Apple 'Blown Away' by iPhone 5 Pre-Orders

[chumpy34]

I still find it funny that Microsoft and Amazon hold press conferences for their new products and then say that they will go on sale at a "later date." Huh?

Apple holds a press conference on Wednesday and two days later thousands of people across the country are waiting up till midnight to order their new phones. Brilliant. I just drove by my local AT&T store here in Phoenix and they had a cop outside directly traffic, it was nuts.

Honestly, I can't even remember what the Microsoft tablets were called or when they come to market? How do these guys pass Advertising School?

 

[Geckotek]

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.

Wonder what they are basing that on? Somehow I doubt they have a clue.

 

[sulpfiction]

Just from personal experience it seems like there are less people on the S upgrade cycle. Anyone have any numbers to verify?

I could see them selling 50 million by the end of the year. That'd be incredible.

I honestly think that the upgrade cycle does not matter. People are buying them whether they are eligible for an upgrade or not. The iPhone is just unstoppable right now. I can't believe this lauch sold out as quick as it did. Was it faster then the 4?? My pre-order went through smooth as silk at 3:04am. And I thought it was because maybe the initial demand wasn't going to be as big as previous launches. Boy was I wrong. But I glad I got up and got my order in. The iPhone 5 is shaping up to be the BIGGEST iPhone ever.

 

[havenhamilton]

Really? Saying that without knowing my background at all? I happen to have been in large corporate marketing for more years than you've probably been alive, sailor.

lol, you said sailor.

 

[Oppressed]

I'm blown away by how stupid some people on this board really are!

What did you think Apple would say?

"We are very upset over preorder sales, we really were expected to sell at least 60% more units than what were actually ordered."

Of course they sold out, it's a popular product and nobody is denying that, but this is classic Nintendo Wii marketing...produce less, sell out, create a huge buzz because you are in short supply.

It's smart marketing...Apple is very good at this.

I wish someone would care enough to make a new thread on Monday and paste all of these comments after the number of pre orders come in and prove these people to be foolish.

 

[Geckotek]

OK, how else do you explain that they sold out their entire supply in 1 hour?

There are only 3 options here:

1) They totally underestimated the demand and didn't build enough phones
2) Their supply chain had such severe issues that they couldn't build enough to meet demand
3) They intentionally created this "shortage" so that buyers would be "blown away" by the product

Number 1 would assume an infinite manufacturing capacity...which doesn't exist.

 

[CristobalHuet]

OK, how else do you explain that they sold out their entire supply in 1 hour?

There are only 3 options here:

1) They totally underestimated the demand and didn't build enough phones
2) Their supply chain had such severe issues that they couldn't build enough to meet demand
3) They intentionally created this "shortage" so that buyers would be "blown away" by the product

Remember the promise Apple made with the rMBP about how you could order it and it would ship TODAY? That lasted all of an hour, too.

See a pattern here?

The statement that Apple was "blown away" indicates that option 1) is reality. Sorry, but I don't believe Apple Marketing is that incompetent. I don't think they're holding supply back, but I could be convinced that they intentionally didn't build enough phones so that this type of supply frenzy would be created.

I vote for option 3).

How else do I explain it?

The iPhone 5 is so wildly popular that Apple couldn't have possibly built enough phones to satisfy initial demand. So, a variation on option 1) taking supply chain constraints into consideration.

You make it sound like manufacturing millions of iPhones can be done in a cinch. Somehow I don't think it's that simple considering Apple's rigorous quality control standards.

Number 1 would assume an infinite manufacturing capacity...which doesn't exist.

Yep.

 

[phantomsd]

Sheesh! So many "salty" people in this thread clinging onto these "theories" that Apple held back stock... demanding to see the real numbers. Oh the numbers will come... and just like every year, you will be wrong... then what? Plan B: Lightning is a stupid name? Plan C: back to the long but not wide screen? All of that is irrelevant.

I have both iOS devices and Android devices... both have their pros and cons. You buy the device that best suits you and your needs... in my case I've grown to appreciate Ice Cream Sandwich. Best of both worlds. Why must there be a need to validate your choice and bash the other device? /rant

P.S. I love these forums for all the helpful threads (i.e. reviews, coupon codes, money-saving tips, etc). That is what these forums should be about PERIOD... a discussion of our beloved Apple devices, people helping each other out. Lately... its been disappointing seeing almost every thread contain a negative, smart-a$$, Apple bashing post. Why are you even here?

 

[saud0488]

So much for the conspiracy theories that Apple was holding back!

Yes cause issuing that press release proves that they weren't holding back.

 

[milo]

The initial supply just might have mean a lot less this year.

Didn't Cook say they had more available faster than ever before at the announcement?

 

[rickdollar]

Hum, I sure don't remember it making headline news or even selling out at 3:30 in the morning. Guess I must have missed it. But then again I care nothing about Android devices. It's a shame that the Android fans don't feel that way about the IOS devices and just go away.

Many Android users (not all) do seem to be obsessed with Apple. You would think if you don't like a company you'd just ignore them. That's the healthy thing to do. You know, put your energies into something that you like.

 

[arn]

Yes, apple says it every year.... But every year it's actually true. Each new iPhone has record sales. There's no holding back stock.

 

[Diode]

Their stock price indicated that wall street is happy as well.

 

[saud0488]

Maybe Samsung can make a video of how you can sleep in on order day and still get release day shipping for their phones.

It would go well with their "Apple long lines" themed commercials.

Nothing like touting the popularity of other devices to promote your own.

To be fair, those commericials were saying that all of the features iPhone has, the GS3 already has had. Turned out to be true.

 

[KPOM]

They're "blown away" every year. If you really think they didn't expect this, I have moon property I'm willing to part with on the cheap.

But they don't sell out pre-orders in an hour every year. Last year it took nearly 22 hours. And no, I don't believe that Tim Cook, master of the supply chain, is deliberately holding back stock to make lines longer at the stores next week. Neither do the much maligned (but actually pretty accurate last quarter) analysts who follow the company.

Tim's comment last January when they sold 38 million was that if they had more, they'd have sold more. It looks to be the case this year as well.

 

[chumpy34]

Yes cause issuing that press release proves that they weren't holding back.

Could it be that there are more carriers providing the iPhone this time around, more Apple stores, the sale date to other countries is quicker, etc. All of that might just add up to shorter supply for US so maybe there are less to sell but not on the idea of inflating the sales report but because of actual outside factors?

 

[mgb1120]

im honestly think there is a lot of orders, and any company (not just apple) with this many pre-orders will eventually run low on a product or run into shipping issues, i don't think this is a marketing ploy,why would apple shoot themselves in the foot by making shipping 2-3 weeks now? Its just not humanly possible to get out 5.5 million phones or whatever the estimate will be by sunday evening.

Meanwhile i am positive apple is of course laughing all the way to the bank... Which they have all rights to do so...

 

[Diode]

Yes, apple says it every year.... But every year it's actually true. Each new iPhone has record sales. There's no holding back stock.

True - my friends called me crazy for setting a alarm at 3am for a phone - but I was shocked even when it sold out in a hour.

 

[irDigital0l]

money making record

broken...again...and again...

and again.

 

[Saladinos]

I'm betting lots of iPhone 4 upgraders. That was a real landmark phone for them, bringing in lots of interest; and those people just ended their 2yr contracts.

The iPhone 4 was just gorgeous. Nobody who saw one could resist wanting it. Even the widely overhyped antenna issues didn't slow it down.

 

[Geckotek]

Yes cause issuing that press release proves that they weren't holding back.

Nah, it proves nothing. We'll have to wait till the release numbers. Only thing is, I don't think the ever release specifcs, just a general "We sold 1 million in 1 hour! Faster than the 4S!" or something along those lines.

I don't know if it will be the biggest/fastest selling launch ever, but I think it will be big either way. To be honest, why does it matter? Only for some Apple fanboy to brag about honestly. Heck, I may use it as a comeback for some Android fan that attempt to attack my choice. LOL

EDIT: BTW, what proves they weren't holding back? Common sense. Business. Sales.

Only an idiot buys into that crap.

 

[DMinTX]

I can't believe how fanbois eat this crap up. It's a publicity ploy people and apple is a master of it. They are creating hype

I agree it is good marketing and meant to create market buzz. But they could not pull it off without facts - it is not hype of vapor sales. If it is fact, the "fanbois" are not "falling" for anything.

I believe that Apple plans the initial inventory amount to ensure a sell-out of the pre-orders every phone release for the marketing value. I also believe that they make sure each phone's pre-order inventory is slightly larger than the last, so they can also say "record breaking pre-order sales".

Marketing aside, the only way this all works is if Apple has enough pent up demand for the next generation phone to guarantee a pre-order sellout every phone. Remember, these inventories, while controlled, are still in the millions of units. The only way you do that, year after year, is to have a high quality product line with a strong track record.

 

[saud0488]

How else do I explain it?

The iPhone 5 is so wildly popular that Apple couldn't have possibly built enough phones to satisfy initial demand. So, a variation on option 1) taking supply chain constraints into consideration.

You make it sound like manufacturing millions of iPhones can be done in a cinch. Somehow I don't think it's that simple considering Apple's rigorous quality control standards.



Yep.

This statement suggests that Apple was intergrating some new type of technology that had never been done before in a phone. Some new processor standard, or a new screen or something that's never been seen before. This was not the case in any of it's new features. Even the audio. Thus, Apple should have begun production months in advance to meet demand, if they had really wanted to meet demand.

They don't want to though. It makes sense. When you can't have something you want it more. Don't pretend that they sold as many as they could have.

 

[shulerg]

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.

 

[saud0488]

Nah, it proves nothing. We'll have to wait till the release numbers. Only thing is, I don't think the ever release specifcs, just a general "We sold 1 million in 1 hour! Faster than the 4S!" or something along those lines.

I don't know if it will be the biggest/fastest selling launch ever, but I think it will be big either way. To be honest, why does it matter? Only for some Apple fanboy to brag about honestly. Heck, I may use it as a comeback for some Android fan that attempt to attack my choice. LOL

I was being sarcastic

Yeah those numbers can't be proven either way, and no one really remembers them.