I’ve been obsessing over my iPad pre-order so much since I placed it that I’m checking it tracking status almost hourly. I know it’s not going to arrive early, but I can’t help myself.
If you’re like me and you live in the U.K., you may have noticed that your iPad is listed as “out for delivery” today. But here’s why it won’t be arriving on your doorstep early.
When you place your iPad pre-order and Foxconn sends out your shiny new tablet, it gets delivered to a company called Syncreon in the U.K. You may never have heard of it, but visit its website and type in your tracking number and you’ll be able to keep an eye on how your parcel is doing. (You need to enter your “tracking number” from Apple’s website in the “order number” box, and your “additional order number” in the “sales order number” box.)
Early this morning, its tracking status should have changed to “out for delivery,” but the thing is, Syncreon isn’t a delivery company. Which is why you’ve probably never heard of it.
You see, to ensure that your iPad isn’t delivered before its launch date, Apple has it sent to Syncreon for safekeeping until the courier company is ready to take over. The day before its release (today!), Syncreon hands over your parcel. So although it’s “out for delivery,” it’s not being delivered to your house; it’s simply being delivered to the courier company.
However, once your tracking status changes to “arrive terminal,” you should be able to use your tracking number on the courier’s website to track it from their. Apple uses DHL, TNT, UPS, and UKMail in the U.K., so try entering it on these websites to find your parcel.
You may already know about Syncreon and this arrangement from previous Apple pre-orders, but we figured this information would be helpful (and probably disappointing) to those who are pre-ordering for the first time.
