Carrier Pre-ordering XS with AT&T Next for pickup in Apple Store?

[alohamade]

Hi everybody, happy iPhone week(s)!

So I, like many others, am thinking about upgrading to an iPhone XS.
I will be doing it through an AT&T Next Upgrade.
I have always pre-ordered through the Apple Store app with AT&T Next and then had the address locked in to my AT&T billing address for delivery. However this year, I want to pre-order and hold for pickup in the Apple Store. I will be away on travel.

If I am doing the upgrade through AT&T Next and ordering through the Apple Store app, am I locked in to having to have it shipped with my AT&T billing address? Or can I just do a pickup in store?

Thank you as always!

EDIT: Also, if I can't and I have to ship it to my address (which I won't be here for), can I hold it at a UPS location while it's being shipped?

 

[airjay75]

I’m not 100%, but I think in years past, you could reserve an iPhone in store for pick-up, and then they would process the upgrade through the ATT Next financing in store. I might be wrong though. I’ve used ATT Next for financing multiple times, but always had it shipped. Even if the only way to reserve for in-store pick up is paying full price, you could probably go to the Apple Store, have them refund the full price and then process through Next financing.

If you were to have it shipped to your house, UPS will typically attempt delivery 3 days in a row and then hold at the local UPS distribution center for pick-up for several days. You might also be able to call UPS once you have a tracking number and have the shipment routed to a local UPS Store. If you’re not going to be out of town for more than a few days past the arrival date, that’s probably what I’d opt for. Probably the downside with pick-ups from UPS distribution centers (although not UPS Stores) is that I don’t think they have weekend hours, so if you got home on Saturday, you might have to wait until Monday to pick-up your phone.

 

[alohamade]

I’m not 100%, but I think in years past, you could reserve an iPhone in store for pick-up, and then they would process the upgrade through the ATT Next financing in store. I might be wrong though. I’ve used ATT Next for financing multiple times, but always had it shipped. Even if the only way to reserve for in-store pick up is paying full price, you could probably go to the Apple Store, have them refund the full price and then process through Next financing.

If you were to have it shipped to your house, UPS will typically attempt delivery 3 days in a row and then hold at the local UPS distribution center for pick-up for several days. You might also be able to call UPS once you have a tracking number and have the shipment routed to a local UPS Store. If you’re not going to be out of town for more than a few days past the arrival date, that’s probably what I’d opt for. Probably the downside with pick-ups from UPS distribution centers (although not UPS Stores) is that I don’t think they have weekend hours, so if you got home on Saturday, you might have to wait until Monday to pick-up your phone.

Awesome, thank you for the thorough information, especially on UPS pickups. Have you used UPS My Choice? I saw in years past people hit "change" when they finally got a tracking number and were able to hold it at a CC store/distribution center.

 

[airjay75]

Awesome, thank you for the thorough information, especially on UPS pickups. Have you used UPS My Choice? I saw in years past people hit "change" when they finally got a tracking number and were able to hold it at a CC store/distribution center.

I think I do have UPS MyChoice, and I recall doing that in the past with other packages. I just haven’t personally done it with my Apple shipments before. You probably can do that too if you want. If all else fails, I’d just call UPS once you have the tracking number and see what options they give you.

 

[jetsam]

If I am doing the upgrade through AT&T Next and ordering through the Apple Store app, am I locked in to having to have it shipped with my AT&T billing address? Or can I just do a pickup in store?

My information is from two years ago, so take it with a grain of salt. However...

I bought my iPhone 7 Plus from the Apple Store via the Apple store app with AT&T Next financing. No issue picking it up in store. (Ironically, I just made my final Next payment on that phone, today.)

OT - Your avatar brings back memories. How about a nice Hawaiian punch?!

 

[mfa81]

so how do you get your old att next phone back to att if you pre order and chose for store pickup at apple?

 

[jetsam]

so how do you get your old att next phone back to att if you pre order and chose for store pickup at apple?

You can only pre-order from the Apple store on a Next plan if you don't owe a Next balance on your current device. If you're doing a Next trade-in, your only option is to go through AT&T.

 

[mizzou-apple]

Awesome, thank you for the thorough information, especially on UPS pickups. Have you used UPS My Choice? I saw in years past people hit "change" when they finally got a tracking number and were able to hold it at a CC store/distribution center.

For several years I have used my UPS distribution center to pick up my iPhone. Just makes it easier all around. They will hold it for several days (don't remember how many days that is though). Nice part of it is, you have a box to mail your old iPhone back to ATT.

 

[Shadowbech]

Hi everybody, happy iPhone week(s)!

So I, like many others, am thinking about upgrading to an iPhone XS.
I will be doing it through an AT&T Next Upgrade.
I have always pre-ordered through the Apple Store app with AT&T Next and then had the address locked in to my AT&T billing address for delivery. However this year, I want to pre-order and hold for pickup in the Apple Store. I will be away on travel.

If I am doing the upgrade through AT&T Next and ordering through the Apple Store app, am I locked in to having to have it shipped with my AT&T billing address? Or can I just do a pickup in store?

Thank you as always!

EDIT: Also, if I can't and I have to ship it to my address (which I won't be here for), can I hold it at a UPS location while it's being shipped?

You can choose the option for in-store pick up and choose the time that works best for you, provided that the phone you want shows available for pick up.

I know with Apple.com orders for sim-free models, you can definitely have it ship it to your address and while enroute you can choose to hold for pick up (Fedex and UPS both allow this, I believe most pre-order's will be shipped via UPS, but I've read some had Fedex, and I prefer Fedex over UPS). However, I'm not too sure about carrier models ordered on Apple.com. I'm pretty sure you can request a hold for pick up. I know if you order directly from the carrier store, they have some restrictions, such as first attempt then you can place it on hold after.