Purchase eSIM or physical SIM at a Telus store

[DaveyDave]

I am a current Telus customer with 5 lines (3 phones, 1 watch and 1 tablet) on my account. I purchased a new unlocked iPhone from the Apple Store today and attempted to activate a new line with a bring your own device plan in the Telus app. I was prompted to choose either a physical SIM or eSIM voucher. I chose eSIM but it appears that an eSIM voucher is not sent electronically but must be sent by physical mail which would delay activation of the new phone. The last time I ordered a SIM card from Telus, it took 12 days to arrive and they still began charging for the line the day I ordered it even though it wasn't possible to use the line without the SIM card.

I've seen suggestions to just go to a Telus store to buy a SIM card or eSIM voucher for $15. That option is acceptable, but, when I went to a store, they would only sell me one if I activated the line in store for an additional $70. The whole purpose of purchasing the plan in the Telus app was to have the activation fee waived.

I was planning to get the $60 CAN-US-MEXICO bring your own device plan. That plan isn't eligible for the Telus Family Discount, so it doesn't matter if I activate the new line with Telus or another carrier. I would prefer Telus and don't mind visiting a store to buy a SIM/eSIM because I'm not able to wait the extended delivery time for one to be sent by regular mail, but I want to activate online. Are there any Telus stores that will sell me a SIM card or eSIM voucher and allow me to activate the plan online myself? I live in the Halifax area.

Thank you.

[DaveyDave]

Note: I will be getting a new phone number for the new line. A number port is not needed.

[Nighthawk]

A physical SIM at the store will likely be fastest. Telus has previously been sending eSIMs by Canada Post. Not sure if they are still doing that or if they'll actually let you get one in store. You may want to check with the local store first to see if they'll let you buy the physical SIM so you can activate it yourself online, so they don't charge the in-store activation fee.

[jackrabbit000]

I went to a Koodo store twice now, once in October last year and 2 weeks ago and both times they gave me a Telus physical SIM for free.  

[DaveyDave · Accepted solution]

A message eventually popped up on the new iPhone stating an eSIM from Telus was ready to be activated. I went through that process, and the phone was activated immediately. It appears that eSIM's actually are sent electronically. I probably just missed the message when it first arrived, and then it appeared again when I restarted the phone.

My problem is now resolved. Thanks to everyone who helped.