Launch Day Reaction Mixed as iPhone 7 Shipping Estimates Improve but Some Reservations Turned Away

[AppleMark]

My black 7+ has a ship date of Oct 3rd - 10th. Has anyone gotten upgraded shipping times with initial October 3rd dates?

Yes [for the normal sized 7].

Ordered 2 phones, 1 Matt black 256GB and 1 Jet Black 256GB. Matt black arrived today and received an email updating my earlier shipping date of 26th September - 3rd October, to it already being dispatched today with a delivery by the 26th September.

 

[wiimixer]

I haven't put iOSNow, for people still rocking 4, 4s, and to an extent 5 and 5c I can see why they would be a little put out by having to wait yet another month for a new device. I expect getting by on those older devices, especially the 4 and 4s, may be pretty rage inducing and require a massive amount of patience with modern apps and OSes loaded on.

Not so. I'm running iOS 10 in my black iPhone 5 (yep, actual black - not space/matt/piano etc), and whilst it's clearly not as dazzling as it must be on all the subsequent models - it's an improvement on iOS 9.

I'm hanging on for the must-have upgrade, and the improved camera made me toy with the idea of the 7+. But the -ve response to the home 'button' and daunting price for a larger memory model (presume needed for those improved photos) left me happy to sit tight for another year.

The 5 (coupled with an Apple Watch for Apple Pay) more than meets my needs in all honesty - though I'm growing jealous of the Live Photos feature on the wife's SE. And iOS 10 is starting to show the potential of Force Touch.

Hopefully 2017 will bring an irresistible iPhone! Meanwhile, I'll keep rocking the 'simple, beautiful, classic, how much more black could it be?' black iPhone 5. So long as it's got the grunt to play philosophical YouTube clips, a-la:

I couldn't give a toss what Janine thinks!

 

[SteveSparks]

Angela runs the stores -- decides the decor, the layout, promotions. She doesn't had anything to do with production of product. She just sells what is sent to her. Sorry. If you want to blame people look to TC and Jeff Williams.

I agree. This the poorest launch to date. Lack of planning and failure o execution has cast a dark cloud over Apple. The cloud might not be noticed by the general population but the core fan base won't forget.

 

[mhuggett]

What the hell is going on with in store availability? The lack of inventory might be the worst of any iPhone launch in recent memory.

Can only image what next year will be like if things don't change...

 

[639051]

Hilarious replies here. People crying about a man mad supply constraint, this that, whatever the case may be. Some saying "Apple should delay the launch!" ..

None of you would be happy with whatever they did so let's not kid ourselves here. Mine arrives next month, who cares. I really do wonder why so many of you continue to buy the phone with how much you complain about Apple.

 

[latsyrhc]

Waited in line for almost 2 hours to pick mine up (had an 11-11:30 check-in time).. got back to my apartment and my neighbor was getting his from the front desk. My first and only time doing in-store pickup for the new iPhone.

 

[639051]

I agree. This the poorest launch to date. Lack of planning and failure o execution has cast a dark cloud over Apple. The cloud might not be noticed by the general population but the core fan base won't forget.

The same core fan base that buys over and over regardless of the issue? You guys are funny.

 

[Koodauw]

This launch has been a mess. Ron Johnson would never have allowed this.

 

[KPOM]

Remember there is the typhoon in Taiwan that disrupted shipments so it's possible that shipments for in-store reservations got delayed at the last minute. I'm guessing most of those will be fulfilled early next week.

 

[f_merc]

I had a reservation at 8am for my 7 plus black - after about 15 min in limbo, they finally "found" my phone - no complaints just happy it was there

 

[bladerunner2000]

Or maybe it's the fact that the most sought after phone was announced to not be available as a walk in purchase days before the launch. Why bother waiting in line for a phone you won't get?

LOL, yah... intentionally done too to limit the amount to create the illusion of hype. It's a failed product. I hope apple's intent to ruin a perfectly good industry standard (3.5mm plug) for their greedy tactics bites them in the ass.

If it's not broken, DONT FIX IT.

 

[brosenz]

What is the correct time for the In Store Reservation feature to become available in the US? I've seen conflicting information, thanks

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Hilarious replies here. People crying about a man mad supply constraint, this that, whatever the case may be. Some saying "Apple should delay the launch!" ..

None of you would be happy with whatever they did so let's not kid ourselves here. Mine arrives next month, who cares. I really do wonder why so many of you continue to buy the phone with how much you complain about Apple.

But if I can't have mine now then nobody should have theirs now either!
It's not fair!
I'm running away!
I hate you mom!

/s

 

[KPOM]

I agree. This the poorest launch to date. Lack of planning and failure o execution has cast a dark cloud over Apple. The cloud might not be noticed by the general population but the core fan base won't forget.

For months people were saying "this is a boring upgrade, no one will buy it," and Apple cut back initial orders after over-ordering the 6S last year. It turns out 1) they underestimated initial demand, 2) Samsung got a lot of bad press from exploding phones the very week that the iPhone 7 was announced, and 3) there was a typhoon that disrupted shipments from Taiwan the week of the launch. Not saying Apple didn't make any mistakes, but there were some unpredictable events, as well.

 

[duaneu]

Delay the launch so everyone has to wait until November? To me, it makes more sense to send them out as they're made. At least some people are happy sooner. Or you could just make everybody be unhappy, but at least it would be "fair."

 

[AppleMark]

Waited in line for almost 2 hours to pick mine up (had an 11-11:30 check-in time).. got back to my apartment and my neighbor was getting his from the front desk. My first and only time doing in-store pickup for the new iPhone.

Never understood store pick-up, when you can get it delivered to your door for free. You take the day / morning / afternoon off work in most cases to pay to travel, stand around and be inconvenienced to then get back home / work, where you could have stayed and had a cup of tea and waited for the doorbell to ring.

 

[michaelrmcneill]

My local Best Buy opens in 30 minutes, still no email regarding my in-store pre-order. Given the article AI posted on stock shortages at Target and Best Buy, though, I'm not exactly feeling confident at the moment. Once again I will say if Apple couldn't guarantee stock to it's third parties, they shouldn't have offered Launch Day pre-orders at all. Had I known this was going to happen I would have just pre-ordered from Apple like I normally do, which I absolutely will be doing in the future, but not because I'm upset with Best Buy. The poor manager I spoke with yesterday was putting on a PR face, but it was clear he was well aware what level of hell he would be in for if that shipment from Apple didn't come in first thing this morning.

I walked into my local Best Buy this morning and got my pre-order, without it being ready. They just had me do a normal in-store order and then cancelled the online order. Still waiting for my 7+ though...

 

[Drag'nGT]

I can't understand why it was so difficult to do the pre-order online. I wanted to purchase the Verizon version of the 7 Plus because it should work with either Verizon's network or AT&T's (AT&T's version is missing the CDMA chip) and I was on the fence about switching. I tried to order at 3am only to be forced to log in to a non existent VZW account. I just wanted to buy an unlocked phone. I thought that was supposed to be easy?!?!

So, supply at launch is vastly short for the demand. iOS 10 bricked some phones despite countless Betas. Apple upgrade subscribers were prevented from pre-ordering. Sounds like a fantastic launch day.

 

[jerry16]

LOL, yah... intentionally done too to limit the amount to create the illusion of hype. It's a failed product. I hope apple's intent to ruin a perfectly good industry standard (3.5mm plug) for their greedy tactics bites them in the ass.

If it's not broken, DONT FIX IT.

Failed product? It hasn't even been available 24 hours. Not going to argue intentionally limited stock, but we'll have to agree to disagree on the 3.5MM jack. Apple has always disrupted industries, and historically for the greater good. I believe once we get through the growing pains, wireless audio will be better because of this and few will actually miss the wires.

 

[toph2toast]

Have to give it up for Apple Store Americana (Glendale, CA)! I had an 8am reservation, but they also couldn't find the phone. Apparently the shipment they were expecting was late. No worries from me, the manager calmly explained it to me and took my info with a promise to call me when it arrived, and comped my new leather 7+ case on the spot. I walked to the local coffee bean and less than 15min later he called to say it had arrived. Walked right back and was out the door 15min later with my 7+ and a free leather case.

Great service, you just have to be nice!

Wish there were more people like you in the world. Being patient and kind goes a long way. It's not like it's the store employees' fault that the shipment was late.

 

[latsyrhc]

Never understood store pick-up, when you can get it delivered to your door for free. You take the day / morning / afternoon off work in most cases to pay to travel, stand around and be inconvenienced to then get back home / work, where you could have stayed and had a cup of tea and waited for the doorbell to ring.

I just wanted the ~experience~~ of it because this was my first time preordering. Now I can say I've done it and will never do it again.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Never understood store pick-up, when you can get it delivered to your door for free. You take the day / morning / afternoon off work in most cases to pay to travel, stand around and be inconvenienced to then get back home / work, where you could have stayed and had a cup of tea and waited for the doorbell to ring.

Because with store pickup, YOU can control when you get it (ie., first thing) compared to when the UPS man decides he wants to bring it to you (6PM).

Count me as one of the pissed off 7+ pre-orderers that was supposed to get it today at BB (ordered at 2AM on pre-order launch day), and nothing at BB for me. No status, just "sorry, nothing for you".

 

[koilvr]

NO IPHONE 7 PLUS AT ALL IN ANY KNOXVILLE STORES. KINDA SUCKS 1ST TIME SINCE THE FIRST IPHONE I COULDNT GET ONE ON LAUNCH DAY APPLE DROPPED THE APPLES ON THIS ONE.

 

[Moi Ici]

Pre-Ordered 2 iPhone 7 Plus 256gb ATT full price (1 jet black and 1 matte black) on the pre-order day. Both orders went through showing delivery between 9/26-10/03. This morning I got an email that both phones had shipped and will be delivered this Monday by UPS.

Cool! Hoping for that same email soon

 

[davidf18]

Last year I had the in-store pickup later on Friday -- the a NYC store is 10 mins from my work/home. I was able to turn in the iPhone 6+ for the iPhone 6s+ and all worked well. Last year there were a lot more phones for in-store pickup. But the launch date was 9/25 and not 9/16. A week later would have made it 9/23 and there would have been a lot more phones available.

Also, Apple has added a lot more countries that get phones on launch day, further constraining supplies. I think China launched later two years ago. This has made the supply situation far worse as a result.