I know, totally ridiculous isn't it. Doesn't look like anyones has changed so maybe tomorrow as I noticed a lot from the last batch saw a change early Friday morning and then dispatched Friday early evening! Heres hoping but not holding my breath.
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UK iPhone 5s and 5c Thread
- Thread starter Taylor-C
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I know, totally ridiculous isn't it. Doesn't look like anyones has changed so maybe tomorrow as I noticed a lot from the last batch saw a change early Friday morning and then dispatched Friday early evening! Heres hoping but not holding my breath.
As before, you obviously know nothing about Apple. You can't even use Google apparently!
Yep Apple Distribution International have been great. The guy that's been dealing with my problems has given me his email address so I can get in touch whenever. Thing is I think it's just luck getting through to them. When I've called on other occasions it's gone to Ireland.
Presumably you mean free case?
Apple has been great! my 1st iphone 5s 16gb gold was out for delivery 16/10/13 (ordered 21/09/13) and was 'lost' more like stolen, and today I got a call replacement will be sent out 3-5 working days and by fastest delivery, also got £50 refunded for all the trouble and delay!
Likewise, I've got someone's email to liaise with them that way. He was a good help.
Yes, a free case. If only it was a free handset.
This launch seems to be a bit of a mess.
I'd hoped that the severely constrained supply situation would have eased by now - I'd assumed that by now I'd be able to walk into an Apple store and pick up a new 5s. Also, I realise that the people with problems are likely to be in a tiny minority but there do seem to be some issues with QA on the 5s.
Looks to me as though Apple got the 5s/5c sales forecast proportions way wrong and (possibly) their QA has not been as rigourous as usual in order to meet stock market expectations and the yearly sales cycles.
I'd hoped that the severely constrained supply situation would have eased by now - I'd assumed that by now I'd be able to walk into an Apple store and pick up a new 5s. Also, I realise that the people with problems are likely to be in a tiny minority but there do seem to be some issues with QA on the 5s.
Looks to me as though Apple got the 5s/5c sales forecast proportions way wrong and (possibly) their QA has not been as rigourous as usual in order to meet stock market expectations and the yearly sales cycles.
I'm planning to pick up a 5S (space grey/32gb) today. I'm just worried that my Apple store won't have any in stock. Luckily, my city has two Apple stores so I guess I could take a drive out there if my local one doesn't have any. It will be a bit of a drive (just got my first car) but I'll give it a go.
Also worried that my device will have something wrong with it. Scratches/dents, dead pixels, screen tint/interlacing or any other kind of issue.
Also worried that my device will have something wrong with it. Scratches/dents, dead pixels, screen tint/interlacing or any other kind of issue.
I took mine back to the retail store because it was faulty and I am trying to pick another one up but supplies are so limited. I rang my local store yesterday asking about 64gb silver and they had none in stock and weren't sure if they were getting any today. They asked me to call back at lunchtime today to see if they have had a delivery.
I think its going to be at least another month before things settle down
I think its going to be at least another month before things settle down
You must have a short memory.
It was December last year before supplies of the iPhone 5 got to the the stage you could just in and buy. Apple operated an online "lottery" system where you had to try and book one and if you were successful were given a window the following day to collect, and I can remember people saying they were trying to reserve in every Apple Store within 200 miles of their address every night for weeks without success.
Edit
Just checked the old thread I was thinking of, stock become available without the nightly "lottery" on the 4th of December 2012 for the iPhone 5. There's a way to go before the 5s supply constraint meets that of the iPhone 5 last year.
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At least this was an option. It was like a first come first served basis each night but it saved unnecessary journeys to the stores. This year the only way to get an iPhone 5S from an Apple store is to try your luck - yet they might not even have any stock. The stores don't take calls before the opening time yet can start allocating stock to people in the queue before they open. I've had many wasted journeys to Apple stores this year. For the record, I tried stores of launch day, ended up ordering online, managed to get an phone I wanted from CPW, cancelled Apple order, CPW had a fault so had to return it, no replacement available in silver, and now without a phone currently (otherwise I'd wait patiently for online deliveries).
In 2010, Apple operated a 'priority list' reservations system which was a fairer system. You gave your email address and which one model you wanted and you went onto a waiting list. The list was centrally managed so you couldn't put multiple orders to different stores. It would be between 3 and 14 days before you received an email inviting you into the store to collect your iPhone. (You had to collect the phone the next day though). At least there were no queue jumpers and limited opportunity for money-makers.
In the US this year, they have a pay and collect option which has to be a better customer experience than the 'try your luck' option.
It would be good to know when the retail stores receive deliveries but they can't even tell us that. All they can suggest is that we keep calling them back as they don't know what stocks there are getting and when.
I know the current system is not all that customer friendly, but that wasn't the point. For some strange reason johnhackworth seems to think this is the first year of long term constrained supply and is having a whinge about "the launch being a mess".
I was just trying to remind him that it was the same last year and to think he could just walk into an Apple Store in October was always going to just be a fanciful wish if he could remember last year.
I would suggest it will probably be the same as last year and we may not see free supply until at least December again.
Apple handle the process to order for personal collection in a bad way, and should be improved, but that is a different thing to expecting free supply a month after launch, especially when comparing to the previous launch.
I agree with you. Demand has always exceeded supply but this year seems particularly worse (especially given the lack of customer information/reservations).
Yes, it would also eliminate the scalpers too as they would have to pay by credit/debit card rather than cash. Also by limiting the phones to 2 per card and requiring the purchasing card to be presented along with photo id would likely solve most of the current problem - unless Apple don't wish to solve it of course.
Very frustrating calling the stores. Firstly you have to hear a message about buying your iPhone from your favourite Apple store and they'll help you choose the right airtime package and setup the phone. Then you hear 'There are more than 8 callers ahead of you'. By the time you get through, if there are any devices you probably wouldn't make it to the store to get one!
When I was in one of the stores, one of the store employee said to me that they know when they're getting deliveries but they can't say because of security reasons. Not sure if true or not but struck me a little odd because there are more expensive items to steal. Also, when the scalpers were out in full force, they were all paying cash. Surely that is a greater security risk than attempting to bulk steal iPhones which would be useless if Apple track serials?
Yeah I know. I have just spent an hour ringing three stores within a 50 mile radius and they all have space greys but no silvers or golds.
I wouldn't characterise my comments as "having a whinge". I stand by my observation that the 5s launch has been a mess. How Apple gets away with nonsense such as expecting folks to turn up at stores at opening time on the mere possibility of getting a product is utterly beyond me. It's customer service turned on its head.
I must admit that I wasn't in the market for an iphone 5 so I wasn't paying attention to last year's supply chain issues. Nevertheless, I've been an Apple user for a very long time and it's the first time that poor supply-chain planning on Apple's part has impacted me. This is compounded by their immature integration (with respect to stock enquiries, reservations and ATP) between on-line and bricks-and-mortar stores in the UK.
Feel all your pain!
Turned 20 last week, and am desperate to upgrade my painfully slow iPhone 4 to a Silver, 32GB 5S.
Spent £30 on train tickets last week to get to the apple store in Leeds for 8am. Monday and Tuesday they have no 5s at all. Wednesday they have gold and space grey. Thursday they have none. Friday they have 16gb silver, and Saturday they have none.
I then ordered one online, which should arrive 20th November
Continued phoning each morning this week and asking what they have in, each morning they tell me none at all. What on earth?
Grr! I just need an unlocked phone to put my new three sim in.
Turned 20 last week, and am desperate to upgrade my painfully slow iPhone 4 to a Silver, 32GB 5S.
Spent £30 on train tickets last week to get to the apple store in Leeds for 8am. Monday and Tuesday they have no 5s at all. Wednesday they have gold and space grey. Thursday they have none. Friday they have 16gb silver, and Saturday they have none.
I then ordered one online, which should arrive 20th November
Continued phoning each morning this week and asking what they have in, each morning they tell me none at all. What on earth?
Grr! I just need an unlocked phone to put my new three sim in.
Absolutely ridiculous this poor supply and high demand of what is basically just a mobile phone. The world has gone mad. People were desparate for food in the war days and today we are deparate for a stupid phone (that also seems to have a record of quality issues already!). Its very sad people!
Me neither, I have been without a phone for nearly 3 weeks as I sold my 4 because I really didn't expect to wait this long, its gotta ship by Monday or else they've lied to us!!