I pre-ordered an iPhone 5 but do not know when it will arrive/be shipped.

[Veetus]

Is it normal to not know when it will be shipped or arrive?  My friend who ordered one, his email said "will arrive on 9/21) whereas mine just gives a generic "f you ordered an iPhone 5, your device will ship in approximately 14 - 21 business days. All other devices will be shipped in 2-3 business days."

How come he gets an exact date and mine is a ballpark one?

[dwill05]

Probably your friend got his order on early enough that it was in the allotment of iPhones that AT&T had available for release day 9/21. Your order went on after the first batch sold out, so you have to wait until AT&T gets the next shipment of phones, which depends on how fast Apple can make them.

[Veetus]

We ordered same day though. I ordered only an hour or two after him. What I am saying is the email even looks completely different than is. Is it because I am "Premiere" perhaps?

[dwill05]

Being a Premier customer may explain why your email looks different, but an hour or two delay is enough time for the first batch to sell out and your order to be pushed out to the next batch.

Apple sold out their 9/21 delivery phones in less than 1 hour from the time pre-orders started, according to reports.

[TeresaJill]

From AT&T Chat:

AT&T: As of right now, our most up to date information for the shipping dates for the iPhone is as followed. Any orders made and processed before 9 AM on 9/14/12 CT will be shipped on the 21st. Any orders placed and processed after 9 AM on 9/14/12 CT will be shipped in 14 to 21 business days.

ME: ok - I guess I'm with the first batch.  I thought 21st was the first delivery date, not first shipment date.

AT&T: Apple has stated that a few customers who ordered before 9 AM CT on 9/14/12 may receive their devices on the 21st as well. So it is a possibility.

[mikewho]

I think originally they wanted the first preorders to get the phone on the 21, but now it looks like the preorders will ship on the 21.

[mikewho]

You still could get it before the 21st though.

[dwill05]

I'm pretty sure that the 21st is the day that people will start actually getting the phones, not the date they ship out and arrive later. It has always been that way. In fact, some may get them a day earlier. Apple has split shipments before if the carriers get overloaded. Given how quickly the phone sold out, I wouldn't be surprised if that happened this time too.