There's more Apple Stores in the UK compared to last year so logic tells me queues should be shorter if there's going to be the same number of buyers as in the previous launch.
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UK iPhone 4S thread.
- Thread starter antster94
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There's more Apple Stores in the UK compared to last year so logic tells me queues should be shorter if there's going to be the same number of buyers as in the previous launch.
Should I be concerned that my card hasn't been debited yet? I've read other people saying the money's gone out already.
I had some trouble initially ordering on Friday, I had to call my bank and authorise the payment because it wouldn't go through at first.
I had some trouble initially ordering on Friday, I had to call my bank and authorise the payment because it wouldn't go through at first.
Soooooo...
What time are people planning on getting to their chosen store on Friday morning? I am thinking that queues at Apple stores will be longer, purely as there are fewer of them, and a lot of people just want the Apple 'Buzz'.
As I said before, I am planning on getting to the Swindon O2 store for between 6 and 7am (for 8am opening). I reckon I should be ok for a white 64gb, assuming they have a quite a few in stock.
Getting quite excited now! Probably more than I should for a new phone!
Going to Covent Garden at around 6ish I think. The only problem with going to an O2/ Vodafone etc shop is that they will only be selling them with contracts.
Well you said that people can walk into an Apple store on launch day and get one so it's not unreasonable for online orders to be delivered by launch day. Customers who walk into a store are not guaranteed a phone. Anyone who preorders online is guaranteed a phone all be it possibly a few days after launch.
You'd be surprised how few some stores have. Especially in places with several CPW's.
One store near me had TWO of each on o2 last time round. TWO!!!
One store near me had TWO of each on o2 last time round. TWO!!!
Apple reserved money on my credit card, but now the reserved amount has gone. Confused!?
Unless i get it for free
That's okay, it just means the authorisation on your account when you placed the order originally has expired. When you notice your available balance go down again it means Apple have charged the card properly this time and are preparing to ship your iPhone.
I had similar thing but with my debit card. About £600 was inaccessible for a day, but now it's available again. Perhaps it was just a test? I might give them a call and make sure there's no problems with payment.Apple reserved money on my credit card, but now the reserved amount has gone. Confused!?
Unless i get it for free
The funds that were reserved in my bank account have now been unreserved. Looks like they'll be taking payment soon. We should see the "preparing to ship" status later today, likely late afternoon/early evening. I'm pretty sure those of us who ordered early will receive on Friday.
Spoke to 3 store in Newcastle this morning about my preorder. They will have them in no problem for friday release!!
The £3k from me accidentally ordering 6x phones is still showing as reserved against my credit card.
Not even the ones i cancelled have come off yet.
Not even the ones i cancelled have come off yet.
'depends'.
Is it a 3G SIM with a data plan, and not an iPad-only SIM?
Is it a microSIM? (if not it can be cut down with care)
Is the target iP4S unlocked, or locked to O2 ?
The £3k from me accidentally ordering 6x phones is still showing as reserved against my credit card.
Not even the ones i cancelled have come off yet.
Mines took a week to come back in after I cancelled my iPad2 order earlier this year. Don't think it helped it was over the weekend either!
Funds are still locked in my account...
This is how it usually works, with any big order/pre-order purchase (not just Apple) though it varies slightly between cards.
1. You order your goods for £1000 and pay by credit card
2. Company's payment merchant approaches your credit card company and says "I need to know if this person has got £1000 available - if they have please put a hold on it so I know it'll still be there when I come to collect it"
3. Credit card company puts a temporary hold (reserves or earmarks) the £1000 on your account so you can't spend it. However, it doesn't debit your account by this, so at this stage there's no interest etc being charged and your actual balance doesn't change, just the amount you're allowed to spend.
4. After 1-3 days (depending on card), if the company hasn't come back to claim the money, the reserved money will automatically be freed up back to you. If this didn't happen, you'd always be relying on companies to remember to cancel their holds on pre-authorised amounts which were later cancelled for one reason or another, or if you ordered something that wasn't going to be available for 3 months, you'd effectively end up paying at the point of sale rather than when you got the goods (even thought the company wouldn't actually charge you till despatch).
So, at the point of order, Apple checked everyone's cards to make sure they had the money. However, most if not all of these pre-authorisations will now have expired, so when Apple comes to take they money (presumably tomorrow), it's actually no longer got any guarantees that the money will still be there. But by pre-authorising, it gets a better chance at the point of order to identify any potential declined transactions, and the majority of the pre-authorised credit cards will still have the available credit needed.2. Company's payment merchant approaches your credit card company and says "I need to know if this person has got £1000 available - if they have please put a hold on it so I know it'll still be there when I come to collect it"
3. Credit card company puts a temporary hold (reserves or earmarks) the £1000 on your account so you can't spend it. However, it doesn't debit your account by this, so at this stage there's no interest etc being charged and your actual balance doesn't change, just the amount you're allowed to spend.
4. After 1-3 days (depending on card), if the company hasn't come back to claim the money, the reserved money will automatically be freed up back to you. If this didn't happen, you'd always be relying on companies to remember to cancel their holds on pre-authorised amounts which were later cancelled for one reason or another, or if you ordered something that wasn't going to be available for 3 months, you'd effectively end up paying at the point of sale rather than when you got the goods (even thought the company wouldn't actually charge you till despatch).
Works differently for debit cards though.
Sorry but as far as I'm aware it never said that. It said shipped on or by the 14th. That's also what it says on the online status for everyone's orders. Apple never promised to deliver orders by the 14th. At the end of the day it's just silly and ridiculous whining and complaining about something so trivial. If your so unhappy then I suggest you either cancel your order and get another brand of phone or write a complaint to Apple customer service.
So reserved money going back into your account is a good thing then?
Had me worried they had messed up the payment.
It means the hold has expired and this normally happens pretty soon before they take payment. Happened with my MBP order a while back and my experience with other companies has been similar.
EDIT: NightFox has explained it brilliantly above.
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It sounds more likely that they can offer you the iPhone for the price of £280 (+contract).
Edit: Just saw TopToffee's reply. Ignore this one everyone!