I was "online" at Apple website with a reserved time of 57mins after pre-order began. Ordered my phone at around 12:24pm EST (about 4hr 24mins) because if TMO's server not authenticating (also tried from Apple website, TMO website and called them, none working). Initially got a date of 10/3-10/10, but got the ship tracking info and credit card charge on 9/20/22. It is now on the van for delivery. It was a 14 PM 512GB Purple.
My wife's 14PM 512GB Gold was reserved 3mins after mine (6am PST) and ordered at 12:48pm ES (4hr 48mins), it showed an estimated delivery date of 10/10-10/17, still no movements yet.
From email confirmation on shipment (it's really shipped on 9/20) to estimated receiving date of 9/23, so really just 3 business days, I think it's quite impressive on the logistics side.
I will put the following tracking information down for people so they can estimate their delivery time:
9/9/22 - 8:57am EST - reserved phone
9/9/22 - 12:24pm EST - ordered phone
9/21/22 - 1:03am EST - Got email from Apple with shipping tracking and estimated delivery date of 9/28
9/21/22 - 1:33pm (China) - Origin Scan - ZhenZhou, China Mainland
9/21/22 - 4:21pm - Departed from Facility - ZZ, China
9/21/22 - 5:30pm - Arrived at Facility, ZZ, China (why same place, lol)
9/22/22 - 6:00pm - Departed from Facility - ZZ, China
9/22/22 - 8:45pm - Arrived at Facility, Incheon, South Korea
9/23/22 - 12:15am - Departed from Facility, Incheon, South Korea
9/22/22 - 12:42pm (ANC) - Arrived at Facility, Anchorage, AK, US
9/22/22 - 5:19pm (ANCH) - Departed from Facility, Anchorage, AK, US
9/23/22 - 12:19am - Arrived at Facility, Louisville, KY, US
9/23/22 - 2:14am - Import Scan, LKY, US
9/23/22 - 4:09am - Departed from Facility, LKY, US
9/23/22 - 6:00am - Arrived at Facility, Jamaica, NY, US
9/23/22 - 7:05am - Arrived at Local UPS distribution facility in Nassau County, NY, US
9/23/22 - 9:18am - Out for Delivery
I have to say, that is very efficient. Unfortunately, for me, since I am so close to the distribution center, I don't get my packages until 5-8pm tonight. lol.
As others have suggested, if you are not doing some sort of trade-in, keep checking Apple website. I ordered a 14 PM Purple 1TB for my father on 9/17, it had an original delivery date of 10/25-11/1 (now moved up to 10/21-10/28), I was able to order one for pickup late last night (around midnight). I picked it up this morning locally.