Should You Buy Flipkart’s Pre-Reserve Pass To Get iPhones and Other Flagships This Diwali? Here’s the Truth

Flipkart’s back with another round of Diwali offers, and if you’ve been browsing the app lately, you’ve probably seen those “Pre-Reserve Now” banners everywhere. The promise sounds tempting — pay a small amount now, lock in the lowest price, and get early access before everyone else. But after what happened during this year’s Big Billion Days, a lot of shoppers are asking the same question: is it really worth it?

Let’s talk about what the pass actually does, what went wrong, and what you should know before spending a rupee on it.

What The Pre-Reserve Pass Really Does

Think of the Pre-Reserve Pass (or “Lowest Price Lock”) as a mini deposit. You pay upfront — usually ₹1,000 or ₹5,000 depending on the product — and that amount later gets knocked off when you buy the item during the sale.

It’s Flipkart’s way of saying, “secure your spot early and avoid missing out.” You’re supposed to get early access, a small discount, and priority checkout when the sale starts.

But here’s the fine print: the pass is non-refundable, non-transferable, and valid for a very short time — usually the first 24 hours of the sale. If you don’t complete the purchase in that window or if the product goes out of stock, that money’s gone.

It sounds fair if everything works perfectly. The problem is, during Big Billion Days, things didn’t go smoothly for everyone.

The iPhone 16 Pro Mess Everyone’s Talking About

During the Big Billion Days sale, Flipkart launched a ₹5,000 Pre-Reserve Pass for the iPhone 16 Pro. The idea was simple: pay upfront, lock the lowest price, and get priority when the sale begins.

But as we reported, a lot of people who bought that pass never actually got the phone. Stocks vanished almost instantly. Some even saw their fully paid orders canceled later — a few after their packages were already marked “out for delivery.”

One user on Reddit said, “I paid ₹5,000 for the iPhone 16 Pro pass, completed payment as soon as the sale started, and Flipkart still canceled my order without any reason.”

What Buyers Experienced

You don’t have to dig far to find frustrated buyers this time. Reddit threads, X posts, and forum discussions all tell a similar story. Here’s what kept coming up:

• The product went out of stock mid-checkout, even for those with a Pre-Reserve Pass.
• Some orders were canceled hours or days after payment was made, without explanation.
• Some orders were in transit and were still canceled.

To be fair, not everyone had a bad experience. A few people who called Flipkart’s customer care said they eventually got their refund. So if you’re stuck, it’s worth getting in touch with support, sharing your order details, and following up. It’s not guaranteed, but persistence helps.

So… Should You Buy the Pass This Diwali?

If we’re being real, it’s probably better not to.

Yes, Flipkart says the pass gives you early access and locked discounts, but after what happened during Big Billion Days, that promise doesn’t hold much weight. Too many people paid for the pass, placed their orders right on time, and still saw them canceled. Others had to chase refunds or wait weeks for clarity.

Sure, if you’re absolutely certain about what you want and don’t mind taking a gamble, you could go for it. But that’s exactly what it feels like — a gamble. You’re putting down non-refundable money for something that might not even reach your cart.

For most shoppers, it just isn’t worth the stress. You’ll likely find similar or even better deals once the sale actually starts, and without having to worry about losing your deposit. Amazon, Croma, and other retailers usually match Flipkart’s pricing pretty quickly anyway.