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iPhone X Unavailable to Walk-In Customers at Apple Stores in Sales Tax-Free States [Updated]
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I asked at the Apple store in Washington Square last Saturday (located in Portland, Oregon) about walk in availability, and an employee told me that walk in purchases are not available because of us having no sales tax. She suggested doing an online reservation and pickup which would open back up at 6 AM on November 4.
Makes sense. So is Oregon. But not Washington.
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They may have needed them for confirmed store pick-ups.
I highly doubt they’re going to rob Peter to pay Paul. Robberies are not Apple’s fault. And trust me I’ve shopped at Stonestown, they aren’t techies they’re a bunch of wanna-be Jabbawockeez
Is staying up late somehow "quantifiably" or qualitatively more deserving or better than camping out for hours? All you did was go to sleep later than you did the day before. I don't understand.
But Apple has said they don't want lines, they'd rather people use the App to buy. Then release phones ahead of people who used the App and created lines. Apple has to impress no one. It's not right. If you are gonna promote a preferred method, don't short the ones who use that method. I know, it's just a phone and not curing world hunger, but c'mon.
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The point being, if I was told my pre-order was shipping Nov17-24, but they are shipping them to stores and available to buy today, my order 14 mins after ordering opened should have shipped before these stores got them for walk-ins. There was phones available to send me one before Nov17-24...obviously!
I was up preordering last week too. Used 2 devices bashing refresh on multiple browsers as well as force quitting the Apple store app. Couldn’t get in until ten after. Haven’t had that problem previous years but this year the Apple store wouldn’t load. I ordered 2 and won’t get them for awhile. I wanted the phone on launch day and have been successful procuring one every year until this year. So I stood in line in Seattle in the snow (was second in line) to get a new phone. But since I live in Seattle I was turned away by an Apple employee. I wouldn’t have lined up if Apple hadn’t said they would have them in the stores. They haven’t the last few years but announced this year that they would.
I think Angela was the one who said they don't want lines. Tim saw the reaction from the empty lines for the 8 and **** bricks. Internal policy changed.
I walked into Bridgeport Village (Portland, OR) store today and walked out with a Grey 256, no pre-order. Here was the catch...I am on T-Mobile and I wanted to join up with iPhone Upgrade. All the other carriers let you do this on 10/27 for pre-orders, but T-Mobile did not. The resulting screen said to come in on 11/3 and sign up with a Specialist. The staff this morning said they have a few set aside for just this circumstance: T-Mobile, First-time iUp subscriber.
I can see it from their point if it was a health and safety issue because even though Apple lines are pretty chill they cause alot of issues for neighboring stores if there are any, logistically speaking. I've seen lines looping through parking lots, in front of business doors etc. I guess this is how they pay their "dues" for being next to Apple and benefiting from insane amounts of traffic.
But Angela is trying to turn the stores into Burberry clones. IMO launching the Apple Watch at Maxfield is all you need to know about where her interest lie. Could you imagine launching the new iMac exclusively at a Best Buy in Los Angeles and no where else for a length of time?
Yeah I remember the maxfield thing. I'l bet those people were pissed when everyday they had apple customers lined up at their snooty store.
Just keep in mind. They are not apple stores. They are apple town centers.
Am I the only one who had a relatively easy walk in experience. I just woke up early and got to the Apple store around 5:45a. Stood in line for 1.5 hours while catting with people in line. Made a reservation for 5p, got there waited another 15 min and got a phone.
[doublepost=1509767494][/doublepost]I live in Oregon and an Apple employee told me that no Oregon stores got phones due to scalpers.
While hundreds of customers are lined up at Apple's retail stores across the United States today for a chance to get their hands on an iPhone X, that doesn't appear to be the case in the states of Oregon and Washington today.
MacRumors has received multiple tips from readers who claim Apple's stores at University Village, Bellevue Square, Southcenter, and Alderwood in the Seattle area have turned away walk-in customers wishing to purchase an iPhone X since opening today.
At least five Twitter users have said likewise, including one at Pioneer Place in Portland, with store employees reportedly telling customers that iPhone X inventory is limited to those who pre-ordered the device on Apple's online store.
Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook said iPhone X would be available at Apple retail stores today starting at 8:00 a.m. local time, but he didn't clarify if all locations would be receiving stock in time for launch day. The answer would appear to be no.
Even where the iPhone X is available, supplies are likely extremely limited and going fast on a first come, first served basis. At some locations, customers have been lined up since early this week for a chance to purchase the device.
Apple forecasted that its revenue in the current quarter will be between $84 billion and $87 billion. Even the low end of that range would smash Apple's all-time record for revenue in any quarter, suggesting that iPhone X sales will be very strong.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was at Apple's Palo Alto store in California on Friday morning to celebrate the iPhone X launch, as he usually does for every iPhone launch, according to a video shared by CNBC moments ago.
Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment about iPhone X availability in the Seattle area. We'll update this article if we hear back.
Update: A source who wishes to remain anonymous claims the iPhone X is not available for walk-in customers to purchase in Oregon as an anti-scalping measure, since it is a sales tax-free state. Washington is also affected since a reciprocity agreement generally allows Oregon residents to pay no sales tax in that state as well.
A handful of MacRumors readers and Twitter users have claimed the iPhone X is not available for walk-in customers in Delaware, which also doesn't charge sales tax. Alaska, New Hampshire, and Montana may also be affected as sales tax-free states, although Apple doesn't have any retail stores in Montana.
Article Link: iPhone X Unavailable to Walk-In Customers at Apple Stores in Oregon and Washington Today [Updated]
I couldn’t buy an iPhone X because I’m a Verizon prepaid customer in Oregon. I don’t like how Apple is handling this. Why not let walk-in customers purchase one limited to 1 phone per Apple ID or require them to set up the phone in-store before leaving?
Actually it does make sense for Washington. I don't pay sales tax there as long as I show my Oregon driver's ID. At least not anywhere along the Oregon/Washington border, but I think it's statewide. It's to help the WA business compete with Oregon businesses.
Boo hoo mister "I live in Portland so I get Apple Stores"
Yes, it makes sense now. I found out yesterday Washington gives residents of sales tax-free states a rebate. Nice.Actually it does make sense for Washington. I don't pay sales tax there as long as I show my Oregon driver's ID. At least not anywhere along the Oregon/Washington border, but I think it's statewide. It's to help the WA business compete with Oregon businesses.
Boo hoo mister "I live in Portland so I get Apple Stores"
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Yesterday at Michigan Avenue they were selling phones device only and telling people they could get back into line to get 2 more after they made their purchase. Of course we have 10.25% sales tax so that probably discourages at least some resellers.
Got a reservation to pick up a 256 AT&T at the Bellevue Square store today. Cancelled my preorder that was still showing November 17-24 delivery.
As a data point, there are lots of iPhone X models available in the Philippines of all places. Not sure how they got there, but they're there.
How do you know there are lots of iPhone X models in the Philippines? Apple is not officially selling them there yet. And if they are they are most likely model A1901 (since iPhone 7 model A1778 & A1784 is sold there), which is the T-Mobile (& AT&T) model and that one is easy to get in the USA, or at least it was when preorders came live. The issue is that the Verizon/Sprint model A1865 cannot be purchased by those who do not have a post-paid carrier plan.
iPhone models by country: https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
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