Apple 'Blown Away' by iPhone 5 Pre-Orders

[Nicky G]

Except they are "Blown away" every year. Isn't that a pattern right there ?

Literally amazed at people believing Apple's marketing spin...

And I'm literally amazed (whatever that means, "literally" is not really appropriate to use in that context) that some people simply don't understand that it can be tough to predict the popularity of products that dwarf EVERY OTHER PRODUCT IN THE HISTORY OF THE PLANET EARTH.

Ten years ago, Apple was practically dead.

Today, they are THE MOST VALUABLE CORPORATION ON THE PLANET.

THEY ARE WORTH MORE MONEY THAN THE OIL COMPANIES.

THE IPHONE IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST-SELLING CONSUMER ELECTRONICS DEVICE IN HISTORY.

APPLE MAKES MORE PROFIT THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER COMPANY ON THE PLANET.

APPLE MAKES MORE PROFIT OFF OF THE IPHONE THAN EVERY SINGLE OTHER CELLPHONE MANUFACTURER COMBINED.

This is all coming from a company that was nearly out of business a hair over a decade ago, and wasn't even in the cell phone game until 5 years ago.

Most of their executive management has been at Apple THAT ENTIRE TIME.

Yes, I do believe they can be genuinely "blown away" by their repeated, and GROWING, level of success.

I guess we'll have to disagree.

 

[KnightWRX]

They were behind in production and has finally caught up. But that doesn't make up the time that was delayed in getting the part to foxconn to assemble. My take on this was there were not as many units completed for the initial batch.

Except when they announce that the initial sales of the iPhone 5 beat the sales of the iPhone 4S by a good margin.

Don't be fooled, the numbers will show they sold more iPhone 5s and did it faster than with the iPhone 4S.

And guess what, next year we get to have this thread again, when Apple is "blown away" by demand for the iPhone 6 and couldn't have possibly predicted, yet again, a surge in sales.

 

[SpectatorHere]

Isn't it funny how this whole Android v. Apple rivalry is something a whole group of people really care deeply about?

This seems so utterly anti-productive and boring. It also seems like it's innate in human nature. People seem to gather around symbols and associate their identity with them.

I will say this....it certainly beats fighting over religion, nationality or race...but why fight over anything completely arbitrary?

 

[UnfetteredMind]

Yesterdays on China news they saying Iphone 5 sales not so good. I think they losing lots of free news because of USA embassy burning. Maybe not so good idea releasing Iphone 5 day after 911. I hope they selling good but soon we knowing that.

Perhaps there was a misunderstanding of the actual story, like when they read in The Onion that congressional members were demanding a new Capitol with retractable roof and ran with it.

 

[cameronjpu]

Yesterdays on China news they saying Iphone 5 sales not so good. I think they losing lots of free news because of USA embassy burning. Maybe not so good idea releasing Iphone 5 day after 911. I hope they selling good but soon we knowing that.

Oh 9/11 was actually 11 years ago, not this week. Thought you might like to know that.

 

[faroZ06]

Same as Android.

I'm sure more people who buy Android devices know what they're buying, at least for the high-end ones that have prices similar to the iPhone. Man, you gotta have that 1GB of RAM and quad-core processor so you can make up for the Java apps.

 

[KnightWRX]

Surprise KnightWRX is suggesting yet another Apple conspiracy theory! LOL.

We'll know the numbers soon enough. Spin that

Spin what ? The numbers will be amazing, much higher than last year. Don't need to be a magician or time traveller to figure it out... except it seems Apple never can manage to figure it out.

 

[faroZ06]

Isn't it funny how this whole Android v. Apple rivalry is something a whole group of people really care deeply about?

This seems so utterly anti-productive and boring. It also seems like it's innate in human nature. People seem to gather around symbols and associate their identity with them.

I will say this....it certainly beats fighting over religion, nationality or race...but why fight over anything completely arbitrary?

Usually, someone says something stupid or insults the other side. That's how it starts.

"iPhones are for sheep who don't know the no0b specs of their phone!"
"Android copied the retina display and Angry Birds!"

 

[ryohkyo]

I'm sure more people who buy Android devices know what they're buying, at least for the high-end ones that have prices similar to the iPhone. Man, you gotta have that 1GB of RAM and quad-core processor so you can make up for the Java apps.

<3 java apps lol, what an adorable dinasour...

 

[kjlake]

There was neither innovation nor demand being met. Though the latter could have happened. JIT usually is for cash strapped companies that feel that over production may result in a loss on an x number of units produced. Hardly the case with Apple and this phone

Actually JIT is to control inventory and carrying costs, not just for cash strapped organizations... While Apple is certainly not cash constrained, it just makes good sense to minimize costs from a business perspective. Why would you make millions of units and not know for certain whether or not they would move in a timely manner... While one could assert that Apple would have no difficulty moving product, there is always some uncertainty.

Just my random thought for the day

 

[cameronjpu]

lol, we all knew of the manufacturing issues they've had, and as I called a few days ago, they would use that to spin their sales...

I don't doubt the 5 is selling VERY well, better than the 4s however?

Not a chance, not a chance in the world.

100% chance. And the best part is that we will know you're wrong (probably by 50%) in about 3 weeks.

 

[KnightWRX]

Isn't it funny how this whole Android v. Apple rivalry is something a whole group of people really care deeply about?

I don't even see that rivalry here. I see a few posters accusing anyone who thinks Apple aren't completely dumb at making unit sales prediction to being a "fandroid".

I guess "Fandroid" means people that think Apple have great marketing people and very good market analysts on board.

If anything, it's everyone who thinks Apple was "Blown away" that is hating on Apple, as if Apple isn't more competent than that.

 

[KPOM]

In Quebec, iPhones weren't plentiful. There was a huge line-up on Saint-Catherines street in Montreal with quite a few Vermonters/New Yorkers coming in to purchase unlocked phones. Same in Laval for the other Apple store. Not everyone got a handset.

The NYC stores, every one,was a madhouse for weeks with the 4S. Tourists and scalpers mostly congregate around the 5th Avenue store (even last year, when it was under renovation). A mile away at the Upper West Side store, it's more of a NYC crowd (with some tourists). I reserved at one of the NJ stores and had a colleague who worked at an office nearby pick it for me. He said it took longer than he thought it would (about 30-45 minutes). That was a store I usually went to when I worked near there because it was in a tucked away strip mall with only corporate parks nearby.

It will be interesting to see if the higher price in Canada this year, on top of the unfavorable exchange rate reduces the number of people from VT and NYS in Quebec at the launch. Last year it was basically the same price here and there. This year it is US$715 to get an unlocked phone in Canada plus the slightly higher GST over there vs even high tax states like VT and NY. People intent on an unlocked model might just wait to pay $649 here. Plus AT&T is much better now about unlocking off-contract and full-priced iPhones.

Because it's like that everytime. Ever heard of the little story about the boy who cried wolf ?

But every year there IS a wolf. I doubt Apple would have sold 38 million iPhone 4s in Q4-10 even if they made that many. Part of the increase for the 4S was from better availability overseas, but it also sold more here. VZW pushes Android phones heavily but the iPhone was their best seller for 3 out of 4 quarters last year. Sprint was a wild card, though they did bet the farm on the iPhone. AT&T continued to increase sales even though it lost exclusivity.

 

[Reach9]

Great news! so the time to beat is 60 minutes, let's see how fast the iPhone 6 goes out.

 

[MacDav]

Apple is doomed.

They are on a downward spiral of death. It won't be long now.

 

[AfzalivE]

Showing that a lot of people want the phone by saying it's sold out makes the phone more desirable, hence increasing demand.

Everyone follows everyone else, haven't you all seen the video of that guy who pretended to be a celebrity and how people said they knew and loved his work?

 

[SpectatorHere]

I'd be blown away if Apple changed its dated font. It's too cutesy and cloy, imo.

Fix yo shiz Apple!

If I have to get all these dock adapters, I think it's only fair to ask for some new typography.

 

[lockerc18]

4) They sold a crapload of iPhones, really fast.

Ever heard of Occam's Razor?

Sure. But you're just restating 1).

 

[rdlink]

When was the last time Sam(e)sung was blown away? Hmm??

Couple of weeks ago in San Jose, CA....

 

[faroZ06]

I don't even see that rivalry here. I see a few posters accusing anyone who thinks Apple aren't completely dumb at making unit sales prediction to being a "fandroid".

I guess "Fandroid" means people that think Apple have great marketing people and very good market analysts on board.

If anything, it's everyone who thinks Apple was "Blown away" that is hating on Apple, as if Apple isn't more competent than that.

I am sometimes called a fandroid...

 

[KPOM]

If anything, it's everyone who thinks Apple was "Blown away" that is hating on Apple, as if Apple isn't more competent than that.

They are highly competent. Even highly competent companies can underestimate demand. It is entirely possible that they did so. If they know they'll have, say, 12 million iPhones available for sale in September, they will plan their launches around that. They are launching in 28 countries in September, 8 of their biggest next week with 20 the following week. Perhaps they are thinking right now that they may be slightly unprepared to launch in those following 20 and may have delayed it a week in hindsight, or scaled it back to 10. IOW, if they sent 6 million out of the 12 million to the US, it was based on an expectation of how many they'd realistically sell, including pre-sales. They may well be off. Sure, they'll still sell the 12 million, but the mix may cause shortages that weren't planned or may be undesirable. Distribution strategy is an important part of marketing (it isn't all just advertising the way people think).

 

[doelcm82]

Lumia 920 is more innovative smartphone. iPhone 5 is disappointment in terms of innovation.

The word "innovative" has lost all its power over me. I mentally delete it from all hype. Using your post as an example, what I read is:

"Lumia 920 is more <marketing term> smartphone. iPhone 5 is disappointment in terms of <marketing term>."

It's such a vague word, and I don't know what most people mean when they use it.

 

[blackhand1001]

Lets be honest, the thing could have been a downgrade from the 4s and it would have sold out. Its not the product, its the product line and the crazy almost brainwashing of the public that they need an iphone that it sold out. There are so many people with them that don't even need a smartphone let alone know what to do with one. Don't even try to deny it either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdIWKytq_q4

 

[sazivad]

Whenever anyone says that the recession is still going on, I will point them in the direction of this article.

One success story does not a fully functioning economy make.

Why must there be a need to validate your choice [of smartphone] and bash the other devices?

When people invest so much money into their devices, there is a natural want to validate such an investment. Unfortunately, "fanbois" (and girls) on both sides use bad, opinionated arguments with little foundation in fact.

Sounds like this is working for everyone. After all, buyers only have to wait a little while to get the phone. And Apple took the wind out of Amazon's and Microsoft's more recent announcements.

I never understood why companies rush to announce products before Apple does. What media attention they garner will be quickly wiped off the front page once Apple announces whatever new product they have.

 

[chr1s60]

All these people saying the supplies were really limited are crazy, do you really think Apple would launch the phone while barely having enough supply after seeing what the last 2 pre-orders have done? They could have easily announced the phone Wednesday and released it in October or later in September if that was the case. This pre-order will pass the 4s numbers considerably.