Item currently unavailable, try again later..

If this is a Late 2009 iMac, then it may have access to Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) if macOS 10.12.6+ was ever installed on it.

If this is an Early or Mid 2009 iMac and you cannot enter local Recovery Mode, then you will either need to use the original OS X 10.6 Restoration DVD which originally shipped with the iMac from the factory to get a basic OS on it so later versions of macOS can be accessed. Or you will need access to another Qualifying Mac in order to create a bootable macOS 10.11 El Capitan USB installer. A Qualifying Mac for macOS 10.11 is generally one from 2008 to 2015, but you can confirm by checking this article which shows which versions of macOS are compatible with various hardware:

FYI, any computer (even Windows) can download the macOS 10.11 installer from Apple since it is available outside of the App Store, but only a Qualifying Mac (aka one which is compatible with macOS 10.11) can run the .pkg file in the downloaded .dmg file to extract the real installer to the Applications folder). Here is an Apple article with instructions for creating a bootable macOS USB installer:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

You can try using DiskMaker X to create the bootable macOS USB installer as it may allow you to use any Mac compatible with the DiskMaker X app, but I have not tried this option.

These are your only options for reinstalling macOS.

Yoshicar Said:

"Item currently unavailable, try again later..: Help please... here it is 2023 and I have a 2009 iMac that I upgraded to El Capitan and sold. I forgot to remove my account and the buyer was told by Apple to reset it. And now I am stuck.[...]"

-------

Getting Out of a Sold Device:

A. Take this Back and Reset this:

Signing out, and then resetting it to Factory Settings is what to do. Do you still have contact with the seller? If so, meet with them, and perform as instructed here, including the backup: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support

B. Secure your Info:

With Security & Privacy being of High-Concern here, consider modifying your credentials, immediately. Pefroming the following is best at this point, including a new password.  So, Consider...

• Modifying: your login credentials (using both a New eMail and a New Password) for Apple and each and all sites
• Associating: a different method of payment to your account
• Enabling: Two-Factor Authentication for Apple ID and for all other accounts that have such an applicable option

Yoshicar Said:

"Item currently unavailable, try again later..: […]would love to know how I could possible get the operating system downloaded whether I use another Mac or something”

———-

High Sierra Install:

Try Using a USB Bootable Installer:

• Internet Recovery Mode - Apple Support
• Bootable macOS USB Installer - Apple Support

No success?

B. Your Hard Drive May be Failing...

Run First Aid in Recovery Mode:

Check the status of your internal hard drive. See if it needs to be replaced. To check, run First Aid In Recovery Mode.

1. Boot: into Recovery Mode (Intel or Silicon)
2. Go in to: Disk Utilities
3. Select: the hard drive
4. Click: First Aid

Yoshicar Said:

"Item currently unavailable, try again later..: […]right now it will not get past the point of the six digit code to verify my account[…]”

———-

Add a device, to get a code.

Change the Phone Number, to Get a Code:

Contact Apple Support.

Have Apple Support change it to what it should be. Ask them why these accounts still show up. If need be, perform a screensharing session with them, so they can see this firsthand, from your perspective. Apple Support is the only official way to get this to stop switching.

Apple Contact Info:

• Contact Us - Choose Locations
• Proceed from there, as necessary
• Why the Wait: Phone calls are taking a bit to go through at the moment, due to lots of calls. With the Coronavirus Pandemic, many are at home at the moment, with much time on their hands to contact Apple. So, just stay on the line, and you will get through :)

IMPORTANT: Perform a Trail & Error login session, prior to ending the call.

Yoshicar Said:

"Item currently unavailable, try again later..: I have done that and it has not found any problem.“

———-

Contact Apple Support.

You need to get access to your account. Being that you use Two-Factor Authentication, that is why you need to contact Apple Support, and maybe get a device to temporarily be used for this.

Apple Contact Info:

• Contact Us - Choose Locations
• Proceed from there, as necessary
• Why the Wait: Phone calls are taking a bit to go through at the moment, due to lots of calls. With the Coronavirus Pandemic, many are at home at the moment, with much time on their hands to contact Apple. So, just stay on the line, and you will get through :)

IMPORTANT: Perform a Trail & Error login session, prior to ending the call.

Yoshicar Said:

"Item currently unavailable, try again later..: I am the seller. And apple told her to wipe it before i signed out and now I am stuck in the middle without an OS. I can not login or out. And I am getting that error"

-------

Modify your Credentials:

So, do you have this back? If not, and then person was abet to unlock this themselves, then they have your credentials. The only way it can be associate to a different account, is if the currently installed user logs out of it.

With Security & Privacy being of High-Concern here, consider modifying your credentials, immediately. Pefroming the following is best at this point, including a new password.  So, Consider...

• Modifying: your login credentials (using both a New eMail and a New Password) for Apple and each and all sites
• Associating: a different method of payment to your account
• Enabling: Two-Factor Authentication for Apple ID and for all other accounts that have such an applicable option

Yoshicar Said:

"Item currently unavailable, try again later..: I have the computer back, I’m guessing you’ve never experienced this error“

———-

Based on Personal Experience:

In fact, I have, during my early days as a Mac user. I contacted the seller, and we met, and I ran them through the process of performing this up correctly. I learned how to do so from leading books and reading these forums. Lots of the feedback I give, is based on personal experience.