You know, after fighting with the system back on meltdown day, I managed to get a phone reserved at my nearest Apple store, late in the afternoon. I'm looking at the confirmation email right now...
When you come in to pick up your iPhone, you'll be part of an exciting launch at the Apple Retail Store. We'll have Specialists ready to transfer your contacts, set up email, and help you get apps so your iPhone is just the way you like it. We can't wait to see you at the store.
Sincerely,
The Apple Retail Store team
Pickup Date and Time
June 24 starting at 7:00 a.m.
Please note that your reservation will be held until close of business on June 24.
But I haven't received the second email yet about not forgetting to come in and pick it up...I hope my confirmation made it all the way through the system! Guess I will find out this Thursday...
I've got a question that I hope someone can answer for me:
For whatever reason, my AT&T FamilyTalk plan has been flagged as a "business" account, also known as a FAN. Harmless enough, right? Except for whatever reason, Apple is unable to activate phones on these kinds of accounts in their store, you have to do it at home or in the AT&T Store. At least, this was the case back in 2008 when I tried to (unsuccessfully) buy an iPhone 3G.
I wanted to pre-order online from Apple because I would then get the phone delivered to my house for problem-free at-home activation. Of course, having a "business" account, Apple refused to let me pre-order online. I thus had no choice but to use the Apple Store app on my iPhone and pre-order the iPhone 4 for pickup at my local Apple Store.
Here's the situation... Will they let me pay for the hardware and just take it home to activate? Or will they require me to (unsuccessfully) try to activate it in their own store? Because if the latter, I get the strong suspicion they won't let me buy the hardware I reserved and I'll have to wait another month or w/e for AT&T to get some in stock.
If they allow at-home activation, then I feel I should be able to just walk in, pay for the hardware and leave, but you never know with Apple.
Did you upgrade last year? I had the same problem in 2008, I had to actually cancel my business account, buy my phone in the Apple Store where they activated it. I then had to go a few doors down to an AT&T store and have them put my business account back on. In all I lost two months discount or about $40. Well worth getting my 3G near launch.
Last year when I upgraded the Apple rep said they fixed that issue and they activated my 3GS in store and I kept my business account on. So try and call ahead if you are concerned but I think you will be ok.
For all those worried in this thread. If you have a RESERVATION and received the email in this article you will have a phone no matter what time you go up there. If you don't make it up there for any reason you lose the reservation, will start over and some other fortunate soul will get to buy your phone the next morning when the store opens. That is how I got my 3GS last year. All reservations were gone by the time AT&T changed their policy and allowed early adopters to upgrade. So I went the following day and got my phone easily.
Last year when I upgraded the Apple rep said they fixed that issue and they activated my 3GS in store and I kept my business account on. So try and call ahead if you are concerned but I think you will be ok.
Ah, thank you very much for this info, it's very reassuring.
And for the record, no, I didn't upgrade anything last year. I ended up getting my iPhone 3G months later in December 2008 at an AT&T Store.
EDIT: I just realized though... Why would they still be unable to verify my "business" account online when I attempted to pre-order through Apple's store?
Is anyone else planning on going there for 7am (or earlier) and trying to pick up a phone, even though they didn?t pre-order? I?m not sure if it?ll be plausible or not.
I'm starting in Palo Alto tomorrow - Tuesday - afternoon in hopes of getting a WHITE 32.
Im not seeing any other posts of outrage about a reservation going missing. Am I the only one that completed the pre-order process (taking several hours of course, given the sign-up fiasco) and getting to a page that said "See you in the Store!", but not receiving any emails and so checking with the store and finding out that I dont actually have a reservation?
I mean really - I get flooded servers.. I get communication problems when apple is serving up half the info and AT&T is serving up the other.. but do they have so little error checking in their system that I could be served up a final "See you in the Store! Dont forget to bring: Government issued ID" page without them actually having stored a reservation for me?
That's apples page and apples reservation list - they cant blame that one on AT&T. I did everything that I was supposed to do and now I get screwed. Am I the only one..?
Im not seeing any other posts of outrage about a reservation going missing. Am I the only one that completed the pre-order process (taking several hours of course, given the sign-up fiasco) and getting to a page that said "See you in the Store!", but not receiving any emails and so checking with the store and finding out that I dont actually have a reservation?
I did everything that I was supposed to do and now I get screwed. Am I the only one..?
I feel your pain. Probably the easiest way to get a Black iPhone would be to get in the early Friday morning queue for their early 8AM openings. A lot of reservations will not be claimed on Thursday. Plus there'll be daily new deliveries of more iPhones.
Oh yeah! That's right.. I almost forgot that I spent nearly an hour clicking through busted servers and redundant form inputs to get my iPhone 4 reservation.. I mean, who keeps up with arguably the most anticipated phone release since the original iPhone? Good thing I got the e-mail.
Lets give APPLE some credit. Hopefully they took less orders than inventory on hand. I would hate to think people reserved phones and came for nothing. That would be a disgrace on APPLEs part. Knowing Apple they are Press and customer conscious and have anticipated this.
iPhone to android I guess. There is no way I am giving out y social security. That is crazy.
Wil wait unti that's no longer a requiremet. No way. Rope have to boycott this. It's the stragngest thing I've ever heard of. For a phone??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rot'nApple
WOW!
"Be sure to bring these items with you:
? A vaild, government - issued photo ID
? Your Social Security number
? A debit or credit card
? New to AT&T? Bring your account
number from your current carrier."
I wonder if the CA politicians, intellectuals, high school students who walked out during school, typical college knowitalls and general nut jobs in the land of 'fruits and nuts' who protested the AZ Immigration Law, will be picketing this blatant violation of rights, as potential 'victims' salivate over the advent of getting the iPhone 4 when out of the blue are asked "Papers, Please!" by some Apple Genius?
I mean getting an iPhone is more intrusive regarding "Documenting" one self then there ever was in Arizona's lenient law reiterating the Federal Law already on the books that government fails to enforce! What are we paying our political leaders for again? I forget...
CA wants to boycott AZ, Lady (dumb-dumb) GaGa wants to boycott BP, can Apple assure that component parts were not derived from BP's oil? Let's do this right! Boycott Apple people, until we know for sure! Who's with me?!
Wait in a line? Ha ha suckers! Mine is being delivered on the 23rd, one day early! Just got another email from Apple confirming the early delivery date! Have fun waiting on the 24th!
iPhone to android I guess. There is no way I am giving out y social security. That is crazy.
Wil wait unti that's no longer a requiremet. No way. Rope have to boycott this. It's the stragngest thing I've ever heard of. For a phone??
You have never owned a cellphone have you? A credit check is required for a new customer entering into a contract in which you agree to pay for the service for the next two years. Every provider has the same credit check requirement. If you don't like it, then pay full price for the phone ($599/$699) without the contract. If you refuse then no phone for you, and that applies with every provider. Welcome to the real world.
The white model is not shipping on the 24th. You will be waiting a LONG time in that line for a white phone.
Although they say white won't be available for reservation or pre-order, they don't say a few won't be delivered for sale to non-reserved customers. Did you see where that is explicitly stated by Apple?
Although they say white won't be available for reservation or pre-order, they don't say a few won't be delivered for sale to non-reserved customers. Did you see where that is explicitly stated by Apple?
Go to Apple's website: White iPhone Currently Unavailable. It doesn't have a release date yet. If some were to be available, it would have been available for pre-order, just like the black model. If they are not accepting orders for it, then it doesn't exist yet and you won't see it on the 24th.
For the last time, you'll only need to give them the last 4 digits of your SS#! That's how AT&T verifies you are who you are.
That is only if you are an existing customer. If you are a new customer to AT&T, they need to do a credit check, and the only way is by giving them your SS. Just like every other cell provider that requires a credit check.
Go to Apple's website: White iPhone Currently Unavailable. It doesn't have a release date yet. If some were to be available, it would have been available for pre-order, just like the black model. If they are not accepting orders for it, then it doesn't exist yet and you won't see it on the 24th.
I guess you're right. I give up.
I'm sad now. My transition to iOS 4 is not going smoothly either. Tried to install all 981 apps I have and the whole 32 GB 3GS blew up - as in everything crashed to start. So I had to start over with factory settings and all my phone FAVS etc gone. Feelin' bummed now.
I'm sad now. My transition to iOS 4 is not going smoothly either. Tried to install all 981 apps I have and the whole 32 GB 3GS blew up - as in everything crashed to start. So I had to start over with factory settings and all my phone FAVS etc gone. Feelin' bummed now.
Comments
When you come in to pick up your iPhone, you'll be part of an exciting launch at the Apple Retail Store. We'll have Specialists ready to transfer your contacts, set up email, and help you get apps so your iPhone is just the way you like it. We can't wait to see you at the store.
Sincerely,
The Apple Retail Store team
Pickup Date and Time
June 24 starting at 7:00 a.m.
Please note that your reservation will be held until close of business on June 24.
But I haven't received the second email yet about not forgetting to come in and pick it up...I hope my confirmation made it all the way through the system! Guess I will find out this Thursday...
I've got a question that I hope someone can answer for me:
For whatever reason, my AT&T FamilyTalk plan has been flagged as a "business" account, also known as a FAN. Harmless enough, right? Except for whatever reason, Apple is unable to activate phones on these kinds of accounts in their store, you have to do it at home or in the AT&T Store. At least, this was the case back in 2008 when I tried to (unsuccessfully) buy an iPhone 3G.
I wanted to pre-order online from Apple because I would then get the phone delivered to my house for problem-free at-home activation. Of course, having a "business" account, Apple refused to let me pre-order online. I thus had no choice but to use the Apple Store app on my iPhone and pre-order the iPhone 4 for pickup at my local Apple Store.
Here's the situation... Will they let me pay for the hardware and just take it home to activate? Or will they require me to (unsuccessfully) try to activate it in their own store? Because if the latter, I get the strong suspicion they won't let me buy the hardware I reserved and I'll have to wait another month or w/e for AT&T to get some in stock.
If they allow at-home activation, then I feel I should be able to just walk in, pay for the hardware and leave, but you never know with Apple.
Did you upgrade last year? I had the same problem in 2008, I had to actually cancel my business account, buy my phone in the Apple Store where they activated it. I then had to go a few doors down to an AT&T store and have them put my business account back on. In all I lost two months discount or about $40. Well worth getting my 3G near launch.
Last year when I upgraded the Apple rep said they fixed that issue and they activated my 3GS in store and I kept my business account on. So try and call ahead if you are concerned but I think you will be ok.
For all those worried in this thread. If you have a RESERVATION and received the email in this article you will have a phone no matter what time you go up there. If you don't make it up there for any reason you lose the reservation, will start over and some other fortunate soul will get to buy your phone the next morning when the store opens. That is how I got my 3GS last year. All reservations were gone by the time AT&T changed their policy and allowed early adopters to upgrade. So I went the following day and got my phone easily.
Last year when I upgraded the Apple rep said they fixed that issue and they activated my 3GS in store and I kept my business account on. So try and call ahead if you are concerned but I think you will be ok.
Ah, thank you very much for this info, it's very reassuring.
And for the record, no, I didn't upgrade anything last year. I ended up getting my iPhone 3G months later in December 2008 at an AT&T Store.
EDIT: I just realized though... Why would they still be unable to verify my "business" account online when I attempted to pre-order through Apple's store?
Is anyone else planning on going there for 7am (or earlier) and trying to pick up a phone, even though they didn?t pre-order? I?m not sure if it?ll be plausible or not.
I'm starting in Palo Alto tomorrow - Tuesday - afternoon in hopes of getting a WHITE 32.
I mean really - I get flooded servers.. I get communication problems when apple is serving up half the info and AT&T is serving up the other.. but do they have so little error checking in their system that I could be served up a final "See you in the Store! Dont forget to bring: Government issued ID" page without them actually having stored a reservation for me?
That's apples page and apples reservation list - they cant blame that one on AT&T. I did everything that I was supposed to do and now I get screwed. Am I the only one..?
Im not seeing any other posts of outrage about a reservation going missing. Am I the only one that completed the pre-order process (taking several hours of course, given the sign-up fiasco) and getting to a page that said "See you in the Store!", but not receiving any emails and so checking with the store and finding out that I dont actually have a reservation?
I did everything that I was supposed to do and now I get screwed. Am I the only one..?
I feel your pain. Probably the easiest way to get a Black iPhone would be to get in the early Friday morning queue for their early 8AM openings. A lot of reservations will not be claimed on Thursday. Plus there'll be daily new deliveries of more iPhones.
Wil wait unti that's no longer a requiremet. No way. Rope have to boycott this. It's the stragngest thing I've ever heard of. For a phone??
WOW!
"Be sure to bring these items with you:
? A vaild, government - issued photo ID
? Your Social Security number
? A debit or credit card
? New to AT&T? Bring your account
number from your current carrier."
I wonder if the CA politicians, intellectuals, high school students who walked out during school, typical college knowitalls and general nut jobs in the land of 'fruits and nuts' who protested the AZ Immigration Law, will be picketing this blatant violation of rights, as potential 'victims' salivate over the advent of getting the iPhone 4 when out of the blue are asked "Papers, Please!" by some Apple Genius?
I mean getting an iPhone is more intrusive regarding "Documenting" one self then there ever was in Arizona's lenient law reiterating the Federal Law already on the books that government fails to enforce! What are we paying our political leaders for again? I forget...
CA wants to boycott AZ, Lady (dumb-dumb) GaGa wants to boycott BP, can Apple assure that component parts were not derived from BP's oil? Let's do this right! Boycott Apple people, until we know for sure! Who's with me?!
Congrats to all the new iPhone 4 owners! Enjoy!!
I'm starting in Palo Alto tomorrow - Tuesday - afternoon in hopes of getting a WHITE 32.
The white model is not shipping on the 24th. You will be waiting a LONG time in that line for a white phone.
iPhone to android I guess. There is no way I am giving out y social security. That is crazy.
Wil wait unti that's no longer a requiremet. No way. Rope have to boycott this. It's the stragngest thing I've ever heard of. For a phone??
You have never owned a cellphone have you? A credit check is required for a new customer entering into a contract in which you agree to pay for the service for the next two years. Every provider has the same credit check requirement. If you don't like it, then pay full price for the phone ($599/$699) without the contract. If you refuse then no phone for you, and that applies with every provider. Welcome to the real world.
The white model is not shipping on the 24th. You will be waiting a LONG time in that line for a white phone.
Although they say white won't be available for reservation or pre-order, they don't say a few won't be delivered for sale to non-reserved customers. Did you see where that is explicitly stated by Apple?
No way am I giving out my SSN. What's the alternative?
For the last time, you'll only need to give them the last 4 digits of your SS#! That's how AT&T verifies you are who you are.
Although they say white won't be available for reservation or pre-order, they don't say a few won't be delivered for sale to non-reserved customers. Did you see where that is explicitly stated by Apple?
Go to Apple's website: White iPhone Currently Unavailable. It doesn't have a release date yet. If some were to be available, it would have been available for pre-order, just like the black model. If they are not accepting orders for it, then it doesn't exist yet and you won't see it on the 24th.
For the last time, you'll only need to give them the last 4 digits of your SS#! That's how AT&T verifies you are who you are.
That is only if you are an existing customer. If you are a new customer to AT&T, they need to do a credit check, and the only way is by giving them your SS. Just like every other cell provider that requires a credit check.
Go to Apple's website: White iPhone Currently Unavailable. It doesn't have a release date yet. If some were to be available, it would have been available for pre-order, just like the black model. If they are not accepting orders for it, then it doesn't exist yet and you won't see it on the 24th.
I guess you're right. I give up.
I'm sad now. My transition to iOS 4 is not going smoothly either. Tried to install all 981 apps I have and the whole 32 GB 3GS blew up - as in everything crashed to start. So I had to start over with factory settings and all my phone FAVS etc gone. Feelin' bummed now.
I guess you're right. I give up.
I'm sad now. My transition to iOS 4 is not going smoothly either. Tried to install all 981 apps I have and the whole 32 GB 3GS blew up - as in everything crashed to start. So I had to start over with factory settings and all my phone FAVS etc gone. Feelin' bummed now.
981 apps.
Wow.