iPhone Inventory Running Low?
Multiple web sources are now reporting that multiple Apple stores are now out of stock on the iPhone, both 8GB and 16GB models. We touched on the New York shortage briefly last weekend, but this shortage seems far more widespread, with little or no news on when stocks will be back at normal levels.
Though the Apple online store lists availability at 5-7 days (long enough for a container ship to hit US shores?), AT&T retail still appears to have stock aplenty on hand.
Have you had any trouble getting a Jobs phone lately? Or do you see boxes piled high round your parts? Is this a sign of poor supply chain management (atypical of Apple), or is 3G on its way? What do you think?
April 1st, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Although I welcome a 3G iPhone, I’m also a bit torn — it means that, to placate my gadget addiction, I have to blow the dust off my eBay account and prepare for unloading my 8GB ‘old’ iPhone for a new 3G one
Oh, the horror.
April 1st, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Doubtful… Why put out 3 new iPhone adds then cut supply down?! People need to relax about this 3g iPhone. We more than likely won’t see one until September or so.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:12 pm
@Bad Ash Easy. To drain their inventory to make the most money from their current stock. Once the 3G comes out..strike that…once the 3g phone is even leaked by a reputable source to be released, Apple will have to cut the prices on current models. They will have to cut back production to allow for production for 3G. This will allow inventory to drain and make room for the new stock.
It looks like the 3G phone is on the way.
April 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Regardless… I’m sticking with September. Unless Apple says otherwise.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:33 am
As well as from AT&T, iPhones are also readily available from other sources, including the UK on-line Apple store. That doesn’t mean of course that Apple aren’t running down stock - you wouldn’t expect every stock to run out at exactly the same time after all. It would be foolish of Apple to have no supply in a market for an extended period, but that’s not the case anywhere yet AFAIK.
That would be atypical of Apple. Long shipping dates are usually only seen when a product has just been introduced or is about to be withdrawn. At the moment nearly every major product on the US on-line Apple store is listed as shipping within 24 hours, a couple are listed as 1-3 days, only the two iPhone models are listed as 5-7 days.
Perhaps the rumour I posted yesterday is really true:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/taiwans-hon-hai-precision-ship/story.aspx?guid={713415CA-FB6D-4508-A683-651F09C52F49}
… or perhaps the Apple stores are being resupplied as we speak
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 am
One of the posters on Ars said there was some delay at the Panama Canal, so who knows?
There’s a tanker on its way filled with iPhones, the only question is are they the current rev., or has El Jobso got something tweaked or completely new in his pocket these days?
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:20 am
Ah, the old Panama Canal ruse. I’ll take that as confirmation that the 3G phone will arrive by the w/end.
Would explain that only the US seems to be affected, although you have to wonder in that case why only iPhones (and not other Apple products) are in short supply. Do iPhones have there own ship (and it sank)?
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
I suppose it’s possible there’s another storage upgrade coming, i.e. 32 GB Iphone.