I was a long time complainer on these forums during my six week wait for my iPhone 6. I know there still may be some folks that ordered before me still waiting and there are still questions about newer folks wondering "where is my phone" and "there's no communication from AT&T". This is all true, so I figured I'd post my story and how it happened that my phone finally shipped. I know each person could be different, but hopefully this will answer some questions as to "how will you know if anything has changed" and if you're anywhere close to getting a tracking number.
For me, I'm a Premier customer who ordered a Silver iPhone6 64GB on ATT.com on 9/23. I was told from a local store that would be the quickest way to get the phone. When I ordered on the site, it said the wait for that device was 7-14 days. I thought "why not, I can wait two weeks", so I ordered via the Next plan (my first Next agreement). As soon as I ordered, I got my first estimated ship dates of 10/13-10/22.
During this time, the Premier order site said "processing" and the ATT site said "preparing to ship". The 877 number said "backordered". Just to be clear, "processing" and "preparing to ship" mean the same thing....backordered. I've found (as well as a few others) the 877 is the best way to find out what is happening with your order. If it says "backordered", it's backordered and until it says "preparing to ship", "order is being processed" or something like that....that's the only time to get excited.
On 10/21, my dates were changed to 11/1 - 11/14, I was bummed. Lo and behold, on 10/30 I called the 877 number in the afternoon and my status changed from "backordered" to "items are being processed" or something of that nature. I then checked my bank account and the amount for the tax was on the card. I had no other activity that night. The next morning, the charge was then gone from my card (not paid, just no longer there)? I then checked the ATT site much later in the day and it said "shipped", although no tracking number or any other information was there? The Premier order site was still showing "processing". About an hour or so later, the tracking number showed up on the ATT site and about 2 hours later, I got the email from ATT saying my phone had shipped. I got the device from FedEx on 11/4.
You will get nowhere asking questions TO ATT on this board as it seems they don't look at it. This is way more a forum for us to complain and gripe about stuff as well as ask questions for some general help from other ATT users/customers. Also, chatting with reps and calling and talking to reps will also do nothing more than tell you exactly what you can already see on any of the sites. They will be able to tell you the date you ordered, the same status you can see and the same estimated ship dates you can see as well...don't waste your time. Just keep checking the 877 number and your bank account for a charge for the tax amount. Granted, sometimes they will do a "dummy hold" on the amount right away, but that will go away. It's only until you see the second charge on your card. That one is showing that they are actively trying to ship your phone and are checking the funds. I would make sure AT ALL TIMES that you have at least that amount in your account. There have been SEVERAL folks on here that were "waiting to put that money in the account during their ship dates" and rather than contact you, ATT will just cancel the order if the funds are not there!
Anyway, I hope this helps some of you that are just driving yourself nuts (like I was) refreshing pages, chatting with and calling reps with little to no info to go on. It sounds like (at least with the 6's) that they're about 6 weeks out. It also sounds like the 6+'s are at least that long, if not two or so weeks longer (there are obviously exceptions on either side of this equation). Hang in there and know you will eventually get your device, good luck!