U.S. Mac Sales Continue to Sag Ahead of October Updates

[MacRumors]

Apple's Mac sales are down seven percent year over year for the full September quarter, according to a new report from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster who looked at September data from market research firm NPD.

Based on the data, Munster suggests that U.S. Mac sales in the month of September were down 14 percent year over year, as during the July to August period, sales were down just three percent but dropped to seven percent down for the overall quarter.

We have analyzed domestic NPD retail data for the full September quarter which suggests Mac sales are tracking down 7% y/y. We note that the September data suggested the last month of the quarter was down 14%, which brought the average down from down 3% through the first to months to down 7% for the full quarter.

As with his previous reports, Munster notes that it remains difficult to extrapolate NPD data to Apple's global sales performance, but he views the September quarter data point as "likely a neutral" due to the introduction of new MacBook Airs in June.

Overall, we believe the September quarter data point is likely a neutral given that Macs should have a slight tailwind from updated Macbooks in June. We remain comfortable with our down 5% y/y estimate for Macs in the September quarter.

Despite the fact that Apple is expected to debut Mavericks, updated Retina MacBook Pros, and the Mac Pro in October, Munster believes that Mac sales will continue to decline as Apple customers shift to iPads, with Macs representing a smaller part of Apple's overall business. Currently, Macs represent less than 15 percent of Apple's total revenue.

iPod sales continue to decline too, with NPD data suggesting that domestic units are down 36 percent year over year (up slightly from 41% in the August data) in the full third quarter, with a 20 percent year over year drop in September. Because iPods now represent just 2% of all Apple's revenue, the overall impact of this sales decline is minor.

Article Link: U.S. Mac Sales Continue to Sag Ahead of October Updates

 

[Aluminum213]

It's only going to drop further every year, the average laptop user just browses the web and maybe uses a word document

All that and much more can be done on iPads and tablets are only getting more and more capable every year

 

[stukdog]

It really feels like Apple should move to more often updates on their Mac line. It used to be that only Mac diehards followed the cycle, but it sure seems that the general population is watching it now.

 

[djtech42]

Apple hasn't been updating the Mac line enough. It's as simple as that. If they want more sales, they need to do something.

 

[ghost187]

Don't worry Apple I will be buying the ultimate version of the 15 inch rMBP tomorrow.

 

[Nevaborn]

Wow this is breaking news indeed, people stop buying current models of something because a new one is about to be released.

I'm honestly shocked !

 

[okjedi]

Been Waiting

Well, I've been waiting well over a year for a new MBP and can't wait to place an order! Or, may even do a Mac Pro and the best air for remote and just essential design software.

 

[Krazy Bill]

Apple's Mac sales are down seven percent year over year for the full September quarter,

Translation: Apple doesn't refresh their computer line and nobody likes to buy old stock.

 

[singhjeet29]

Considering only 2 products in the Mac line have been updated all year, and one of them in just the past month, I'm not surprised.

The holiday quarter will be amazing for Apple, but I still think they should stagger their release schedule, so not everything gets updated in Fall.

 

[likemyorbs]

It's called update your hardware.

 

[Alphabetize]

I hope Apple continues to make the Mac, and I hope the entire PC industry continues creating computers for professionals.

I cannot do what I need to do on a tablet or a smartphone.

 

[NowConverted]

First thing first: I truly hope this guy is wrong because "normal" people could be fine with the iPad to check Facebook but people like me need a real laptop to work!!!

Guess what happens when everyone thinks "the new MacBook will come out in June, no August, no wait September, this time is SURE, also Kuo said that, oh frack! No macs yet? OK OK I'll wait few weeks to buy"? Guess what happen....

 

[PDFierro]

They are at the mercy of Intel. What would be the point of updating just for the sake of updating?

But yeah, sales are declining. Not just recently, but more and more people are switching to tablets and other devices.

I for one need to use a Mac.

 

[ColdShadow]

Mac is and always will be the best product Apple makes.

 

[Rogifan]

Ah, so that's why Apple stock was up over $12 today. . Of course new MBPs will most likely be announced tomorrow and along with the iMac refresh this current quarter should see improved sales.

Edit: I've also heard speculation that MBPs weren't updated earlier because they'll have Thunderbolt 2. Who knows, maybe we'll see a 4K Cinema Display tomorrow.

 

[CarpalMac]

Wow!

"Outgoing models that remain at full RRP show sales decline, shock horror!"

 

[Komrad808]

I tell people to wait, when I hear Apple may be making a new announcement on there Apple products. The end results is alot better for them.

 

[Nunyabinez]

I hope Apple continues to make the Mac, and I hope the entire PC industry continues creating computers for professionals.

I cannot do what I need to do on a tablet or a smartphone.

I agree. I love my iPad and iPhone, but I like to have some horsepower when I do serious computing tasks. Maybe the average person can get by with just an iPad, but without serious computers, there won't be anything to consume.

And I know many people are saying an iPad is not just a content consumption device, but if you are doing substantial music production, or video or photography, it's not gonna cut it, not even close.

 

[winston1236]

It really feels like Apple should move to more often updates on their Mac line. It used to be that only Mac diehards followed the cycle, but it sure seems that the general population is watching it now.

Not really, the problem is the price is too high so people would rather spend less money on a low cost tablet since they only web browse or type papers on their computers anyway.

 

[Lunfai]

Although I bought a 2013 MBA 11", I've been waiting for the 13" RMBP since I sold my old MBA in May. However ill order as soon as possible.

 

[M!M!C]

Apple hasn't been updating the Mac line enough. It's as simple as that. If they want more sales, they need to do something.

They did by introducing the iPad

 

[Lesser Evets]

Hand-in-hand: it is the iPad migration and the lack of worthy hardware updates doing this.

Why buy a $2000 set up when you can do it on a $499 pad? Seriously, most people just don't use their computers for anything more than what an iPad provides. And why spend $2000+ for some computer rig which will be out of date in 5 years or less? Apple has shown some serious lack of support for high-cost models which fall outside the 5-year mark, and even outside a 4-year mark.

While Apple is developing some excellent hardware, they are still tied to Intel and being dragged behind the times by that company. If they want to develop a dedicated following, they MUST release regular updates which keep current. Popping out Pros on some random, insane, timeline isn't going to endear professionals to the product; they want to know that every September 14th they will have a new product which give the best-available processor and connectivity. Putting a random number of days between releases is suicide.

Get a clue, Apple. You castrate yourself, dying a death of a thousand incompetent cuts.

 

[Cruddley]

Wow this is breaking news indeed, people stop buying current models of something because a new one is about to be released.

I'm honestly shocked !

Yeah, that's what I was going to say! Also I don't think it will hurt Apple one bit, if people are switching to mobile devices like iPad. They just need to be on their game with their tablet, and all will be well. Crucial will be the release of Word on the iPad, which can't come soon enough. Worth every penny that Apple needs to throw at it to make this happen.

 

[M!M!C]

Hand-in-hand: it is the iPad migration and the lack of worthy hardware updates doing this.

Why buy a $2000 set up when you can do it on a $499 pad? Seriously, most people just don't use their computers for anything more than what an iPad provides. And why spend $2000+ for some computer rig which will be out of date in 5 years or less? Apple has shown some serious lack of support for high-cost models which fall outside the 5-year mark, and even outside a 4-year mark.

While Apple is developing some excellent hardware, they are still tied to Intel and being dragged behind the times by that company. If they want to develop a dedicated following, they MUST release regular updates which keep current. Popping out Pros on some random, insane, timeline isn't going to endear professionals to the product; they want to know that every September 14th they will have a new product which give the best-available processor and connectivity. Putting a random number of days between releases is suicide.

Get a clue, Apple. You castrate yourself, dying a death of a thousand incompetent cuts.

Very much agree with the first part, but "hey are still tied to Intel and being dragged behind the times by that company." So who is ahead of Intel?

 

[mddharma]

Need to update ...

more often. We are waiting for the mac mini to update to Haswell. Seems to me they could have done this when they updated the iMacs. My circle has been changing to mini's as the low end imac is tough to justify with the lack of user upgradability in terms of HD and memory. I think they are losing sales because of this as well.