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Your iPhone 4S may have already shipped. Here's how to check

by Steven Sande Oct 11th 2011 at 7:15PM

I've been obsessing over the Apple Online Store's "Your Orders" page for the last two days, hoping that my iPhone 4S was on the way. But all I was getting was a "Preparing Shipment" notice, not a UPS or FedEx tracking number.

TUAW reader Stephen M. was running into the same dilemma, so he went straight to the UPS website for the answer. He provided us with this tip:

If you go to http://www.ups.com/tracking/tracking.html and click "Track by Reference," and then use the phone number you used to register at Apple.com, it will pull up your tracking info. My Apple account still says "Preparing Shipment", but UPS says it has left China. Hope this helps!

It certainly did! As you can see at the top of this post, my iPhone 4S is in Anchorage, Alaska right now. The full page shows every step of the journey so far, but I thought that was overkill for an image. Note that this does not work for international orders (sorry, Chris Rawson).

Thanks for the tip, Stephen!



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I've been obsessing over the Apple Online Store's "Your Orders" page for the last two days, hoping that my iPhone 4S was on the way
 

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[DUSTINdemented]

(Also on AT&T.) The only phone number I have registered with Apple is a cell number.

November 14 2011 at 6:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
[DUSTINdemented]

I ordered my iPhone 4S Black 16GB 3 days ago (November 11) and it's been stuck on 'Preparing for Shipment' for well over 24 hours. I've tried both UPS and FedEx and neither give me anything. :(

November 14 2011 at 5:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Smiley0207

I ordered my 4S White 16 from Apple. My phone was shipped from China on the 12th and SAID it would be delivered the 14th. It's currently in KY, arrived at 11:40pm....and according to UPS rep, it's not going to be delivered until the 10/17 now! I'll have to wait all weekend! Wah.

October 14 2011 at 3:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rick

Mine shows this: Ordered from AT&T.

DFW Airport, TX, United States 10/12/2011 11:35 P.M. Origin Scan

Does not give a scheduled delivery date. UPS Next Day Air Saver is the shipping method.

October 13 2011 at 1:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
blkkev616

My iphone is actually in the us now it's in coatesville, pa and i live in md so hopefully it may just make it's way to my door tomorrow afternoon, this is a stretch however...

October 12 2011 at 11:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
airgate

Hi... This was helpful thanks...
Note I do shipping for a living. Based on my USP FLT details it said the FLT left 12:50 AM on Oct 13th. HKG is about 12 hours a head of East Coast time. I live in NYC but this FLT is going to the UPS hub in LV KY. The FLT should land about 3 to 4 am central time. The packages will be sorted and sent on local FLTs tomorrow to your state and out for delivery to your home Friday...

October 12 2011 at 10:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fstsrt4

Just a note to anyone that might be worried. If your iPhone is still in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong, that's where Hong Kong international airport so it will fly out to the US within a few hours.

October 12 2011 at 8:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fstsrt4

My at&t 16gb White 4S shipped and is scheduled to be delivered Friday!

Scheduled Delivery:
Friday, 10/14/2011, By End of Day

October 12 2011 at 8:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
fredgioia

Anyone have a white iPhone 4s that's shipped?

October 12 2011 at 7:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to fredgioia's comment
fstsrt4

My white 4S is scheduled to be delivered Friday.

October 12 2011 at 8:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frmiPhone2toiPhone4s

This is awesome!
My wife and I ordered one at the same time 8 AM PDT (different accounts, different orders), and she received a tracking no. on Sunday evening, and I still haven't got mine. I called Apple twice, and they said they were backed up with orders, but I'll still get mine on the 14th, so I was like OK. But when I checked it with this trick ( :-) ), it shows its left Hong Kong :-) So I'm glad they haven't left mine out! Waiting for the 14th....

October 12 2011 at 5:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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