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Many Apple Stores Not Carrying Retina MacBook Stock on Launch Day

So you can't buy a Watch in the store, you can't look at the new MacBook in the store...

What's the point of building hundreds of Apple Stores if you can't actually buy anything in them?!
 
Traverse said:
They should still have display units out, but I wouldn't go near an Apple Store for at least a week, maybe two! :eek:
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When the 2012 iMacs came out, our local stores had none for launch morning. Not even display units.

A shipment arrived at the store early in the afternoon. By that time, there were 4 or 5 customers waiting to buy, so they got the first ones and did their personal setup stuff.

Meanwhile a tech was loading the standard store demo image onto a couple of systems. Those systems came out to the front of the store about an hour later, replacing prior-generation iMacs on the display table. I think the store had sold 6 systems before the first demo unit was on display.

None of the store staff was certain they'd get any systems that day, until the shipment actually arrived. The systems arrived straight from China (with a stop at customs). They basically beat the paperwork to the store.
 
Does anyone really walk into an Apple Store on launch day and fully expect to walk away with the product? Sadly this is the norm with most things.
 
cambookpro said:
What's the point of building hundreds of Apple Stores if you can't actually buy anything in them?!
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That very thought occurred to me when we heard that Apple was directing people to buy online. Why have a store then?
 
cambookpro said:
So you can't buy a Watch in the store, you can't look at the new MacBook in the store...

What's the point of building hundreds of Apple Stores if you can't actually buy anything in them?!
Click to expand...

Why couldn't you look at them? I'm sure demo units will be up by this afternoon.

But I agree, I'd rather have a launch date next week where you can walk in and buy them than having to order online and get it next week. :/

Still, some people will get it in 3 business days or so.
 
Traverse said:
Why couldn't you look at them? I'm sure demo units will be up by this afternoon.
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Most people who've spoken to Apple employees have been saying that the stores haven't received any shipments of the MacBook today. Expected to come over the weekend or early next week.
 
maflynn said:
That very thought occurred to me when we heard that Apple was directing people to buy online. Why have a store then?
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Yeah, it doesn't make any sense. They recently remodeled the store closest to me. It's huge. Apparently, it's now basically a huge showroom like at a car show of products you can't actually buy.
 
Seems like Tim should have pushed the launch date to ensure adequate supplies for this and the watch. I know folks are eager for Apple to release products but this is just embarrassing.
 
Reason077 said:
Apple doesn't want anything taking the spotlight off the watch.
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Then release it at a different date. Plus, I don't think that one person would buy one or the other, they are non-competitive products.
Frustrating customers and doing anything to get rid of impulsive buyers seems idiotic to me.
 
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Dwalls90 said:
Seems to be that she's instilling this new "try in store, but order online" philosophy.
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There are none in store to try. At least in the UK. No display models, and the staff have no idea when they'll get them.
 
cambookpro said:
Most people who've spoken to Apple employees have been saying that the stores haven't received any shipments of the MacBook today. Expected to come over the weekend or early next week.
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Oh, well that's stupid! Why wouldn't you at least have demo units out?

Aw well, I won't approach an Apple store until next week at the earliest. Let all this crazy watch and newness crowd settle and then I'll go one morning around 9:30am to avoid the excessive crowds.
 
Traverse said:
Oh, well that's stupid! Why wouldn't you at least have demo units out?

Aw well, I won't approach an Apple store until next week at the earliest. Let all this crazy watch and newness crowd settle and then I'll go one morning around 9:30am to avoid the excessive crowds.
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My local store wasn't any busier than usual. I'm not interested in the watch, but didn't you have to have an appointment before you could order one in-store? So, no need to queue up.

That said, there were lots of staff standing around with no customers.
 
That's too bad—I was really looking forward to checking this thing out at my local reseller. Don't want to buy it, just really want to feel how light it is and try out Force Touch and the slim keyboard.
 
kingofwale said:
Angela Ahrendts sold 6 millions dollars worth of Apple stocks 4 days before the launch. Most likely knowing that Macbook will NOT be even on display.
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More likely it's because she knows the Apple Watch will be a failure, at least in the short term.
 
Reason077 said:
More likely it's because she knows the Apple Watch will be a failure, at least in the short term.
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before implying insider trading, have you checked that the sale was not pre-planned as it is in all the other cases? OR do you honestly think they keep all of their stocks until they leave?
 
linuxcooldude said:
Isn't the Apple watch currently only ordering online too?
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I believe the stores have a very limited supply and since you can only see them by appointment. If you didn't get the first few appointments they'll be out of stock, then the apple store employee will facilitate an online order for you.
 
yaxomoxay said:
before implying insider trading, have you checked that the sale was not pre-planned as it is in all the other cases? OR do you honestly think they keep all of their stocks until they leave?
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she would know Apple watch as well as new Macbook quantity better than anyone else there.

4 days before launch, the timing was 'perfect'. ;)
 
Delays are to be expected w. Apple launches. Supply and demand. So many whiners and complainers on this board that can't get their new toys today. Poor things.
 
rkenyon said:
My local store wasn't any busier than usual. I'm not interested in the watch, but didn't you have to have an appointment before you could order one in-store? So, no need to queue up.

That said, there were lots of staff standing around with no customers.
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Were there any MacBooks on display?

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BornAgainMac said:
The product has no fans.
:D
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I don't believe that's the case ;)

The excessive shipping time for the gold model shows some people liked it. It's a fine system for what it is: an early adopter's road warrior.
 
Given this has an entirely new keyboard and track pad, I'd absolutely want to try it first before investing $1,299 (USD).

I can understand limited in store stock, but having absolutely none just reaps of poor planning and/or rushing a product to market.
 
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