new every year iPhone When it goes on sale, there will always be a bunch of people whining “I didn’t get the first pre-order”, and then they can only watch their friends unboxing the new phone that day. In fact, if you want to get an iPhone early, you don’t necessarily have to rely on quick pre-orders. Did you know that Apple’s official website actually hides a trick to “fashion the stock”?
As long as you know how to set the conditions, you can get unexpectedly good products at the Apple Store, sometimes even just two days later than the first batch of machines. Compared with waiting for the long two or three weeks for shipment, this method can be said to be an amazing alternative. This article will teach you step by step how to operate it, and also share some practical experiences, so that you can iPhone 17 People no longer have to wait until October to get their hands on a new phone.
▲Picture source: X/ @JonFreier
Can’t get the first release of iPhone 17? Teach you how to get started quickly by using Apple’s official website to “swipe in stock”
Every time the iPhone goes on sale, it’s like a national movement. Whether they’re sitting in front of their computers in the early morning to grab pre-orders, or running to queue at the Apple Store, everyone is doing their best to get their hands on the new phone as soon as possible. But the reality is often cruel. Flash sales are sold out and shipments are delayed, which always makes people feel chilly. In fact, there is no need to be discouraged. Even if you don’t get the first batch of pre-orders, there is another “hidden channel” that can shorten the waiting time, and that is to purchase spot goods through the “pickup” function on Apple’s official website or App. This method does not require staying up late or having to fight head-on with scalpers. As long as you are diligent, you can often get your new iPhone back a few days earlier than home delivery.
Practical step-by-step instruction
Still looking at iPhone, are you ready to give up after waiting 2~3 weeks? Next, I’ll teach you how to easily pick out iPhones in stock. First, open Apple’s official website or Apple Store App and select the iPhone model you want. This time we use the most popular iPhone 17 Pro as a demonstration.
When choosing the appearance and capacity, whether it is blue, black or white, choose any one first, because the next step is the key.
If you don’t have an old iPhone or Mac on hand that you want to trade in, just click “No Trade In” to skip the Apple Trade In section. At the bottom of the page, you will see that if you choose home delivery, the shipping time will mostly show “2 to 3 weeks later”, which means you have to wait until early October. Here is the key point, switch to the “Pickup” option:
And enter the postal code “110” because currently the two Apple Stores in Taiwan (Taipei 101 and Xinyi A13) are both in Xinyi District.
At this time, the system will tell you which colors and capacities of iPhone are currently in stock. In some cases, even though the specifications you originally selected are not available, Apple will automatically recommend “similar models” to you. For example, the iPhone 17 Pro found this time can be picked up as soon as September 21 (Sunday), which is only two days later than the first batch of pre-orders, and much faster than the 2~3 weeks for home delivery.
Experience sharing and tips
- Stay updated:
Apple’s spot inventory is refreshed at any time, and sometimes new specifications may appear within minutes. It is recommended to swipe it several times when you have time, especially in the first week after the sale, changes are particularly frequent. - Wait patiently for a week:
If you don’t find the ideal model at the beginning, don’t be discouraged, because experience shows that the period from one week before and after the first batch of goods arrives is the period when inventory updates are most frequent. Keep brushing, the chances are really high. - Model priority:
The popular colors of Pro and Pro Max are usually the hardest to grab, but in terms of capacity, 256GB and 512GB are easier to get than 1TB. Because the demand for the Air version is slightly lower, it is relatively more likely to be available. - Location selection:
There are currently only two direct-operated stores in Taiwan, and they are both in Xinyi District, within a few minutes’ walk, so these two options are much simpler for Taiwanese consumers. However, if you are willing to slightly match the color or capacity, the time to get it will often be much faster.
Why is there a spot?
Many people think that once the iPhone fails to grab the first pre-order, they can only wait for official shipment, which can take at least two weeks or at most a month. In addition to major e-commerce platforms, in fact, Apple Store directly-operated stores usually allocate a certain amount of additional inventory, giving consumers who pick up goods at the counter a chance to get new machines faster than home delivery. That’s why the “pick up” option often lets you get it early.
What’s even better is that these stocks are not released at once, but will be updated from time to time. In other words, if you don’t see a suitable model today, if you check again in a few minutes or the next day, an iPhone that meets your needs may pop up. This is also the essence of “spot trading”: as long as you work hard, you can often be one step faster than most people.
Many people feel that they have lost out if they did not grab the first batch of pre-orders, but in fact, through this method of “swiping the spot”, they often only get the new phone 2 to 3 days later than others. In contrast, those who grab iPhones at 8 pm on the pre-order day (9/12) and wait for home delivery may have to wait until the end of September to mid-October to open the box, and the gap is even greater.
Conclusion
In summary, “spot flashing” is Apple’s opportunity to quickly get hands-on for those who didn’t get the pre-order. Although it is not 100% guaranteed, as long as you are willing to brush it a few times, the success rate is really not low. Especially in the first week of sales, as long as you are diligent enough, you are likely to get iPhone 17 half a month earlier than home delivery users. If you didn’t get the starting lineup this time, you might as well open it Apple official websiteOr give it a try with the Apple Store App. Maybe the next off-the-shelf iPhone will be yours.
Source: KOCPC Chinese