As of right now, Apple has closed down launch day reservations and launch day pre-orders for its upcoming iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, meaning, right now, the best bet to get one is to go to an Apple Store (or wireless carrier location) on Friday and hope for the best.
While in-store stock is always a possibility, Apple, and other stores, don’t guarantee any availability outside of what’s available for those that pre-ordered the device for launch day procurement. For those future iPhone owners that wanted to get an iPhone 6s but were unable to pre-order, or otherwise secure a handset for launch day, but still want to try it, waiting in line is a viable option.
Unless you live in Oregon, New Hampshire, Alaska, and Delaware. These states lack a statewide sales tax, and Apple has decided to lock down walk-in iPhone 6s (and iPhone 6s Plus) purchases on launch day. That means there shouldn’t be any lines for day-of purchases at Apple Stores in those states, as Apple won’t be serving those customers on that day.
Why is Apple going this route? According to a report published by The Oregonian, it might have something to do with folks that walk in and buy an iPhone and then immediately turn around and sell it:
“Because Apple limits the number of unlocked phones, the brokers – sometimes called “sharks” – recruit homeless people and the elderly to wait in line and buy phones on their behalf. The phenomenon lasted for months outside Apple’s downtown Portland Apple Store after last year’s September launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. While sharks patrol Apple stores all over the country, they are especially visible in Portland. That may be because Oregon doesn’t have a sales tax, so sharks operating here can add several percentage points to their profits by getting their phones.”
What’s more, as Apple confirmed in a footnote to its press released earlier on September 21, there won’t be any walk-in sales for the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus on launch day in Japan, Hong Kong, or China.
If you didn’t pre-order a new iPhone, do you plan on waiting in line to get one?
[via MacRumors; The Oregonian]
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