In-store pickup for iPhone 5

Nahtzee

Member
Jun 1, 2011
75
0
0
Has anybody been able to do it? I live in a fairly populated area so inventory goes out of stock within minutes and I haven't been able to reserve one. Are there ways other than waiting 3-4 weeks to get one? I don't have a phone currently and sort of need one soon
 

AkumaX

Lifer
Apr 20, 2000
12,643
3
81
theyre supposed to fulfill preorders before walk-in's, so you might be out of luck...

what's your carrier?

i have sprint, i went to best buy and sprint corporate store, they both had a long queue (40+).
however, that was for the 16gb. at sprint corporate, i asked what the queue was for 32gb.

ONE

i said, eh, why not.

they called me 2 days later. :p
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
depending on your carrier, you can also try Radio Shack
 

Tegeril

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2003
2,906
5
81
I tried last night in Boston, I started the checkout process at 10:02 (the store I wanted was still in stock then) and by the time I had it setup there was one option within a reasonable distance, but it was still too far away. The trick is to just have the thing in your cart already when 10 rolls around and pick immediately so you can just check right out.

I'm going to do it tonight.
 
Last edited:

Tegeril

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2003
2,906
5
81
Nailed it. I was about to give up tonight because the stock never re-appeared, but at 10:03/10:04 the stock levels were updated for stores around Boston and I got one. Last night the stock levels had been updated by 10:02.

Just keep hitting the update button next to the zip code from 10:00 to about 10:05 and you have a shot.
 
Last edited:

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,124
12
81
There are none in Los Angeles County based on my personal experience.

I finally ordered two last week.

MotionMan
 

GregGreen

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2000
1,682
3
81
Yeah, did this Friday night and picked up my phone on Saturday. I don't think the stores get deliveries on Sundays, so I wouldn't spend too much effort checking on a Sunday.

I checked every night last week and the only two days that there wasn't 16gb or 32gb White AT&T stock at one of the two nearby stores were Sunday and Thursday (I was on the fence as to whether I wanted to get one already or wait a bit so I was checking stock each night). I hear the VZW models are a bit harder to find so ymmv.
 

maddogchen

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2004
8,903
2
76
took me a week of trying online before I was finally able to get one for instore pickup. sometimes they seem to update a little before 10.
 

arredondo

Senior member
Sep 17, 2004
841
37
91
Hmmm, on October 8th I was at a local Sprint store in a mall here in L.A. County to get my daughter her first phone (i4S). While I was there I decided on the spot to reserve a black 16GB i5 for myself to get a family plan going (replacing my four year old Samsung phone with AT&T). I was told it was a two week wait, but they called me the next day to say they had them ready for pick up.

It's my first Apple product and first modern smart phone. I like it a lot. If any other So Cali residents are still looking, try the Sprint store at the Arcadia mall to see if they have what you want.
 
Last edited:

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,124
12
81
Ordered 10/5. It is now 10/17 and they have not shipped.

:(

MotionMan

Hmmm, I was at a local Sprint store in a mall here in L.A. County to get my daughter her first phone (i4S). While I was there I decided on the spot to reserve a black 16GB i5 for myself to get a family plan going (replacing my four year old Samsung phone with AT&T). I was told it was a two week wait, but they called me the next day to say they had them ready for pick up.

You're killing me. (Then again, I ordered the 32gb 5's.)

MotionMan
 

arredondo

Senior member
Sep 17, 2004
841
37
91
^^^ Well when I was in the store, I could have walked out with a 32 GB model since they still had two in stock. I instead waited to get the 16 GB, which came in the next day. That was over a week ago - surely they have even more now I would guess.
 

arredondo

Senior member
Sep 17, 2004
841
37
91
Yeah, I switched to Sprint after years of AT&T because the call signal was terrible in my own home. Plus, I like that the data & text plan is unlimited with the Family plan I signed up for. And finally, through my job I get 18% off of every monthly bill for all Sprint accounts in our household. :cool:
 
Last edited: