Some Early Online iPad 2 Orders Placed Through Apple Now Arriving

[charlituna]

Strong sales aside, Apple really screwed up this launch.

if there are strong sales, then the launch isn't screwed up at all.

yes it could have gone smoother. yes it would be nice of all 10k folks that hit submit at the same time got their online order on Monday. Yes perhaps saying "screw you walk in folks we are doing reservation only" would have been less chaotic.

but in the end, Apple is a business out to make money and they made it. Possibly a lot of it. And are making more every day as folks wait for ipads to arrive at the store, even if it takes weeks

 

[likesoamazing]

Purchased 32GB Black 3G AT&T at 3:45 AM CST (1:45 PST) on March 11th.


FINALLLY... it's listed as prepared for shipment. I guess I won't be getting it until next week. **poo**

 

[vi2867]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_6 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8E200 Safari/6533.18.5)

That's pretty good. It took 3 business days.

 

[unr1]

Order Date: Mar 11, 2011 at 01:49 AM PDT

Shipped on: Mar 17, 2011 via FEDERAL EXPRESS
Estimated delivery: Mar 22, 2011 by 4:30 PM

 

[yergnov]

I think they produced as many as they could. One could ask, "why not beef up production and then release?". I believe the hype does Apple good in terms of marketing and getting those who may otherwise be waiting for another tablet to come out to reconsider. I think Apple knew they would be short, but tried to keep the competition at bay. A good strategy, but one that keeps me wanting...

I have my name on the list at Best Buy- who knows when that'll come... I decided there because of the rewards program, at least it some sort of discount.

 

[wcarr3]

Yep, it's not like they have someone sitting there with a clipboard and a pencil saying "Ok, John here in NY ordered 10 minutes before Bill in Montana... so make sure he gets his first."

Patience, grasshoppers. The world is a mess right now. Slower manufacturing and shipping times aren't unreasonable, considering.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. It's only a piece of equipment people. I'm waiting for mine as well. I know I'll eventually get it. Everything I've ever ordered from Apple comes on time and usually ahead of time. If they miss a deadline by a day or so, I think I'll make it.

 

[allamoureux07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Just called the Apple stores in Boston and Cambridge, MA - Both received shipments, and both currently have lines longer than the amount of iPads they have....

 

[mapexvenus]

I think that Apple holds back supply to create more demand (artificially). Go on, shoot me now. LOL!

 

[vi2867]

Although, I placed an order and it says 4 to 5 weeks.

I will give it a try and stand in line on Saturday morning. Hopefully, I will be lucky, and get there in time to actually be a person that can buy an iPad 2.

The worst thing is standing in line for nothing. You already feel like a fool for standing in line in the first place!

 

[DudeDad]

So basically, my ipad arrived today in Chicago.. it was shipped the 14th from China.

However, my orange cover which was shipped a day earlier is STILL in alaska in transit, and will not arrive till the 18th.

Seems fedex is giving priority to the actual ipad instead of its accesories?
Anyone else have something similar happen.

My guess is that the accessories are processed and shipped from a different location, and the iPads were sent first....

 

[DudeDad]

I think that Apple holds back supply to create more demand (artificially). Go on, shoot me now. LOL!

I think that some companies do that....especially car companies (Honda did that with the Odessey mini-van...3 month waits meant nobody could get a better deal)....I don't think that is happening, especially since the run on iPads will affect overseas introduction....

 

[browndktr]

I walked by the Providence Place Mall Apple Store this morning at 9:15 and they had received a shipment of iPad 2's. However, a line had started forming around 6am according to an apple employee and only a few of the many in line got one. Apparently a line has been forming every morning iPads or not.

This seems like a cruel hype tactic on Apples part. Now please understand I ordered my Ipads online and will simply wait until they come. I'm not in a hurry, and I am not complaining that I don't have mine yet. I do wonder however why Apple doesn't institute some kind of sign up list or something at the stores so people don't have to come stand in line in the morning for no reason. If you want to create a bunch of hype on launch day by allowing people to camp out and stand in long lines then fine - that seems reasonable. But, allowing this to continue seems unnecessary and insensitive.

 

[KidPub]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Just called the Apple stores in Boston and Cambridge, MA - Both received shipments, and both currently have lines longer than the amount of iPads they have....

Same at the Legacy Place store in Dedham MA this morning, about 30 people in line, but only a dozen tickets passed out.

 

[performa62]

I've never ordered through Apple before. Could they ever up the shipping date? I bought 6-7pm on the 11th, and it sits at 4/1 for a shipping date. Any possibility that it could be earlier?

 

[bnhaus]

Just checked Fedex site today:

Mar 17, 2011 7:54 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery

I can't wait

 

[wcarr3]

I've never ordered through Apple before. Could they ever up the shipping date? I bought 6-7pm on the 11th, and it sits at 4/1 for a shipping date. Any possibility that it could be earlier?

You "could" absolutely get your shipment earlier. In fact, the majority of the items that I have ordered from Apple have always arrived a day or two earlier.

 

[ozred]

FedEx & Apple the perfect combo!

FedEx (I love em, they're so reliable) just dropped off the two I ordered.

 

[performa62]

I guess to be more specific, it says:
Ships 4/1
Delivers 4/6



Any possibility of the 4/1 (and subsequently the 4/6) date moving up?

 

[wcarr3]

I guess to be more specific, it says:
Ships 4/1
Delivers 4/6



Any possibility of the 4/1 (and subsequently the 4/6) date moving up?

That could prove to be a little more difficult. I guess it would all depend on how quick Apple catches up with producing additional iPads. You're likely looking at April 4, 5, or 6. But anything is possible huh.

 

[NeoMac]

I just received mine yesterday. I ordered on 3/11 @ 3:05 AM CST and it was Delivered on 3/16 @ 4:00 PM CST. Compared to what I went through for my iPhone 4 this was a breeze!

 

[mrFgahanna]

Order Date: Mar 11, 2011 at 01:14 AM PDT

IPAD WI-FI 64GB BLACK-USA


Mar 18, 2011 12:06 AM In transit LANTAU ISLAND HK
Mar 17, 2011 7:13 PM Left FedEx origin facility SHENZHEN CN
Mar 16, 2011 7:13 PM Shipment information sent to FedEx
Mar 17, 2011 6:30 AM Picked up SHENZHEN CN

Why did I have to wait an extra week compared to others who ordered about the same time? Is it because I'm a Jim Tressel fan?

 

[richlee111]

That's great that the online orders are getting to people.

As for the store strategy, I don't get.

How will holding shipments for one day before they are available for sale
help get them in the hands of people who don't have one and want one?
Its not like they are able to pull more iPad 2s out from somewhere

 

[Mac21ND]

That's great that the online orders are getting to people.

As for the store strategy, I don't get.

How will holding shipments for one day before they are available for sale
help get them in the hands of people who don't have one and want one?
Its not like they are able to pull more iPad 2s out from somewhere

It's easier for the stores to manage the stock and set customer's expectations for when the iPad's will be available. Rather than people just being in the store at the right time when the shipment happens to come it, it's easier to just say, "We'll sell what we have in stock when the store opens." If new stock comes in later that day, they sell it first thing the next day in an organized way (handing out tickets).

It also allows them to focus on other customers who are buying computers, iPhones and iPods. Otherwise, you'd have a bunch of people hanging out in the store all day just waiting for a shipment, nagging the employees and pulling the employees away from helping other customers.

 

[richlee111]

It's easier for the stores to manage the stock and set customer's expectations for when the iPad's will be available. Rather than people just being in the store at the right time when the shipment happens to come it, it's easier to just say, "We'll sell what we have in stock when the store opens." If new stock comes in later that day, they sell it first thing the next day in an organized way (handing out tickets).

It also allows them to focus on other customers who are buying computers, iPhones and iPods. Otherwise, you'd have a bunch of people hanging out in the store all day just waiting for a shipment, nagging the employees and pulling the employees away from helping other customers.

I see your point. But are they giving any sort of inventory information on what they have if you ask them?

But I agree that not having a huge line of waiting people so that other Apple buyers can access the store is nice.

 

[vi2867]

They are not giving any information out. They have probably been told to not give any details of the inventory to customers.

They get a list in advance of what they will receive. They have to because how will they report if inventory is inaccurate.

This is Apple's policy.