Ok so in the light of reports saying that Best Buy may get a very limited supply of white iPhones on launch day, got me thinking... If that is true, I think Apple stores will have a very limited supply of white iPhones on launch day. I'll tell you why.
Why would they do this? As the rumors suggest, Apple ran into a manufacturing issue and simply doesn't have enough units to do a complete/proper launch. They have a few hundred thousand units somewhere (I'm sure they got that far) but not enough to satisfy the demand. Instead of saying the white iPhone will be available in-store on launch day they might rather want to keep quiet so that people don't show up and wait in line HOPING to get the white iPhone. That would turn into many disappointed customers. Instead if they make it a surprise and allow loyal customers who waited in line to be among the first to purchase one of the limited quantity white iPhones, it would make turn into a feel-good story.
If the Best Buy stock rumors are true then I think Best Buy may have forced Apple's hand here a little bit. I think they wanted to hold back white iPhones but because Best Buy (and Radioshack?) took pre-orders for them they now feel obligated to supply them. A pissed off customer at Best Buy is still a pissed off customer purchasing an Apple product and I think Apple knows better than to let that happen.
Yes this is a lot of speculation and straw grasping but I hold out hope. I pre-ordered (for pickup) a black and I will go wait on line at the SoHo Apple store bright an early at 3-4AM in hopes that exactly this will happen.
We'll see, right?
[UPDATE]
More hope! If Walmart is getting some then so will Apple! (is anyone going to argue that with me?)
Take a look at supposed stock Walmarts are receiving:
(stolen from here)
- If Best Buy will indeed have a few units, I think Apple will as well. A third party reseller can't possibly have something that Apple doesn't. Apple would never allow it, amirite?
- [REMOVED INCORRECT QUOTE] "White iPhone currently unavailable for pre-order or in-store pickup." Now that can be interpreted in a few different ways. The white iPhone is currently unavailable for pre-order (an order that ships to the customers house) and will be unavailable to pre-order for "in-store pickup". The NEW wording, in my opinion, leaves some wiggle room to actually have a few surprise units in store for immediate sale. I.e. "the white iPhone is not available for pre-order of ANY kind" doesn't mean they won't have a few.
Why would they do this? As the rumors suggest, Apple ran into a manufacturing issue and simply doesn't have enough units to do a complete/proper launch. They have a few hundred thousand units somewhere (I'm sure they got that far) but not enough to satisfy the demand. Instead of saying the white iPhone will be available in-store on launch day they might rather want to keep quiet so that people don't show up and wait in line HOPING to get the white iPhone. That would turn into many disappointed customers. Instead if they make it a surprise and allow loyal customers who waited in line to be among the first to purchase one of the limited quantity white iPhones, it would make turn into a feel-good story.
If the Best Buy stock rumors are true then I think Best Buy may have forced Apple's hand here a little bit. I think they wanted to hold back white iPhones but because Best Buy (and Radioshack?) took pre-orders for them they now feel obligated to supply them. A pissed off customer at Best Buy is still a pissed off customer purchasing an Apple product and I think Apple knows better than to let that happen.
Yes this is a lot of speculation and straw grasping but I hold out hope. I pre-ordered (for pickup) a black and I will go wait on line at the SoHo Apple store bright an early at 3-4AM in hopes that exactly this will happen.
We'll see, right?
[UPDATE]
More hope! If Walmart is getting some then so will Apple! (is anyone going to argue that with me?)
Take a look at supposed stock Walmarts are receiving:
(stolen from here)