First Apple Pencil Orders in the U.S. Now 'Preparing for Shipment'

[MacRumors]

Though the iPad Pro has been widely available in Apple retail stores since its launch last Wednesday, supplies of the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard have been much more limited. At launch, there were no Apple Pencils or Smart Keyboards available for purchase in the U.S. with in-store pickup, and the first online orders listed delivery dates of November 19 at the earliest, more than a week after the iPad Pro became available.

As of today, pre-order customers with some of the earliest upcoming estimated delivery dates are seeing some movement with their orders, receiving notifications that their Apple Pencils are now preparing for shipment. MacRumors reader Jose's Apple Pencil is preparing to ship with an estimated delivery date of November 20 to November 24, and there are a few other reports of Apple Pencil shipment changes on Twitter.

With orders already preparing for shipment, it's likely customers who managed to pre-order right around midnight on November 11 will start receiving their shipments later this week. A few customers in the United Kingdom have already received their Apple Pencil orders.

Customers who order an Apple Pencil online right now will not be able to receive the device until mid-to-late December, and the same goes for the Smart Keyboard, which is equally scarce. After the iPad Pro's midnight launch, delivery estimates for the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard quickly slipped from late November into December.

Some Apple retail stores around the country have been receiving small Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard shipments on a daily basis, but as Apple is not allowing in-store pickup for the Apple Pencil, it's not possible to use Apple's website or app to determine which stores have stock. Instead, customers hoping to get an Apple Pencil before December are having to visit their local Apple Stores on a daily basis hoping to get lucky with shipment timing.

The Apple Pencil, which enables pressure sensitive drawing on the iPad Pro, retails for $99. The Smart Keyboard is priced at $169.

Article Link: First Apple Pencil Orders in the U.S. Now 'Preparing for Shipment'

 

[farewelwilliams]

not for me. FFFFFF

 

[Porco]

I would love to go back to about 2000 and tell everyone '...and in 2015, Apple shall sell a pencil. And it shall cost $99!'.

With that in mind, I would like to say that in about 2030, Apple shall sell a piece of string. And it shall cost $500.

 

[Four oF NINE]

If it were an iPhone preparing for shipment there would be 400 posts already

 

[Brookzy]

I feel very lucky that mine arrived yesterday.

Rare for shipping to be sooner in the UK than US!

 

[macjunk(ie)]

Wait a minute...This does not come with the iPad Pro? Wow!
What wizardry exists in the pencil that it costs as much as the old Apple TV?

 

[btrach144]

Shipgate

 

[yaboyac29]

I would love to go back to about 2000 and tell everyone '...and in 2015, Apple shall sell a pencil. And it shall cost $99!'.

With that in mind, I would like to say that in about 2030, Apple shall sell a piece of string. And it shall cost $500.

it's not a pencil though.. that's just the name of the product. so of course you would confuse the crap out of people in 2000.

 

[nepalisherpa]

I bet people have never been this excited about an order of a pencil before.

 

[michaelsviews]

Apples pricing is really getting ridiculous

 

[macfoxpro]

Apples pricing is really getting ridiculous

Yeah, I agree. Absurd.

 

[APlotdevice]

Wish the darn thing worked with more than just the Pro.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

looks like Angela and the Apple crew has another scattered launch on their hands, well done

 

[shyam09]

I picked up my Apple Pencil in the store today. I guess they were selling them early near where I live and so far, you have to admit Apple = Delicious.

http://i.imgur.com/J50yutZ.jpg

 

[Denmac1]

Not that I will buy or need one, this appears to be another example of either supplier issues, Tim Cook's too tight supply chain or both. Neither is a good indication of Apple's ability to provide sufficient product at launch. Going on too long with this now. It appears that I could pick up a Pro tomorrow in my area but it's a 4-5 week wait for the Pencil. Even the keyboard's not available.

 

[Denmac1]

Shipgate

Nope...Supplygate...as much as I really dislike the 'gate' thing.

 

[kazmac]

I hope the supplies meet the demand sooner than 4-5 weeks. May you all get your pencils sooner.

 

[iPhone1]

I'm MacRumors famous!

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

The pencil needs to be supported on all current iPads. Not just the pro. Not everyone wants to have to carry around a tabletop in order to draw.

 

[BillyMatt87]

The Apple Pencil should've been included with every iPad Pro purchase. $99 for a glorified stylus is a ripoff!

 

[SSDGUY]

The pencil needs to be supported on all current iPads. Not just the pro. Not everyone wants to have to carry around a tabletop in order to draw.

That may happen for future non-pro ipads. Current models? Uhh, send them in for retrofitting?

 

[studio¹³¹]

The pencil needs to be supported on all current iPads. Not just the pro. Not everyone wants to have to carry around a tabletop in order to draw.

I'm sure 3rd party solutions will make their way to the market soon, supporting all iDevices...

 

[KPOM]

looks like Angela and the Apple crew has another scattered launch on their hands, well done

I didn't realize Angela Ahrendts was CEO and COO.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

First Apple Pencil Orders in the U.S. Now 'Preparing for Shipment'

Wow! Pencils!

 

[1738]

I wasn't aware that the keyboard was that scarce. I bought mine the day my iPad came in the mail which was the day after launch. Literally walked into the store and bought the Apple Keyboard. I stopped in today to get the pencil and they had literally just sold out. There were still people in the store holding the brand new unwrapped Apple Pencils. I doubt this will be 4-5 weeks to receive one. This maybe like the Watch. Ship times were underpromised...