iPhone store pickup post release

I'm trying to determine if the in-store reservation and pickup system for new iPhone launches is still active.

In the past, customers could reserve a limited number of iPhone 17 units online each morning (e.g., at 7:00 AM) for same-day or quick in-store collection. This was a crucial alternative to the standard online order process, which currently has a three-week delivery wait time and no option for immediate walk-in purchase.

A UK customer service representative recently suggested I check for stock availability at 1:00 PM daily, but this hasn't been successful over the last two days.

Can anyone confirm the current process or share their recent experience with reserving an iPhone 17 for in-store pickup? What specific time and method worked for you?