to speed checkout. Then they complain.
I believe because the cell carriers have you tied into an agreement with them they don't need to do much. And it could be Citizens that is making this difficult. Either way, it needs to change.
"Today's experience has left many iPhone Upgrade Program members frustrated, and questioning whether they will enroll in the program in the future"
Yes. That's correct we were not given equal opportunitiy on upgrading our phones. At this time I can't recommend this program to anyone.
Yes. That's correct we were not given equal opportunitiy on upgrading our phones. At this time I can't recommend this program to anyone.
Exactly. Anyone not in the Upgrade program had the full (albeit limited) stock of Apple's own iPhone inventory to purchase from; online and local stores. Upgrade program folks were further limited to only a portion of the launch day stock at local store locations. This was a much, much smaller pool of stock. And with no way to reserve beyond launch day, we're now kind of stuck in limbo. Meaning, we have no idea when we can reserve one at this point.
Everyone else can still go now online and buy one with a guaranteed ship date, even if that's in November. Upgrade people can't even do that. Can't even get a date when we will have one, unless we stand in line at a local store each morning beginning on the 16th or check online beginning on the 17th.
What should have happened was anyone looking to upgrade should have had equal access to purchase from the same pool of inventory as everyone else and then have that phone shipped to a local store on the 16th (or thereafter). Then we'd have a confirmed date that we can actually get one. I'd be fine if I missed out on 9/16. But at least let me reserve one for a future date based on the availability that everyone else sees. (Also, why the requirement to go to a store? But that's not the main point.)
Right now everyone who didn't get one for the 16th is truly in limbo.