Availability of 3rd Generation iPad Improves on Online Apple Store

Apple may reconsider this practice. They may actually want the ipads and their products to trickle to stores like they did with the iPad2 so as to create the perception of heaving demand and more brand recognitiion through cravings

The downside of all this is that it may alienate a bunch of people?

It might have something to do with the fact that the guy who used to run manufacturing now runs the whole company.

This may be the "new normal" in the Tim Cook era. His background is in supply chain management.

Something to point out is that Steve Jobs, for all his greatness, liked to tinker with products until the very end. While it made for great products, he took it to an extreme. That Apple was able to get ANY supply so quickly after some of Jobs' last-minute changes (supposedly he changed the original iPhone less than a month before the launch) is a testament to Tim Cook.

Now that he's in charge, he's less likely to make last-minute changes to the designs that Jony Ivy and the engineering team put out. While it could mean that Apple is a bit more tolerant of "compromises" (such as going with the older LTE chip, the 45nm Samsung process for the A5X, and the resultant larger battery), it means that Apple has more time to ramp up in anticipation of a product launch.

That may be why Jobs had the foresight to place Ive's design team in a unique position within the org chart (I believe he has a dotted line to the Board and doesn't report directly to Tim Cook). By doing so, that keeps design "compromises" somewhat in check.

I believe when the iPhone 4S switched to a reservation system, it became much quicker to pick one up in stores rather than wait online.

Hopefully they keep this up for the iPhone 5

WannaGoMac said:

So funny how online orders are slower than just going to a local best buy or apple re-seller. tons in stock there lol

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Yes, because when you pre order, it takes time and work to deal with your order and then you have the currier involved, and there is just so much work that can be handeled at a time. But in the store you ask, swipe or pin your credit card and get the shiny box in an Apple bag. Next customer please.....

online orders you will get some discount through the credit card companies (at least in the USA) where as if you go and pickup in the store not so much.

also, not everyone is living close to apple store or best buy.

and some guys just prefer to order through online

there could be more reasons for online orders are taking to time deliver.

oops - now I have two

I pre-ordered from Apple when the wait showed as 2-3 weeks, and then on a whim I stopped at a Verizon store on launch morning to see if they had any in stock, figuring I'd just cancel from Apple if so. They did, and I got the last one. However, before I got around to cancelling from Apple (I figured I had at LEAST a week), I got an email update Sunday that my "shipping in 2-3 weeks" iPad had just shipped! It should be here Thursday!

BvizioN said:

..and then you have the currier involved...

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You, of course, mean "curryer."

locust76 said:

You, of course, mean "curryer."

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Indeed. My spelling sucks when im not using an iOS device

Thats pretty good considering the popularity of the iPad. Hats of to Tim Cook and co for obviously getting the production run up and running to cope with expected demand. This should see scalpers pretty much out of ripping people off.

Dan Given said:

I waited until after opening time last Friday fully expecting to just place an order and wait for it to arrive. They had stack of the new iPads ready to buy and so I walked out with the exact model I wanted in less than an hour.
I second the suggestion to check locally.
My first iPad and it's great...still exploring.

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This was my experience as well. I walked past one of the smaller Apple Stores in a mall at about 1 PM on Friday, fully expecting them to be sold out. Lo and behold, they still had a queue set up and still had all stock of all models. I got in line and got one right there and then in about 15 min.

The card system and the ability to check out anywhere made the process VERY quick and easy for me.

sirdir said:

It's nice to read that there's plenty of stock in the US. But then I'm asking myself: Why should the iPad be available in Spain on 23th and on 20th you still can't preorder??

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??? So, you propose they sell only in the US until everyone has had a chance to buy one? Then move onto the next country and do the same?

slicecom said:

OMG OMG THERES NO DEMAND FOR iPADS ANYMORE!!!

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Well, it does seem like everyone on the face of the planet already owns one and those that didn't were the ones to order one immediately they came available.

Anyone know what stock levels are like in New York Apple stores or the store in Christiana Mall in Delaware? Thanks

wannagomac said:

so funny how online orders are slower than just going to a local best buy or apple re-seller. Tons in stock there lol

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anonymouse99 said:

Apple may reconsider this practice. They may actually want the ipads and their products to trickle to stores like they did with the iPad2 so as to create the perception of heaving demand and more brand recognitiion through cravings

The downside of all this is that it may alienate a bunch of people?

Click to expand...

qft

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KPOM said:

Now that he's in charge, he's less likely to make last-minute changes to the designs that Jony Ivy and the engineering team put out. While it could mean that Apple is a bit more tolerant of "compromises" (such as going with the older LTE chip, the 45nm Samsung process for the A5X, and the resultant larger battery), it means that Apple has more time to ramp up in anticipation of a product launch.

Click to expand...

New iPad compromises to get them to market quicker with ample stock & less testing/QC are:
yellow tinted screen
10% higher temperature
more issues with light leaks/clouding/flashlighting
more issues with dead pixels

anonymouse99 said:

Apple may reconsider this practice. They may actually want the ipads and their products to trickle to stores like they did with the iPad2 so as to create the perception of heaving demand and more brand recognitiion through cravings

The downside of all this is that it may alienate a bunch of people?

Click to expand...

I completely disagree with this. Looks good for Apple that a new product sales out quickly with high demand but it causes scalpers to buy up available inventory just so that they can make quick money. I don’t feel sorry for the *******s that are stuck with 10 units and now have to return them with their tail between their legs. I completely approve of them flooding the market with tons of product so that normal people do not have to line up all night. I want to be able to walk into my local Verizon store 12 hours after launch to buy an iphone 5 without lining up for 10 freaking hours or seeing the pigs hike the price up on craigslist.
Good job Apple for meeting demand and for embarrassing those ebay/craigslist bastards. Today I seen an opened ipad 3 go for $500 on craigslist. The dummy scalpers still have them $50 to $100 over retail.

locust76 said:

You, of course, mean "curryer."

Click to expand...

BvizioN said:

Indeed. My spelling sucks when im not using an iOS device

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Don't you both mean "courier"? "Curryer" isn't a word. "Currier" is, at least a word. Just not the word you intended.

JPark said:

??? So, you propose they sell only in the US until everyone has had a chance to buy one? Then move onto the next country and do the same?

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No, I propose they finally start taking preorders i.E. in Spain instead of keeping all those iPads in US stock.

bawbac said:

qft

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New iPad compromises to get them to market quicker with ample stock & less testing/QC are:
yellow tinted screen
10% higher temperature
more issues with light leaks/clouding/flashlighting
more issues with dead pixels

Click to expand...

Check your history. People complained about yellow screens, light leaks and dead pixels with the iPad 2.

QC and supply chain management aren't diametrically opposed. If anything, Steve Jobs' last-minute changes likely meant that there was a greater opportunity for defects since there was less time to refine the production process.

I'm hoping that this means my delay for my replacement is reduced. I preordered and got my Black Verizon 64 GB launch day--but it had a problem with the screen coating (wouldn't wipe clean with a microfiber cloth, and at an angle it looked like it had been wiped down with something corrosive). I can't go to an Apple retail store to get it replaced, and the shipping date from Apple is April 9th.

-->iDv.

Wait times are now back to 2-3 weeks from what I see. Also, yesterday all the Apple stores in Orlando had stock and today none do....

Edit: whoops now it is back to 1-2 weeks again...maybe a weird glitch earlier.

I ordered my iPad yesterday morning before they changed the date, and it showed my delivery date would be April 11. After they changed the availability to 1-2 weeks, it said my iPad would be delivered between March 28 - April 4. Si was very excited.

Target stores in my area still don't have much in stock. I'm waiting so I can use the employee discount.

cxny said:

hope this will mess up eBay $camers plans for profit$

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But it's still "Currently unavailable" in Apple Store Hong Kong (where I'd safely assume 90%+ of the devices sold go straight to scalpers' hands, then into China).

So back to iReserve (or so-called iDraw).