iPhone 11 Pro Picking up a reserved iPhone on launch day

[Bethanie21]

Apologies for the thread, I know there are similar threads on this issue, but I can’t seem to get anyone to reply to me.

I’ve got an iPhone 11 Pro reserved for pickup at my local Apple store on launch day. I’m going on Apple’s iPhone Payments plan, which can only be set up in store (at least here in the UK). I’ve got all my paperwork ready for Apple to run a credit check on me. I have a couple of questions re the pickup process:

1. Will Apple hold my phone until my allocated time slot (between 5 and 5:30pm)? They won’t sell it to a walk-in? I’ll be there way before 5pm so no risk of me missing the appointment
2. Do you really have to queue for 2+ hours even when you’ve got a phone reserved? If so, I will not be able to set up the payment plan as the store closes at 7pm. I’m hoping it won’t be so busy at 5pm, but who knows!

Thanks in advance for any answers

 

[204353]

1. Absolutely. That's the whole point of the reservation. I'm going in the evening to join the iPhone Upgrade Programme.

2. As far as I'm aware, they prioritise checked-in reservation customers, so it's very unlikely that you'd have to wait anywhere near that long.

 

[Ifti]

Your handset is reserved for you only - it will not be sold to another buyer. If they did I would be very upset and demand some sort of compensation for the wasted time and journey!! But Apple are generally good in this regard - if you have a pre-order placed, then your handset will be waiting for you.

I haven't reserved a phone in this way before, so I'm unsure of the wait, but I cant see why they would make you wait 2+ hours! The whole point of giving you a time slot is so that they stick to that time. I wouldn't be happy waiting around 2 hours when I have a time slot chosen.
Then again, this can also depend upon the store. My closest store is always very busy and waiting for a 'genius' (I use that term loosely) can often overrun beyond my allocated time.....

 

[Appl3FTW]

1. The phone is technically yours. They cannot sell it.
2. There’s 2 lines in the states, one for reserved line and one for walk ins.

 

[sneeks]

I doubt the queue will be massive, when I collected my X the wait time was a couple of minutes. Totally different when I bought my iPhone 8, that day I had to wait 1 hour and that was even with me having a booked time slot. The demand has definitely fallen these last 2 years.

I have my 11 Pro reservation booked for 15:30-16:00 but I’m going to have to walk-in to the store much earlier in the day now due to unforeseen work commitments, hopefully it will not be a problem.

 

[kurtatx]

2. Do you really have to queue for 2+ hours even when you’ve got a phone reserved? If so, I will not be able to set up the payment plan as the store closes at 7pm. I’m hoping it won’t be so busy at 5pm, but who knows!

Thanks in advance for any answers

You had 1 answered.

For point 2, you get to jump whatever line there is because you have a reservation.