Since the iPhone 6, the Apple Store App is the best way to order direct from the Apple Store. The website is decidedly inferior in terms of uptime.
What payment method are you using that doesn't work with the App...?
In Canada, we have access to an "Apple Financial" account. They assign you a # that looks like a credit card #. You enter it on the site and it automatically gets billed to your account. I can also pay down the account using online banking, so it works just like any credit card.
You cannot use the Apple Financial # as a payment method in the app (or in store).
Apple Financial accounts get you 3 months of interest free financing on purchases over $750. This isn't some third party payment method, but an application you actually apply for right on the Apple.ca website.
Needless to say, it's a program I take advantage of often (I buy all my Apple product this way including my 5s two years ago), The fact it won't work with the app is very weak and cost me a delayed delivery on the phone I wanted most (Black 6s Plus, 128 GB, slated for delivery Oct 7-14).
My credit limit did allow me to score a second phone (White/Silver 6s Plus, 128 GB, slated for delivery Sep 25). That model was available for launch day delivery for several hours on Saturday morning. The black model was gone in about 1/2 hour.
I don't like white phones so I'm most likely going to use it until the black one arrives and either return it to Apple or sell it privately. In other words, the weakness in the app has me taking a white/silver phone out of someone's hands that wanted one on the 25th. I'm not losing sleep over that scenario, but it's far from ideal for me. Good thing it's so easy to return stuff with Apple.
All I wanted was one phone and one phone only on the 25th. Would have had it easily using the app had it.
First world problems, I know.
