Pre-Order Info: Apple or AT&T? Home or Store Delivery? Pros and Cons!

[Geckotek]

Only people interested in a bizarre social experiences pick them up in the store.

What a truly ignorant statement. Many of us don't have the luxury of waiting around for it to arrive and IIRC it requires signature so I don't plan on chasing it down over the next few days at a UPS or FedEx facility. If it doesn't require sig, I don't want it left on my doorstep.

Picking it up in-store is the best option for some of us, despite your narrow minded assumption.

 

[amann76]

Do you know if this process is the same regardless of where I pre-order ( Apple, AT&T, Radio Shack )?

by the way, thanks a ton for the info!

my experience was with apple, but i would assume that it would be the same for the other places that are doing pre-orders.

 

[sparkomatic]

The first gen iPhone, I waited in line for the release. It was fun and all but definitely don't want to do that again. For the 3GS, I pre-ordered and picked up at my local Apple store. There was a small wait but nothing horribly bad.

This time around, I'm going to pre-order and opt for delivery. This way I don't have to deal with going to the store. I'm sure they'll still be alot of people there but delivery seems like the best bet now.

I like buying my Apple stuff from Apple, so I'll be ordering from them.

 

[lnferno]

And yet another thread will clear things up?

This is simple - If you Pre-Order online you have 2 options;

1. Get the iPhone delivered to whatever address you specify on the 24th.
2. Specify in store pick up and wait in line to get it either on the 24th (Apple Store) or 25th (ATT).

Is it certain that if you pre-order for home or business delivery, it will be delivered on 6/24? The reason I ask is I'll be leaving for a wedding on June 24th and will be gone for a week and a half. The new iPhone 4 would be PERFECT for my trip as I'm going to be taking pics and videos.

I'm tempted to having it shipped to the hotel that I'll be staying at, but I'll only be at a hotel for 2 days, then changing hotels after that since I'll be visiting some friends in another nearby city.

What do you guys think? Too big of a risk having it shipped to my hotel or do it?

 

[dagored]

Do you know if this process is the same regardless of where I pre-order ( Apple, AT&T, Radio Shack )?

by the way, thanks a ton for the info!

I'm in the same boat as bunger. A Verizon customer switching over two numbers. I want home delivery - not a problem. Just hope the setup on line goes easily. I want both numbers ported over and working the day the phones arrive.

Does anyone see a problem with this?

 

[amann76]

I'm in the same boat as bunger. A Verizon customer switching over two numbers. I want home delivery - not a problem. Just hope the setup on line goes easily. I want both numbers ported over and working the day the phones arrive.

Does anyone see a problem with this?

they are saying you can only preorder one phone per person.

if you want the numbers ported and working when the phone/s arrive that means you will not be able to use your current phone while the shipping is happening. so technically you could be without a working cell phone for up to 1 week. that is why it is better to port the numbers after you have the phones in hand.

 

[dagored]

they are saying you can only preorder one phone per person.

if you want the numbers ported and working when the phone/s arrive that means you will not be able to use your current phone while the shipping is happening. so technically you could be without a working cell phone for up to 1 week. that is why it is better to port the numbers after you have the phones in hand.

Well, I called Apple yesterday and was told I could order up to 5 phones. However, I have called them and other companies and received wrong or really bad advice. Anyone know how many phones can be ordered? I need two.

 

[amann76]

Well, I called Apple yesterday and was told I could order up to 5 phones. However, I have called them and other companies and received wrong or really bad advice. Anyone know how many phones can be ordered? I need two.

you may be able to order that many from apple because they may have a larger supply, but i know att is saying you can only order one from them if you are a new customer.

those two companies have been working together since the release of the first iphone and they still can't seem to be on the same page with their info. in my mall the att store and apple store are right next to each other and you still get conflicting advice.

 

[dagored]

you may be able to order that many from apple because they may have a larger supply, but i know att is saying you can only order one from them if you are a new customer.

those two companies have been working together since the release of the first iphone and they still can't seem to be on the same page with their info. in my mall the att store and apple store are right next to each other and you still get conflicting advice.

Well, after 2 more phone calls, here is what I was told.

Online, I would have to order one phone at a time - Why I questioned, if I want a phone for me and my wife on a family plan. Apple- you can not sign up for a family plan on line, you have to go to an AT&T Store or an Apple Store.

I can live with that.

I called my local Apple store - an hour away - I can come in Tuesday, reserve two phones and return on the 24th to have them activated with my numbers from Verizon on an AT&T family plan.

I hope this info helps others.

 

[dave006]

Well, after 2 more phone calls, here is what I was told.

Online, I would have to order one phone at a time - Why I questioned, if I want a phone for me and my wife on a family plan. Apple- you can not sign up for a family plan on line, you have to go to an AT&T Store or an Apple Store.

I can live with that.

I called my local Apple store - an hour away - I can come in Tuesday, reserve two phones and return on the 24th to have them activated with my numbers from Verizon on an AT&T family plan.

I hope this info helps others.

You can also pre-order two individual lines from Apple for home delivery. Once you get them, activate them and then call AT&T Customer Care and have the two individual lines merged into a single FamilyTalk rate plan.

Note: I strongly suggest that you not port with your order but wait and try AT&T service before you port your numbers, you have 30 days to complete the port at no cost. Again, it can all be done with a phone call to the Porting Center.

Davee

 

[dagored]

You can also pre-order two individual lines from Apple for home delivery. Once you get them, activate them and then call AT&T Customer Care and have the two individual lines merged into a single FamilyTalk rate plan.

Note: I strongly suggest that you not port with your order but wait and try AT&T service before you port your numbers, you have 30 days to complete the port at no cost. Again, it can all be done with a phone call to the Porting Center.

Davee

Not worried about AT&T service in my area. A few of my friends purchased the 3Gs when it came out, I could not because my wife had just picked up a new phone from Alltel, another story, and after Verizon picked up Alltel, I had to sit on the plan until her contract ran out this past May.

Their service has been great, and these are PC, I will never buy an Apple product, people. If the service or phone sucked, I would hear it because I have owned Apple products since the IIc.

As far as they are concerned, they think it is an AT&T product that Apple makes for them.

Now my Verizon service is iffy and the local store here is not a friendly place. They are doing you a favor by waiting on you or answering questions.
I'm done.

 

[puregreddy]

If you pre-order for pick-up in an apple store, don't forget that as a bonus, you will also get the cool apple bag!!!!!


...as opposed to the ugly orange bags that ATT stores have.........also as opposed to no bags, but perhaps packing peanuts if you have it shipped to your home/work.....but the packing peanuts won't have the apple logo on them....i don't think......

 

[Mercaptan]

If you pre-order for pick-up in an apple store, don't forget that as a bonus, you will also get the cool apple bag!!!!!


...as opposed to the ugly orange bags that ATT stores have.........also as opposed to no bags, but perhaps packing peanuts if you have it shipped to your home/work.....but the packing peanuts won't have the apple logo on them....i don't think......

Dunno, I had my 3GS shipped last year, and all my packing peanuts were shaped like little Apple logos.


...well not really, but that'd be hilarious.

 

[amann76]

If you pre-order for pick-up in an apple store, don't forget that as a bonus, you will also get the cool apple bag!!!!!


...as opposed to the ugly orange bags that ATT stores have.........also as opposed to no bags, but perhaps packing peanuts if you have it shipped to your home/work.....but the packing peanuts won't have the apple logo on them....i don't think......

you are right about the bag part. i sold my 3g bag on ebay for about 30 bucks.

BTW there are not packing peanuts at all in the shipping cartons if you choose home delivery. the way the box folds around the iphone box it secures the package. a very minimalist approach.

 

[diamond.g]

you are right about the bag part. i sold my 3g bag on ebay for about 30 bucks.

BTW there are not packing peanuts at all in the shipping cartons if you choose home delivery. the way the box folds around the iphone box it secures the package. a very minimalist approach.

Were the 3G bags like the original iPhone launch bags (with the iPhone on them)?

 

[amann76]

Were the 3G bags like the original iPhone launch bags (with the iPhone on them)?

 

[diamond.g]

image here

Nice! It is the little things like that...

 

[Number 41]

I picked my 3GS up at an AT&T Store on launch day last year -- didn't pre-order, went in before work, stood on line for about 15 minutes and got the phone.

I found the experience mostly painless, especially considering I was switching over from a Sprint account. There was about 10 minutes of setup for the number porting, and I was good to go a few minutes after that. I got my FAN discount all set up with no hassel either. I'll definitely be going the local AT&T store route again and avoid the zoo a the apple store.

Home delivery? Eh -- I work an 8-5 job. I don't have time to sit at home and wait to sign for a package, and I certainly don't want it being left on my doorstep when everyone and their brother will know it's "iPhone Delivery Day."

 

[dave006]

Not worried about AT&T service in my area.,,,,.

Then you can start the port process with the order, just make sure you have the account information and any PIN that may be required. You will enter the phone and account information when you pre-order.

Account information includes:

Account number
Name of the account holder
Billing address
PIN or password (if applicable)

Did you verify that your number was available to port?
You can check it here: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/transfer-your-number/

Once you complete the iTunes activation, you will be able to make calls but the inbound call routing may take longer (last year, in some cases 24 hrs due to the volumes).

Dave

 

[falconman515]

When ordering from Apple and having home delivery done will it arrive on day 1 for sure?

Also when pre-ordering on Apples website does it matter what time of day you order it? .... For instance 10,000 people order before 5PM on the 15th and I order mine at 8 that night and I'm like the 15,000th buyer will I potentially get my on a different shipment and get mine say a day late while the other 15K people got theirs in first so they get theirs out on the first truck on day1.

Just want to know if it makes a difference to be up early to place my order or even if I order later that night it wont make any difference.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[MikePA]

When ordering from Apple and having home delivery done will it arrive on day 1 for sure?

Also when pre-ordering on Apples website does it matter what time of day you order it? .... For instance 10,000 people order before 5PM on the 15th and I order mine at 8 that night and I'm like the 15,000th buyer will I potentially get my on a different shipment and get mine say a day late while the other 15K people got theirs in first so they get theirs out on the first truck on day1.

Just want to know if it makes a difference to be up early to place my order or even if I order later that night it wont make any difference.

Thanks for the info guys.

Yes. No.