Then again, this is a launch and Apple is not going to be able to fulfill 100% of the preorders for ANY type of customer regardless of the shipping plan. There just aren't enough units to go around yet.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone Upgrade Program Causes Headaches on Launch Day Due to Limited Stock
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Then again, this is a launch and Apple is not going to be able to fulfill 100% of the preorders for ANY type of customer regardless of the shipping plan. There just aren't enough units to go around yet.
I read this in Donald Trump's voice (based on your avatar and name) and it sounded great.
That's not how financing works.
Using a different example...Simply replacing "phone" with "home":
If I'm buying a home and need a loan, a mortgage company (read: Citizens Bank), will pay the home seller (Apple) the full sales price. The mortgage company doesn't disburse my monthly mortgage payments to the home seller as I make them. The seller is whole.
Bottom line, Apple is getting paid in full for every phone financed through 3rd parties.
What is funny is I got the email from Citizens Bank with their link and my new account number, and the account signup process won't work in Safari. I went right through in Chrome. Even after setting up the account, I can't login in Safari.
4 IN THE AFTERNOON? Jesus. Talk about laziness AND entitlement.
Its not too late - if you are in IUP there are still phones available for pickup next friday (launch day)
Not necessarily. I was able to reserve the model I wanted (Jet Black 7 - 128GB) at 12:08am PDT. Apple supposedly estimated based on last year's sales, and from what I have read on other sites they will set aside a certain portion of stock for AUP users once reservations resume on 9/17.
That said, it would be nice if they offered an "auto-update" option so that we wouldn't need to roll the dice every year. However, my guess is that most people on the upgrade program are NOT launch date customers and that this will work just fine for those who bought their phones later in the product cycle.
If you had read the article, you'd have known that they weren't given a chance AT ALL. They were immediately referred to stores which all said out of stock immediately.
I believe that Apple has the upgrade program to be an alternate to ATT Next, or the equivalent of other carriers. Why not be the ones to get those $35-ish per month instead of the carrier? Since it is a business, they should consider giving special Apple Store appointment treatment to these "loyal (in terms of basically committing to buying a new phone every single year)" customers in order to lure more people to their Apple upgrade program.
I don't know if that means setting aside more phones for their program or opening up store appointments to their upgrade program customers a day or even an hour early, or what, but what a great way to get people to use their upgrade program instead! This is a business after all. This way they do not leave money out on the table like they seemed to have done. Also, since the program requires 12 payments before upgrade, anyone who gets their phone in November won't be eligible next September! I guess they either wait 2 months or cough up 2 payments early, that sucks. This idea can prevent that from happening for those who really want it day one.
For the record, I am not an Apple upgrade program customer. I'm on ATT and don't want to give up my unlimited data plan so I am unsure what to do at this point still.
I don't know if that means setting aside more phones for their program or opening up store appointments to their upgrade program customers a day or even an hour early, or what, but what a great way to get people to use their upgrade program instead! This is a business after all. This way they do not leave money out on the table like they seemed to have done. Also, since the program requires 12 payments before upgrade, anyone who gets their phone in November won't be eligible next September! I guess they either wait 2 months or cough up 2 payments early, that sucks. This idea can prevent that from happening for those who really want it day one.
For the record, I am not an Apple upgrade program customer. I'm on ATT and don't want to give up my unlimited data plan so I am unsure what to do at this point still.
No, they are frustrated because this is NOT what they were promised when they joined the program. First world? Sure, no one's being killed over this, but people should at least get what they pay for.
Dear Apple:
I have four (4) iPhone Upgrade Program phones for my family. I am your BEST customer because I do exactly what you want and need me to do: buy new phones every single year. Last year I put my money on that, including paying for AppleCare I usually don't need. I EXPECTED some preferential treatment from you because that is what you do for your best customers whom you KNOW want the new iPhones -- and committed to it at your offer!!!! When I stayed up until 2am to upgrade my phones I should have been escorted to the front of the line. Instead I got instantly shut down? Seriously!?!?
Tim should have announced a special pre-order for IUP customers that came before the masses. Because that's what the program is supposed to be about. Upgrading your iPhone. Every year. Not every 14 months. Not at the back of the line.
Miffed in Chicago
I have four (4) iPhone Upgrade Program phones for my family. I am your BEST customer because I do exactly what you want and need me to do: buy new phones every single year. Last year I put my money on that, including paying for AppleCare I usually don't need. I EXPECTED some preferential treatment from you because that is what you do for your best customers whom you KNOW want the new iPhones -- and committed to it at your offer!!!! When I stayed up until 2am to upgrade my phones I should have been escorted to the front of the line. Instead I got instantly shut down? Seriously!?!?
Tim should have announced a special pre-order for IUP customers that came before the masses. Because that's what the program is supposed to be about. Upgrading your iPhone. Every year. Not every 14 months. Not at the back of the line.
Miffed in Chicago
For some sure demand may change but for the initial wave of mainly fanboys nothing will come close to that shiny ol Apple product. It is static for fanboys which are the ones who usually always adopt Apple products early on. They don't mind waiting and just will want the device more when they can't get hands on it. See all the whiners in this forum who feel entitled to a device on launch. Fanboys aren't going to go for a note 7 since it's not an Apple products.
Obviously they aren't linked like that. I'm talking about people already demanding it. They are going to want it more when they can't have it. Demand won't change/go down for the initial wave of fanboys who only want the new iPhone.
Supply and demand, they do it every year to make people freak out and buy phones because of the excitement and hype. I don't know how it works but it works for Apple. It's like putting blood in the water to attract sharks!
Couple things. First, I could only order the gold, rose gold or silver when I logged in at like 3:05, which was when I was finally allowed in. I wanted matte black but I was on the fence anyway. So it helped my decision.
Second, Apple never guaranteed that iPhone Upgrade Program people could upgrade on launch day. They don't owe us anything. If you didn't like the choices you got, you could always wait a day or two and try again. I decided not to wait. Bummer for those who couldn't preorder at all, but you always have the option of buying the phone outright.
Second, Apple never guaranteed that iPhone Upgrade Program people could upgrade on launch day. They don't owe us anything. If you didn't like the choices you got, you could always wait a day or two and try again. I decided not to wait. Bummer for those who couldn't preorder at all, but you always have the option of buying the phone outright.
Generally it was only certain models. It took until this morning before the shipping dates on the silver, gold, and rose gold got pushed out to 2-3 weeks in most locations.
Thats EXACTLY my question. They have to fix this at some point, and I don't agree with others that its about "most loyal" but I do think if you are going to have a program that you have a contingency plan that makes sure you have "X" amount set aside for a short 24 hour period in the expectation that those customers will be upgrading (why offer 12 month upgrades otherwise), Then from that time frame you can slowly release the unspoken for units, its a win win.
Well, you havent really paid for it. You've paid a single year of 2 years worth of instalments. Buying a new one just resets the clock back to zero for another 2 years. Some people may want out of this commitment, so going to go 2 years and then end it.
I was able to place my order this morning for a 128 GB black phone (not Jet black), and get a pickup date next Friday the 16th.
Lucky me, I guess.
Lucky me, I guess.
Be careful you will anger the "economists" in here. They already called me a conspiracy theorist who knows nothing. Just for stating common sense that Apple knows what they are doing. They under produce initial wave to create some buzz and make users who want the device want it even more when they have to wait. Apple are experts at teasing
I just checked and all that is left in North Carolina for upgrade program members is the iPhone 7. No Plus models are available for next Friday anywhere in the state.
Yeah, no ... I just don't get this reasoning, it happens every year. Why isn't Apple starting their manufacturing lines earlier - there's more than just opening weekend - there isn't a new release every quarter THIS IS Apple's iPhone for 2016-2017 - it's not like they're not going to make any sales past opening weekend.
This is Apple creating false hype, PERIOD.
And you are also responsible for any damage to your old phone. So if the screen on your iPhone 6s that you are returning to Apple for a new iPhone 7 is cracked you would need to pay the Apple Care screen replacement cost at that time to receive the new phone. That is why Apple needs to review your old phone at the time of the upgrade.