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If you meant 3/29, then I had the same Fedex scheduling as you and got mine two hours ago. This scheduling is just a safe outer limit for delivery. These companies try to beat the schedule. Customers are much happier that way.

So does anyone know how long it takes to go from prepared for shipment to getting a tracking number. Mine has been prepared since tuesday night and still no movement
 
After a stay on the island, most went to Japan before Alaska

Any idea where we are heading?

History
Date/Time Status Location
2011-03-25 20:02:00 Left FedEx Ramp LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-25 20:01:00 Left FedEx Ramp CHEK LAP KOK,
2011-03-25 01:44:00 In transit LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-24 16:09:00 Left FedEx Origin Location SHENZHEN,
2011-03-23 23:10:00 Package received after FedEx cutoff time SHENZHEN
 
Fedex missed their delivery date, but Apple CS comped me a smart cover and it finally got here.

I hope Apple does pre orders on the next launch.

Date/Time Status Location
2011-03-25 10:38:00 Delivered GOODYEAR, AZ
2011-03-25 10:38:00 Package delivered to recipient address - release authorized GOODYEAR, AZ
2011-03-25 06:52:00 On FedEx vehicle for delivery PHOENIX, AZ
2011-03-25 06:44:00 Arrived at FedEx Destination Location PHOENIX, AZ
2011-03-25 04:32:00 Left FedEx Ramp PHOENIX, AZ
2011-03-24 17:18:00 Arrived at FedEx Ramp PHOENIX, AZ
 
So does anyone know how long it takes to go from prepared for shipment to getting a tracking number. Mine has been prepared since tuesday night and still no movement

It took mine about 50 hours or so to go from "Prepared for Shipping" to "Shipped" with a tracking number.
 
Any idea where we are heading?

History
Date/Time Status Location
2011-03-25 20:02:00 Left FedEx Ramp LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-25 20:01:00 Left FedEx Ramp CHEK LAP KOK,
2011-03-25 01:44:00 In transit LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-24 16:09:00 Left FedEx Origin Location SHENZHEN,
2011-03-23 23:10:00 Package received after FedEx cutoff time SHENZHEN

FX72 departed Hong Kong at about that time and is expected to land in Anchorage at 1:06 pm AKDT. Your iPad will need to be cleared for delivery by Customs. This might take 90 minutes or less, and the parcel should then be loaded onto the (as yet unannounced) outbound Fedex flights to the rest of the US. Up to eight of these flights will take off between 3 pm and 5 pm AKDT and head for Memphis, Indianapolis, Ft. Worth, Newark, and Oakland.

If the processing goes smoothly and your iPad makes it onto one of these later flights, then you have a significant chance of a Saturday delivery assuming that you are in a metropolitan area. I hope this helps.
 
Finally!

IPAD WI-FI 3G 64GB BLK - VERIZON PRS-USA Engraved
Ordered Mar 11 0325 PDT

2011-03-25 14:47:00 Package delivered to recipient address - release authorized *****, NC
2011-03-25 07:52:00 On FedEx vehicle for delivery *****, NC
2011-03-25 07:49:00 Arrived at FedEx Destination Location *****, NC
2011-03-25 05:45:00 Arrived at FedEx Ramp *****, NC
2011-03-25 04:43:00 Left FedEx Sort Facility INDIANAPOLIS, IN
2011-03-25 00:56:00 Arrived at Sort Facility INDIANAPOLIS, IN
2011-03-24 15:07:00 Left FedEx Sort Facility ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 17:34:00 Held at Sort Facility ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 15:23:00 Released for delivery ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 08:49:00 Arrived at Sort Facility ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 19:49:00 Left FedEx Ramp NARITA-SHI,
2011-03-23 17:47:00 Arrived at FedEx Ramp NARITA-SHI,
2011-03-23 13:21:00 Left FedEx Ramp CHEK LAP KOK,
2011-03-23 12:39:00 Left FedEx Ramp LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-22 23:20:00 Package in FedEx location LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-22 23:19:00 Package status LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-21 23:57:00 Package status LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-21 23:52:00 Package in FedEx location LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-21 11:56:00 In transit LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-21 00:12:00 Package received after FedEx cutoff time SHENZHEN,
2011-03-21 00:12:00 Left FedEx Origin Location SHENZHEN

One more point - I think when I selected "engraved" it changed my "ships in 3-5 days" to "ships in 5-7 days".

This is my last post - Thanks to all of you for helping survive the process - misery loves company.
 
And how long after that to get yours?

I was prepared for shipment on Tuesday night and it's been almost 72 hours at this point and I'm still waiting. :-/

I hope that's a fluke. I'm at 24hrs of Prepared to Ship. I cant imagine it takes 3 days...
 
It's here!!

Ordered 64 GB White Wifi at 3.15 PDT and it arrived today! Here's the tracking info:

Mar 25, 2011 12:14 PM Delivered DREXEL HILL, PA
Mar 25, 2011 7:23 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery PHILADELPHIA, PA
Mar 25, 2011 7:17 AM At local FedEx facility PHILADELPHIA, PA
Mar 25, 2011 5:29 AM At dest sort facility PHILADELPHIA, PA
Mar 25, 2011 2:49 AM Departed FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
Mar 25, 2011 12:00 AM Arrived at FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
Mar 24, 2011 2:56 PM Departed FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 23, 2011 5:58 PM In transit ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 23, 2011 3:37 PM Int'l shipment release ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 23, 2011 12:53 PM Arrived at FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 22, 2011 11:09 PM In transit LANTAU ISLAND HK
Mar 22, 2011 11:04 PM In transit LANTAU ISLAND HK
Mar 22, 2011 2:25 PM Left FedEx origin facility SHENZHEN CN
Mar 21, 2011 11:08 AM Shipment information sent to FedEx
Mar 21, 2011 10:37 PM Picked up SHENZHEN CN
 
it's here

black 64g wifi engraved ordered 5:27 am PDT

delivered today 3/25 at 12:30 PDT

four days ahead of the FedEx estimate. :)
 
Has anyone who had their order prepared for shipment on or after Tuesday have their shipment actually ship and get a tracking number?
 
Has anyone who had their order prepared for shipment on or after Tuesday have their shipment actually ship and get a tracking number?

Yep, mine went "Prepared to Ship" on Tuesday night and shipped last night (Thursday). Black 64GB AT&T
 
Out of curiosity, where is the phrase "Prepared for Shipment" coming from? Apple's online account system? If that's the case, I have to say that I regard Apple's phraseology on this system as largely meaningless, and I ignored it myself for the units that I was tracking. Only two events are worth taking seriously: a hold on a credit or bank account, and an actual email from Apple with a tracking number.

A hold is just an indication that a shipment may be imminent. It isn't completely reliable, but in general the practice is to ship within three days of a hold (since holds for these kinds of transactions expire after three days). Having a tracking number is best because it means that Fedex has entered a parcel into their system and has either picked it up or is within hours of doing so.
 
Anyone else stuck in Fort Worth today?

Date/Time Status Location
2011-03-25 00:40:00 Arrived at Sort Facility FORT WORTH, TX
2011-03-24 15:55:00 Left FedEx Sort Facility ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 17:35:00 Held at Sort Facility ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 15:44:00 Released for delivery ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 12:53:00 Arrived at Sort Facility ANCHORAGE, AK
2011-03-23 20:05:00 Left FedEx Ramp LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-23 20:01:00 Left FedEx Ramp CHEK LAP KOK,
2011-03-22 23:20:00 Package in FedEx location LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-22 23:19:00 Package status LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-22 01:14:00 In transit LANTAU ISLAND,
2011-03-21 21:46:00 Left FedEx Origin Location SHENZHEN,
2011-03-21 20:03:00 Package received after FedEx cutoff time SHENZHEN,
 
Out of curiosity, where is the phrase "Prepared for Shipment" coming from? Apple's online account system? If that's the case, I have to say that I regard Apple's phraseology on this system as largely meaningless, and I ignored it myself for the units that I was tracking. Only two events are worth taking seriously: a hold on a credit or bank account, and an actual email from Apple with a tracking number.

A hold is just an indication that a shipment may be imminent. It isn't completely reliable, but in general the practice is to ship within three days of a hold (since holds for these kinds of transactions expire after three days). Having a tracking number is best because it means that Fedex has entered a parcel into their system and has either picked it up or is within hours of doing so.

It's on the order status page. You can't cancel your order after it goes to "prepare to ship" and the hold on my credit card was in lockstep.
 
WTF Memphis?

WTF? I live in Southern California, why did they send my iPad to Memphis?!? I was hopeful that I was going to get my iPad today when I saw it left Anchorage yesterday.

Mar 25, 2011 1:57 AM Arrived at FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
Mar 24, 2011 6:00 PM In transit ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 24, 2011 5:02 PM Departed FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 24, 2011 3:34 PM Int'l shipment release ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 24, 2011 12:58 PM Arrived at FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 24, 2011 2:09 AM In transit LANTAU ISLAND HK
Mar 23, 2011 5:22 PM Left FedEx origin facility SHENZHEN CN
Mar 22, 2011 7:28 PM Shipment information sent to FedEx
Mar 23, 2011 7:39 AM Picked up SHENZHEN CN
 
Anyone else stuck in Fort Worth today?

Date/Time Status Location
2011-03-25 00:40:00 Arrived at Sort Facility FORT WORTH, TX

While my units didn't go through there, I saw reports earlier today of what seemed like unusual hangups or delays in Ft. Worth. Is your final scan from there really 15 hours old?

Generally, any deliveries destined for the DFW area should have been on a truck NLT 8 am or so. And units going to other locations should have been moved onto connecting flights in the early morning hours. None of that has happened?
 
While my units didn't go through there, I saw reports earlier today of what seemed like unusual hangups or delays in Ft. Worth. Is your final scan from there really 15 hours old?

Generally, any deliveries destined for the DFW area should have been on a truck NLT 8 am or so. And units going to other locations should have been moved onto connecting flights in the early morning hours. None of that has happened?

Yes, it is really 15 hours old. That is what is confusing. Fedex still has my delivery date listed as today by 4:30 so I am hoping it is just a tracking issue and it will at least be here tomorrow.
 
WTF? I live in Southern California, why did they send my iPad to Memphis?!? I was hopeful that I was going to get my iPad today when I saw it left Anchorage yesterday.

Mar 25, 2011 1:57 AM Arrived at FedEx location MEMPHIS, TN
Mar 24, 2011 6:00 PM In transit ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 24, 2011 5:02 PM Departed FedEx location ANCHORAGE, AK
Mar 24, 2011 3:34 PM Int'l shipment release ANCHORAGE, AK

Yesterday's Anchorage-Oakland flight departed at 4:30 pm AKDT. Customs released your unit a bit late for the freight handlers to get it onto that flight, so it was sent onto Memphis instead for a connecting flight back to LAX. There are two Fedex flights today from Memphis to LAX. One just left. The other leaves in an hour. Maybe your iPad is on one of these.

This kind of routing may seem unusual, but the geographic distance is actually immaterial. The way your unit was likely re-routed will get it to LAX faster than if it had stayed in Anchorage for a flight later this evening to Oakland, and then another flight to LAX.

I hope this helps.
 
It's going to Kansas City. Another poster had a route to Wichita then on to KC, but it looked like it left for Wichita at around 1:30.

Right now I'm not picking up any Fedex flights headed in that direction (or any direction, for that matter) from DFW. This probably means that Fedex will schedule some flights later this afternoon or evening, but has not yet announced its final flight plans.

For some reason, Fedex doesn't seem to have worked out its connecting flights very well for that hub. Anyway, if I were you, I would monitor for a departure scan through the mid-evening. That would still give Fedex sufficient time to get your iPad onto a truck for a Saturday delivery.
 
Yesterday's Anchorage-Oakland flight departed at 4:30 pm AKDT. Customs released your unit a bit late for the freight handlers to get it onto that flight, so it was sent onto Memphis instead for a connecting flight back to LAX. There are two Fedex flights today from Memphis to LAX. One just left. The other leaves in an hour. Maybe your iPad is on one of these.

This kind of routing may seem unusual, but the geographic distance is actually immaterial. The way your unit was likely re-routed will get it to LAX faster than if it had stayed in Anchorage for a flight later this evening to Oakland, and then another flight to LAX.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for the response. I started looking at the flights. I was hoping it would have gone out on one of the 4 flights last night to the LA area. Maybe not enough time to sort?

No status update yet. I guess it could end up on the ONT flight too. Guess I have some hope that I won't be waiting till next week.
 
Thanks for the response. I started looking at the flights. I was hoping it would have gone out on one of the 4 flights last night to the LA area. Maybe not enough time to sort?

No status update yet. I guess it could end up on the ONT flight too. Guess I have some hope that I won't be waiting till next week.

I'm sorry I didn't check the Memphis-LAX morning flights. IMHO, your unit could have made it onto the 3:45 am flight to LAX, but it didn't. Maybe there wasn't any space, or maybe the freight handlers just couldn't turn things around fast enough. The early morning hours at Memphis look like they get extremely jammed for Fedex employees, who literally have things flying at them from all directions at that time. And they have to get them flying right back out. It's got to be tough.

PS: The various Fedex trackers have recently lagged flight times by 10-30 minutes in updating for departure scans.
 
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