Neil Hughes
Chris Whitmore with Deutsche Bank issued a note to investors on Monday in which he revealed that a poll of about 30 retail stores revealed Apple is experiencing daily stock-outs of the iPhone 4S at most of them. He said that between 85 percent and 90 percent of stores polled continue to run out of inventory.
"Apple employees are directing customers to make an online appointment (first come first serve) for next day pickup at nearby Apple retail stores as stocks appear to be refreshed daily at most locations," Whitmore said.
In-store Apple representatives reportedly advised that customers should log on to Apple's website between 9 p.m. and 12 p.m. to make an appointment for next-day pickup. A number of stores indicated that most of the iPhone 4S units sold are via a reservation, leaving very little stock for customers who simply show up at a store.
As Apple works to keep up with demand at its retail stores, the company is still advertising a wait time of one to two weeks for new iPhone 4S orders placed on its online storefront, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Inventory checks with carriers AT&T, Sprint and Verizon found that supply of the iPhone 4S was "more sporadic." Most stores Whitmore contacted indicated that shipments were infrequent, and there was no indication as to when Apple would send more units.
Whitmore believes strong demand for the iPhone 4S both in America and abroad shows that supply remains the only factor in determining how many handsets Apple will sell this quarter. He has forecast sales of 28 million iPhones during the holidays, but admitted that number appears "increasingly conservative."
The iPhone 4S has been the fastest rollout ever for an iPhone model, with Apple selling its new handset in seven countries at launch, quickly followed by 22 new countries on Oct. 28. Whitmore said his research has found that the iPhone 4S is selling strongly in the international countries where it recently debuted.
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87 Comments
The stock outs world wide aren't going to go anywhere soon, not if Apple's release schedule for other countries goes as planned.
Going to be some high numbers on the next fiscal report.
The 4S is great and Siri is a phenomenal game changing feature!
However, the battery and 3G connection is flawed. I hope it's not a hardware issue and they can fix it with a software update.
The 4S is great and Siri is a phenomenal game changing feature!
However, the battery and 3G connection is flawed. I hope it's not a hardware issue and they can fix it with a software update.
I have no problems with 3G connection on the iPhone 4S, but the battery drains a little faster then the iPhone 4.
I just ordered a 4S from the Apple site and it was shipped two days later. I ordered it on the 3rd, and it looks like it'll get here tomorrow.
Stores that carry for the 4S in my area (metro Detroit) are wiped out and don't expect stock for 2-6 weeks.
If you want one, buy it from Apple.
As long as Apple is selling every iOS device it can make why all the hand wringing and fretting over what the "competition" is doing? iPhone market share is growing, not shrinking, in the face of the Android crap-phone "juggernaut." The "Android is winning" argument doesn't seem to fit. Just today HTC found out it took a hit over the release of the iPhone 4S in October. I'd like to see some sales figures comparing premium Android phones with the iPhone.
I don't hate Google or Android. I just think they are basically irrelevant to Apple's success or failure.