Preordered Your iPhone 4S in an AT&T Store? Don’t Expect to Walk in Today and Pick It Up…
So maybe you were walking by an AT&T store near your job on the 7th, when the mood struck you to walk in and tell them you’d like to preorder your iPhone 4S. They happily tell you, no problem and that you can come pick it up from this store as soon as it comes in. You walk in today to the uncrowded store thinking, “I preordered the device, so if anyone’s going to get theirs on the first day, my chances are pretty good.” How wrong you are…
Apparently some customers who preordered their iPhone 4S inside a store could have to wait up to 10 days from today before they can go pick their iPhone up. Now, this isn’t because there is a shortage by any means. In fact, if you walk into the same store that you preordered from, you could see plenty of people who didn’t preorder their devices walk right in and buy one on the spot without an issue. Now, if you try to go to the counter and buy one though, they’ll pull up your account, see that you preordered one (from that exact store even) and tell you that, unfortunately, you cannot get an iPhone until your specific one arrives in the store.
“Today, most likely though, right?” you ask.
“No clue, could be up to 10 days from now” is the response you get from the representative behind the counter.
10 days?! What was the point of preordering? People preorder because they are so excited about the device coming out that they literally have to go through the process of purchasing the device (full well knowing they still have to wait till launch day to actually get it), just to have the satisfaction that they are getting it as soon as humanly possible, and only then are they are able to breathe again.
How does it make sense to preorder something and then have to wait longer than people who are just walking up and purchasing? Why can’t you just give the customer one of the ones that are in stock currently and have their “specific” iPhone just return to available for purchase once it arrives?
Now, even though in-store preorders are probably a minority of the orders (most I’m sure ordered online), these are iPhone customers we’re talking about. Hell hath no fury like an iPhone user forced to wait for the newest iPhone…
Anyone else have a similar issue (or perhaps better luck) with preordering their iPhone 4S from any of the carriers than the pissed AT&T customers who sent this issue in? Online preorders going smoother than in-store ones I hope…
I preordered in store on 10/7 at noon. My status online is still backordered and “in progress.” At&t still hasn’t charged me for it. I may go to the store and try to cancel my order and pick one up if they’re willing to cooperate and have some in stock. Very frustrating. And clearly “first come, first serve” is a load of bs.
I preordered my 4s the 7th and I still don’t have it. This is berry frustrating AT&T Is blaming Apple. I have been on the phone for an 1.5hrs they tell me to be patient it will be here shortly. The Droid Bionic is looking better each day it even has a 4″ display!!!
I’m glad to have found this article. Exactly what you said about just being told to come by and get it happened to me. On top of being ripped off and deceived, AT&T’s response to the issues and communication with their customers was despicable at best. No return phone calls and no return emails; only communication I received was via their Facebook page, which is even more pathetic than the entire issue at hand. AT&T would not provide me any information or a timetable other than up to 28 days, which is completely different from the “false pretenses” they offered me to sign the contract. They would not allow me to refund my preorder and purchase one in their store. AT&T has no integrity when it comes to doing business, the issue with me is not over. I am filing a complaint with local consumer protection agencies due to AT&T not allowing me to void the contract whenever my phone was not given to me by the promised date. I was told numerous times that I would only be able to cancel the contract under the buyer’s remorse clause within my first 30 days but the real interesting part of this is, I can only cancel the contract after I activate the phone. I do not see how AT&T can legally force their customers to abide by a contract that they themselves have not.
Hulk 4130, I agree with you. AT&T need to somehow compensate their customers!
I preordered on the 7th at an at&t store since it would not let me online. Still says it has not been shipped. Never even got a confirmation email. Absolutely pointless to preorder at store. I’ve found out the hard way. Words cannot describe my frustration. I will be raising hell if it is not at my door by this friday. AT&T has lost major points with me.
AGREE 100%! WHY ADVERTISE PRE-ORDERING THE PHONE IF CUSTOMERS CANNOT HAVE IT BY THE TIME IT COMES OUT. TRULY WORTHLESS AND FRUSTRATING. I WANT MY PHONE DAMMIT!
After being a loyal AT&T customer for 14+ years. I feel I deserve some type of compensation for this disaster. It is currently 10/21 and what do you know, still on backorder. Even if the store has my phone in stock. They will not let me cancel pre-order and get a phone at the store. Absolutely horrid customer service. AT&T should be embarrassed.
This article describes my situation exactly. What is the point of preordering at a store, and being one of the last people in the country to get the phone. They sure were quick to charge me that upgrade fee for the phone that I don’t even have yet.
I had the experience with being the very first one in the store to preorder two 4s iPhones!!!
I’m still waiting for my iPhones as you had said everyone that day that did not preorder just walked in an bought phone!!! I this right that I went to the end of the line rather than the front!!!! I’m dropping AT&T!!!!
I pre-ordered two 4s’ the first day it was available to pre-order at an AT&T store because I could not get my order to go through online. They told me in the store that it will probably be 2-3 weeks before I received my “pre-ordered” iPhones. I could not stand in line all day on the Friday they came out so I had to go with the pre-order option. When I go online to check my order it still says “Pending Shipment” which is the same thing it said from day one. Very frustrating!
Same exact thing with me. Would not let me do it online. So I had no choice but to preorder at store. The dumbest thing I have done in years. I feel like a fool going in and thinking “oh I’ll be one of the people to get it on the 14th”. Boy was I wrong. It’s 10/21 and still back ordered.
I paid for mine on 10/9 at the store and still no phones (2 ordered)!!!
We pre-ordered ours the first day. We were told they would have them, at the very, very latest, by yesterday. BS. They haven’t even shipped. They have 4S in our local store, but they won’t let us cancel our orders and just pick them up there. If I could get out of my contract and go to verizon I would. As soon as I have a chance, I’m getting away from ATT.
I preordered mine on the 7th and I am still waiting 20 days later…. my 3g is horrible