Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Other Possible to Buy Phone at Store no Pre-Order?
- Thread starter Starfyre
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yes. You line up and wait. Apple reserves some stock for walk ins. Also cancellations. When you get there ask before you stand in line.
Yes, you just line up at the store on the walk in line, you reserve of your choice and select time and come back at that time you choose.
Maybe start queueing now? 🙃
Depends on the popularity and people density of the Apple Store.
Some stores you will see people camped out in front a day or 2 early while others from early morning.
First in line means you stand a good chance at getting one - may not get the color choice or storage, but at least a better chance.
Here in DFW, I'm betting on Friday morning (if not up to early evening) there will be stock of all colors/storage/carriers. By Saturday you'll see some popular models gone, and I bet by Monday you'll see most in-store stock depleted. (I've tracked this unscientifically for the 11, 12, and 13 - it has been consistent for the past 3 years.)
(Keeping my 13 Pro - best Apple device I own.
)
(Keeping my 13 Pro - best Apple device I own.
)
Actually I would suggest to get up a little bit early like 5am local time on that day. Most of the apple stores should have their inventory updated at that time and you can just buy one to pick up in store with your own time slot. So you won't need to worry about if you can get one in store.
At my local Apple stores, there is usually a group of blue shirt reps with tablets that will scan your code and tell you where to stand and wait.
Last time I waited in line was for the iPhone X (I don't remember why, maybe no pre-orders that year?)
This was at an apple store in Houston, I got there at noon on Thursday (day before launch) and I was around 20th in line. First guy got there Wednesday night apparently.
This was at an apple store in Houston, I got there at noon on Thursday (day before launch) and I was around 20th in line. First guy got there Wednesday night apparently.
Depending on where you live, you might have to constantly check. Someone might cancel their order. There's no guarantee you'll even have a chance to get one without a pre-order on Friday. I even traveled 2 hours out of my way to get my 12 PM.
Last edited:
I also miss the excitement of people lining up for iPhones and people camping out. I have fond memories of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 7plus launches and bonding with people in line.
The best strategy is keep checking the app. Once the phone is released on Friday, you will start seeing inventory for in-store pickup. New inventory gets added throughout the day (as items get scanned into inventory). Waiting in the walk-up queue also works, but is a tremendous waste of time.
Walk-up inventory used be snatched up quickly, but these days, not so much. There also used to be a huge problem with grey market buyers sending people in with cash to buy 5 phones at a time. Guessing with eSIM, this becomes a far less attractive proposition for the grey market.
Walk-up inventory used be snatched up quickly, but these days, not so much. There also used to be a huge problem with grey market buyers sending people in with cash to buy 5 phones at a time. Guessing with eSIM, this becomes a far less attractive proposition for the grey market.
Last 2 years the set up at the Apple Store near me has been always the same. There will likely be 2 lines. 1st line would be those who did not pre-order and is just looking to buy one, the other line is for those who pre-ordered and have selected the time slot to pick up.
So I’m out of the loop on this and mucked up the preorder for the first time in all iPhones for me. It sounds like I can do the 5am camp out but will have just as much luck just checking the store stock throughout the morning? Do the stores still open early launch day (like 8am)?
Current Apple stores open at regular times nowadays.
Instead of waiting blindly in line, you should go online, check for in store inventory the night before or early morning of launch to find out if they even have the phone trim, color and storage.
You may have to go to a further store if you are picky about color and storage.
Once you do find one available instore pickup, buy it and then you won't have to camp out so early.
Yes, but on Friday, September 16th, they open at 8 am. Regular times at the apple store near me is 10 am.
Thanks I stand corrected.
Any possibility that the store will have the 14 Plus on hand ?
Hate waiting till 10/7 for mine to show up.
14 plus doesn't release 9/16. 10/7 is the general release for that model.
Right now app shows everything as not available for pickup, but your saying by Friday availability will actually show up throughout the day for online reservation? (so no need to have remorse for missing out on a pre-order timeframe?)
Would be nice if with all the preorders, COVID, that people don’t line up as long anymore, but it sounds like this is not the case and lines are still just as long.
Last edited:
Yes, Friday around midnight the store inventory should be filled up.
You should check Thursday all day to look for store inventory - it depends on when the employees scan the store inventory.
When you see store availability, grab it and pay for it immediately, otherwise you have others that will get it and you may be out of luck waiting in line.
You may have to travel to further distance Apple Stores to find your trim, model, color and storage.