Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Tips for pre-order day?

thatpluslife

thatpluslife

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 4, 2015
211
104
Hi there everyone!

So this iPhone 6s will be my first pre ordering experience with apple. What would be your tips for a first timer at this? Is camping out better? Better to order through the carrier or on apple.com?

my biggest concern is that my shipment will get delayed if I do the pre order. Is there a reservation in store for launch day?

hope to hear from you guys soon
 
Here are some advices:

-I always order from Apple store since they have a pain-free return/exchange policy. I'm very picky so if there's a dead pixel or scratch I can get it exchanged easily. Don't expect this with the carriers.

-Go and get familiar with the Apple store website. get your Apple account ready with one click ordering. If you have multiple computers, get on all of them with different accounts just before the pre order time.

-don't go out and camp there. Not worth it. If you manage to order the phone a few minutes after it opens, you can get it shipped to your door on the launch date. I don't think there's an option for pickup this early.

-I don't expect the 6s as hot as the 6 tho.
 
  • Make sure your credit card billing address is the same as where you want the iPhone to be shipped – temporarily change your card billing address to your work address, for instance, if you want to have it delivered to your office (this is a carrier requirement)
  • Use the Apple Store iOS app. While also sometimes finicky under the load of all us crazy enough to be up in the middle of the night, it's been consistently more reliable than Apple.com. And forget trying to pre-order through a carrier website.
  • If you pre-order when the pre-orders open, you'll be fine for launch day delivery. Even if you wait until later pre-order morning, you're still very likely to get it on launch day. (Last year, I pre-ordered mine at 12:30ish PDT – yes, it took 30 minutes to get it to work – and a friend ordered theirs at 10 AM later that morning, but both of us got ours on launch day.)
  • Explore the Apple Store app and the Apple ID website and save any info you want such as carrier account info, billing, one-click ordering, etc., so that you don't have to enter all that info if you're concerned about placing your order quickly.
  • Have a backup device (iPad, laptop) ready and pulled up on the Apple Store app/website just in case the app doesn't work, your phone crashes, etc., etc.
 
The chances of the delays in transit on launch day delivery very un-likely.

I think (please correct if wrong) can you still only ship to your account address? Either way if you can make sure you stay in for it and there are clear instructions if you think your house if a bit of a mission to find. Same applies to if you have it delivered at a work address, I'd personally recommend doing it to a home address though.
 
Italianblend said:
Nobody mentioned if you want the subsidized price ($199 w/2-year contract), you cannot order through the Apple Store.
Click to expand...

Sure you can. At least for the last 3 I've owned that were subsidized (3gs, 4s, and 5s). (I started with the original, which was not subsidized.) All were AT&T.
 
My tip is to go back to your account several times over the next few days and make sure the instant purchase function is still good. Long ago I did this but a few days latter it had to do it again. Basically check and make sure all is good several times right up to the day you need it. Have not had any problems with this afterwards.
 
mattopotamus said:
the single most important thing. Use the apple store app. You will be back in bed by ":02" if you use the app.
Click to expand...

I have always been using the app since it launched and it was always more reliable than the website.
BUT for the Apple Watch preorders, I got screwed with the black sport model. As others were able to get into the store at exactly 0:00, I was only able to open it at 0:03 and the confirmation email stated 0:04 and thus landed me in the second delivery wave.

How do you guys refresh the app to force it to load the content again?
I did a force quit (via the multitasking menu) every 5 seconds, but it still showed me the "We'll be back." screen although others were able to access the store?!
 
hanzoh said:
I have always been using the app since it launched and it was always more reliable than the website.
BUT for the Apple Watch preorders, I got screwed with the black sport model. As others were able to get into the store at exactly 0:00, I was only able to open it at 0:03 and the confirmation email stated 0:04 and thus landed me in the second delivery wave.

How do you guys refresh the app to force it to load the content again?
I did a force quit (via the multitasking menu) every 5 seconds, but it still showed me the "We'll be back." screen although others were able to access the store?!
Click to expand...

Granted I did not order the SGS, I used the apple store app for the apple watch and got in before the website even went live for me. I do the force quit method to make it reload.
 
mattopotamus said:
Granted I did not order the SGS, I used the apple store app for the apple watch and got in before the website even went live for me. I do the force quit method to make it reload.
Click to expand...

But it cannot be ISP related, can it?
A DNS lag would only occur if apple switches IPs between the "We'll be back" and store sites, right?
 
In the pat, I've had the most luck trying to access through multiple devices simultaneously; I use my phone, iPad, and computer. The Apple Store app is usually the one on which I'm successful, but if for some reason they have technical difficulties or some such, I like having alternative options at the ready.

Obviously, make sure all of your ducks are in a row by ensuring that your account is up to date, shipping address is valid, bill is current, all of that stuff. It is really frustrating to get almost all the way through the process only to have it kick your order out due to a technicality like that. Good luck!
 
Newtons Apple said:
My tip is to go back to your account several times over the next few days and make sure the instant purchase function is still good. Long ago I did this but a few days latter it had to do it again. Basically check and make sure all is good several times right up to the day you need it. Have not had any problems with this afterwards.
Click to expand...

where is the "one click" or instant function set? I'm looking, but don't see it. I'm on my iPAD.
 
If you have crappy internet, drive to the nearest cell tower and camp there before preorder. No doubt there will be other Apple fans camping at the cell tower, so be sure to arrive early. 8pm should be early enough at most locales, but YMMV. To be extra safe, you might want to start camping the cell tower right now (note that most cities in CA only allow 72 hour street parking, so be mindful).
 
  • Like
Reactions: ewils19
when would be the preorder time in the UK? if apple decide to do preorders this year
 
gr8tfly said:
Sure you can. At least for the last 3 I've owned that were subsidized (3gs, 4s, and 5s). (I started with the original, which was not subsidized.) All were AT&T.
Click to expand...
You better verify with AT&T this time around. They have stated just the opposite which has been discussed here ad nauseum.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RabbitLuvr
Can a gift card be used along with ApplePay on the app with pre orders? I see a spot for a gift card when you use regular checkout, but ApplePay would be much quicker.
 
Mr.C said:
The one click option seems to have been removed from both the web site and the app.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I didn't remember seeing it in the app so I checked it last night and could't find it. :apple: must have got tired of paying a fee to Amazon for using 1-click.
 
adamhenry said:
Yeah, I didn't remember seeing it in the app so I checked it last night and could't find it. :apple: must have got tired of paying a fee to Amazon for using 1-click.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware Amazon owned the rights to use one click technology and licensed it out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back