New International iPhone 4S Pre-Orders Through Apple Slip to 1-2 Week Shipping

[cameronjpu]

I still have not received my confirmation email and "track order" part of the store has been down. This was amusing the first couple of years, but by now they should be able to handle this load a bit more gracefully. They know exactly how much demand this will put on their systems and they got to practice, what 5 times now? I got past eligibility part uneventfully, so they cannot blame AT&T for this.

It's a tough situation. Do they build up enough server capacity to eliminate bottlenecks when demand spikes to what is probably literally 1000x the average volume? And if they do, spending all that investment just for 1-2 days a year, then what? Orders go smoothly and dummies sell Apple stock because clearly demand is way down from the past, because there were no outages.

Creating the illusion of scarcity is a powerful marketing tool. Especially when it's not an illusion. It's hard to imagine the business case for beefing up the capacity. They won't sell one fewer iPhone. There is literally not a single person who wakes up at 3 AM to buy one, fails, and then decides to buy a droid instead. So what's in it for Apple?

 

[neocerebrum]

Geez! So those are the unsubsidized prices? Now my 2-year AT&T US contract doesn't look so bad. And this explains why my old, used iPhone can still sell on eBay for $250 today.

 

[KnightWRX]

Geez! So those are the unsubsidized prices? Now my 2-year AT&T US contract doesn't look so bad. And this explains why my old, used iPhone can still sell on eBay for $250 today.

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It's unlocked and unsubsidized yes. Subsidized prices in Canada are lower than in the states this time around (finally get something for our 3 year contracts) :

Apple iPhone 4S 16GB

$649 device only
$159 with select 3 yr Terms

Apple iPhone 4S 32GB

$749 device only
$269 with select 3 yr Terms

Apple iPhone 4S 64GB

$849 device only
$369 with select 3 yr Terms

Apple iPhone 4 8GB

$549 device only
$49 net with select 3 yr Terms

 

[arturmeireles]

Funny that apple used the wrong iPhone picture. That's a gsm 4! [/

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Im going to London on oct 31st. Hopefully I can get An. Iphone 4S in store. Even if I have to get the 64GB version. Do u guys think that by Oct 31st I will be able to get one?!?

 

[AbeSchmidt]

i got mine first night

i waited til midnight, hit refresh over and over (honestly over 200 times) from Apple Store iPhone app and finally got through without the error message at 2:45am pst. got the white 32gb and excited to be amoung the first to receive it. apple order screen says its already processed and ready to ship. way excited

 

[Skoal]

64 GB $849 Why would anyone pay that much for a phone unsub when the cloud is coming? Does anyone REALLY need 64 GB of storage on a phone? Guess it's nice to have the option though!

 

[KnightWRX]

64 GB $849 Why would anyone pay that much for a phone unsub when the cloud is coming? Does anyone REALLY need 64 GB of storage on a phone? Guess it's nice to have the option though!

Some people don't want to use the cloud.

 

[gloryunited]

Why would someone buy online and wait for 1 to 2 weeks (or more by now) after launch day for delivery?

Are Apple retail stores going to sell out their stock in a few days? Say I walk into an Apple store on Saturday 15th or Sunday, will I NOT be able to buy an iPhone 4S? Would there be enough stock, but also massive lines at all hours the whole week after launch day so people want to avoid that?

I am not so familiar with iPhones. Any experience about the iPhone 4 launch?

 

[lilj4425]

Why would someone buy online and wait for 1 to 2 weeks (or more by now) after launch day for delivery?

Are Apple retail stores going to sell out their stock in a few days? Say I walk into an Apple store on Saturday 15th or Sunday, will I NOT be able to buy an iPhone 4S? Would there be enough stock, but also massive lines at all hours the whole week after launch day so people want to avoid that?

I am not so familiar with iPhones. Any experience about the iPhone 4 launch?

If you walk into an Apple Store one hour after they open, you probably won't be able to buy one. I will never forget seeing the line last year at my local Apple Store for the iPhone 4 release. Easily hundreds of people in line.

 

[gloryunited]

If you walk into an Apple Store one hour after they open, you probably won't be able to buy one. I will never forget seeing the line last year at my local Apple Store for the iPhone 4 release. Easily hundreds of people in line.

I meant a few days or even a week AFTER the launch day. Was it possible?

 

[Alonzo84]

Some people don't want to use the cloud.

Who wouldn't want to use a free service that used to cost MobileMe members $99 a year? Shenanigans!

 

[KnightWRX]

Who wouldn't want to use a free service that used to cost MobileMe members $99 a year? Shenanigans!

People that don't want their data to be in the hands of other people. I personally would rather know my data is safe in my home on my infrastructure. I don't care about price or else my RAID array wouldn't be mirrored.

 

[Sasha-1]

If you walk into an Apple Store one hour after they open, you probably won't be able to buy one. I will never forget seeing the line last year at my local Apple Store for the iPhone 4 release. Easily hundreds of people in line.

I tried to wait in that line two or three times when the iPhone 4 first released. Waited in it for hours and gave up. I'm sure it will be the same this time around. Perhaps even more so... Though you wouldn't know it from the bad press over the lack of an iPhone 5.

 

[brewser]

64 GB $849 Why would anyone pay that much for a phone unsub when the cloud is coming? Does anyone REALLY need 64 GB of storage on a phone? Guess it's nice to have the option though!

For me I want the storage space for videos. I have a hunch it could burn up some storage space.

 

[Tiggs]

I meant a few days or even a week AFTER the launch day. Was it possible?

Nope, wasn't really possible even over a month after the 4 release. People were forming lines every morning before the stores opened hoping there would be shipments that day. Took over 3 months for supply/demand to get somewhat in balance and not until 6 months for there to be some inventory in the channel.

Still not a bad idea to get on the wait list even with a 1-2wk delay.

 

[gloryunited]

Nope, wasn't really possible even over a month after the 4 release. People were forming lines every morning before the stores opened hoping there would be shipments that day. Took over 3 months for supply/demand to get somewhat in balance and not until 6 months for there to be some inventory in the channel.

Still not a bad idea to get on the wait list even with a 1-2wk delay.

Thanks! That's what I want to know.

So either preorder and wait at home, or wake up early and wait at the store.

 

[sweet160]

Can anybody buy an unlocked version?

Hi,

I live in Ecuador, and my aunt is going to the states in December,
Can i ask her to buy me a unlocked version and use it here in Ecuador?

Thanks!