Verizon has told some customers who pre-ordered the iPhone Duo that their phones will arrive later than promised, and the carrier is offering a $100 gift card by way of apology, MacRumors reports.
According to the report, Verizon emailed affected customers to say an "unexpected shipping delay" means some deliveries will "take a little longer." The company said it owes customers an apology, that their orders remain secure, that they keep their place in line, and that it is tracking the shipments.
What customers are getting
Verizon says affected customers will receive a $100 gift card that can be used online or in a store, either toward a bill payment or for merchandise. The carrier said an email about the gift card would follow the next week. Customers can check their order status through the My Orders page on the My Verizon website or app.
How long the delays run
Pre-orders opened on Friday, October 16, and the iPhone Duo went on sale on Friday, October 23. MacRumors said one reader's Verizon estimate of October 23 was pushed to Saturday, November 7. The outlet added that revised dates reported on forums, Reddit and social media mostly fall between October 31 and November 14. Not every Verizon customer was hit, though: MacRumors noted that some carrier pre-orders did arrive on launch day.
Part of a wider supply squeeze
The apology lands against a backdrop of tight availability. Apple described pre-order demand the previous week as "nothing short of extraordinary," according to MacRumors, and Apple's online store was quoting delivery estimates stretching into late January for new orders. Apple also warned that walk-in supply would be limited at launch, and in-store pickup reservations have only recently resumed with very few slots, as we reported earlier.
MacRumors said it is unclear whether the shipping problem is specific to Verizon or whether Apple's own supply played a part. The outlet said it had asked Apple for comment and had not received a reply at the time of publication.
For now, anyone waiting on a Verizon order should watch for the carrier's follow-up email and check their order page for an updated delivery window. We will update this story if Apple or Verizon provides more detail.
0 comments