North American iPhone 4S sales now reservation-only at Apple stores

Apple updated its "How to Buy" iPhone 4S page earlier today with instructions detailing how US and Canadian customers can go about getting an iPhone 4S. The company is now insisting that prospective buyers first reserve the new phone online before heading into an Apple Store to buy it. From the page:

iPhone 4S is available in store by reservation only. Reserve yours after 9:00 p.m. tonight for pickup tomorrow. When you come in, you'll choose a carrier and plan, and we'll get your iPhone up and running before you leave the store.

This shouldn't be too much of a shock after Apple announced an astounding 4 million iPhone 4S sales in the first weekend. Apple obviously wants to control the flood of people heading for retail stores; reservations are a way to avoid sending people away disappointed should they show up expecting to get an iPhone 4S only to be told the store is sold out.

However, MacRumors notes that it seems unlikely that Apple would refuse to sell unreserved phones to walk-in customers and theorizes that Apple will take reservations online, but will then sell any extra daily stock to customers on a walk-in basis.

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Source: http://www.apple.com/iphone/how-to-buy/

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Apple updated its "How to Buy" iPhone 4S page earlier today with instructions detailing how US and Canadian customers can go about...

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CalicoAvenger

Wish they had the reservations system from the start of pre-orders. It would have been much easier for me to come in, be sure of having the proper device in stock, and take care of the number porting etc. right there. I got my phone delivered, but then had to hassle with the porting and wait another several hours to be activated the next day.

October 18 2011 at 1:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Josh rocker

Not a bad idea and since it's hard to find a new iphone right now this would guarantee that you're not wasting your time. When I first saw this on the Apple website earlier today i was curious if they would turn me away without a reservation. I'm assuming the lack of iphones will only be an issue for another couple of weeks and then everything can go back to normal.

October 17 2011 at 7:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

DCM

I went into the Colorado Springs Apple Store today to find lines of people trying to buy iPhone 4S. I was sort of surprised, but apparently heavy demand is ongoing. Not a bad thing. The store, btw, was a zoo.

October 17 2011 at 7:26 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

Dan Burns

Seems like the reservation + some for walk-in sales is most likely. You ~can~ just go show up at the Genius Bar but it works much better to make a reservation. Seems like a good policy especially for those who may have long drives to get to an Apple retail store.

October 17 2011 at 6:00 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply