Disaffected Apple Upgrade Program customers can now call support for iPhone 7 order help
Apple is allowing participants in the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program to call customer service, with some customers being presented with additional options for preorder, beyond what is available on the website.
On Sunday, Apple made minor changes to the Apple Upgrade Program webpage, and directed dissatisfied customers to call Apple support. Customers were then directed to a Specialist, who collated data on the user's preferred models.
No guarantees have been made by the Specialists. Customers calling are asked to give a few possible models desired, and aren't being assured that the first choice will be available.
Additionally, some travel may be required. The Apple support personnel are telling people that they'll receive a call back in less than 48 hours, with information on where to pick up the desired device.
AppleInsider has learned that there is a limited store transfer program available, which will be limited to no further away than one geographical area. For instance, a customer in Washington D.C. could potentially draw from supplies in Baltimore with the help of Apple support representatives, but not New York City.
Retail stores will still be constrained by stock on hand, even if some are set aside for program members. After reserve units are depleted, then program members will draw from the store stock.
The pre-order process for Apple Upgrade Program members started at the same time that regular reservations for the iPhone 7 launched. Participants in the program discovered that there was little, if any, available stock, and took to social media to complain about the situation.
AppleInsider was the first to report on Friday that some Apple retail store stock on release day will be reserved for Apple Upgrade Program members. However, quantities at this time available are still unknown.
"We don't know how many we're going to even get in total for day one, we're going to get crushed," we were told by an iPhone specialist on Friday. "We won't know until the day how many we have to set aside, and even then, we're only holding for a few days."
On Sunday, Apple made minor changes to the Apple Upgrade Program webpage, and directed dissatisfied customers to call Apple support. Customers were then directed to a Specialist, who collated data on the user's preferred models.
No guarantees have been made by the Specialists. Customers calling are asked to give a few possible models desired, and aren't being assured that the first choice will be available.
Additionally, some travel may be required. The Apple support personnel are telling people that they'll receive a call back in less than 48 hours, with information on where to pick up the desired device.
AppleInsider has learned that there is a limited store transfer program available, which will be limited to no further away than one geographical area. For instance, a customer in Washington D.C. could potentially draw from supplies in Baltimore with the help of Apple support representatives, but not New York City.
Retail stores will still be constrained by stock on hand, even if some are set aside for program members. After reserve units are depleted, then program members will draw from the store stock.
The pre-order process for Apple Upgrade Program members started at the same time that regular reservations for the iPhone 7 launched. Participants in the program discovered that there was little, if any, available stock, and took to social media to complain about the situation.
AppleInsider was the first to report on Friday that some Apple retail store stock on release day will be reserved for Apple Upgrade Program members. However, quantities at this time available are still unknown.
"We don't know how many we're going to even get in total for day one, we're going to get crushed," we were told by an iPhone specialist on Friday. "We won't know until the day how many we have to set aside, and even then, we're only holding for a few days."
Comments
Samsung's biggest problem: Exploding phones causing destruction of property and injury.
Yeah.
You get a new phone with the full device cost with AppleCare+ split over 24 months.
It's similar to how most cellular providers do it but you aren't tied to any specific carrier while you're paying off the device.
The "high quality" Apple experience continues, lol.
Not sure what the issue is with the Upgrade program for folks. There is no guarantee from Apple that there is preference for those customers (and I'm one of those). The program is pretty straight forward as far as the website is concerned. I was able to reserve my new iPhone for first thing pickup on Friday. For those that delayed, there is a wait for the Upgrade just as there is a wait for any customer who didn't pre-order early.
My only concern now is the baseband chip issue (http://forums.appleinsider.com/discussion/194873/at-t-t-mobile-versions-of-iphone-7-likely-using-intel-modem-incompatible-with-sprint-verizon/p1 ). The iPhone 6s was a world phone, able to access any carrier anywhere. The iPhone 7 isn't. I have AT&T (but no contract) and I use my iPhone with different carriers by changing out the sim cards and am considering going to Verizon.
Despite the lengthy forum discussion I am still unclear if there is a downside to using a model A1660* or A1661* (the Verizon CDMA models) on AT&T in the US? It appears to me that these models are true world phones (all bands available), but the others are not.
This is the first time ever that I have not been able to order a phone on the first day. I have had every version of the iPhone since day one, so it is a bit frustrating to be treated this way.
http://www.techwalls.com/iphone-7-plus-model-differences/
Even the comments are very informative about special use cases such as use in various countries. The SIM-free unlocked version supposedly will not be available until October, but if you order the Verizon phone (A1660, A1661) it will work just fine on AT&T, but you will automatically be set up for a Verizon account when you purchase it at the Apple Store, not online. I guess you can cancel the Verizon account without penalty though, since there is no contract required, although there may be a set up fee involved. In fact just upgrading your AT&T iPhone requires a set up fee, although I have heard they will waive it if you complain. I'm going to wait for the SIM-free version and then decide what network I'll go with.
I am not currently in the Upgrade program but purchased my new iPhone last Friday morning through the Upgrade program. After reading about this mess, I have decided to cancel that order and go to one of the retailers selling new iPhones. I don't want any part of the Upgrade program so long as Upgrade customers receive inferior acces to new iPhones at product launch.