outrageous shipping delay

[ohalexis]

I purchased a new Macbook Pro on October 30th through my campus store, and I was given an estimate of 8 business days to get the laptop. Now,it's been almost 3 weeks, and after 4 trips to the store, I was told they don't even know when Apple is going to ship my order!! they even told me that very likely my order is going to be delayed until early December, because Apple is pushing back the delivery time for education units. This is simply unacceptable!

As a royal Apple customer, I feel great using a Mac and doing everything more easily and smoothly. But when I want to buy a laptop, I don't want to wait for more than a few weeks to get it. A month is just outrageous. The saddest thing is that you don't even get an tracking number after 3 weeks waiting.

I'm leaving the country within 10 days, and I need this laptop to be delivered before that. Otherwise, it just doesn't make any sense for me to buy it. Even after talk to the manager at the campus store and an Apple customer representative,they still can't help me out. Neither can they cancel my order or check the status for me. I mean is this really how terrible the Apple system works?

A DELL laptop that sells 10 times more than the Macbook pro can arrive in a week, why not my Macbook pro? If Apple can't make enough demand to meet the professionals, then just don't call it professional machines. Because professionals need them when they need it, they don't wait at home for months .

 

[sierra oscar]

....I was told they don't even know when Apple is going to ship my order!! they even told me that very likely my order is going to be delayed until early December, because Apple is pushing back the delivery time for education units. This is simply unacceptable!.

I know these units have been delayed - however I'd be wary of what the particular campus outlet is saying. Could be due to their store/order position - they will be getting them last. If you cancel that - and order your Edu discount online - that may yield you better results? Don't know...

But I'd just be wary of what you were told here - unless Apple have directly indicated this is why edu orders will be further delayed. Should be first come first serve. For what's it's worth - I order edu all the time and there is NO delay in receiving any of my orders (over the years).

 

[fastdrive]

I placed an order online with the education store on Nov 14th and the unit shipped on the 17th.

So I don't think there is a delay with all education orders.

 

[dturano547]

I ordered mine online late wed (11/15). Shipped early firday morning (11/17) Scheduled for tuesday morninig.

I used the edu discount and got a stock black book.

I agree with what your saying about profesionals needing things when they need them. Did you go to this edu store and place the order with them? I know you are on a time strain here but if you place it online now you may get it before that one. We use dell computers at work and order thought them, they come very quick or atleast let me know what part of the build they are up to. (they give me more info than i need) But when we are in a jam we have gotten cpu from CDW ASAP.

Did you add a lot of upgrades? I would try to call apple direct. Something seems off with your order. Especially since they cant get a definate answer for you.

Good luck. Hope you get it before you head out.

 

[smueboy]

A lot of edu customers have been complaining about the same thing (me included!). The trend seems to be custom orders, especially 2.33 machines, since stock edu orders seem to ship on time. What spec machine did you order?
You should complain to apple, but i doubt it will help.

 

[slone]

I'm in the same situation. I ordered a C2D Macbook Pro 2.33/3GB Ram/160 Gb/Matte. My department sends its orders through the campus bookstore, which in turn ordered my MBP online from Apple on Oct. 26. I don't know what my original ship date was, but last week I found out that my order had been delayed with a new estimated date of November 30.

From this thread and another it's apparent that Apple discriminates against reseller orders, including campus bookstores. That's there business prerogative. Still I can't help but be annoyed at this policy. I do scientific research and I frequently see Apple marketing saying "Make your next discovery on a Mac". Meanwhile Apple logisitics says "F*** you, educational customer. Go to the back of the line. Maybe after we've shipped enough laptops to iPod toting teenagers, we'll consider your order."

I'm a longtime Thinkpad user. This is going to be my first Mac, and I was really excited about being a switcher. I was even envisioning moving more of the systems in my research group to MacPros. But after experience the Apple treatment, this won't be happening.

While waiting for Apple I've already "made my next discovery" on my rickety old Thinkpad. In the future I'll stick with companies like IBM, Lenovo, Dell and HP that don't sacrifice research and educational customers for shiny retail stores filled with tweens.

 

[Poudresteve]

Same boat

You're not alone - similar situation - seem to be stuck in the edu customized 2.33 GHz queue here too. Ordered Oct 25, supposedly shipping Nov 28. I've ranted enough in other topics - I just hope that the darn thing gets here before Christmas break (and it works).

 

[macman2790]

same here, try to get something free i got a brenthaven edge II for free that i'm selling

 

[smueboy]

Has everyone here ordered a 2.33/3GB/160GB machine with Edu discount? These seem to be the ones being held up - and i bet they all ship at once.

 

[x13gamer]

I ordered mine the 3rd and it has said it is suposed to ship between the 15th and the 20th so we will see.

 

[macs4ever]

Its not just in the US that this is happening! I ordered mine from the UK higher education store with the promise of it being on my doorstep within 9 days ...despite the website saying 7-10 days before shipping!

Ordered: 25th October

My shipping date has changed from 8th Nov - 13th Nov - 16th Nov! It finally shipped and the last carrier tracker update was Nov 16th saying 'flight departed'

Today (20th Nov), 4 days later, it says 'flight delayed, still in shanghai'. This is absolutely ridiculous that 4 weeks on I still dont have my new Apple laptop!

Itll be some time next week ...apparently!

 

[smueboy]

Its not just in the US that this is happening! I ordered mine from the UK higher education store with the promise of it being on my doorstep within 9 days ...despite the website saying 7-10 days before shipping!

Ordered: 25th October

My shipping date has changed from 8th Nov - 13th Nov - 16th Nov! It finally shipped and the last carrier tracker update was Nov 16th saying 'flight departed'

Today (20th Nov), 4 days later, it says 'flight delayed, still in shanghai'. This is absolutely ridiculous that 4 weeks on I still dont have my new Apple laptop!

Itll be some time next week ...apparently!

I think that is the general delay that all 17" orders are having - not sure that it would have been any faster if you'd ordered without Edu.

not that i don't feel your frustration

 

[warmbeat]

I thought I'd share my frustration with you people too.

Lesson here is to order direct from Apple where possible.

Unfortunately, Apple stopped taking orders from the Island where I live and forced us to use an apple reseller called "IQ Applestore". I've had so many painful experiences using "the middle man" when ordering a new mac its painful (reminiscing to the 1st gen ti pb i had which took about 2 months to arrive, then had to be sent back for lines across the screen, followed by a faulty network port - the peeling paint didn't bother me). Sometimes they don't understand how important these machines are to the creative professional and how hard they work to get them.

I ordered a custom built MBP on the 1st of November before my 2 week holiday (I hate waiting for things to arrive, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to buy, just before i was going on holiday). Upon my return (20 days later), I found out it hasn't even shipped yet. A friend who ordered his custom MBP direct from the Apple Store on the 11th November, got his today.

So whats the crack? Why do I get a second class service when I pay full wack and forced to use a reseller??

I tried going direct to Apple a couple of times, but got inconsistent customer services from most angles (Apple & The Reseller).

 

[slone]

I
So whats the crack? Why do I get a second class service when I pay full wack and forced to use a reseller??

I don't know about all resellers, but maybe Steve Jobs hates campus stores because he dropped out of college. Bill Gates was a drop out too, but he and his company show a lot more respect to education.

Still someone should inform Apple marketing.

 

[Poudresteve]

update (a happy one)

You're not alone - similar situation - seem to be stuck in the edu customized 2.33 GHz queue here too. Ordered Oct 25, supposedly shipping Nov 28. I've ranted enough in other topics - I just hope that the darn thing gets here before Christmas break (and it works).

Well, wouldn't you know, Apple came through with an early Thanksgiving present for this edu user. It arrived this morning, 2 weeks early! Good luck to all of you other higher ed people out there!

 

[timish]

I purchased a new Macbook Pro on October 30th through my campus store, and I was given an estimate of 8 business days to get the laptop. <SNIP>QUOTE]



Try ordering on October 26th and now getting a December 5th ship time, after being promised the machine way before that time.