I just did something that has now become sort of an “experiment” with regard to my iPhone 4 order debacle. In spite of having already placed an order for 2 16GB iPhone 4s (one for me and one for wifey), I also ordered a 32GB iPhone 4. I did this because I’m the type of guy who will actually use up 32GB, but I also ordered it from the AT&T store just to see which order will get shipped first.

Now, while I understand that there is a HIGH demand for these nifty gadgets, I’d expect there to be some reasonable disclosure of how long it might be before an order is fulfilled — they did so by informing me, at the time of order, that I should expect delivery in about 7-14 days.

So, let me fill you in on the order timeline…

1. July 5 … I place an order with AT&T on the phone for 2 16GB iPhone 4′s with 2 new lines of service. (first time iPhone buyer, new — actually, coming back — to ATT after 11 yrs w/ Sprint.)
2. July 7 … I received and accepted the Terms & Conditions agreement… but because of order entry error my order could not be processed.
3. After I make some twitter-gripes I get pinged by AT&T’s social media team offering to help.
4. With a couple of exchanges and phone calls, I was assured that my order would be fine — my order can proceed even with the error/wrong information not needing to be fixed — and should expect it in 7-14 days.
5. July 12 … I checked my order status online only to find that there is no record of my order.
6. I called to find out what was up… I explained my story to the AT&T CSR and he took it upon himself to FIX the error/wrong info. Little did I know that this action would cancel my previous order and place a new one, in spite of being assured that my previous order was would remain in tact.
7. July 13 … my credit card was charged for my order.
8. July 15 … my order status is available online… it says “processing” and is backordered.
9. July 19 … an AT&T social media rep voluntarily calls me to connect me to an order rep… she firmly tells me that I should have been told 7-14 BUSINESS days (which I have no recollection of being told that, nor reading that in any documentation), and “given that my order was placed on July 12” (and NOT July 5), I “should expect delivery by July 29“! (CSR’s words)

So, here is where the “experiment” comes in…

My friend Brian had ordered his iPhone 4 the same day I placed mine — he placed the order with AT&T over the phone. I believe he received his in 4-5 days.

My friend Dan placed an order for his iPhone 4 at an AT&T store the same day my order was re-ordered. He received his in exactly 1 week.

Today (July 19) I placed another order for an iPhone 4 at an actual AT&T store after inquiring about paying the $100 difference to upgrade from the yet-to-arrive 16GB to the 32GB version. The AT&T store rep told me I can return the 16GB iPhone 4 (when it arrives) to the store for a full refund! (A 10% restocking fee would be charged only IF I open the box.)

So, the experiment is this… to find out which order will arrive first.

1. July 19 … decided on swapping out one of the 16GBs for a 32GB — ordered from physical AT&T Store.
2. July 20 / 9am … the online order status check shows NO RECORD of my previously existing 2x16GB order — where’d it go?!!?!?
3. July 20 / 3:30p … ahhhh… must have been a server glitch b/c I can see my order again. :-\
4. July 21 … no change as of 5pm for my 2x16GB order… no update on my 32GB order.
5. July 22 … order for 32GB from AT&T Store has been taken off “backordered” status… no ship info yet.
6. July 23 … received shipping confirmation for the 32GB order — set to be delivered on Mon. 7/26!  The 2x16GB order is STILL backordered.
7. July 24 … no change in backordered status for the 2x16GB. Waiting on 32GB to arrive — it’s kind of AGONIZING to know that it had arrived in the FedEx facility here in town last night but it won’t be delivered until Monday because it’s the weekend. Poop.
8. July 26 … my 32GB order arrived at AT&T Store… went to pick it up but could not walk out of the store with it lest the 2x16GB order get cancelled!!!! The super-nice and cool CSR informed me that because I have a pending order tied to the number I am porting over, if I were to activate my new 32GB, then he’d have to cancel the 2x16GB order (as of today, that order is STILL backordered). What’s more, I cannot walk out of the store w/ the device because I paid for the “subsidized” $299 price point for a 2-year contract… and I can’t initiate a 2-year contract with out canceling the 2x16GB order! CSR said he’ll hold my device until I receive the 2x16GBs. I’m stuck… and so, I wait… again…
9. UPDATE: July 27 … around midnight last night, I received email notification that the 2x16GB order was no longer backordered. Received FedEx overnight tracking info around 9:30am… slated to deliver 7/28!

How long did it take you to get your iPhone 4?