Last week, you may remember we highlighted that a number of you who had successfully managed to order an iPhone 5 from Apple.com during Friday‘s mad several hours of preorder frenzy, were also seeing your order’s status change from ‘Processing Items’ to ‘Preparing (or Prepared) for Shipment’.
Following on from that report, a number of people who placed their preorders this weekend are now also reporting that their units have actually shipped …
The interesting part to all of this, though, is that these units aren’t showing on Apple.com as physically having ‘Shipped.’
Usually, when an order reaches its ‘Shipped’ status, Apple.com updates to provide you with a shipment number, which you can then use on the official websites of either FedEx or UPS to track where your shipment actually is.
Different types of Apple.com order status (and their meaning):
We’ve received your order: We’ve received your order and will begin processing it soon! You can modify your order details once the order enters the processing status.
Processing Items: We are processing your order now. You can modify your order details through online Order Status, or by contacting Apple Online Store Customer Service.
Preparing for Shipment: We are preparing your item(s) to dispatch. While your order is being prepared, we are unable to modify your order details. We will email you a Dispatch Notification with complete order details once your order leaves our warehouse.
Shipped: Your order has dispatched! You will see track shipment button in 24 hours on Orders page.
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However, it appears some orders which are not yet showing as shipped may also be able to be tracked, (at least, to an extent). MacRumors forum member, sulpfiction, is just one of those people claiming their order has shipped, explaining that they were able to use their phone number (or Apple order number) on UPS’s website to track their order.
1. Visit UPS.com and head to the ‘Track by Reference’ section.
2. Login to store.apple.com, head to ‘Account’ and ‘Account Homepage.’ Next, find your iPhone 5 order, and your Apple order ID (or phone number).
3. Enter your phone number, or Apple order ID, into the ‘Track by Reference’ box on UPS.com.
4. If successful, your order details should show up, complete with your UPS tracking number. Note: This method will reportedly only work if your iPhone 5 order has actually been packaged up and is ‘ready’ to ship from Apple’s production facility in ZhenZhou, China.
If your details don’t show using the above methods, though, fear not — as this likely just means your order has not yet been packaged up for shipment from Apple’s contractor facility in ZhenZhou, and will likely reach this stage over the next 48-72 hours.
Considering the volume of preorders Apple is now expected to have taken over its sellout, pre-launch weekend, it would make sense that the company would want to start shipping these units to local (and international) delivery points as early as possible, if it is to make good on its original promise of Friday (launch day) delivery for ‘most areas.’
Tried the above method(s)? – Sound off in the comments section to let us know how it went for you!
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Did it this way a few hours ago and it’s in ZhenZhou, China.
mine is also in ZhenZhou!!
The same with mine. It’s “preparing to ship” yet it’s already in the UPS system.
Well I’ll be a monkeys uncle; it’s shipped!
Hmm.. why is my shipment in S. Korea? Did Samsung just hijack my iPhone5? :)
Mine is in HK. My wife’s hasn’t shipped yet. Damn, guess I better wait to tell her.
Sooooo… I was really hoping this was going to come via Fedex so I could stop it and pick it up from the delivery center nearby – but UPS is such a PITA$$ and requires a failed delivery attempt and they aren’t open on saturdays! Of course this UPS track by reference trick didn’t work for me so maybe Apple will use fedex?
Anyone had any luck holding UPS packages in advance of the delivery and pick up the same day? I’m stuck at home with the kids today and tomorrow due to crazy jewish holidays and I can’t take any more leave for a while!
IK!!! I’m stuck at home cause of Jewish Holidays too! My iPhone is expected to arrive on Wednesday (talked to Apple/used UPS order) and I CAN’T SIGN FOR IT! I have to stand there like an idiot and explain I’m Jewish and can’t write on the holidays… talk about awkward!
Maybe you should start living in the 21st century, and stop believing in something that doesn’t exist.
Any idea on how to do this if pre-order was from the carrier(Verizon) and not through apple?
[...] Pre-ordered an iPhone 5? One of the biggest news stories (if not the biggest news story) in the technology realm last week was the iPhone 5 announcement. If you’ve gone ahead and pre-ordered one, RazorianFly has a great article on how you can track your order — and see if it’s been shipped. [...]
Just checked and it’s in Kentucky. Just a short trip here to Michigan!
Mine is also sitting in Kentucky…. its so close and yet so far away.
I did it and it worked, package is currently left Alaska This morning with expect delivery on Friday. Yay.
Just getting ready to call and ask why my package isn’t moving when I see this note:
Important information for iPhone 5 Customers – Apple has required that UPS deliver iPhone shipments to customers on and not before Friday, September 21, 2012. The packages are being staged in key locations and moved on a coordinated schedule for delivery on the shipper’s planned release date.
I also spoke with UPS just now to see why one of my packages is sitting in Kentucky and the other in Tennessee. I said if it’s shipping next day air, I should’ve gotten it on Tuesday the 18th, since it was shipped on the 17th. That’s when the girl on the phone told me about a note they had from Apple that they had to hold them and couldn’t deliver until Friday.
My moms iPhone 5 shows that has been shipped I tried tracking the tracking number but it says it doesnt exist what should i do??? has anyone encountered this problem? my iPhone shipped already and all info came its in Texas now but on hers it doesnt show what the heck!!! HELP!!