Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Proposal to Apple: Hold an Auction for Launch Day iPhone Xs

L

lotsalag

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 15, 2017
61
48
With demand for the iPhone X likely to far exceed available supplies, there is going to be a mad scramble to secure launch day iPhone Xs when pre-orders open on October 27.

I propose that Apple hold an auction to determine who gets a launch day iPhone X. It would operate very simply:

  1. People place bids for what they would be willing to pay for an iPhone X on launch day (with a minimum bid of the iPhone X's retail price); and
  2. The people with the top bids receive launch day iPhone Xs (eg if there are 1 million iPhone Xs available on launch day, the top 1 million bids receive them).

Advantages:
  • Facilitates a rational, calm ordering process (ie no need to all rush to order at once).
  • Allows the market to determine the order of deliveries rather than relying on luck of the draw (eg Internet connection, speed of clicking).
  • Destroys the scalper market (Apple is essentially cutting out the middle man).
  • Still allows people to buy the iPhone X for the regular retail price once demand falls and supply picks up.
  • Makes Apple additional money (remember: no bids under the retail price). Indeed, it could even give the extra money raised to charity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sigomez, hank moody and lancastor
if you have the money and want to spend more for an iphone x than msrp why not just buy it off a scalper like everyone else? I dont think apple wants to take on setting up auctions for a million separate phones.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SaddleSC, Pbrutto and AppleZombie
michael9891 said:
Yeah, great. Price out everyone but the rich. Stupid idea.
Click to expand...

That's how capitalism works.

And as I said, everyone can still buy it at the regular price. They simply have to wait.

thedropout said:
if you have the money and want to spend more for an iphone x than msrp why not just buy it off a scalper like everyone else? I dont think apple wants to take on setting up auctions for a million separate phones.
Click to expand...

Scalpers are a slow, inefficient process. If I buy off a scalper, I won't get it on launch day unless the scalper lives within driving distance of me. Plus, I give money to someone who was simply lucky enough to beat me in the race to click a button. Far better for the money to go to Apple or a charity.
 
lotsalag said:
That's how capitalism works.

And as I said, everyone can still buy it at the regular price. They simply have to wait.



Scalpers are a slow, inefficient process. If I buy off a scalper, I won't get it on launch day unless the scalper lives within driving distance of me. Plus, I give money to someone who was simply lucky enough to beat me in the race to click a button. Far better for the money to go to Apple or a charity.
Click to expand...
If you think you're so special that you deserve it before everyone else, do what special people do and pay someone to wait in line for you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: comptr, JPIndustrie and Appl3FTW
caelius said:
"First come, first serve" actually is much more fair than "I pay more than you, I win".
Click to expand...

In what way? First come, first serve is random luck when it is a mad scramble. User pays is fair because it sorts people according to demand -- those who want it the most will pay the most.

thedropout said:
If you think you're so special that you deserve it before everyone else, do what special people do and pay someone to wait in line for you.
Click to expand...

Is that possible anymore? Ordering for new iPhones have predominantly moved online.
 
lotsalag said:
In what way? First come, first serve is random luck when it is a mad scramble. User pays is fair because it sorts people according to demand -- those who want it the most will pay the most.



Is that possible anymore? Ordering for new iPhones have predominantly moved online.
Click to expand...
if you have to ask, you cant afford it.
 
lotsalag said:
That's how capitalism works.

And as I said, everyone can still buy it at the regular price. They simply have to wait.
Click to expand...

And as I said, stupid idea. We're talking about smartphones, not priceless pieces of art. First come, first served.

It's irrelevant anyway, Apple (or any other smartphone maker) would never do this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JPIndustrie
Appl3FTW said:
here's a question for u OP, how much are you willing to pay for this auction?
Click to expand...

I'd probably bid $4000. I work very hard and earn a lot of money, so the amount isn't the problem. It is the randomness of the current system that is.

ventmore said:
Fixed that for ya!
Click to expand...

Income is a product of skill and effort, so it is fairer.

michael9891 said:
And as I said, stupid idea. We're talking about smartphones, not priceless pieces of art. First come, first served.

It's irrelevant anyway, Apple (or any other smartphone maker) would never do this.
Click to expand...

Smart phones are market-exchanged goods, so it makes sense to use a market mechanism to allocate them when supplies are scarce.
 
lotsalag said:
I'd probably bid $4000. I work very hard and earn a lot of money, so the amount isn't the problem. It is the randomness of the current system that is.



Income is a product of skill and effort, so it is fairer.



Smart phones are market-exchanged goods, so it makes sense to use a market mechanism to allocate them when supplies are scarce.
Click to expand...
ok so first off i dont believe you. But if you want to spend $4k on a smartphone but dont want the hassle of waiting in line like the rest of the plebeians. Pay someone to wait in line for you. It shouldnt be hard to find someone to do it for that amount of cash.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fernandez21, Pbrutto, jamesrick80 and 2 others
thedropout said:
But if you want to spend $4k on a smartphone but dont want the hassle of waiting in line like the rest of the plebeians.
Click to expand...

As I said to another poster, is it even possible to get a launch day phone by queuing any more? Seems Apple has predominantly moved to a system of online ordering.
[doublepost=1505556233][/doublepost]
michael9891 said:
You wouldn't be suggesting this ridiculous idea if you didn't supposedly earn lots of money.
Click to expand...

How is it ridiculous? Say Apple donates the extra money earned to charity. Raise money for a good cause and facilitate a rational, calm ordering process. Sounds extremely sensible.
 
lotsalag said:
That's how capitalism works.

And as I said, everyone can still buy it at the regular price. They simply have to wait.



Scalpers are a slow, inefficient process. If I buy off a scalper, I won't get it on launch day unless the scalper lives within driving distance of me. Plus, I give money to someone who was simply lucky enough to beat me in the race to click a button. Far better for the money to go to Apple or a charity.
Click to expand...

Currently we all have a chance. Your idea we have zero chance unless we are rich and willing to pay over the odds. Stupid.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fernandez21
User joins forum yesterday. User posts a controversial topic same day he joins.

I'm not allowed to say what I think this is but for anyone else asking yourself "is this serious?", I hope you come to the same conclusion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkitect, yanki01 and noisycats
thedropout said:
if you have to ask, you cant afford it.
Click to expand...

I've always hated this sentiment. Some of the wealthiest people in the world got wealthy and stay that way because they don't just throw money around simply because they can afford it. Asking how much something costs doesn't mean you can't afford it. It means you're smart enough to understand the value of money and not waste it, no matter how much of it you have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pbrutto and arkitect
If 100% of all profits went to helping victims of IRMA, than it would be a great idea.
But just be the first few to own for bragging rights and make Apple richer, is kind of dumb.

$4k for iPhone just because you have money? The hard working people that I know and have met, who do have a lot of money, don't go around throwing money at dumb stuff like this. Because they have respect for money and that respect is what will keep them wealthy.

But fools and their money.......well... I hope you know the rest.

But if you are that willing to spend money, buy me a new car under $20k. It will be a much better investment. Because you'll be investing in me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: comptr, lotsalag and arkitect
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back