This is why I prefer Samsung instead

I've been trying to upgrade my contract since September when iPhone usually launches their new devices. I've tried prebooking and nothing came of it. I've been to several stores both in Gauteng and Western Cape to try and do the contract upgrade to no avail as they never have stock. You would think that they create such a huge hype around their new devices and yet they only never have stock available in all their stores nationwide?? When you apply instore they would tell you to check the app and apply via the app. However, the app does not allow you to reserve a handset. And the app will tell you that there is a handset available at a particular store. When you go to the store which the so called available handset, you are told that it is reserved for a client. So how do that client get to reserve a handset when the app does not actually allow it? Is this just a ploy or a tactic to try to get customers instore and not actually be able to assist them? Because there's never any stock available?

How do they plan their stock for stores? How do you advertise and then not guarantee or maintain some form of recourse for your customers when they are constantly being turned away? How can it create such a huge hype and not have ordered enough stock to sustain your stores?

I've waited 10 minutes in a call to their call centre as they are not allow to transfer you to an actual store to determine whether there is stock available before driving all the way to only be turned away because - there is not stock or the ONE singular handset is RESERVED for a client??? Secondly, the service number for the iStore is only available during specific hours while the actual stores operate well after 5pm. I'm rather annoyed that such a multimillion dollar company has such **** service and bad advertising. They can't even supply and email address for correspondence. Sounds very fishy to me.