Other Apple is faking demand

[edubfromktown]

Nothing new with it. They have pulled the same "exclusivity" ploy since iPhone 5 or 6 days. No thanks !!

 

[Rogifan]

It’s pretty simple. Online orders are more popular than buying in-store, and online orders have a completely separate fulfillment process than store purchases. Online orders are shipped from warehouses. Store purchases are just whatever’s on hand in the store. In store demand is lower, so that’s why there aren’t huge queues of people outside the Apple Store, and why there’s more stock. This has been the case for years, and Apple still sells hundreds of millions of iPhones per year.

I picked up my phone at an Apple store on Saturday afternoon. They had next to nothing in stock for walk-ins. Nearly sold out of everything.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

On the Apple website, it says you need to wait 3-4 weeks to order an iPhone 17 Pro Max. You'd think these iPhone's are in huge demand, they are not.
1. I can literally get every color, every storage for the iPhone 17 Pro Max from multiple Apple Store. With the iPhone 15 Pro Max, this was impossible. I had to check everyday for 2 weeks in the Apple Store to get an iPhone 15 Pro Max.
2. There are no huge queue's outside of the Apple Store for people wanting an iPhone 17. With the iPhone 15 Pro Max, there were huge queue's outside the Apple Store every single day for many weeks.
3. It's not because of the iPhone Air, I can get every iPhone Air in every color and in every storage too from multiple Apple Stores.

So how come Apple says online you need to wait 3-4 weeks, but multiple Apple Stores have all the iPhone Air, iPhone Pro Max in every color and every storage available without needing to wait at all.

Apple is simply faking the demand. They can deliver these iPhone 17 Pro max to people who are waiting for 3-4 weeks but they want to create the impression for the people that pre-ordered that these phone's are more special than that they really are.

I think you are lying. I have been to multiple Apple stores in the SF Bay area over the last few days and I think your 9/21/25 statement "multiple Apple Stores have all the iPhone Air, iPhone Pro Max in every color and every storage available without needing to wait at all" is a flat lie. There were a few choices available Friday morning, but by Friday afternoon, there few choices available.

 

[ab22]

It’s pretty simple. Online orders are more popular than buying in-store, and online orders have a completely separate fulfillment process than store purchases. Online orders are shipped from warehouses. Store purchases are just whatever’s on hand in the store. In store demand is lower, so that’s why there aren’t huge queues of people outside the Apple Store, and why there’s more stock. This has been the case for years, and Apple still sells hundreds of millions of iPhones per year.

Apple to Use Retail Stores as Distribution Centers for Faster Deliveries

Apple is planning to use its retail store locations as distribution centers to ship products to consumers more quickly, reports Bloomberg. This would...

www.macrumors.com

 

[dannyyankou]

Apple to Use Retail Stores as Distribution Centers for Faster Deliveries

Apple is planning to use its retail store locations as distribution centers to ship products to consumers more quickly, reports Bloomberg. This would...

www.macrumors.com

Context is important. This was in the middle of the pandemic. They were trying to navigate supply issues, and to make use of stores that remained closed, as the article says.

Not sure if they're still using this distribution method, but every iPhone I've ordered since then said it was shipping from China.

 

[ab22]

Context is important. This was in the middle of the pandemic. They were trying to navigate supply issues, and to make use of stores that remained closed, as the article says.

Not sure if they're still using this distribution method, but every iPhone I've ordered since then said it was shipping from China.

They are still using it. If you order things near launch for home delivery - expect overseas; later on, it might be a hub (3rd party or Apple) or from a store.

 

[vinegarshots]

Are you all checking for stock in person? Or assuming that there is no stock based off pick up availability on apples site?

I’ve done both. No stock

 

[zenmacx]

Apple has grown to become one of the largest most profitable companies, in large part not only because they offer great products, but they've mastered sales and marketing beyond compare. Apple knows exactly how to manage supply and demand.

Having observed their efforts for many years, it's amazing how they constantly adapt and refine their programs to achieve maximum profits amongst challenging economic times. Say what you want but there's a reason they remain at the top, and it's not guesswork.