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T-Mobile iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus Nearly Impossible to Find at Stores

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It’s difficult enough to find the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at Apple Stores at wireless stores, but it’s nearly impossible to find T-Mobile versions of the latest iPhones. Demand for the T-Mobile iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has outstripped supply since they went on sale last week, despite the fact that Apple is selling them at their full retail prices of $649 and up.

A stock check San Francisco showed that zero T-Mobile phones were available today. There were plenty of AT&T, Sprint and Verizon iPhone 6 units available at all three San Francisco Apple stores, though some sizes and colors were unavailable. According to Apple.com, the T-Mobile iPhone 6 was not available for pickup in the 20 Apple Stores closest to San Francisco.

Screenshot 2014-09-23 12.33.21We called 10 T-Mobile retail stores in and around San Francisco and none had an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus in stock. T-Mobile retail salespeople consistently told us that they had no idea which models would be in stock soonest and all but one store stated they would be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. One T-Mobile retail location had a wait list, but did not tell us how many people were on it.

Apple.com is currently quoting T-Mobile iPhone 6 shipments to arrive in 7 to 10 business days.   Shipments for the T-Mobile iPhone 6 Plus are expected to ship in three to four weeks.  T-Mobile.com stating iPhone 6 deliveries will ship in one to four weeks. The site is showing that the iPhone 6 Plus will take up to eight weeks to ship.

So why are T-Mobile phones in such short supply?

Screenshot 2014-09-23 14.36.21

T-Mobile’s aggressive service plan pricing, trade-in program for older iPhones, and its “Uncarrier” marketing campaigns are drawing new subscribers. T-Mobile’s pricing structure, especially for families, is cheaper than its larger rivals. For example, T-Mobile is running a promotion that includes unlimited text, talk and data (10GB at 4G LTE speeds) for just $100. That would be a pretty good value for a single line compared to Verizon and AT&T, but the $100 plan actually covers four lines with no overages. Instead of charging customers extra for data with this plan, lines are throttled down to 3G speeds if the four lines go over 10GB per month.  In addition, T-Mobile offers those switching from other networks up to $350 to take care of competitors’ early termination fees.

Screenshot 2014-09-23 14.40.03By comparison, a single iPhone 6 line with 10GB of data on Verizon Wireless costs $140 per month if you buy the device outright or on a two-year contract ($199 for the 16GB iPhone 6) . The same level of service costs $115 per month when paired with a Verizon Edge payment plan, which spreads the full cost of the iPhone 6 over 20 months.

The T-Mobile iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are locked to the wireless carrier’s network, regardless if you buy them from T-Mobile or Apple. That means they cannot be used on other networks straight out of the box. However, T-Mobile will unlock any iPhone 6s after it’s been in service for 40 days and it’s been fully paid off if it’s on a payment plan. T-Mobile also offers international travelers free texting and data while in 120 countries, though the data is limited to 3G speeds.

We’ve received several complaints of eager T-Mobile customers frustrated by the iPhone 6 purchase process. T-Mobile took more than three-hours to begin selling iPhone 6 pre-orders on September 12. The Apple Store app does not allow shoppers to order T-Mobile iPhones, instead directing them to the full Apple.com store. Apple faced its own delays in the early morning hours of September 12. The result is that those who carefully planned their T-Mobile iPhone 6 purchases may be waiting for weeks until they can get their own iPhone 6s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FglqN1jd1tM

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are Apple’s latest smartphones. Both are significantly larger than previous iPhones and are spurring many customers to upgrade. You can watch an intro video to the iPhone 6 above or follow all of our iPhone 6 coverage here.

10 Comments

10 Comments

  1. larry

    09/23/2014 at 3:27 pm

    Looks like I’m dumping t mobile anyways they sucker you to join than no phones BS glad I’m going back to Verizon apple should definitely discontinue t mobile iphone

  2. Cosmo

    09/23/2014 at 3:40 pm

    Waaaaaaaahhhhh…. I didn’t preorder my phone in time now I want to tell the world how I hate T-Mobile because I’m an idiot! These people getting on here bashing a company because they are out of stock! Gee… I wonder why they are out of stock? The article just told you that! Go on to Verizon and pay your high prices… I’ll stick with T-Mobile and my iPhone 6 that I didn’t order until Sept 13 from Apple and still received at 10AM on the 19th! SMH

  3. larry

    09/23/2014 at 4:23 pm

    Cosmo it’s not you I preordained 17th it’s t mobile and apple not communicating your not an idiot it’s them!!! T mobile lies and apples supply and demand when they know this iphone would be highly demanded your not alone I’m told 4-6 weeks this socks i see why Foxconn hates apple

  4. Cosmo

    09/23/2014 at 5:07 pm

    Larry… I’m confused. I don’t think you read my post properly. When I said “I’m an idiot,” I was not referring to myself. It was sarcasm. T-Mobile has not lied. Every single carrier had issues on the preorder, including Apple. What I stated was, I did not order my phone until the 13th… a full day after it went on preorder. Yet I still received my phone on release day, the 19th just as T-Mobile and Apple promised. If you waited until the 17th to order your phone, that is why you are waiting! T-Mobile iPhones are selling faster because their rates are better, customer service is better and people are fed up with “Big Reds” (that’s Verizon) high prices and crappy customer service! People get on these sights crying and bashing T-Mobile for something that is beyond their control and because people, like you, want to moan and cry because you didn’t order your phone until two days before the release and want to know why you don’t have it now! Then you bash Apple because too many people ordered their phones and drained their supply! Sheesh… They can only make so many phones before they are released. Now it’s Apples fault for not making enough initial supply because their phones are so popular and T-Mobile’s fault for being the better company!! Wow! Shame on them. (That was sarcasm again)

  5. larry

    09/23/2014 at 5:25 pm

    @ cosmo ya I was a bit mad i just think apple could had done better this happens every year and this year is a year apple should planned way ahead known this iphone is the best ever!!! Think about it… Well I just called and was told I should get mine a bit sooner I did the gold ip 6 plus but the 128 gb was mine and most ordered were the 16 and 64 gb so the 128 may get sooner but it’s all good… Like our parents said good things go to them who wait!!! I guess it better than apple store lines and riots not fights here in California but look at it this way when we get ours them first day people will be sick of it lol and most of them in lines don’t get the color or the one they want??? So it’s a good thing we know what we are getting not them!! Like the guy who dropped his opening the box and dropped it!! That socks but that for hey look at me the new phone on first day?? But still socks

  6. Eric

    09/23/2014 at 10:08 pm

    I didn’t order mine until 9/15, and was too cheap to pay for anything but the cheapest ($6) UPS 5-7 day ground shipping, yet my gray 64GB iPhone 6 was delivered overnight air, and I got it SATURDAY morning, 9/20–just one (non-business) day after they were released.

    Well done, T-Mobile!

  7. Richard

    09/24/2014 at 6:41 am

    I’ve been with t-mobile 10 years, and in that time their service has gone from mediocre to excellent. However, this rollout has been a nightmare. Tried to pre-order a 6+ 4 times online, the site was hopelessly locked up. Went to a large t-mobile retail store to order, but even their computers were locked up. The order was placed on 19 Sep. T-mobile has provided no info since (other than “order being processed”), and while I get that this was a huge event, I also dropped a HUGE AMOUNT of money, and I expect some info every couple of days, even a good guess. T-mobile’s online “chat” function has been essentially disabled for 2 weeks. Their call # still says “due to high call volumes” etc. Again, I spent lots money, too much not to receive an update every day or two, even automated. Trying to be patient, but for the first time in 10 years I’m frustrated with my cell phone company and searching for options elsewhere. Really disappointed this time out.

  8. trouble mobile

    09/24/2014 at 6:48 am

    Mobile socks u just got luck u liar you waited in a line idiot

  9. Sarah

    09/27/2014 at 10:23 am

    The iphone6 isn’t locked to the TMobile network. All you have to do is pop in your own SIM card and you are good to go. This has been debunked again and again and yet it continues to be incorrectly reported. There is no “40 day” waiting period and they CAN be used on any network straight out of the box. **sigh**

  10. sarah

    09/28/2014 at 6:45 am

    I am with Verizon and I pre ordered on the 12th for the iPhone 6 plus I was supposed to get it October 10th but just got a tracking order and will be getting this Tuesday!!!

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