Postscript
Hello again.
So as a coda to my issues with how UPS handles customer communication:
So I called, as I said yesterday, at 8:15am and talked to the International dept and then the Apple department at UPS and after looking at the tracking, I was told that it showed as still scheduled to be delivered (and it as it turned out it COULD have been, just barely, by the end of the day). I live in Orlando, the phone had been in California as of 10pm the night before with no sign of movement.
I called again at noon because there was still no sign of movement. I was told the phone wouldn't be delivered today. No apology. I explained I was waiting at home on the advice of the last rep that the phone would be delivered. No apology, but an offer to have the package be made available at the station for pickup. After some hesitation I agreed. I specified that my husband's name was the one on the box, since the bill is in his name. The rep said it was no problem as long as my ID matched the address on the box. She also said she noted my name on the file as the one coming for pickup.
At 1:30ish my phone cleared customs in Kentucky. Clearly it had done some moving since 10pm. When? No idea. No scan of departure, no scan of arrival. Just a scan of arrival at 10pm in Ontario CA and the next in Kentucky @ 1:30ish.
Next scan the plane was headed to Orlando at around 4pm. Arrival @ 6pm-ish. I called the Orlando depot at 5 and asked about the possibility of coming to get the phone around 8, just before they closed. She explained no, it would be in the holding area at the airport before it came to the depot. I checked about pickup the next morning. No problem, just have an ID that matches the box. Great. I went to bed early.
Jump to 8:15am. I am driving to the depot and I get a notification that my package is on a vehicle for delivery. I freak out (in my head). No way they messed that up. Two people confirmed it would be at the station. I got 2 notifications on my phone it would be available for pickup at the station. I arrive at the depot at 8:20 and pace like an expectant father. I'm sure the other people waiting for them to open thought I was nuts. The situation that followed did little to disprove that theory.
8:30 the door opens and I am at the counter for pickup. She gets the box, gets my ID and pauses a long time. Too long for poor vision. She asks who the name on the box is. I explain it's my husband, it's his account so I couldn't change it to my name. She refuses to release the phone without a "release consent form" signed by him. I have a line of 6 people behind me who I'm sure would love to NOT start the day with drama, but here we go. I explain the whole situation (in a less wordy way than I am here) and point out two people, including one from this very depot, told me I would have no issue. A manager is called over. She explains they cannot release the phone without this form. Can my husband log into iTunes and print the form and fax it in? I said, "No. He is working. He can't stop what he's doing to take care of paperwork that shouldn't be needed anyway. If you delivered it to my home and I answered the door you wouldn't ask for it."
Things get REALLY dumb. I tell her I have no idea what form she is referring to, so she goes onto her terminal that they are using for customer service (making me extremely popular with the line that has formed) to poke around on Apple's site to find this form. As it turns out, *I* have to log into MY account, go to the order, and then she has to print the form you leave at the door when you are OK with UPS leaving something for you. Along the way I pointed out how I was logged in and the store page showed the item, my name, the shipping address, and my husband's name all on the page, along with the tracking number. Still not good enough apparently.
She reads the printed form, has me sign in two spots, and that's it. Apparently the way of approving that someone else can pick up the phone was to have that person fill out paperwork allowing someone else to pick up the phone.
Dammit. I just realized I never logged OUT of the Apple Store on her computer. *****.
So, after 15 minutes of adrenaline and furrowed foreheads, I walked out with the new phone. A 128GB iPhone 6+ was now in hand. I hadn't seen any of the new apple products in person because I wanted the first one I saw to be mine.
I will say this. I don't have big hands. My husband does, and he thought the phone was pretty big. I will say this. I think it is a GREAT size, and considering I use my phone much more for the screen and data/information than I ever do as an actual PHONE, this thing is going to be A-maz-ING.
If you have one on order, hang in there, but I suspect you're going to love it and all the frustration, anger, impatience, patronizing forum comments and myriad other emotions that go with awaiting a new Apple product with be worth it. You'll already have your first story, your first experience (no birth is an easy process) and then you'll start many more with your new (much larger) companion.
Enjoy.
Location Date Local Time Activity
Orlando, FL, United States 09/24/2014 8:15 A.M. Out For Delivery
09/24/2014 5:05 A.M. As requested, the delivery change was completed. / The receiver arranged to pick up the package at a UPS facility. Pickup must be made within 5 business days.
09/24/2014 2:00 A.M. Arrival Scan
Orlando, FL, United States 09/23/2014 7:10 P.M. Departure Scan
09/23/2014 6:24 P.M. Arrival Scan
Louisville, KY, United States 09/23/2014 4:06 P.M. Departure Scan
09/23/2014 1:14 P.M. Import Scan
Orlando, FL, United States 09/23/2014 11:44 A.M. A delivery change for this package is in progress. / The receiver arranged to pick up the package at a UPS facility.
Ontario, CA, United States 09/22/2014 9:59 P.M. Arrival Scan
Anchorage, AK, United States 09/22/2014 4:07 P.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2014 12:43 P.M. Arrival Scan
Osaka, Japan 09/22/2014 10:21 P.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2014 7:03 P.M. Arrival Scan
Shanghai, China 09/22/2014 5:25 P.M. Departure Scan
09/22/2014 5:01 P.M. Departure Scan
ZhengZhou, China 09/20/2014 1:45 A.M. Departure Scan
ZhengZhou, China 09/19/2014 6:35 P.M. Departure Scan
09/19/2014 5:31 P.M. Location Scan
09/19/2014 2:23 P.M. Origin Scan
China 09/19/2014 8:35 A.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS
