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radiohead14

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 6, 2008
873
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nyc
I've read that Apple has been suspected of creating artificial demand before, but I'm starting to think it's true. I live by 4 Apple stores, and I've visited them constantly these past two days. there have been no lines, even going early in the morning at the 24 hour NYC flagship store before their usual shipments come in, yet they never have the 64gb versions. each store has just told me I "missed the early shipments and sales", yet I've actually had a few staff admit they never even got stock, and that only the 16gb has been coming in. It's a silly business decision if this is indeed what's going on, since if this keeps up these next few days, then I'll just grab the Sony Z5 Compact. There are prob others out there like me who aren't tied to just one brand and OS, so Apple is just gonna lose business from us if they keep pulling this silliness.
 
I obviously don't really know, but I am thinking that they just didn't make very many at the start. It seems that they've done the same thing with multiple Apple Watch things and very slowly rolled them out. Maybe to judge demand? Who knows? It's definitely frustrating. I checked constantly and had contradicting info about store stock about one of my Apple watch bands.
 
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I've read that Apple has been suspected of creating artificial demand before, but I'm starting to think it's true. I live by 4 Apple stores, and I've visited them constantly these past two days. there have been no lines, even going early in the morning at the 24 hour NYC flagship store before their usual shipments come in, yet they never have the 64gb versions. each store has just told me I "missed the early shipments and sales", yet I've actually had a few staff admit they never even got stock, and that only the 16gb has been coming in. It's a silly business decision if this is indeed what's going on, since if this keeps up these next few days, then I'll just grab the Sony Z5 Compact. There are prob others out there like me who aren't tied to just one brand and OS, so Apple is just gonna lose business from us if they keep pulling this silliness.

Maybe more people have been buying the 64gb model...doubt Apple is artifically creating a shortage.

If you need a phone pronto and can't wait...do as you seem fit.
 
I'm with the other posters on this - buy what suits you instead of going with the crowd. The Z5C is a great phone and gets top reviews.
 
I am actually surprised by how many people I know who bought one or are planning to get one. Maybe there is actual demand for it?
 
Why you so concerned about Apples wallet?

i have no idea what this even means

I obviously don't really know, but I am thinking that they just didn't make very many at the start. It seems that they've done the same thing with multiple Apple Watch things and very slowly rolled them out. Maybe to judge demand? Who knows? It's definitely frustrating. I checked constantly and had contradicting info about store stock about one of my Apple watch bands.

it's a shoddy release especially for such a big company

Buy what you want and move on. Who cares what Apple is doing. If you don't agree with their business practices go elsewhere.

i don't know why you are being defensive, it's not like i talked badly about your mother.. but ok. and apparently you care, since you had to chime in here.
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I'm with the other posters on this - buy what suits you instead of going with the crowd. The Z5C is a great phone and gets top reviews.

i'm not "going with the crowd". if that was the case, i wouldn't even consider anything else besides an iphone. i've owned plenty of devices before. i'm just going with the SE this time due to it being what's appropriate for my needs right now in terms of size and specs. and i am upgrading from a Z3C.
 
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I doubt Apple thinks ducking your purchase increases their sales.

Why don't you just order one for in store pickup?

NYNY_zps1bw23lve.jpg
 
I doubt Apple thinks ducking your purchase increases their sales.

Why don't you just order one for in store pickup?

NYNY_zps1bw23lve.jpg

because you can't at the moment (as you've just shown there). if i go through the site, i will have to wait at least 2 weeks, and my phone just broke 2 days ago. i'm relying on the local stores to get them in, since i live right by them anyway. the fact that Apple store staff even admitted to not getting stock is what bugs me. it just seems like they didn't plan this release correctly even with a not so high demand.
 
i've owned plenty of devices before. i'm just going with the SE this time due to it being what's appropriate for my needs right now in terms of size and specs. and i am upgrading from a Z3C.

Well given your current phone is only at best 18 months old is only 1/2 larger than the phone you are wanting and is rated as a top phone then I would hardly call that an upgrade but hey what do I know. :rolleyes:
 
That's because all of the previous refurb iPhone 5S' stock are depleted. They reused all the displays and are out of stock. Just wait for more iPhone SE returns - they will recycle that iPhone SE and reinstall into another iPhone SE for ya!
 
That's because all of the previous refurb iPhone 5S' stock are depleted. They reused all the displays and are out of stock. Just wait for more iPhone SE returns - they will recycle that iPhone SE and reinstall into another iPhone SE for ya!
I have to say, that made me laugh. On a serious note, I hope that that would be illegal to repackage refurbished parts and sell it is brand-new.
 
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Well given your current phone is only at best 18 months old is only 1/2 larger than the phone you are wanting and is rated as a top phone then I would hardly call that an upgrade but hey what do I know. :rolleyes:

well it's an upgrade considering the phone's broken. my fault for dropping it a few times tho.
 
I think they underestimated demand or misjudged the kind of consumer who would want the smaller iPhone. I think when they capped the storage size at 64 GB they did so assuming their power users would not be drawn and that this was a "starter iPhone" for most consumers. I remember wincing in dismay when Tim said as much during the keynote. I realized then that he just didn't get why Apple was being asked to make the smaller iPhones. Or didn't realize that there were tech savvy users who were among those requesting it.

And for whatever reason they think 16 GB of storage is still the ideal starting point despite making a camera capable of 4 K video and upping the megapixels count. So they probably erred on their estimates of 64 GB stock to have on hand.
 
Well if you don't mind dealing with Best Buy, they have some available. Just check the nearest stores closest to you on their website.

Not sure which carrier or color you want. Bet one can get anything on Sprint. :)
 
I do think, because of the price, people are more likely to go for 64gb. Even non-techies I know realise how little space the 16gb model affords them.

That said I didn't pre-order and was able to walk in to the Apple Store, an hour after opening on release day, to pick up a 64gb Silver. They had other colours in too as well as 16gb variants. This was despite a group of scalpers stood outside with their wares.

I don't think Apple purposely held back or tried to inflate demand. More that they looked at the numbers and tried to anticipate, based on historical localised data and pre-order information, which stores in which markets would be better suited to specific SKUs. As with any forecasting it's not an exact science so it'll never be perfect.
 
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I do think, because of the price, people are more likely to go for 64gb. Even non-techies I know realise how little space the 16gb model affords them.

That said I didn't pre-order and was able to walk in to the Apple Store, an hour after opening on release day, to pick up a 64gb Silver.


How do you like your Silver?
I had a gold and took it back - Silver arrives on Monday for me.

I do sort of miss the shiny beveled edge that the iPod Touch has and the 5s had....oh well
 
How do you like your Silver?
I had a gold and took it back - Silver arrives on Monday for me.

I do sort of miss the shiny beveled edge that the iPod Touch has and the 5s had....oh well

Never been a fan of the gold personally and I always thought the 5S looked best in silver/white. I preferred Space Grey on the 6S.

I usually flip between white/silver and Space Grey on iPads depending on how bored I get.
 
I've read that Apple has been suspected of creating artificial demand before, but I'm starting to think it's true. I live by 4 Apple stores, and I've visited them constantly these past two days. there have been no lines, even going early in the morning at the 24 hour NYC flagship store before their usual shipments come in, yet they never have the 64gb versions. each store has just told me I "missed the early shipments and sales", yet I've actually had a few staff admit they never even got stock, and that only the 16gb has been coming in. It's a silly business decision if this is indeed what's going on, since if this keeps up these next few days, then I'll just grab the Sony Z5 Compact. There are prob others out there like me who aren't tied to just one brand and OS, so Apple is just gonna lose business from us if they keep pulling this silliness.
Maybe because the Online Demand is much greater?
 
Why not order the 64gb version and in the meantime...buy the SE 16gb, use it for a week and return it. Repeat as necessary until the 64gb comes in the mail.
 
I think they underestimated demand or misjudged the kind of consumer who would want the smaller iPhone. I think when they capped the storage size at 64 GB they did so assuming their power users would not be drawn and that this was a "starter iPhone" for most consumers. I remember wincing in dismay when Tim said as much during the keynote. I realized then that he just didn't get why Apple was being asked to make the smaller iPhones. Or didn't realize that there were tech savvy users who were among those requesting it.

And for whatever reason they think 16 GB of storage is still the ideal starting point despite making a camera capable of 4 K video and upping the megapixels count. So they probably erred on their estimates of 64 GB stock to have on hand.

i think this is part of it.. Apple is a bit out of touch with their consumers now and thinking that the majority will still buy the 16gb, so they ramped up production of the 16gb, and they might've shorted 64gb's initially. and for those that did get the 16gb.. well they'll quickly find out that they won't be recording in 4K at all.

Well if you don't mind dealing with Best Buy, they have some available. Just check the nearest stores closest to you on their website.

Not sure which carrier or color you want. Bet one can get anything on Sprint. :)

i was actually wondering about this, since going on their website, they only have pricing on carrier ones and not the full priced unlocked.. i just assumed they don't sell you one without activating with a carrier. main reason i would like to stick with the Apple store though is because i have an iPhone 4S i'd like to use on the trade in program, so that's $50 towards the SE.

I do think, because of the price, people are more likely to go for 64gb. Even non-techies I know realise how little space the 16gb model affords them.

That said I didn't pre-order and was able to walk in to the Apple Store, an hour after opening on release day, to pick up a 64gb Silver. They had other colours in too as well as 16gb variants. This was despite a group of scalpers stood outside with their wares.

I don't think Apple purposely held back or tried to inflate demand. More that they looked at the numbers and tried to anticipate, based on historical localised data and pre-order information, which stores in which markets would be better suited to specific SKUs. As with any forecasting it's not an exact science so it'll never be perfect.

where are you located tho? i'm in NYC, and if what you say is what they might've planned as such, then that's just poor planning, since it's a major market here, and you'd think a huge company like Apple would make sure they set aside proper sized shipments here. and this is why i think they are somewhat trying to create artificial demand. a huge corporation would not short shipments in large market cities unless they want to create a buzz. NYC is an ideal place for this, since word of mouth catches on quickly here.

Maybe because the Online Demand is much greater?

maybe.. but then again, most big successful companies in the business of selling would try to plan stock and shipments properly, ensuring that there are two different pools to grab from. i doubt that Apple made a rookie mistake of not properly allocating enough stock just for their retail stores... or maybe they did?

Why not order the 64gb version and in the meantime...buy the SE 16gb, use it for a week and return it. Repeat as necessary until the 64gb comes in the mail.

i'm using an old iPhone 4S for their trade up program, and i'm not sure if it'll be a factor or a hassle when it comes to buying and returning/exchanging.
 
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We tried getting a second one from a tmobile store through their financing options and all they have received for two days was the 64 gb. They had "plenty" that could be ordered one though.

I suspect this is a matter of apple just making more 16gb than 64gb because of the price point($100 cheaper and this is more of a budget decice than a smaller device, let's be honest).

Apple gains nothing from not being able to sell you the product that you want.
 
Well, aren't some of you crabby? The poster was just wondering what's going on, there's really no need for the snarky remarks. Do you think being on this forum gives you a license to be a jerk? Don't even bother quoting me and replying to my comment because I won't read it. #jerks

OP, if you really want the phone I'd suggest waiting. Otherwise you might regret purchasing the Sony if it doesn't work out. Wait for the phone you want. Just my opinion.
 
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