Remote areas won't receive iPad Saturday, but 'vast majority' will

Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Apple has paid UPS for special Saturday deliveries of its iPad on launch day, but some customers who live in remote areas will have to wait until Monday for the device to arrive at their homes.



All week, UPS employees Mike (@MikeAtUPS) and Thomas (@ThomasAtUPS) have been answering questions via Twitter from excited customers anxiously awaiting their iPad. Users have been sending their zip codes to the UPS employees to find out if Saturday delivery is available in their area.



"Gang, if you're not in a rural area (or, unfortunately, Hawaii), you should see your iPad tomorrow," Mike posted on his Twitter account Friday afternoon.



In other tweets, he said that the "vast majority" of iPads will be delivered on Saturday. In remote areas where UPS does not offer Saturday delivery, the iPad will arrive on Monday.



Most of the inquiries sent to Thomas and Mike show users being told they will receive their iPad on Saturday. However, a handful of those who have inquired will have to wait until Monday.



The employees also noted that although there is "confusing info" on status updates when tracking packages via ups.com, "operations are all on board for Saturday deliveries."



Earlier this week, iPads began shipping from their manufacturing location in Shenzhen, China. Many orders have sat for days at the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Ken.



After shipping began, some users began to receive e-mails from Apple notifying them that Saturday delivery is not available in their area. Apple also began refunding customers who had paid for expedited shipping of their iPad, as all devices ordered in time are scheduled for Saturday delivery, where available.



As of last weekend, Apple sold out of its initial run of orders, and new orders placed will not ship until April 12. In addition to direct purchases, the iPad will also be sold at all 221 Apple retail stores, most Best Buy retail outlets, and some Apple Specialist locations on the April 3 launch day.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 78
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,712member
    Mine is still in the air from China according to the tracking. Hope they fly fast!
  • Reply 2 of 78
    spotonspoton Posts: 645member
    Quote:

    As of last weekend, Apple sold out of its initial run of orders, and new orders placed will not ship until April 12. In addition to direct purchases, the iPad will also be sold at all 221 Apple retail stores, most Best Buy retail outlets, and some Apple Specialist locations on the April 3 launch day





    Rumor has it only 15 (5 of each wifi model) will be at Best Buys and the resellers will get one for display, but not to sell.



    So Apple really wants to drive traffic to it's stores on this one, likely to upsell customers.



    It's so sad the software selection at Apple Stores is so poor, perhaps by design?
  • Reply 3 of 78
    spotonspoton Posts: 645member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post


    Mine is still in the air from China according to the tracking. Hope they fly fast!



    A faster way would be for you to jump on a plane and meet it halfway.
  • Reply 4 of 78
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SpotOn View Post


    Rumor has it only 15 (5 of each wifi model) will be at Best Buys and the resellers will get one for display, but not to sell.



    So Apple really wants to drive traffic to it's stores on this one, likely to upsell customers.



    It's so sad the software selection at Apple Stores is so poor, perhaps by design?



    All major productivity titles for Macs are on sale at Apple Stores. The rest are available online and for non-Mac devices, the App Store.



    Since when was this ever a problem?
  • Reply 5 of 78
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,052member
    Mine shipped from China 4:10a 4/2/10, but given the placement of the date line, it was actually 4/1 on the US calendar. Wonder which way the plane went?



    Anyway, the UPS page hasn't updated for a day or so. Can't say I've ever seen a UPS truck operating on a Saturday in urban Seattle where I live. I was dubious about the Saturday delivery claim when I read about it. With all the claim of "fail" about iPad, I think this is the most likely thing the doubters will be right about.
  • Reply 6 of 78
    Mine just landed in KY
  • Reply 7 of 78
    spotonspoton Posts: 645member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Quadra 610 View Post


    All major productivity titles for Macs are on sale at Apple Stores. The rest are available online and for non-Mac devices, the App Store.



    Since when was this ever a problem?





    It just looks more impressive having a wall full of software titles and helps with hardware sales to new customers that's all.



    My Apple Store has a small section, like the size of two normal refrigerators, it looks so desperate, those empty, beat up boxes gathering dust.



    Downloading programs over the internet is a scary thing for a lot of general users, they are always scolded "don't do this, don't do that" by PC IT personnel at work because of Windows insecurities.



    Even if the software couldn't be there on disk, there should be the display and Apple Store personal could install it and burn a disk for the customer.
  • Reply 8 of 78
    dr millmossdr millmoss Posts: 5,403member
    Personally, I don't think any of them were sitting on the ground in Louisville, despite what UPS tracking may show. If I was to take tracking at face value, my order was in Louisville earlier in the week, then jumped to a city 2,000 miles away, then back to China (where it was last seen as of today). I don't think any of them went anywhere until yesterday.
  • Reply 9 of 78
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SpotOn View Post


    A faster way would be for you to jump on a plane and meet it halfway.



    Yep. Mine too. Not gonna hold my breath for anything showing up at my door on Saturday. I guess it is because I live in a rural area...you know Philadelphia. Or perhaps it is because I ordered my iPad late...a couple of hours into first day of preorders. It will be really upsetting if it doesn't show up because i only get 4 days off work a month (tomorrow being one of them), and I have no idea when I will get time to go pick it up from UPS, or will be home again to sign for delivery....this sucks. I hope the UPS tracker is wrong.
  • Reply 10 of 78
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss View Post


    Personally, I don't think any of them were sitting on the ground in Louisville, despite what UPS tracking may show. If I was to take tracking at face value, my order was in Louisville earlier in the week, then jumped to a city 2,000 miles away, then back to China (where it was last seen as of today). I don't think any of them went anywhere until yesterday.



    You know. Your story gives me a little hope it will arrive tomorrow. Mabye UPS struck deal with apple to give faulty tracking information. I mean if I had a product that was that popular. I wouldn't really want anyone to know where a large number of them all are at the same time. So here's to hoping.
  • Reply 11 of 78
    finetunesfinetunes Posts: 2,065member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by eightzero View Post


    Mine shipped from China 4:10a 4/2/10, but given the placement of the date line, it was actually 4/1 on the US calendar. Wonder which way the plane went?



    Anyway, the UPS page hasn't updated for a day or so. Can't say I've ever seen a UPS truck operating on a Saturday in urban Seattle where I live. I was dubious about the Saturday delivery claim when I read about it. With all the claim of "fail" about iPad, I think this is the most likely thing the doubters will be right about.



    Just keep checking, when it hits the US things go fast. The longest time is the flight from China.
  • Reply 12 of 78
    satcomersatcomer Posts: 130member
    Yep the war against rural people is still being waged!
  • Reply 13 of 78
    finetunesfinetunes Posts: 2,065member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SpotOn View Post


    A faster way would be for you to jump on a plane and meet it halfway.



    Well seriously, you can't hop on a jet plane, like you can a freight train, but you can check when it is due to land and meet it on the taxiway and catch your iPad as they offload.
  • Reply 14 of 78
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Apple has paid UPS for special Saturday deliveries of its iPad on launch day, but some customers who live in remote areas will have to wait until Monday for the device to arrive at their homes.



    All week, UPS employees Mike (@MikeAtUPS) and Thomas (@ThomasAtUPS) have been answering questions via Twitter from excited customers anxiously awaiting their iPad. Users have been sending their zip codes to the UPS employees to find out if Saturday delivery is available in their area.



    "Gang, if you're not in a rural area (or, unfortunately, Hawaii), you should see your iPad tomorrow," Mike posted on his Twitter account Friday afternoon.



    In other tweets, he said that the "vast majority" of iPads will be delivered on Saturday. In remote areas where UPS does not offer Saturday delivery, the iPad will arrive on Monday.



    Most of the inquiries sent to Thomas and Mike show users being told they will receive their iPad on Saturday. However, a handful of those who have inquired will have to wait until Monday.



    The employees also noted that although there is "confusing info" on status updates when tracking packages via ups.com, "operations are all on board for Saturday deliveries."



    Earlier this week, iPads began shipping from their manufacturing location in Shenzhen, China. Many orders have sat for days at the UPS Worldport hub in Louisville, Ken.



    After shipping began, some users began to receive e-mails from Apple notifying them that Saturday delivery is not available in their area. Apple also began refunding customers who had paid for expedited shipping of their iPad, as all devices ordered in time are scheduled for Saturday delivery, where available.



    As of last weekend, Apple sold out of its initial run of orders, and new orders placed will not ship until April 12. In addition to direct purchases, the iPad will also be sold at all 221 Apple retail stores, most Best Buy retail outlets, and some Apple Specialist locations on the April 3 launch day.



    Get your Ipad on Saturday even if UPS dsn't delivr to u on Sat-call yr UPS hub w/phone &trkg Num NOW-tell'm u will meet the truck Nrst u!
  • Reply 15 of 78
    gomigomi Posts: 5member
    The employees also noted that although there is "confusing info" on status updates when tracking packages via ups.com, "operations are all on board for Saturday deliveries."



    Not much point in being given a "tracking number" that only comes up with "confusing info."
  • Reply 16 of 78
    finetunesfinetunes Posts: 2,065member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Matt_ThomasMD View Post


    You know. Your story gives me a little hope it will arrive tomorrow. Mabye UPS struck deal with apple to give faulty tracking information. I mean if I had a product that was that popular. I wouldn't really want anyone to know where a large number of them all are at the same time. So here's to hoping.



    Sometimes the updates are a little slow. Best to keep checking, when it hits your local terminal chances is it is on the truck--hope that you have Saturday Delivery.
  • Reply 17 of 78
    spotonspoton Posts: 645member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by FineTunes View Post


    Well seriously, you can't hop on a jet plane, like you can a freight train, but you can check when it is due to land and meet it on the taxiway and catch your iPad as they offload.





    Heck why not just stand in the middle of the runway, arms stretched out wide and wait for the plane to land?



    He's sure to get it real fast that way!





    "Big bird! Give me my iPad!!"
  • Reply 18 of 78
    davegeedavegee Posts: 2,765member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by satcomer View Post


    Yep the war against rural people is still being waged!



    Hey when did we let North Virginia into the Union anyway?!?!



    J/K J/K J/K J/K



    And as for Hawaii.... No offense but anyplace as awsome as Hawaii MUST have a disadvantage every once in a while...
  • Reply 19 of 78
    Received a call from UPS today saying that I would be getting the iPad tomorrow and that I needed to be here to sign for it.
  • Reply 20 of 78
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,712member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Matt_ThomasMD View Post


    Yep. Mine too. Not gonna hold my breath for anything showing up at my door on Saturday. I guess it is because I live in a rural area...you know Philadelphia. Or perhaps it is because I ordered my iPad late...a couple of hours into first day of preorders. It will be really upsetting if it doesn't show up because i only get 4 days off work a month (tomorrow being one of them), and I have no idea when I will get time to go pick it up from UPS, or will be home again to sign for delivery....this sucks. I hope the UPS tracker is wrong.



    I wish I'd not been cheap and forked over the additional $12 for expedited shipping now :lol
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