I'm having some OS X deliver déjà vu here. I just noticed that my Leopard FedEx delivery, which was scheduled for delivery by 10:30AM this morning was updated with an exception: "Future delivery requested." Enraged, I called FedEx. The representative told me this:
Apple is shipping lots of computers [sic] today. Like over 130,000 packages in NYC alone. So we're having trouble delivering them. Apple guaranteed 10:30AM delivery through us, but we're too busy so we're pushing it back. You'll have it by 5PM today, we promise.
I would have been okay with this response except for the fact that this is exactly what happened with Tiger two years ago in NYC. And with Tiger, the delivery didn't happen until Monday.
Here's what they did last time (and what I'm betting they do this time as well): They change it to "future delivery" and promise it will be here by 5PM. Then, at 5PM, they update it with a new exception that states a delivery attempt was made but no one answered. Except they don't even try.
There's no way to prove FedEx didn't come to the house and once the delivery exception says failed delivery, you have to wait until the next business day (FedEx ground will deliver on Saturday, but not overnight, so we're talking about Monday). All FedEx has to do to lighten their load is update customers with bogus information and they have until Monday to deliver.
Why does Apple rely on a company who has "trouble delivering them" for a release like this?
Update: Wow, it actually got delivered! When the FedEx guy handed me the box he asked, "Can I ask you what this is? I've got like 500 more in my truck!" I told him it was a new version of Apple's operating system and he just sighed. Then he said, "Well, I'm really, really busy because of it!"