anon(4698833)
Banned
I'm just speaking from my own experience. I went through the whole process of buying/upgrading through Best Buy's website. I entered in all my AT&T info and they charged my credit card for it. Since I didn't get the phone, I went to Apple and got the phone from them, then cancelled my order with Best Buy. The guy at the Apple Store was the one who explained to me that since Best Buy never activated the phone, that meant my upgrade was still eligible.
Not trying to call you out on it, you can only report what happened in your case...but given the HUGE headache they would experience if this were allowed with people getting multiple devices under a contract discounted rate, by now there has to be some kind of safe guard in place, because I know when a phone is actually prepped for shipping, the internal SIM is linked to the account used to purchase the phone (but not fully activated). Again, not trying to call you a liar at all, you really have no reason to BS here, but I just can't see what was explained to you by that clerk being fully accurate, especially with a shipping date so close. Or maybe there's a difference between how Best Buy preps the phones when ordering them vs. how Apple does...who knows.
Best bet is to just try I guess.