Picked up 3 Gold iPhones on Friday

[CosmoPilot]

Mind blown that people care so much about the color of their phone. Even if you don't use cases like myself a light colored phone will get dirty quicker. My white iPhone 5 was a mess after like a month. I'm thankful they only had space grey. Brb phone looking brand new still in 6 months while a white or gold is gonna look brown and yucky no thanks

I wonder why Apple chose to offer different colors??? This guy might be on to something!!!
Guess I should trade all my cars in and get only neutral colors...exchange my wardrobe...furniture...towels...even re-paint the house too! This guys is a genius!!!

All kidding aside, when Apple offers a color choice people will decide which one they want. When you're 5th in line and the rep says, sorry...you tend to get disappointed. Not sure how this concept blows your mind?

 

[bumblehat]

I really think Apple dropped the ball here. I've been through every launch and this is the worst supply/demand I've seen.

Listen, before you start flaming me for my opinion...Apple would've generated the same buzz they always do. This is not an issue of creating the perception of mass histaria for their devices. This is a simple botched release, period!

Durning the keynote last week, Tim Cook almost made it a point of pride to state China would be involved this year for the 5S initial launch. This was a mistake... Perhaps China mobile strong armed Apple into this, but I doubt it.

Apple led consumers to believe that on Sept 20th all models of the 5S would be available. This is especially true sense multiple countries were included for the launch. I mean, how could all these countries be getting the 5S if supply isn't up to par with previous launches? To allow these people to stand in line for hours knowing full well they couldn't accommodate their order is plain wrong!

Apple had 3 choices here:

1. Delay the launch of the 5S for a week to build sufficient inventory for the initial demand for all countries involved. Yes, this would've brought the ire of many (myself included), but it isn't cool to tell the countless over night campers they will not get what they want because they are out of stock to begin with.

2. Limit the initial offering to the least amount of countries to satisfy demand before opening the device up to other countries. This would have upset our international brothers but is a strategy Apple has used in the past with overwhelming success.

3. Durning the keynote be more honest and forthright! Tim Cook should've said, "Assembly has just begun on the 5S, therefore pre-orders will begin on the 20th with a launch date of the 27th.

I ordered the 5S online and was lucky to get into the 1st batch of orders. I will have the 5S next week. I'm very patient, and happy with my situation. However, as a loyal Apple customer I feel bad for the thousands of people let down by this huge debacle!

Again, I get the fact Apple can do what they want and many if you will flame me for my opinion. I just feel Apple had a moral responsibility to ensure its customers were aware of this supply issue. Nobody, and I mean nobody, can tell me inventory was even close to previous iPhone launches!

Did it not occur to you that this may be manufactured demand?

 

[CosmoPilot]

Did it not occur to you that this may be manufactured demand?

That's probably it. Apple typically only has 5 or 10 phones available at launch. Remember last year when everyone wanting the iPhone 5 were turned away after the 5th person went into the store? That was a nightmare if I remember correctly!

Manufactured demand? Are you for real? Apple ALWAYS (I repeat...ALWAYS) have large lines at launch. No manufacturing demand is necessary. Loyal customers flock on launch day. The fact the stores only had 5 or 10 gold phones without telling anyone is the issue.

Did you even watch the keynote? Tim Cook said they were launching all 3 colors. The average Joe gets this information from the news outlets that reported on the keynote. Apple stores were grossly under stocked for a particular color and should've informed their customers. Now, with respect...several reports mention that Apple Store managers did come out and tell the crowds early. However, not all of the stores executed this practice. Moreover, Apple HQ should've handled it. Not the individual stores.

 

[JodyK]

Lucky!

Can't beeline lack of supply for silver / gold! Apple def dropped the ball!

It's like they decided 2 weeks ago to add silver / gold. I mean >6 iPhones in a color on launch day at the Apple store. Are you kidding me!

Store prob had what ...500-1500 iPhones
I know the Lenox Apple store in Atlanta had 150 left around 6:30 pm ... Would say that puts them at 1500+ given number of resellers in the area.

6??? What a joke! Why advertise something you don't have.

 

[tmanto02]

Because USA #1 USA #1 USA #1. Lol nah. I feel for you guys.

No need to feel for us. Australia gets the iPhone before the US. A whole 8 hours I believe lol

 

[kappaknight]

Your posts are hilarious. Really, they are.

Apple has always staggered releases to different countries. I'm not going to say Australia should've been left out, but how do you justify the countless other countries that aren't on the list as of today? Is Australia better than them? How about China??? Again, a staggered launch allows Apple to manage supply/demand better. Too many countries initially puts too much demand on the limited supply.

Apple is a global company. Sure, the US is a great market, but in order to grow, they need to tap into emerging markets. Whether you believe it or not, China's iPhone market will be the same size as the US if not exceed the size of the US iPhone market. In a country of 1.2 billion people, it's not hard to imagine 300 million of them will own a cell phone. So is it worth it for them to launch in China on the first day to make them happy and to reduce the number of people who will make cheap clones of the phone? Heck yeah.

I have to disagree. Apple could've had thousands of each model and the lines would've still been as long as they were. Why, because it's Apple! Did I expect Apple to have thousands of each model...NO, but they should've damn well had more than 5 or 10 at an Apple Store. I can understand AT&T, Verizon, and the others not having huge inventories...but an Apple store??? Wow!!!

Every year, massive lines form up in front of Apple. Like many in here have said...you'd expect the first 200 or so to get what they came for...not just the first 5 or 6 people in line.

I mean, how many Apple stores does the US have anyway?

The number of Apple Stores in the US, and world wide can easily be looked up. Also, you are seeing your one tree, vs. the forest. If Apple physically only had 500,000 white finger print sensors, or whatever the number is, and had to split them between the two color cases, then different sizes, and different carriers, then they will do the best that they can. Maybe this means the most FAIR distribution is limited to less than 10 gold phones per store - so be it. It's not like they're holding 3 million gold phones in a warehouse somewhere so they can create drama.

I don't know if millions stood in line or not. But considering all the countries involved at launch, it would have to be damn close if not over that amount.

The real question when you boil it all down is:
Should Apple have told its customers that limited supplies of silver & gold would likely not be available at launch?

Reports say Apple stores had anywhere from 0 to 20 Gold phones. Most had only a hand full.

Steve Jobs announced black & white iPhone 4's during its keynote, but he delayed the release of the white phone. When that happened, people could make an informed decision. Wait or go stand in line for the black model. To not say anything and waste people's time is a foul.

And for you guys saying Apple miscalculated...REALLY??? Most stores had 5 or 10 gold models! You honestly think Apple only intended to sell 5 or 10 on launch day? Jeez...

At the end of the day it's just a phone...I just can't figure Apple for this move.

I sort of agree with you here about the wasted time, but the difference is Apple produced gold phones today whereas they produced ZERO white phones until SJ was happy with it. Apple doesn't make money sitting on inventory so you can bet they're getting them out the door ASAP.

On a side note, I think it's fair to say anyone in the market for a 5S in the first month of its release will buy it regardless whether it's day one, or day 30. Apple knows this... and know that it's not a lost sale; just a delayed one.

As a stock holder, I'd actually rather them focus more on emerging markets so they can grab a larger share than worry about making sure everyone in the US gets their phone.

 

[bumblehat]

That's probably it. Apple typically only has 5 or 10 phones available at launch. Remember last year when everyone wanting the iPhone 5 were turned away after the 5th person went into the store? That was a nightmare if I remember correctly!

Manufactured demand? Are you for real? Apple ALWAYS (I repeat...ALWAYS) have large lines at launch. No manufacturing demand is necessary. Loyal customers flock on launch day. The fact the stores only had 5 or 10 gold phones without telling anyone is the issue.

Did you even watch the keynote? Tim Cook said they were launching all 3 colors. The average Joe gets this information from the news outlets that reported on the keynote. Apple stores were grossly under stocked for a particular color and should've informed their customers. Now, with respect...several reports mention that Apple Store managers did come out and tell the crowds early. However, not all of the stores executed this practice. Moreover, Apple HQ should've handled it. Not the individual stores.

Wow man, seriously? This is simply velvet rope marketing at its best:

• http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-gold-iphone-5s-shortage-2013-9

 

[CosmoPilot]

Apple is a global company. Sure, the US is a great market, but in order to grow, they need to tap into emerging markets. Whether you believe it or not, China's iPhone market will be the same size as the US if not exceed the size of the US iPhone market. In a country of 1.2 billion people, it's not hard to imagine 300 million of them will own a cell phone. So is it worth it for them to launch in China on the first day to make them happy and to reduce the number of people who will make cheap clones of the phone? Heck yeah.

Apple is an American company that operates globally. Agree with you that to grow they need to reach more consumers. The 5S will eventually be available for all their global partners. That's not the point. The point is conveying an idea that a certain phone would be available at launch knowing full well it wouldn't be. End result: Apple Customer's standing in line for hours needlessly.

The number of Apple Stores in the US, and world wide can easily be looked up. Also, you are seeing your one tree, vs. the forest. If Apple physically only had 500,000 white finger print sensors, or whatever the number is, and had to split them between the two color cases, then different sizes, and different carriers, then they will do the best that they can. Maybe this means the most FAIR distribution is limited to less than 10 gold phones per store - so be it. It's not like they're holding 3 million gold phones in a warehouse somewhere so they can create drama.

Couldn't agree with you more. If you'll read my previous posts, All I'm saying is Apple should've told its consumers to expect limited supplies of X color. Doing so, would've prevented the needless standing/camping in line that wasted the time of their customers. For some reason, you think I'm bashing Apple for only having an X amount of supply. That's not the case at all. Please go back and re-read my original post. I said 3 options: (1) delay the release to build inventory, (2) limit country availability to increase inventories, OR (3) Be forthcoming with its customers on what to expect in terms of availability!

I sort of agree with you here about the wasted time, but the difference is Apple produced gold phones today whereas they produced ZERO white phones until SJ was happy with it. Apple doesn't make money sitting on inventory so you can bet they're getting them out the door ASAP.

On a side note, I think it's fair to say anyone in the market for a 5S in the first month of its release will buy it regardless whether it's day one, or day 30. Apple knows this... and know that it's not a lost sale; just a delayed one.

As a stock holder, I'd actually rather them focus more on emerging markets so they can grab a larger share than worry about making sure everyone in the US gets their phone.

I never once said Apple needed to serve America in its entirety first. What I said was, the availability should've been on par with other launch supplies AND IF IT WASN'T/COULDN'T, at least convey this fact to the public to prevent its customers from standing in line for hours knowing full well they would be disappointed.

Listen, I'm a self-declared Apple fanboy. I'm just left scratching my head at how this company knowingly had 10 gold phones at Apple Store X and with a straight face let its customers camp out for weeks.

 

[steve-p]

I'm pretty sure someone says this every year.

They do, but this year I happen to agree. The online Apple stores in many countries had zero launch stock, with shipping starting at 7-10 days from the moment the Apple store came up. That's a preorder, not a launch.

 

[donrsd]

No dude...when you turn away the 4th and 5th person in line (who has been there since mid-night) due to supply shortages you've dropped the ball!

This has never happened at an Apple store for any iPhone launch, ever, period!

The original iPhone launch was a disaster because the activation servers went down. However, nobody knew how overwhelmingly successful the launch would be. This was nobody's fault, but rather an incovience. Not having more than 5 gold phones when you KNOW hundreds of people will be standing in front of your store without telling them is wrong.

Stinks to wait in line.
I ordered from my iPhone @ 3:01am and have a gold iPhone 5S coming this Tuesday.

Either way - no need to complain. You'll buy an iPhone 5S anyway.

Lesson learned......do it online if you can.

 

[CosmoPilot]

Stinks to wait in line.
I ordered from my iPhone @ 3:01am and have a gold iPhone 5S coming this Tuesday.

Either way - no need to complain. You'll buy an iPhone 5S anyway.

Lesson learned......do it online if you can.

I did buy mine online using the Apple app at 2:59am (EST). Glad you decided to read the entire thread as opposed to selective reading.

 

[darkgoob]

Stood in line since 5PM Thursday and camped overnight for the Gold iPhone 5S. Happy to say that I was able to score 3 of them (they are 2 per person but I was with someone else there). We were fourth and fifth in line and were the first to request a 16GB and 32GB Gold iPhone 5S. They had a total of 1 16GB Gold iPhones available for the entire crowd and 3 32GB Gold iPhones. I took the only 16GB and 2 of the 32GB. I'm happy to say that these phones are not being resold and are being used by myself and family members. I felt bad for those behind me that were not able to get one, they had 0 Gold iPhones for Verizon and Sprint (they were all for AT&T). Everyone in front of me took the 64GB Gold iPhones (they had a total of 4, hence 8 Gold iPhones total for the store). I found it surprising that despite low availability, they had 4 Gold iPhones on display, which upset many customers. Do you feel they could have reduced the display amount of Gold iPhones for now and provided them to those that camped out at night behind me?

Honestly like me, everyone at Apple probably thought the gold one was hideous and nobody would want it. Frankly I'm shocked there are so many people out there who want the gold.

But then again. Everyone wants gold. That's why gold is valuable. People just like gold. Gold!

Who knew? LOL