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No iPhones in stock -- marketing strategy?

GlassBullet

GlassBullet

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 7, 2009
114
0
Ventura, CA
I went to my local AT&T store the other day and got my 3GS. They don't have any in stock so they ordered it from the manufacturer and I have to wait for it to be delivered (1-2 weeks). My buddy got his a couple weeks ago and they had to do the same thing. Is this some kind of a marketing strategy that they're doing everywhere, or is it just my store? I don't see why they can't just have them ready to go in the store like all the other phones.
 
What other phones in the At&t store does Apple sell? To your point, I dont think that it is a marketing strategy. They have nothing to gain from not selling products. I think they are just out of stock. Demand was > supply.
 
Maybe it's because all the MacRumor posters are swapping out their phones from black to white and then back to black because every day they have a whim to try something else.

Or because people are accidently tripping their water sensors and swapping out their phones because they are worried about what MIGHT happen months/years from now

Or maybe it's because the demand is just that high

Personally.. I think it's a combo platter
 
It would be a pretty silly marketing strategy that had something to sell but require people to wait to get it - when people have to wait, they change their mind, or at least go away with the idea of returning later when they can get what they want over the counter.

Being widely out of stock is the result of AT&T and Apple selling more iPhones than Apple can supply from the manufacturing plants. It simply means that worldwide, demand has outstripped available stocks, and that demand remains sufficiently high that restocking barely meets the volume of sales already made.

Give it a week or two, and demand will slow down enough that stocks will begin to build back up.
 
It may or may not be a marketing ploy, much like the Wii did.

They create a false sense of demand exceeding supply and that since it's sold out everywhere, it must be something you really, really have to get as soon as possible.
 
MadGoat said:
It may or may not be a marketing ploy, much like the Wii did.

They create a false sense of demand exceeding supply and that since it's sold out everywhere, it must be something you really, really have to get as soon as possible.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was thinking then I made this topic. Thanks for all your responses.
 
I think it's the normal trend of iPhone marketing. The newest iPhone is in high demand, just as the previous generations of iPhone have been. They'll restock and eventually have to get ready for the NEXT iPhone....:cool::cool::cool:
 
Why not just get it at the Apple store? They even have a convenient inventory checker.

Apple does seem to build up a stockpile of these and then the initial surge will burn thru the stockpile. Eventually supply and demand level out.
 
I would go to the Apple store, but the nearest one is 100+ miles away. And I don't have a car. Out of curiosity, can you get an iPhone with the 2 year AT&T contract from an Apple store?
 
GlassBullet said:
I would go to the Apple store, but the nearest one is 100+ miles away. And I don't have a car. Out of curiosity, can you get an iPhone with the 2 year AT&T contract from an Apple store?
Click to expand...

Yes you can. And Best Buy will do it as well. Thats where I got mine on launch day. ;)
 
GlassBullet said:
I would go to the Apple store, but the nearest one is 100+ miles away. And I don't have a car. Out of curiosity, can you get an iPhone with the 2 year AT&T contract from an Apple store?
Click to expand...

Its gotta suck not having an apple store nearby....I notice alot of people saying the nearest apple store is 2 or 3 hours away
 
^ Mine is 15 minutes away. Another is 25 Minutes away. Another is 30 minutes away.

Perimeter Mall
Mall of Georgia
Lenux Mall
 
Unspoken Demise said:
^ Mine is 15 minutes away. Another is 25 Minutes away. Another is 30 minutes away.

Perimeter Mall
Mall of Georgia
Lenux Mall
Click to expand...

Mine is 5 minutes away by foot
Another is 5 minutes by subway
Another is probably abotu the same but in the other direction by subway
 
iPhone Savvy said:
High five?
Click to expand...
Just saying.
I'll fill out the appropriate paper work for that high five though. We'll get it done. I'll have my people call your people and we'll see what we can come up with.
samcraig said:
Mine is 5 minutes away by foot
Another is 5 minutes by subway
Another is probably abotu the same but in the other direction by subway
Click to expand...
And wow, you're aweful close to one.
 
Not everyone is upgrade eligibile and willing to pay whatever price that Apple tells them...so you gotta work with the salesman and Apple just doesn't do that. I had to go to my AT&T store to get early upgrade pricing instead of no commitment pricing...something Apple couldn't do for me. I would have preferred going to the Apple store...but it just wasn't an option even though I knew they had the one I want and it's only about a 20 minute drive for me.

As for this supposed marketing strategy...it isn't one. Generally the only people who find out about lack of supply are people that are already interested in the device. I don't know anyone that bases their decisions about device purchases based off of demand for said device...that's just dumb. It may get their attention...sure...but that does not drive their purchasing.
 
Unspoken Demise said:
To your point, I dont think that it is a marketing strategy. They have nothing to gain from not selling products. I think they are just out of stock. Demand was > supply.
Click to expand...

Agreed. In fact, Apple could be losing sales if the stores are out of stock. Someone could decide they need a phone immediately, and purchase something else.
 
Glass,
Have you tried an apple store? Plenty of availability of iphones at the Apple store according to Apple. Supposedly, this is updated every 30 minutes. I don't know how accurate it is.....
 
Unspoken Demise said:
^ Mine is 15 minutes away. Another is 25 Minutes away. Another is 30 minutes away.

Perimeter Mall
Mall of Georgia
Lenux Mall
Click to expand...
Must be nice.

Nearest Apple store is almost 2 hours from my home.

ucfgrad93 said:
Agreed. In fact, Apple could be losing sales if the stores are out of stock. Someone could decide they need a phone immediately, and purchase something else.
Click to expand...
Agree as well.

Need to have the product when the customer wants it. Otherwise it is very easy to loose the sale.
 
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