Friday marks 6 weeks since order for me, if I don't get a shipping email, what can I do?

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Zennie2005 Author

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Friday marks 6 weeks since order for me, if I don't get a shipping email, what can I do?

I have a regional carrier (U. S. Cellular), and I am afraid it is lower or down towards the bottom when it comes to the supply chain. I think Apple always stood at 3-4 weeks available to ship, while most carriers for the more in demand phones list 4-6 weeks roughly. As stated, Friday will mark 6 weeks waiting as I placed the order on the 26th of September. What can/should I do if I don't hear anything by the end of Friday? I pre-ordered the iPhone 5 the day it was available to order, took me til the first week of October to receive it (nothing special, 16 gb silver), and found out that I probably could have walked into the store and purchased it on the spot instead of waiting! So this time, I decided to not pre-order, to find out that there wasn't any stock launch day. So I waited a week, nothing came through the store as far as 6 Plus went, so I caved and ordered. From what I have seen, roughly the 4 carriers Apple sells have gotten theirs in a timely manner, about 4.5-5 weeks to receipt. I cannot go through any carrier than USC for my phone (no unlockeds can be used on USC). This is highly frustrating because I have no time frame, no idea, when it will ship at all. I could be looking at waiting until December for all I know! Had I known it was going to be so long, I might have opted sooner for a 6 that was being sold on Craigslist. 😟

Can anyone help with timeframes as far as other carriers go?? I feel if Apple can ship phones with 3-4 weeks, then ALL carriers should be shipping no later than 6 weeks.

Posted on Nov 5, 2014 11:23 AM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

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236,309 points

Nov 5, 2014 11:27 AM in response to Zennie2005

Did you order from Apple online? If so, then you can check with them. No one here would know the shipping dates. It is based on what estimate is provided you when you order. If you ordered from the carrier, only they can give you a shipping estimate.

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Answer 2

Zennie2005 Author

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Nov 5, 2014 1:49 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thanks for the response, but no, I have U. S. Cellular and they are not a carrier offered by Apple directly, nor has USC been able to give me any kind of ETA. That was why I was seeing if there were any alternate carrier people who had any experience with timeframes because I had gotten a general consensus of 4.5-5 weeks for the top national carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint).

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Answer 3

ChrisJ4203

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236,309 points

Nov 5, 2014 3:18 PM in response to Zennie2005

Well, if you log into the Apple Store to purchase a device with one of the carriers, they will provide an estimate on the delivery. As far as what else, are you going to change carriers? Do you use US Cellular for coverage, or price? The reset kind of depends on you. If you got a deal on the phone, you would probably want to wait. I have no idea why they cannot give you a shipping estimate, as they should have gotten that from Apple. Seems like they are giving you the runaround. Guess you can wait to see if anyone else with a regional carrier responds, or see if US Cellular has a forum where other users can ask questions.

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Answer 4

Zennie2005 Author

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Nov 6, 2014 11:37 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thanks, I know, that, too. I could switch to Verizon, but unfortunately already set up a 2 year plan with my husband and his phone through USC, so don't really want to unless we have to, plus I am not sure that Verizon's coverage would be as good at my house as USC. I have seen a couple other customers irritated by the lengthy wait, but everywhere I have looked, nobody seems to have any other regional carrier, so I am lost with no time frames. I just figure, even if it takes Apple 4 weeks to send phones to my carrier, should not take more than two more weeks to put it in my hands, huh? All the CSRs from USC can say is all the phones they receive go to fill backorders, and they always are getting a shipment soon. I keep hearing about the plethora of phones in California and get mad that Apple can stock Cali well, but can't fill orders first? I mean, if you made too many iPhone 6's, that's fine, but since there's overstock, then focus should be on what the orders are, not getting stores stocked with phones that are no longer being waited for (though I am sure there are people waiting for the phones that are in stock at stores). Part of it is carrier (only accepting phones programmed specifically) and part of it is Apple (9 million 5S/10 million 6, should have had plenty before launch). I appreciate your responses, and I don't expect you to have the answers, I just don't really know where else to look for information about deliveries from USC for the phone. Again, small, regional carrier issue. Not nearly as many people will have it, so chances are slim I'll find anyone with USC that has gotten their new iPhone outside of just walking in store and taking whatever was on the shelf. Thanks again.

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Answer 5

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,309 points

Nov 6, 2014 12:23 PM in response to Zennie2005

You are probably right that you will have trouble getting additional info. However, I would say the problem probably lies with USC. I cannot believe the individual stores have that many orders that they are filling backorders with everything they order. I expect the head office did not ordering enough devices to meet the demand they ended up getting and they are rationing to the local stores at the expense of the customer. I'd be looking up the chain at USC and complain there.

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