Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone
iPhone 3G shortage could last for a month
Contrary to other analysts' rosy comments about Apple's supply chain, Gene Munster from Piper Jaffray is estimating that shortages in the supply of iPhone 3G handsets will last until mid-August.
Munster said that he'd wager "we'll see problems for another two to four weeks," adding, "early demand has been more than [Apple] expected."
Apple's own supply-checking tool reports that a little over a quarter of Apple Stores had iPhone 3Gs to sell today. The hardest model to find is the black, 16GB version. It was available in only 18 stores worldwide.
AT&T stores are also "nearly out."
[Via Macworld.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Alan said 7:13PM on 7-17-2008
I have been calling all three apple stores in my area and all the AT&T stores too and they are all out. AT&T said I could pay for one in advance and it would take approximately two weeks to get here. Apple also said to call back tomorrow to check.
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john said 7:20PM on 7-17-2008
Somehow this still doesn't make me feel better about the 6 hour wait.
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(01) said 9:08PM on 7-17-2008
To get one? I'm certainly glad I stood in line for 4.5 hours last week...great weather, good company, and a sweet, sweet prize at the end.
john said 10:00PM on 7-17-2008
Don't get me wrong; I'm loving mine (and writing this comment from it). Just... man, that was a long line. And the boss wasn't too happy when I finally got to work ;)
ItGuy said 10:03PM on 7-17-2008
My 3.5 hour wait wasn't that bad and the prize at the end was worth the wait. In the 5 days since I got it I already can't be without it. It has been one of the best gadgets I've bought in a long time.
Fozzy Bear said 11:56PM on 7-17-2008
stood in line 1:45 min... got mine at 8:27.
thankful i found an AT&T nearby that only had a line of 75 and everyone slow to get there. wasn't too bad.
Stefan Schlautmann said 7:27PM on 7-17-2008
Funny, here in the Netherlands the 3G was sold out within one hour on Friday. But Friday afternoon I reserved one and I received it 5 days later.
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Cycomachead said 7:51PM on 7-17-2008
I wonder if part of it has to do with china forcing factories in certain areas to shut down to improve air quality before the olympics.
Though I don't know where the iPhones are made. Macs are made in Shanghai, which wouldn't be effected.
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Jazazze said 7:47PM on 7-17-2008
Seems to be only one UK store out of black 16Gb phones at the moment. http://bit.ly/38DU6Q
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Michael said 7:53PM on 7-17-2008
Still looking and waiting in Charleston, SC. All the AT&T stores say two to three weeks. The nearest Apple store is 3.5 hours a way. We should have an Apple store in a few months - maybe they will have iPhones by then.
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itchytooth said 7:54PM on 7-17-2008
The availability checker is misleading. I posted today on how I think it works, based on a conversation with an Apple store employee:
http://gorideabicycle.blogspot.com/2008/07/1st-gen-2nd-gen-25g-3g-8gb-16gb-skyhook.html
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flipmo said 7:55PM on 7-17-2008
Yes I bought one last Friday at an AT&T store in Greenville, South Carolina but went home empty handed. I still haven't received it yet. They ran out of phones 3 people ahead of me.
I purchased the 16GB black iPhone. Hopefully I wont have to wait too long for it!
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Craig said 11:06PM on 7-17-2008
I'm with you. My wife (God bless her) went to the third AT&T store in the area after we struck out at the first two on 7/11, and was the 2nd person to place a direct fulfillment order. Still waiting on our two black 16GBs, though. I call them twice a day and so far all I've heard is, "Any time now... probably tomorrow".
Jim said 7:58PM on 7-17-2008
Worth every minute of my 7 hours now...
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Ed said 8:01PM on 7-17-2008
Went to Regents Street, London (UK) store today. Queue of about 40 people, plus 24 iMacs dedicated to signups. Based on 15 minutes per signup, thats perhaps 45 minutes wait. There was queuing space for about 30 more people.
Not sure I want to wait that long, anyone got any theories of what is a good time of day to go?
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Adam said 8:14PM on 7-17-2008
I managed to pickup the last 8Gb Black iPhone at a Carphone Warehouse in Bath... (the store guy said they were only provided with 15 units after being 'shafted' by Apple and 02- owch....)
Painless purchase though (took about an hours phoning round..though every store round here is out).
One note for UK iPhone owners - when buying (not sure if this is just for Carphone Warehouse purchases) but I was told some customers were being made to pay an early-contract settlement fee... highest in that store being approx £60... so just something to bear in mind).
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Christopher Wilson said 8:14PM on 7-17-2008
I ordered the 8gb black at 10:30am est and I'm still waiting. They probably shouldn't have done a global launch on the same day.
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Michael B said 8:34PM on 7-17-2008
Apple is shipping them to all the money producing HIGH volume stores first, remember the video of the AT&T store opening and stocking the shelves? All the AT&T stores got no more than 40 per store and some extra's . You have to remember that this device was released in 20 country's on the same day...........
16gig White, and I am on the 2nd one because of blemish's under the screen, and a bezel ring that looked like it was sand papered .
Overall I am happy with it
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james said 8:35PM on 7-17-2008
Sigh, I thought Apple was better than this.
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mare said 8:47PM on 7-17-2008
All three Rogers outlets in Montreal I visited today had no lines and all models of iPhone in stock.
There is an advantage in having to pay a minimum of $1000 a year with a 3 year contract for a phone that won't last that long.
I can't afford that much money for a phone so I went my way.
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