iPad Mini Sells Out in Two Hours at Apple's Flagship Fifth Avenue Retail Store

[MacRumors]

While reports have indicated that launch-day lines for the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad have been shorter than seen for many previous Apple product launches, some Apple retail stores are still seeing long lines. Fortune notes that despite the impact of Hurricane Sandy in the northeastern United States, Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan saw over 800 people in line as the store opened at 10:00 AM, two hours later than originally planned.

According to the records Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster has been keeping since 2008 (see below), that's more customers than turned out for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S.

And by 9:56 a.m. -- four minutes before the doors finally opened -- I counted 801 men, women and children. Only the iPhone 4 (1,300) and iPad 2 (1,190) drew bigger crowds.

Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White is also at the Fifth Avenue store and has been monitoring availability of the various models. According to White, all three models of the white Wi-Fi iPad mini sold out in a little over an hour, with the black models following suit after about two hours. No additional shipments are expected at the store today.

We are at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City and our checks now indicate that all of the White & Silver iPad mini models sold out at around 11:15 AM. We estimate that the 16GB and 64GB were sold out by 10:30 AM ET and the 32GB sold out at around 11:15 AM ET. [...]

As of 11:40 AM ET, both the 16GB and 32GB Black & Slate iPad mini models were sold out at the Fifth Avenue NYC store; while we estimate the 64GB iPad mini sold out at around 12:10 PM ET.

A similar pattern was seen in online pre-orders, with the white models selling out in just 17 minutes and the black models taking a few days to run out of availability.

Article Link: iPad Mini Sells Out in Two Hours at Apple's Flagship Fifth Avenue Retail Store

[nickftw8686]

very nice!

[NIKKG]

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

[Nungster]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

racist a bit?

[Jibbajabba]

Originally Posted by Nungster

racist a bit?

We got an Asian couple here in our company who religiously take the week of new releases off to buy massive amounts of stock between them to sell them via a family member overseas. They flew over with about 20 4S and already have about 15 iPhone 5 (they came around the department and asked if we want to buy some). His brother sold the 4S for $1500 and he sold them all.

Not racist, but certainly part of the iVironment (see what I did there).

[supertomtom]

Originally Posted by Jibbajabba

We got an Asian couple here in our company who religiously take the week of new releases off to buy massive amounts of stock between them to sell them via a family member overseas. They flew over with about 20 4S and already have about 15 iPhone 5 (they came around the department and asked if we want to buy some). His brother sold the 4S for $1500 and he sold them all.

Not racist, but certainly part of the iVironment (see what I did there).

Thanks for your anecdotal evidence. Your shrewd observation of 'Asians' must be true then. Now I feel compelled as an Asian to go in line just to scam your 'iVironment'

[Andrew K.]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

Originally Posted by Nungster

racist a bit?

Racism

a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

He's not being racist. It is true that Asian people will buy apple products to resell for a profit overseas. I work at a retail store and see it all the time, and yes they're mostly Asian. Just because someone fits into a certain stereotype doesn't make it racist. I'm Hispanic and I love burritos.

Oh and I think apple restricts 2 iPads per customer and some stores just 1 to combat resellers.

[bommai]

Originally Posted by Andrew K.

Racism

a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

He's not being racist. It is true that Asian people will buy apple products to resell for a profit overseas. I work at a retail store and see it all the time, and yes they're mostly Asian. Just because someone fits into a certain stereotype doesn't make it racist. I'm Hispanic and I love burritos.

Oh and I think apple restricts 2 iPads per customer and some stores just 1 to combat resellers.

Asian is not a race!!! Asia has several races. Which Asian country are you talking about? Israel is in Asia, India is in Asian, Japan is in Asia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, parts of Russia! Be more specific. I hate the term Asian. Too generic.

[macfacts]

Originally Posted by Nungster

racist a bit?

"One interesting aside for what it's worth: Many people in line are not fluent in English and are either Asian immigrants or visitors. "

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57...live-coverage/

[KPOM]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

I'm sure some, but there were others, as well. I walked past around 11:30 and could see what appeared to be legitimate end user buyers. The line was still a block long.

[KdParker]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

wow....racist much

----------

Originally Posted by Fruit Cake

This is true, except is isn't selling as well as iPad original. Nice device but screen is a let down. It's kinda like flying first class, it sux to fly economy again..

Isn't not as bad, better than all the other tablets.

[lildimsum7]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

lol, Asians are thrifty, but not idiots! we buy the iPhones and resell on CL or eBay, and that money basically pays for our data plan this strategy is better than ever now that the Nexus 4 unlocked is gonna be cheap

[wizzerandchips]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

how very dare you ! but but ding ding.

----------

Originally Posted by klover

Won't sell well.
Overpriced.
Crappy screen.
No market niche.
Nexus 7 is better.
No Retina.
CPU is old.
RAM is weak.
Tim Cook's major failure.
Apple's greed is unrelenting.

or is it apple fans are mad and want want want....

[Hunster87]

Originally Posted by nikkg

how many in line were asians buying them all up for resell?

right?!?!

[wrkactjob]

Originally Posted by NIKKG

How many in line were Asians buying them all up for resell?

If they were WASP college kids using their initiative to make a few extra bucks would it be such a problem?

[maccompatible]

I get the feeling that Apple could come out with whatever they want and it would sell out in record time at that store.

[hamkor04]

Originally Posted by maccompatible

I get the feeling that Apple could come out with whatever they want and it would sell out in record time at that store.

It is hilarious, they sold out, it's not funny anymore.
Everybody now realising this "Sold Out" strategy

[Yvan256]

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=211

[d0nK]

Originally Posted by Yvan256

http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=211

Spot on!

The market is what Apple tells you it is.

[klover]

Won't sell well.
Overpriced.
Crappy screen.
No market niche.
Nexus 7 is better.
No Retina.
CPU is old.
RAM is weak.
Tim Cook's major failure.
Apple's greed is unrelenting.

[Celf]

http://www.lostinmobile.com/home/so-....html#comments

[Junkyman]

The statistic is - in my eyes - only helpful in evalutating the true demand for the iPad mini if you remove all the Asians buying the device for reselling purposes.

On a related note: It's "fascinating" that despite Sandy so many peolpe have found time for buying a iPad mini. I'm not sure whether that's speaks for or against these people...

[kappaknight]

Originally Posted by Junkyman

The statistic is - in my eyes - only helpful in evalutating the true demand for the iPad mini if you remove all the Asians buying the device for reselling purposes.

On a related note: It's "fascinating" that despite Sandy so many peolpe have found time for buying a iPad mini. I'm not sure whether that's speaks for or against these people...

Maybe it's easier to buy a new, charged device than to try to find power to charge your existing one? Too soon, I know.

[jayducharme]

I'd like to be able to walk into an Apple store and buy an iPhone 5.

I'm an Apple guy and to even care about this now with all that is happening in the Tri-State is gluttony.

True. I'm surprised that Apple actually opened for business given the amount of devastation. But I guess some New Yorkers are just getting on with their lives in spite of it.

[AppleInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Celf

http://www.lostinmobile.com/home/so-....html#comments

That link is completely misleading! The vast majority of legit reviews have been very good, actually.

Plus, BGR misrepresented Gruber's review. Gruber actually wrote, and I quote, "The actual iPad Mini display is not terrible." The italics are his. He quoted his wife, who was used to a Retina display, as saying she thought it was terrible, initially, and said he, initially, shared that view; but the target buyers for iPad mini, like the iPod mini before it, are not iPad owners and are not used to the Retina display on the 3rd gen.