Teasip join:2001-05-14 Plano, TX |
Teasip
Member
2012-Nov-11 9:04 pm
Zero for Two today at Apple StoreOrdered three iPhone 5's last night after store stock was posted after 10:00 p.m. local time. Was at store this a.m. at 11:15 (opened at 11:00) after receiving the "ready for pickup emails" and had to wait almost an hour to pick up order even though customers were waiting and staff were noted to be standing around. Several were overheard asking why they weren't being waited on and they were told that they were on the list to be helped. To make matters worse, I was told before they went and got my iPhones out of stock that my current phones/cards would be deactivated upon walking out of the store and that the new ones couldn't be kept until Christmas. One of the three phones to be replaced is with my daughter out-of-town at college. I had checked with ATT (between these two I don't know who to believe the least) last night and was told that it would be no problem. After getting back home without the phones, and calling ATT, they again confirmed that I could have taken delivery and held onto the phones. As a bonus I see online that I'm now under contract again and that I'm no longer eligible for an upgrade (this should change once the credits have been processed through my credit card I've been told, but again, I'll believe it when I see it). I swear, it was almost enough to make me go and build a Windows machine. |
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darciliciousCyber Librarian Premium Member join:2001-01-02 Forest Grove, OR |
Just order them from AT&T directly, have them delivered to your home, and activate them whenever you like...
(Also, why not call AT&T while you were still at the Apple store...?) |
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not quite rightI'm not cool enough to be a Mac person join:2001-06-23 Puyallup, WA |
to Teasip
I read your story twice and still don't have a clue as to what you're talking about. I'll take a guess and think you were giving these as christmas gifts, and didn't want to activate them until then. If that was the case then that's what you should have told them at the Apple store. They then would've stuck them in a bag and you would have left with your treasure. The Apple Store employees are just used to people wanting to use their new toy asap and are willing to help set up the phone before you leave. |
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Metatron2008You're it Premium Member join:2008-09-02 united state |
Neither do I. less rant more english OP |
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Teasip join:2001-05-14 Plano, TX 1 edit
1 recommendation |
to not quite right
I did make it clear to them that they were Christmas purchases and still received the same response as noted. Since the supervisor that the lady went to correctly identified the reason why I had been able to leave with an iPhone unactivated during a previous Christmas season (paid full retail to remain MTM since wife and myself were not ready to upgrade at that time), as well as being quick and confident in his response, I chose to believe the representative of the company that actual retails the product versus the cellular provider.
Sorry to those that weren't able to understand the overall frustration with Apple: 1) poor retail model, in my opinion (at least on a weekend day), since you make a customer wait almost an hour to pick up a purchase with other Apple staff giving the appearance of having nothing to do; 2) the staff wasn't familiar with the policy to allow for a customer to leave with their product without it being activated on site, especially considering it is your top retail product at this time; and 3) for the time being locks me out of an upgrade option on my cell plan as we near the holidays.
In a nutshell, it was a waste of time (translation: this is a gripe session). Yes Darci, I could have ordered from ATT but I received an additional cashback incentive to order from Apple, and at these prices, five percent is five percent. It's a shame that it couldn't go as smoothly as it did when I ordered my MBPr online and attempted the same process that I did yesterday which went more smoothly. To Apple's credit, I do like the email process of receipt receival and being able to buy onsite without having to go to a register to be checked out.
To all, disregard the thread and I'll crawl back under my rock. I had also hoped that what I was told and experienced might be helpful to others that might desire to attempt the same gift purchase in the same manner which I did and could provide them some insight. |
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skeechanAi Otsukaholic Premium Member join:2012-01-26 AA169|170 |
skeechan
Premium Member
2012-Nov-12 10:29 am
Get a gift card and let them buy their own phone, or make it a VISA gift card and they can get whatever phone (or whatever else) they want. If these phones are to stay on your account, then you use them to buy when there won't be any hassle about it. |
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Teasip join:2001-05-14 Plano, TX |
Teasip
Member
2012-Nov-17 9:16 am
Not that anyone cares, but just in case someone else should find this thread and have the same experience, the process worked as it should have. Discover posted charges/credits first, followed by ATT showing renewed upgrade eligibility after approximately 48-72 hours, and then Citibank followed suit with their processed purchase credit. Back to square one after approximately 96 hours. |
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Post Op Premium Member join:2001-11-06 inside out |
to Metatron2008
said by Metatron2008:Neither do I. less rant more english OP I understood him perfectly. |
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not quite rightI'm not cool enough to be a Mac person join:2001-06-23 Puyallup, WA |
said by Post Op:said by Metatron2008:Neither do I. less rant more english OP I understood him perfectly. ok your awesome. |
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