Exactly. Even yesterday I was posting that I thought that pre-orders would be OK through most of the morning. As far as the US carriers that was partly the case, but the Apple Store sold out much quicker than I figured it would.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple 'Blown Away' by iPhone 5 Pre-Orders
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Exactly. Even yesterday I was posting that I thought that pre-orders would be OK through most of the morning. As far as the US carriers that was partly the case, but the Apple Store sold out much quicker than I figured it would.
MacRumors...this statement isn't news. It would be news if they said they weren't blown away.
I still think they'll sell a bajillion of these, whether they ought to or not, but I thought there would be more signs of crushing demand.
When I ordered mine last night, I had no issue taking my time shopping online...servers certainly didn't seem burdened in the least. I haven't heard of anyone selling out, despite misleading headlines, just shipping estimates changed.
I would be surprised if Apple's marketing people doesn't plant stories just like this one--fake news--just to manipulate. And I sure would have people/bots posting stories about how they'll be camped out for their phone.
I'd like to know what Apple's internal estimates on sales were, and then how the actual numbers compare. However, you only see those if they really blow away their own expectations. When you see those numbers you can bet they're doing well, but until then it's anyone's guess.
I still think they'll sell a bajillion of these, whether they ought to or not, but I thought there would be more signs of crushing demand.
When I ordered mine last night, I had no issue taking my time shopping online...servers certainly didn't seem burdened in the least. I haven't heard of anyone selling out, despite misleading headlines, just shipping estimates changed.
I would be surprised if Apple's marketing people doesn't plant stories just like this one--fake news--just to manipulate. And I sure would have people/bots posting stories about how they'll be camped out for their phone.
I'd like to know what Apple's internal estimates on sales were, and then how the actual numbers compare. However, you only see those if they really blow away their own expectations. When you see those numbers you can bet they're doing well, but until then it's anyone's guess.
Yes. There was indeed "one more thing" that surprised the "experts" on Wednesday. It wasn't the hardware. It was Apple's aggressive release schedule. 30 countries will see iPhone releases before the month is out.
A) Every single part in the phone was new. So it's not like they were sitting around in bins ready to go.
B) They do start months in advance, but does it make sense to wait until you have your entire inventory ready to sell to start selling? NOPE. Go read up on JIT Production.
Maybe, but look. There's no reason that supply should have been contrained. It was not some new technology that has never been explored before. Apple has had over two years to work on this phone and manufacture it months in advance. LTE isn't new, the screen isn't new, the processor isn't new. What could have possibly prevented them from making enough? Not enough workers? Have you seen the documentary on Foxconn?
I was being sarcastic
Yeah those numbers can't be proven either way, and no one really remembers them.
I know you were, but I misread your post at first. I was basically agreeing that the PR really is meaningless until we see numbers.
oh COME. ON.
When Apple servers DON"T crush then people say there wasn't enough demand and this thing flopped.
When Apple servers DO crush then people say they should've expected the load and they are extremely unhappy yadda yadda.
They can't win.
"Whether they ought to or not" wtf? Are you saying there may be a scenario where Applea businessshould not sell a large amount? Nuts.
Maybe Apple had a lower starting point than last year? According to a story from MR earlier today, it took 22 hours to reach the point that Apple reached today in 2 hours. Or maybe the demand is not as great.
Doesn't seem likely Apple could achieve the same result in two hours, especially in which the ease it was to order mine in 5 minutes and go back to sleep.
We have to wait for the official numbers.
Doesn't seem likely Apple could achieve the same result in two hours, especially in which the ease it was to order mine in 5 minutes and go back to sleep.
We have to wait for the official numbers.
OBVIOUSLY the parts were new. The technology for the parts wasn't. There was no huge engineering hurdle. This iPhone was being made for well over two years with NO new technology. Yet they couldn't meet demand? Come on
Sure, like they did with the first iPhone. Making it 600 dollars made it so that only a certain amount of people could afford it. To build hype for it as something that everyone wants but not everyone can afford.
I can buy the theory that they knew that they could sell 30 million of these by the end of September (see the Piper Jaffrey estimate for that), but were supply chain constrained because of things like Sharp not being able to produce displays fast enough. But that doesn't match with them saying they were "blown away". They could have said "We knew that demand would be historically high and might outstrip our manufacturing capabilities, and that's turned out to be the case." But, they didn't. They made like little children wandering around lost in the forest. If that's how they want the market to view them, so be it.
I became nauseous for the people who wanted to wait in line when they went to two week shipment in a hour. Thank god I got mine!
That and the fact that it's incredibly easy to upgrade free from an equal or almost equal resell of last year's model. So the real questions are: 1. How many are "new" sales/activations? and 2. How many sold their old phones? There are quite a few variables to consider here than just a flat sell out number.
For what it's worth, in the iPhone pre-order line this morning at Best Buy, the four people in front of me all had android phones and appeared to be switching to iPhone.
You are mixing your arguments. Either argue over innovation or argue over meeting demand. Not both. One has nothing to do with the other.
Either way, like I said in my last post, you need to go read up on JIT production. Then perhaps you'll realize why Apple doesn't wait for 10 million devices to be collecting dust in a warehouse before they start selling. Neither does Samsung or any of the big successful manufacturers. Basic supply chain managment.
Are you kidding? Apple prevents customer frustration by improving ordering infrastructure = lack of demand?
You wanted to wait? You WANTED a repeat of the last years when the preorder and reservation servers DIED and you had to do it numerous times and wait 40 minutes for a confirmation number (before it timed out again)?
Insanity.
Dude, come on. Thats how marketing works. Do you need someone to point out other companies doing the same thing or are you just happy to sit there criticizing just Apple with a chip on your shoulder.
Just accept the market speak for what it is and move along.
There is no game to "win." I'm just telling you that, despite my anticipation that this will be record selling, I sure haven't seen it personally.
From what I've seen so far this could just as easily be a disaster for them (again, I don't expect that, I think they could have sold the same iPhone 4s and just called it an iPhone 5 and it would break records).
I didn't have to set an alarm. I stayed up with my wife watching old movies. She went to bed after I made my order. I stayed up monitoring the forums. Retirement is a full time job
. Retired and loving life.tech.cnn.com reported the pre-order allocation was sold out in the first 30 minutes. However, I do not know where the information came from.
Not a great plan. I got on line for the 4 launch in June 2010 at about 8 pm. I think the doors opened at 6 am (?) and I was about 60th in line. It took me about 4 hours to get my phone. It's much slower than an iPad launch because of all the eligibility checking and activations. If you go at midnight to an Apple store, you'll be lucky to get a phone.