Solution to stock issues (for next time)

[seth556]

Why doesn't Apple have a backorder system for phones (or other devices in store)? I understand huge lines and scarcity of the phone is probably helping their image as the dominant manufacture but they should put that aside and do what will benefit the customer the most.

Imagine just being able to backorder a phone and not having to worry about being at the store at just the right time or checking the stock on Apple.com at just the right time. It'd save head aches for so many people. You'd also beat the scalpers if there's some sort of quantity limit (say 2).

 

[antiprotest]

What do you mean? You can do that now. Just order your phone to be mailed to you or picked up in store.

 

[seth556]

Stores get shipments all the time and you have to constantly check online or go in to see if they have any in. So you backorder it and next time they get the particular one you want they'll save it and have it ready whenever you come in.

 

[eelw]

Huge lines vs a reservation system, yeah unfortunately not likely for Apple to change it. But wonder the backlash Apple would have it the focused on the initial 8-10 launch countries vs getting it out to as many countries? Flood US, China, Japan, UK, France, Canada and Australia with let's say 50 million units in first month. Far more money here than going after some of the smaller European countries.

 

[kmj2318]

I think if they let people reserve phones at the store, they'd have more inventory problems. People won't immediately go pick up their phone when it's ready– they'll have to drive to the store, they may be at work and have to wait several hours, etc. That inventory would cause problems for the next set of deliveries and so on until it's backed up. Apple's current method lets them sell the phones as quickly as they can, but it has to be to whoever's at the store at the right time. Your method will reduce the randomness of it, but will make the wait longer for everyone. Eventually stock will catch up to the demand and Apple's trying to get it there as fast.

 

[Small White Car]

Stores get shipments all the time and you have to constantly check online or go in to see if they have any in. So you backorder it and next time they get the particular one you want they'll save it and have it ready whenever you come in.

As antiprotest said, you can do that right now.

Your problem seems to be that they're also saving ones for walk-up customers. So you're basically suggesting that they only sell the iPhone on Apple.com and give up on this silly store concept.

Gotta say, that's pretty unlikely.