Free OS X Lion upgrade via Apple's Up to Date program Fails

[UPDATE August 08, 2011 8:15 AM EDT]  So this past Saturday I made the trek to my local (if you can call 56 miles local) apple store to sort through this supposed fix they have.  Well, the fix (in the end) is a complete FNR to your system and install Lion.  SO highly destructive and not like what others have been graced with going through with through the mac app store.  I could do this myself, but I wanted to see so I made sure I backed everything up, then I put my restored back to original state.  Then took the system up to Apple and this was the 'solution' they came up with.  Well, let me tell you, this is not a solution anymore than taking a PC laptop to the Geek squad with a malware infection.  A little intuition could resolve the matter but it is easier just to wipe everything out and start all over.  [UPDATE August 05, 2011 10:00 PM EDT]Nothing new to report as I have been unable to get by my local Apple store to attempt the recommendation yet.  I have still tried once a day via the update website and still get the same response.

[UPDATE Tuesday Jul 26, 2011 6:15 PM EDT] Today I called 800-MYAPPLE as suggested by the store manager and when I got a apple rep on the phone, they seemed very willing (must be in the SOP of Apple) to get my issue resolved.  That wink of hope was soon faded as her solution was to get apple care on the line....yep here we go again.  So I get a new guy, who sees I have called in repeated times and no resolution yet. His solution, he gets s supervisor on the line who takes over.  All of the guys are at a loss of words trying to explain what's going on or why it's happening.  So the supervisor gets in contact with my local apple store, speaks with 2 different geniuses who let him know that this particular store is equipped with a way to handle this situation. I was just there 2 days ago and they had no solution, now they do....geez.  Apparently this particular lead genius at the store was the only person of knowledge about this and he wasn't there Saturday.  Also, it seems maybe not every Apple store can handle this issue themselves.  So now, I have to set up a genius bar appt. to see about getting this fixed.  Ugh.

 [UPDATE Monday July 25, 2011 10:30 PM EDT]  First I want to apologize for the delays in updates since Saturday, I have had a faily emergency I have had to deal with.  The manager at the store was quite nice, but as I expected unable to help.  He states that Apple stores are going to be getting ways to help load Lion to customers computers (as well as the $70 USB stick) but at this time they have no way of getting the OS to anyone.  He said that I should give 800-MY-APPLE a call (made sure to tell me not to speak with Apple Care) and see what they would do about it.  He confirmed, just as Apple has, that my serial number is valid and that it should work but obviously there is some block at Apple happening as he was getting the same error as I am when trying from a system at the store.  Tomorrow I call 800-MY-APPLE.

[UPDATE Saturday July 23, 2011 2:00 PM EDT]  Sitting at Apple store now, waiting for Genius appointment and/or Store manager to see if they can figure out what is going on.

[UPDATE Saturday July 23, 2011 9:15 AM EDT] Care to take a guess?  That's right, Day 4 here and still the issue persists with Apple. *sigh* I'm really calling BS at this point, if I know what the problem is and it takes me four days and still no resolution I would be looking for another job in another non-technical related field cause I would have obviously FAILED.

[UPADTE Friday July 22, 2011 4:00PM EDT] According to a comment posted on Cult of Mac regarding this issue, it states that Apple says it could take up to seven (7) days to get your redemption code.  It also states that Apple informed this poster that the issue was resolved, well as of this update I can tell you it is still doing the same thing as before.  I have included the post in the comments section below.  Come on Steve Jobs, I know you aren't heading this up, but what a way to piss all over those of us who went ahead and purchased prior to the release on the promise we could upgrade.

[UPADTE Friday July 22, 2011 1:50PM EDT] Now a routine, I have made my daily call to Apple, this time speaking with Dave.  The short of it, nothing has been corrected and now it may seem some people are having issue with purchasing Lion through the App Store itself.  I relayed my frustration that 3 days and still nothing has been done about it.  I am elated for the ones who have been able to get it to work - I wish I could share in your joy.

[UPDATE Friday July 22, 2011 8:21 AM EDT] Day three and still no love.  This is beginning to get on the ridiculous side now.  There are stories of 1 million sales of Lion the first day through the Mac App store and yet those who have purchased systems and done what they should are still left in the dust.  This is now a classic example of Apples lack of customer appreciation.  This Post will not go away until it is resolved.

[UPDATE - Thursday July 21, 2011 9:30 PM EDT] Only thing new to report, I am getting the same result as before.

[UPDATE - Thursday July 21, 2011 1:30 PM EDT] It is still failing for the majority (including yours truly) I have tried from different computers, mobile devices, browsers.  So I will continue to update this post until I see resolution comes across for all of us.  I love my MBP, but I am hating Apple right now.

[UPDATE - Thursday July 21, 2011 10:18 AM EDT] Called Apple support back.  They state the issue is lack of capacity to handle all the requests coming in for both new purchases as well as the Up to Date program.  They assure me that I am doing everything correctly, that they do have my serial number on file and that I will be able to get Lion (eventually).  I thanked the gentleman for his response, told him it didn't help alleviate my (or anyone encountering this issue) frustrations and that I would keep checking.

[UPDATED]Apple is once again having launch day issues, this time with approving qualified hardware purchases to upgrade to OS X Lion.

I purchased a new MB Pro recently (actually my employer purchased a replacement graciously for me) that came with Snow Leopard.  I was (and still am) very excited about getting the new system, and even more so because I knew my purchase qualified for the free upgrade to OS X Lion once released.

I anxiously listened to the vast rumors that any new Apple product generates, and along with others became disappointed to see a rumored date come and pass with no release of the new OS. So it's easy to understand that when July 20th, 2011 was rumored as the actual release day, I once again became excited as a child waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. 

This time was different though, cause as I quickly check store.apple.com I was greeted with the wonderful store down post it note now familiar to any who understand that means Apple is doing some kind of inventory update.  A few hours later, I was graced with what we all now see, new store with new products and best of all OS X Lion now in the open.  

My excited glee, was quickly going to be trampled on as I discover that my efforts to get my free upgrade to the king of desktops would only revel the wounded sounds of a wildebeest left to starve and thirst to extinction

Users who go to Apple Up to Date redemption are greeted with a screen directing them to the appropriate area so they may enter their information and get a redemption code so they may upgrade to Lion.  Upon entering the information, customers are shown "Sorry, we can't find the serial number you provided. Please recheck your serial number and enter it again."

Calling Apple support, they tell me they are aware of their system not being able to process the serial numbers and they are working on it, but at this time the only thing to do is retry or wait.

How frustrating this is for those of us faithful that have to wait while those who purchase the product outright are allowed to bask in the glory of the new OS from Apple.

What are your thoughts?  Have you tried to redeem?  Have you been successful?