It’s Almost iPhone Day: How Are My Apple and AT&T Pre-Orders Going?
Earlier this week, I wrote about how I ended up ordering an iPhone 3G S via Apple and AT&T. The former had to be reserved at an Apple store (couldn’t get it delivered, I think, because I’m on a family plan, so they need in-person activation); the latter was to be delivered.
Keep in mind that neither company guaranteed I’d get the phone on Friday, June 19. They used wording that certainly implied it, but they were pretty careful to cover themselves in case they couldn’t make it. Fair enough.
So, it’s been a few days since then, and tomorrow is the big day. How are they doing?
Apple
Despite concerns I had before, they seem on top of it. I received an email Thursday morning:
It looks like I’m all set for Friday. I’m also thinking my concern about their ability to handle my AT&T Family Plan account may be less well-founded, though of course I have no way of knowing unless I show up.
Still, Apple’s ready for me, which is a nice thing to know.
AT&T
As of noon PT Thursday, the status was identical to what it’s been since I ordered a week ago. The entire order was “In Progess.”
There are only four possible statuses (stati?), but one of them is “Canceled” and another is “Partially Shipped” (impossible since I only ordered one thing), so I’m looking for “Shipped.” Bummer.
However, checking back much later in the day (17:30 PT), I see a change.
Status is “Shipped!” I have a ship date of today, and a carrier of FedEx. No tracking number, but still, it looks a lot better. I assume AT&T is not shipping from China, as Apple does, but rather from one of their own stores more or less locally. Therefore an overnight FedEx shipment today could easily arrive by tomorrow.
I’d sure like to see a tracking number, and I’ll keep checking tonight, but we might just have a horse race here, folks.
To be continued…
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Here’s some phone numbers you can call to request tracking numbers from AT&T.
1-877-782-8870
1-866-391-0749
1-888-333-6651
Thanks. My online status says mine was shipped last night. So I called following number to get my tracking number. I tried your first number in vain though.
1-866-391-0749
I ordered mine from the Apple Online Store and it shipped from China. I live in Alabama and UPS tracking says it is in Louisville, Kentucky and has an “exception”. It says it has been put on hold until a future date. It said that Wednesday. I’m thinking it COULD possibly make it here tomorrow because it doesn’t have far to go, but if not, then I’m really hoping Saturday.
If you get two iPhone 3G S you should give one away in a drawing for the blog or something like that. It would be interesting and something that could bring people to your site and a way for someone to get a new iPhone that may be cant afford it or cant upgrade yet. Just a thought.
Great blog and I love coming here for all my apple news.
Andrew, I’m in the same boat as you… mine’s been in a holding pattern in Louisville since Wednesday… Seems odd for it to get all the way from China and not make it on time because it’s been held up in Kentucky since 2a.m. Wednesday morning… I’d have to assume they’re arriving tomorrow, but there has been no change in status since then and it’s 12:23a.m. D-Day. We shall see. :)
Belay that… it finally shows a rescheduled delivery date for the 19th.
For those curious, as of ~22:00 PT there’s still no tracking number listed in my ATT status.
Further, my earlier article outlines concerns I have when it’s delivered. Even if it arrives tomorrow, if I have to go to an ATT store to get it activated then I didn’t gain as much from online ordering as I’d like. Bottom line is if I see the FedEx truck pull up to my house tomorrow, I’m not out of the woods yet.
My status (I also preordered from AT&T) looks the same as yours: shipped, but no tracking number listed. There are a couple numbers you can call to get it, try 888-333-6651 (then press 1, 2, 1 at the prompts). You should also get an email with the tracking number included as well. Mine shipped today (from Tennessee) with overnight delivery and is scheduled to be at my house tomorrow (in California). I couldn’t be happier! And I didn’t have to wait in any lines! AT&T is awesome!
Matt,
I call the number, but they’re closed. I’ve received no email with a tracking number yet.
I ordered my iphone 3gs at June 13 last week. AT&T said it would take 7-14 days to ship it. So I really didn’t expect I get it on June 19, its launch date. But according to fedex tracking, I would get it on June 19 afternoon as shown below. So I guess ordering iphone from AT&T is not that bad
FedEx Tracking Info:
Ship date Jun 18, 2009
Estimated delivery Jun 19, 2009 by 3:00 PM
Wow. Lots of suggestions for numbers to call to get a tracking number. For what it’s worth, this number worked for me: 866-391-0749.
I got the tracking number, and it shows my phone shipped from Memphis to arrive at my door Friday “by 3pm.”
So far, so good. If I trust FedEx not to screw this up, than the focus shifts to the user experience in getting the phone activated (will it come with instructions for this, etc.).
Tracking Number: XXXXXXXXXXX
Type: Package
Status: In Transit
Rescheduled Delivery: 06/19/2009
Shipped To: XXXX, CA, US
Shipped/Billed On: 06/16/2009
Product: WORLD EASE
Service: EXPRESS
Weight: .50 Kg
To view additional tracking information, please log in to My UPS.
Package Progress
Location Date Local Time Description
LOUISVILLE,
KY, US 06/18/2009 11:35 P.M. IMPORT SCAN
LOUISVILLE,
KY, US 06/17/2009 4:00 A.M. THE PACKAGE IS BEING HELD FOR FUTURE DELIVERY. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON THE DATE REQUESTED
06/17/2009 2:06 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
ANCHORAGE,
AK, US 06/16/2009 6:52 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
06/16/2009 1:48 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
CHEK LAP KOK,
HK 06/16/2009 11:14 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
06/16/2009 7:49 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
SHENZHEN,
CN 06/16/2009 12:49 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
CN 06/16/2009 1:18 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED
Tracking results provided by UPS: 06/19/2009 3:11 A.M. ET