Wonder why you can't find an iPhone 5 in store?

[aristobrat]

What if you're not eligible to reserve one through the online reservation system (i.e. international student, no ssn, fresh ssn that requires you to put a $500 deposit and that would not allow you to reserve an iPhone...)?

You get screwed.

I don't think "a deposit is required" disqualifies anyone from reserving an iPhone.

When I went through the process of reserving one (about two weeks ago), there was something screwed up with my Verizon account, and the Apple website said that I may be required to leave a deposit. The only thing that happened then was the "Delivery" option on the website was grayed out. My only choice was to pick up the iPhone in-store (which is what I wanted, anyway).

 

[ladytonya]

So let me get this straight. You waited so you wouldn't have to wait? Man, that is some rock solid logic right there!

What an a$$hat! So maybe I worded my original statement incorrectly, I waited hoping I would be able to pick one up at a local store and not have to order it from somewhere. What I WANTED to be able to do was go to Best Buy, set up our new Verizon account and trade in our AT&T iPhone 4 for credit toward the new iPhone 5 phones we want to purchase. Less initial out of pocket.

I finally decided to order one (we're eventually buying two but my old phone is on its last legs and I need to get this thing before it dies completely). I ordered on October 25 and the expected ship date is November 16. That is just ridiculous. I thought maybe after their iPad Mini announcement the iPhones would be more readily available to help Apple get ready for the Mini's release but I guess I thought wrong. I still can't understand why a company would release a new product that is going to inevitably be backordered from the beginning when they still can't fulfill all their orders for the last product they released just a month ago. I am just frustrated because I need a new phone, mine is starting to act funny and I have tried everything to get it acting normal again, and I can't get one while there are people out there who are buying multiples and selling them for profit on ebay. It's all the luck of the draw, depends on where you live.

 

[darogo]

I still can't understand why a company would release a new product that is going to inevitably be backordered from the beginning when they still can't fulfill all their orders for the last product they released just a month ago. I am just frustrated because I need a new phone, mine is starting to act funny and I have tried everything to get it acting normal again, and I can't get one while there are people out there who are buying multiples and selling them for profit on ebay. It's all the luck of the draw, depends on where you live.

I couldn't agree with you more Ladytonya. I live in San Francisco, and no store anywhere near San Francisco has a 32 GB Black iPhone 5 for AT&T. No Apple Store, Radio Shack, Best Buy...freakin' AT&T stores won't even answer their phones. I'm actually considering ditching out on the iPhone and getting and Android because of how ridiculous this is. No way Apple should have released this phone if they still can't produce them over a month after releasing it. Unfortunately, I still have an original iPhone and it's about to die. I don't want to wait the 3-4 weeks when you order online. Apple effed up big time and it's getting tiring. It's no wonder the stock has slid 20%...