U.S. Apple Retail Stores Continue to Experience iPad Shortages

[MacRumors]

Two weeks ago, several reports indicated a complete lack of availability of 3G-capable iPad models in partial surveys of Apple retail stores in the United States, with Wi-Fi models also seeing significant supply constraints.

Digital Daily today reports on a new research note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster indicating that the shortages are continuing, with none of the 50 stores surveyed this week having stock of 3G-capable iPad models and only about a quarter of stores even having stock of Wi-Fi-only models.

"74 percent of the stores we checked were completely sold out of all iPad models," Munster said in a note to clients. "26 percent had some WiFi models in stock, and no stores had any 3G models available. We note that the stores have implemented a reservation system, by which customers can request to be placed on a waitlist for future iPad shipments, notified upon arrival, and given 24 hours to pick up the iPad. One Apple store representative indicated that the in-store reservation system typically takes 4-7 days."

Munster suggests that Apple's supply constraints could take months to resolve, with a supply-demand balance perhaps not likely to be achieved until late fall.

Just yesterday, RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky increased his 2010 iPad sales prediction from 5 million to 8 million, although it is unclear to what degree Apple's continued shortages are due to unexpected demand that could continue to drive up observers' sales predictions or to supply issues that could hamper the company's ability to reach the sales numbers expected by analysts. In either case, Apple continues to struggle meeting the demand of its customers.

The U.S. shortages continue even as Apple prepares to launch the device in nine new countries one week from now. Several customers with pre-orders in those countries have indicated that their order statuses are now showing as "Shipped", although no delivery information has yet been posted and orders are not expected to arrive before the official launch day of May 28th.

Article Link: U.S. Apple Retail Stores Continue to Experience iPad Shortages

 

[iOrlando]

reminds me of iphone 3GS. supply issues weeks afterwards. you got to think supply is kept low to begin with. and then add some above average demand.

 

[DylanLikesPorn]

a good problem to have, for Apple anyway

 

[Sasha-1]

Already bought my second one from Apple. I think these are going to sell like hotcakes.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Not to worry, CNN is on the case!

 

[VicMacs]

just wait till it goes worldwide, people in foreign countries are paying 200-400 over the US price for ipads….

 

[RobBookPro]

australian apple store now indicating ipads will ship in june, not june 7th.

 

[HLdan]

Hopefully the mindless anti-Apple people here will get the point as to why Apple has been trying to control how many are sold to each customer such as the no-cash and 2 limit policy. It's hard enough to get one, let alone people whined about it and now that the restriction is lifted I can't wait to see how many more criers on MR will appear complaining there's no stock anywhere.

 

[paul4339]

Apples apparent strategy: gather as much momentum, as fast as you can, before others have a chance to come out with a competing product. Even if your product isn't perfect, it's the only product. Marketing and advertising can handle the rest.
By the time your competitors can react, you'll own a sizable chunk of the market and be 'in the black'... then you start releasing improvements/next version.

P.

 

[jmingin]

9 days and counting

Reserved a wifi-3G 32 gigabyte at the Apple Store (Beverly Center-LA) a week ago Tuesday - still waiting :-(

 

[JJGEight]

Im pretty sure there hasn't been any international shipments of the iPad yet, yet again I'm pretty sure I was one of the first people to get a pre-order in, I was refreshing until the store came back on.

Mine is still not yet shipped.

 

[icanboogie]

australian apple store now indicating ipads will ship in june, not june 7th.

in germany, the 16 gb wifi models changed to "june" as well, all others state june 7.
the early buyers should get it before, my order still says 28 may.

come on, time: go faster.

 

[HLdan]

Apples apparent strategy: gather as much momentum, as fast as you can, before others have a chance to come out with a competing product. Even if your product isn't perfect, it's the only product. Marketing and advertising can handle the rest.
By the time your competitors can react, you'll own a sizable chunk of the market and be 'in the black'... then you start releasing improvements/next version.

P.

You're not serious with this post are you? Did you forget that Apple is the competitor reacting to all these failed Tablets over the years? Did you forget that Apple had to have THEE Tablet that appealed to people after following a failed trend of Tablets? The iPad is NOT the only product, it's the only one that most people want.

 

[kevinkt]

Well maybe next time instead of doubting Apples products, these naysayers should do a little more HW and really understand what the iPad is capable of. It's really a great device and now all these people want in on the action. Lawl

 

[katbel]

The U.S. shortages continue even as Apple prepares to launch the device in nine new countries one week from now. Several customers with pre-orders in those countries have indicated that their order statuses are now showing as "Shipped", although no delivery information has yet been posted and orders are not expected to arrive before the official launch day of May 28th.

Actually in BC, Canada they just have been shipping the mini-sim from Rogers
separately(supposed to arrive on the 28th). No iPad shipping yet
3 friends of mine had the same kind of shipping

We will play with the mini-sim: measuring it, trying not to lose it
Why are they shipping everything separately?
It is a waste of money with multiple shipping!

 

[aeneas07]

10 days in chicago

Just got mine off the reservation system after 10 days in chicago area

 

[Arran]

Makes you wonder if Apple priced it too low?

 

[mcpryon2]

I kind of wish they wouldn't have so many on display at the store during the shortage. The Jordan Creek (West Des Moines, IA) store has, I believe, 24 iPads on display yet they "can't keep them in stock," according to the specialist with whom I talked.

Oh well, there are better things to worry about, I suppose.

 

[barkomatic]

Apple yet again makes the early naysayers eat their words. "It's just a giant iPod Touch! It'll never sell. Who needs it?" Apparently, a lot of people.

Apple will have so many mobile devices across so many product options that they are getting close to pretty much dictating what standards web developers use. Goodbye Flash only sites.

 

[Icaras]

You're not serious with this post are you? Did you forget that Apple is the competitor reacting to all these failed Tablets over the years? Did you forget that Apple had to have THEE Tablet that appealed to people after following a failed trend of Tablets? The iPad is NOT the only product, it's the only one that most people want.

I don't really think Apple is "reacting" to the competition. They didn't even mention one single competitor to compare themselves in the keynote, which they love to do and rub in.

 

[jamesryanbell]

Makes you wonder if Apple priced it too low?

I wouldn't say they priced it too low. It would seemingly need to fit between an ipod touch and a Macbook (price wise), and that's where they all sit (every model).

 

[HLdan]

I don't really think Apple is "reacting" to the competition. They didn't even mention one single competitor to compare themselves in the keynote, which they love to do and rub in.

Mr. Jobs spent a sizable amount of time comparing it to a Netbook and then went on comparing it to the Kindle. Did you miss that part?

 

[TallManNY]

Makes you wonder if Apple priced it too low?

Good point. But Apple probably got it right. Apple tried to control supply issues with price for the first iPhone. That was part of why it was so expensive when it first came out. Apple got a lot of flack for that. In some ways it would be rational to try to get extra from the early adopters by having the price high for the first few months. But Apple probably rightly knows that that would be deemed underhanded and mean to its biggest supporters and fanboys. Instead we just have to deal with supply shortages. I waited about two weeks for my 3G, but I could have pre-ordered it so I have no one to blame but myself for that wait.
Apple is probably kicking itself that it didn't have one more factory online making iPads from day one. But if the international launch is solid, then this shouldn't be too bad. Apple should still have millions of iPads sold before the first Android tablet comes out. People will have invested in the apps for their iPad and they will be Apple pad users for life (like they are for the iPod). Switching will be too hard and Apple will keep the iPad at least competitive with any other tablet out there so it won't be compelling to switch.
If Apple has sold 10 million iPads by the time a real competitor comes out, then I think the game is over and the competitors will have to compete in a different space, namely the low end market. But I think companies will be able to get an Android tablet to market before Apple can sell that many iPads so we should have good competition. Not sure if HP can get a WebOS tablet out there fast enough though to really be in the game. Though that should be a good tablet when it happens and maybe HP can compete on price because of its size.

 

[rcandre2]

Makes you wonder if Apple priced it too low?

Nope... I say we'll see a price drop in November... just my 2 cents

 

[BigYawn]

This is more like it

You know, you have whining people getting all upset that there are millions of people without access to clean drinking water, sanitation, education and healthcare. Well, they know nothing about the plight of the poor US citizens who can't get their hands on a 3G iPad. What heartless people. Maybe someone should do a charity record to bring this disaster to the forefront of peoples minds.