Verizon has apologized to customers who pre-ordered the iPhone Duo through the carrier but have since been informed that their delivery is delayed.
In an email sent to affected customers, Verizon said an "unexpected shipping delay" means that iPhone Duo deliveries to some customers will "take a little longer." To make up for the inconvenience, Verizon is offering affected customers a $100 Verizon gift card that can be used online or in-store toward bill payments or merchandise.
"We owe you an apology," said Verizon. "We appreciate your patience and the opportunity to make this right," the company added.
Verizon said customers will receive an email about the $100 gift card next week, and it assured that it is working to fulfill orders as soon as it can.
"Your order is secure, your place in line hasn't changed, and our team is actively tracking your shipment to get it to you as quickly as possible," said Verizon.
MacRumors reader Ryan showed us that he pre-ordered an iPhone Duo from Verizon when pre-orders began on Friday, October 16. Verizon initially quoted him a Friday, October 23 delivery date, meaning he would have received the device on its launch day, but his estimated delivery date has since been revised to Saturday, November 7.
There are many similar examples of Verizon customers with delayed pre-orders across the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, and other social media platforms, with many revised delivery dates now falling in the October 31 to November 14 window.
Some customers who pre-ordered an iPhone Duo through Verizon did receive the device on October 23, so not everyone is impacted. Many who are affected are understandably upset about the miscommunication. It is unclear if Verizon is entirely responsible for deliveries being pushed back or if Apple is also to blame for the "unexpected" delay.
We have reached out to Apple for comment and will provide an update if we receive a response.
Last week, Apple said pre-order demand for the iPhone Duo was "nothing short of extraordinary," with estimated delivery dates on its own online store pushing into late January for new orders. Some lucky customers managed to secure an iPhone Duo on a walk-in basis yesterday, while in-store pickup reservations resumed with little to no availability.
Leading up to the iPhone Duo launch, there were a few reports mentioning that there would be supply constraints due to alleged manufacturing challenges. In any case, getting the device early is proving to be a challenge for some.
In the meantime, Verizon said affected customers can check their iPhone Duo order status on the My Orders page via the My Verizon website or app.
