Apple tells UPS to stop overachieving, puts brakes on early iPhone 3G S deliveries
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jun 17th 2009 3:11AM
posted Jun 17th 2009 3:11AM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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denied!
haha!
UPS will take these to the "drop kick room" and "hold" them until apple says so. Good luck getting your package in good shape. believe me, the less time it spends in UPS hands the better. It is sorta like sending your package through the gauntlet.
@scarse, wow, you're really original and educated. They're the same outside but not inside, my friend. I am a new costumer and never had an iphone so i don't fall under your scrutiny and i do see your point; but if someone wants to help the economy by shelling out 500 to 600 for a phone, then by all means do it. I for one am not too happy my phone is coming all the way from China. Why can't they make it here? oh yeah, costs less to make and pay less to make.
Ha, gotta love that title!
@scarse3
it's ok, you don't have to be mad that you didn't have enough money to upgrade. the price of the 3G S will fall next year and then you can buy one of ours from us! please don't troll because you're poor.
I'm pretty sure the iPhone is made in China....
At least my old iPods were
Am at UPS right now throwing around some apple packages...Ooops... sorry Dan C.
Ummmmm... has anyone tried driving to your local UPS branch and picking the package up yourselves? You may get lucky, and hope the clerk there has no idea why the package is being held, so they'll release it to you.
Holy crizzap... how did I skip over that part of the article? My apologies.
Lolz.
Exactly! And at&t is the A-hole in this relationship? Plz...
posted by @MuscleNerd of the iphone dev team "Those of you tracking your new iPhone 3GS and see "receiver requested a hold" -- don't worry, UPS says it's just a U.S. Customs thing" I concur i've seen this message on most of my international orders...
I call BS on that. If customs were holding the package it wouldn't say that the receiver requested a hold.... You'd simply see that the delivery date had been adjusted. I worked as a customs inspector for 8 years.
The RECEIVER requested the hold, not the sender.
So we're waiting for a "1C" from Customs?
Apple usually ships FedEx, so I was a bit startled to see UPS as the shipper. UPS will actually hold shipments at their facility per shipper's request, while FedEx will not, so that might provide further clues into what's going on...either way, it looks like Apple will make good on their June 19th delivery day and save people from long, agonizing lines.
Flawless....unless buyers decide to storm the city of Louisville, Kentucky, in the next 24 hours.
That's not neccessarily true, I got my iPhone 3G last year via UPS. And maybe if Engadget didn't make all the fuss about people getting their iPhones early, Apple would have never realized what was slipping through the cracks. Oh well.
UPS told me it's guaranteed delivery by tomorrow (6/18) at 10:30am. I'll believe it when I see it.
IT VERY LIKELY IS customs related. Here's the reason: Louisville, KY is the location of the main US customs office for shipping and inspections.
Further more, it is worth the cost and the work for Apple to hold every iPhone order? That doesn't seem likely. All the features are public now.
Foxconn is the shipper (and Manufacturer), Apple is the receiver. They're drop shipping to the actual buyer. Apple said it was to be released on the 19th, and they want to make sure everyone gets them at the same time.
@Cycomachead
Louisville, KY is also a major UPS hub for their air shipments.
And you can NOT go to UPS and pick up your package unless it was already put on the truck for delivery (and then taken off). It's likely sitting in a gigantic pile of boxes.
Nobody is getting their phone until the 19th, bank on it. Apple is doing the same thing DVD distributors do. Nobody gets product until the release date. Walmart puts DVDs out at 12:01am of the day they are released but since UPS doesn't do home delivery in the middle of the night, everyone will get their phone on Friday.
@thebigbad, actually, DVD distributors send their products to stores about a week or two BEFORE the release date. Same with video games, very rarely do stores get their shipments that day. Ask any worker at bestbuy or where ever and ask them when they first receive a new movie shipment.
I've worked at Wal-mart in the past and I can say from my experience they get new stuff like DVDs and games, 1 to 2 weeks before it can be put on display. They usually just keep it in the back in plain sight. Often if you know someone who works there you can buy it early.
Meanwhile, all the Apple fanboys (*sigh*, incl. me) are waiting for a midnight 3.0 rollout to no avail:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2039821&start=375&tstart=0
Maybe if you had a life you have no problem waiting 2 more days for outdated phone
And i know its not related to what are you saying but i just gotta say something for the human kind
I just saw on TUAW that Apple delayed the release until Thursday... check it out:
http://www.apple.com/sg/iphone/softwareupdate/
Nevermind...thats the Singapore Apple site...ugh sorry that one got by me..
@DR House
Ass.
Sorry, just had to say it for the good of mankind against all douchebaggery.
Time to go out and buy etchsketch pen and make a miniature s on the back of iPhone. Then go out near the midnight queue and bum them out.
:)
DR House @ Jun 17th 2009 3:24AM
"Maybe if you had a life you have no problem waiting 2 more days for outdated phone"
HAHAHA classic and so true!
well that blows!!
sad face...
suckas
Mine says that but then above it is still scheduled to be delivered today! Can't wait!
This is nothing new -- T-Mobile did the same thing with the G1 launch. Mine showed the same type of info -- it was at the local center, but being held, prior to the launch date. It's a service that UPS offers to shippers.
My friend got hers a couple days prior to launch though, she had it shipped to a PO box. The postal service doesn't offer a hold-for-delivery-date service (yet). I noticed that when I pre-ordered my iPhone 3GS, PO boxes weren't allowed for shipping (or even as a billing address).
hahaha.........haha...........
travel at the beauties of the world
I will probably get downranked for writing this, but I'll take a shot anyway.
Articles like this are what perpetuates the notion that Engadget has an Apple bias. I mean, an article dedicated to the fact that people who pre-ordered an updated iPhone (and not significantly different than it's predecessor I might add) might have to wait a couple of more days? Seriously? Now, do I think that Engadget is Apple biased? No, but my only point is that Engadget certainly isn't helping it's cause by writing stuff like this.
@SilverGixxer
Hell, read gizmodo for a couple of days. After that Engadget is decidedly anti apple...
If you don't like Engadget's coverage of apple-related items I suggest you don't read those articles. Maybe you can tip them off on something more news-worthy if you have any suggestions. If you don't, sit down, relax and pour yourself a steaming hot cup of STFU.
What about people who love Engadget but hate apple then? its like engadget is forcing them to see 5 articles every day about apple
LOOK apple said that and did that, WHO CARES ,
@DR House - You clearly are confused about how business works. Engadget publishes articles that generate hits, attract advertisers and generate revenue for them. Posts about Apple and their products accomplish this. If it didn't, they would change tactics or go out of business. What appears as bias is actually a business strategy to remain relevant and make money. You don't have to care, you don't have to read apple posts, and you don't have to comment on them. But you do. What you should do is simple.
Go back under your bridge and stop clogging up the system with misplaced hate for tech companies and whining about the business practices of gadget blogs.
amerist, run747, so beautifully put
you know you can filter out the apple posts, right?
this post explains how:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/20/tired-of-iphone-and-or-apple-news-on-engadget/
WOW. While I understand this to a certain extent, if this was me I would be pissed off. Is it really that bad that they get their phones a few days ahead of time? What's more important, customer service or perfectly timed releases? Disturbingly, Apple seems to think it's the ladder.
I had a ladder tip over when I was climbing it once. True story.
You "climb the corporate ladder" - not latter. It's a metaphor.
On the "latter side of things" - not ladder.
Lol. There is a set release day. Whine and moan all you want. June 19th is the release date. Not any day before. I am pretty sure if it was your life, it would be a different story. IE - the grim reaper shows up to "take you" a couple days early. You resists, but he says - "it's only a couple days early". Stupid, but makes the point :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7UP22w72H8
I think this one more accurately captures this moment...
UPS Delivery Intercept (UPS Whiteboard tv ad) video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-23mkL69ic&feature=related
LOL.
I hope no one paid for over night shipping cause they would be in another lawsuit.
I ordered so far in advance it seemed like overnight shipping was just a waste. All i figured it meant was, they would wait til the last possible day to ship anyway.. and overnight it then...
Why is it being shipped from Hong Kong? O_o Unless he/she ordered it directly from that store. They're not even being sold here yet (next month).
iPhones are made in Shenzen, Canton Province and HKG is one of the airports they ship from.
I will rip an UPS telephone costumer service representative a new @sshole tomorrow. I will either get my shipment fixed or they will hang up on me, there is no other possible outcome tomorrow.
It's not released until Friday. What part of this do some of you not understand???
Do you have to go to AT&T or apple store to activate?
Cuz some times ups comes at night, all of my ups deliverys came after 5pm
If it's dame for others and there's and issue with activation, there's gonna be lots of POed peeps
UPS? BOOOOOO!!!!
Needless to say that I work for one of their competitors...
While I have the "THE RECEIVER REQUESTED A HOLD FOR A FUTURE DELIVERY DATE. UPS WILL ATTEMPT DELIVERY ON DATE REQUESTED " message, however I'm also getting "Your package is on time with a scheduled delivery date of 06/18/2009. " so we will see, as long as I know what day I need to drive out to sign for the thing I'm good. ( Shipped to my old address :( )
The 3gs is like 3 years late anyway... an extra few days wouldnt hurt you minions
BWAHAHAHAHAHA! You should have used the United States Postal Service! It would arrive like Obama's withdraw from Iraq!
Lol, you win one cookie!! :)
Although, I must point out, the USPS is nowhere near as bad as our own Royal Mail :/
UPS's strongest trait - the ability to stop packages en route - is also its downfall...
As a skilled laborer at a major UPS hub, I feel obligated to say, there is no commit time on ground packages. "It arrives when it arrives."
Unfortunately the only method around this, if it ARRIVED at the distribution center, would have been to call in and ask if you can have the package pulled out of the car and left at Will Call. But that's only if the package had been sorted and ready for delivery that day.
"As a skilled laborer at a major UPS hub, I feel obligated to say..."
As I feel obligated to let you know ground deliveries are guaranteed... just do a quick time in transit calculation on UPS.com and you will see "Guaranteed By". They have been that way for at least 8 years (maybe more)...
What can brown do for you? (Had to say it)
Hey i live in Anchorage, AK maybe i should go down to the UPS hub and steal all your phones!!! lol
I live in Hong Kong. Maybe I can act b4 U do, Ryan.
Mines got the same message and also in KY. But is does say It will be delivered the 18th, wonder if it will stay like that.
Wait, so it was being delivered to apple first ? It says receiver .
Obviously you havent been keeping up with the news . The iphone 3gs has upgraded cpu and ram which means a lot actually.
contact at apple says all the tips from sites like engadget really helped track down the pre shipped phones and put a stop to it. My contact is high up there. Also says that a few slipped through the hole by shipping out with the bulk for stores etc - nothing they can do about those.
People brag about how the new Iphone is not much of an "Upgrade" over the current iphone well if you have never had an iphone before you are not upgrading. And by the way people don't like it when you yell. . . .chill out on the caps lock
Maybe this will teach people not to post everything on the internet. Should have at least waited till u got the damn thing in your hand.
As MikeN said... Apple wouldn't really know these were shipping early if some loudmouths hadn't boasted about it, and if Engadget hadn't chosen to cash in (legitimately, they are a business after all) on the fact that people would give a rats arse!
The boasting loud mouths screwed over the rest of you who might have gotten them early! They're the first point of blame people...
F*#&... now it says "Exception"....
i wonder what happend....???? SHIET!!!!
apple should just keep their focus on supporting the iPhones... not controlling the shipping dates.... seriously...
My co. ships about 1000 pkgs per day, so I'm fairly familiar with FedEx (primary) and UPS.
Louisville is a MAJOR hub for UPS, if not the 'main' one. Nearly all of our UPS pkgs that are anything but Ground go through Louisville and bounce out towards their destination.
In theory, since mine appears to have gone from HK to AK to KY in such a short amount of time, the 'World Ease' service I've never heard of was probably a type of overnight or 1-2 day international service. In theory if this landed in KY at 2am today (mine), there's a chance it could have made a plane to Florida to land here around 5-6am, and a chance it then would have been in a truck for delivery today.
To further my theory on this being an 'overnight' / 1-2 day Int'l delivery, last night when I called after seeing it in AK, UPS told me it would be delivered by 10:30am on the 18th. I am hopeful it will be here tomorrow morning....... but after seeing the notice you all see today, I called them back this morning and was told the website is showing the basic message and actually it was (of course) Apple that held up the delivery on the pkg. If I could talk her into releasing it, it could very easily be in FL tonight and on a truck tomorrow morning. I'm bummed that Apple might really not let them deliver until Friday though.
Good luck porting that digital compass app to the 3G. You'll need it as the 3G doesn't have a digital compass component inside.
um i know im not the only one that said this, but it said the RECEIVER requested not the SHIPPER.
i just checked my order status and mine still says "Prepared for Shipment". just curious if anyone saw that same thing.
not like it really matters anyway to me since i won't be home on friday at all and the ups driver typically fails at leaving packages with the front office here anyway so i'd probably get it on monday either way i look at it.
My status changed this morning to shipped and now I have a tracking number.
I ordered via Apple late on 8th, it says not yet shipped and date changed overnight to 'delivered by 6/24'
Meh.
I ordered mine a couple hours after WWDC and it currently says prepared for shipment too, and when I called they told me that it should still be there on friday, maybe some people's are being shipped from different areas, maybe ours are just being shipped from an apple store that has stock in the back. who knows but the apple person did say that it was still coming on friday.
@wrs589
don't feed the trolls
Doesn't anyone read....it says the RECEIVER put a old on it NOT the SENDER
Yes that would be UPS the Receiver, per the Sender (APPLE) request.
I dont know if you've ever seen the UPS hub in Louisville, but there is not waltzing into it...its pretty much built in to the Louisville International Airport, and its huge. I don't think they allow pickups from there. Look at it on Google Earth, there are more UPS planes at that hub than commercial aircraft at Louisville International. -- I live a few miles away.
You can walk down to your local UPS store and ask, sure. They'll tell the shipment IS IN KENTUCKY!! Did Endgadget even LOOK AT THE SCREENSHOT?! Apple held these bad boys in Kentucky, maybe for a day? Or two?
I can't wait till Friday......
newegg does the same thing sometimes so that your 3 day shipping is 3 day shipping and you don't get it on day 2.
That is pretty funny....... Whats even funnier is that the suppliers released the product before apple wanted them too...... Someone from somewhere is getting fired over this screw up.....
I’m one of the lucky people to get one of these messages. I called ups and they said it was in customs and i will get my phone by 10:30 tomorrow.
where did u call and what did u ask about???
i wanna know when my phone's coming too;;;;;
I called at 8am central time. I ask about my package, and why it was on hold. The lady said that it was in customs and she was sorry about the delay but I should have it by 10:30am tomorrow. The best thing I could tell you is to call with your tracking number.
FedEx ftw?
yea seriously.... stupid UPS.... -_-;;;; FedEx FTW
Guys, chill, I explained this all yesterday. By "shipping" a few days early, Apple was thus able to charge credit cards for the item(s) upon shipment. This allowed Apple to bank the money for all pre-orders a few days early.
Since Apple is very cash heavy, the money from the early shipments essentially goes into the bank. Thus, for Monday-Weds, Apple was able to earn interest on that cash from charging the credit cards for all the pre-orders that were shipped.
Based on the estimated number of pre-orders, I figure the interest earned for each day was about $2million - and this is pure, 100% extra profit over and above profit from the handsets themselves.
So....they "ship" the items early this enabling them to charge the credit cards. They then tell shipper to 'hold' the item so to be delivered on the 19th as per their announcement. They end up with about $6m extra 100% margin profit in their bank account from interest earned on early credit card charges.
I really hope I dont have to explain this again.
I'm personally not getting an iPhone but I think it's wrong and petty of Apple to delay shipment to people who already received an estimated delivery date and my have already made arrangments with work etc. to be home. They should have worked this out with UPS before the estimated deliver dates were handed out.
FWIW Amazon and UPS did the same thing with the same tracking status message if you bought Harry Potter book 7 from Amazon and were awaiting release-day delivery.