Evidence from every recent product launch would indicate that some of this "shortage" is planned, contributing to the scarcity value of Apple products. It's beyond a reasonable belief to think that one of the best product-management companies in the world would always run out of new products with days of their release. No, this isn't evidence that Apple is selling every device it can possible make. It's chosen to use scarcity as a marketing tactic. Smart too, since potential buyers may be willing to pay a bit more than they otherwise might, believing if they don't buy it now they may not find it later.
What you're asserting is pure speculation. There is not any evidence that the shortage is either planned or unavoidable. We just don't know. Theorizing is fine but we shouldn't pretend that we know.
For every pressured sale induced by the perception of scarcity, there is also potential for lost sales due to that same scarcity. We don't how apple manages that tradeoff. And even if we did, it would still be unclear if the strategy were truly optimizing profit, marketshare, brand value, etc.
I'm saying that resources(supplies) are finite and demand is outstripping supply. You're begrudging Apple for being popular yet claiming they are profiting by not profiting. That's just stupid on the face of it.
You generate hype when you have none, not when you have plenty. What Apple is lacking is enough resources to build devices fast enough. As an investor I'd be suing Apple if they thought for a second they were purposely not selling their products.
There may be some element of inventory control. They probably want to make exactly as many as they need each week. Selling out at every store, everyday at the end of the day, is perfect. There is always the online Apple store if they underestimate slightly in the brick and mortar deliveries.
As far as kids are concerned, the educational software available on the iPad is the best there is and much of it works on the iPhone/iPod as well... do not have to pay extra to install in all the devices registered to me (5 max). There are cases that make the iPad child proof (almost!). Take a look at the Visual Body software.
Your never going to convince a certain number of people that quality is worth paying for, or that going bargain basement can cost you more in the long run.
Never mind the enjoyment of using a truly superior product with a superior experience and being more productive because of it.
Refurbished iPads have been regularly seen - before the holidays anyway - at $350. Perfect for kids. And for many applications smaller screens are just smaller screens. Less room and a decreased user experience. They are only an advantage for those tablet makers that can't compete on price with Apple when matching feature for feature.
I'm saying that resources(supplies) are finite and demand is outstripping supply. You're begrudging Apple for being popular yet claiming they are profiting by not profiting. That's just stupid on the face of it.
You generate hype when you have none, not when you have plenty. What Apple is lacking is enough resources to build devices fast enough. As an investor I'd be suing Apple if they thought for a second they were purposely not selling their products.
You didn't do that web search I suggested, did'ja?\
You also didn't actually read the entire post either apparently. If you had you'd have seen I was praising Apple for the marketing scheme, not begrudging them.
There may be some element of inventory control. They probably want to make exactly as many as they need each week. Selling out at every store, everyday at the end of the day, is perfect. There is always the online Apple store if they underestimate slightly in the brick and mortar deliveries.
Sure, there is inventory control. They figure out the optimal values to send to each Apple Store, the online store, and their affiliates. They also won't put 10 iPads in a truck then a jet by themselves to get to a store because that's just not economical. But the idea that they are halting production or stock piling product simply to create an artificial demand is crazy. What's he saying while trying not to directly say it is that Apple's success, brand recognition, and mindshare have not been created honestly nor are real outside an fake bubble.
They also won't put 10 iPads in a truck then a jet by themselves to get to a store because that's just not economical.
No they use fedex. They can ship as many or as few as they like with little additional expense.
I remember ordering online some small item from the Apple Store a while back and was surprised that it showed up the next day via fedex directly from China.
I think they have so finely tuned that Foxconn has a dial that they can turn to speed up or slow down the volume with infinite control.
Yes sir I am. Let's examine what you are saying. You're suggesting that Apple does such terrible planning that they've underestimated the market for every new iPhone and iPad product since 2008
Look at the growth curves for iOS devices. They are unprecedented. Apple owns the entire supply of 10" capacative touch-screens to the point where competitors are doing everything from trying to convince end users smaller is better to making monopoly accusations.
And you think they are intentionally holding back?
Seriously?
Quote:
losing millions in sales due their inefficient and poor production plans.
"Losing millions"? Prove it. Unlike people such as yourself, most people seem to have no problem waiting for devices to ship. Again, I point you to their meteoric year over year growth. If they are so grossly incompetent as you intimate, the first couple of years should have been flukes as the dupes got separated from the smart people.
Or, the more likely answer: not everyone is an impulse buyer with zero self control over the "ooh shiny" and the whole "scarcity" thing is vastly overblown
Quote:
Before responding, take a moment to do a web search using "Apple scarcity value".
10,000 monkeys on the Internet flapping their yap still doesn't equate the works of Shakespeare - or intelligent thought. Boy Genius Report could float a shit rumor, half way legit sites like AppleInsider could repeat it and then "legitimate" news organizations could cite it as being legit since it's from "multiple sources". It's still a shit rumor. Same thing with your web search.
Garbage in, Garbage out.
Here's a more important question for you: all those Internet geniuses you reference with your web search - if their so smart - how come they don't run companies that are better than Apple?
Ugh... the secrets to business are not complicated: Make compelling products that your customers will value.
Doing itrightis hard. Much harder than "marketing", throwing silly accusations, or waiting for someone else to prove the right way and then copying them.
Apple is a finely tuned machine, vertically integrated and executing on all cylinders starting with the mandate of delighting the customer and building everything else from there. It's why they didn't care about criticism about copy/paste, multitasking, SD cards, USB ports, mounting as a hard drive and all the other useless tech blather. They know their target (hint - not the science experiment prone geeks) and they are executing to them, at their own pace. And their sales (as Steve has often been quoted) and continuing blockbuster success prove the soundness of their philosophy.
Until they start to falter with sales, why should they change? I don't want them to change. If I want a product like everyone else makes, I'll just get it from everyone else. I'm glad Apple is different and that I have choice for my computing products. That difference has value. And that I value Apple's difference is what drives the tech elites, "open" fascists and other detractors crazy. How dare Apple not do things the "right" way. It's always hilarious to me that the "open" and "choice" advocates are pissed the most at Apple because they are different from their pet vendors or choices. Oh the irony...
And the remaining 25% of stores....we're keeping the iPhones for themselves (aka employees). Wondering why some people are still without their iPhone 4S since October.
Apple will always be undervalued because people are just waiting for them to fall. It's not common that a failing company becomes number uno in under a decade. People want them to be 200% sold out. ALL.THE.TIME.
What's he saying while trying not to directly say it is that Apple's success, brand recognition, and mindshare have not been created honestly nor are real outside an fake bubble.
No, that's what you'd like others to believe I'm saying.
Of course 250 million iOS devices sold shows the incredible success they've had. What my post really says is by making use of the proven "scarcity value" marketing technique, adding to the perceived value so thye have an easier time holding a high premium price on their iPhone line in particular.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
Look at the growth curves for iOS devices. They are unprecedented. Apple owns the entire supply of 10" capacative touch-screens to the point where competitors are doing everything from trying to convince end users smaller is better to making monopoly accusations.
I'm actually worried about the rumours of Apple's next iPad using displays from 3 different sources, which is indirect proof they are trying hard to keep up with demand. If multiple competitors are getting all the business they can handle there could be less of a chance for these manufactures to worry about quality control as much as much per component which could escape Apple's quality control in the final product. That's just speculation, but I did replace my iPad 2 because of excessive backlight bleeding.
No, that's what you'd like others to believe I'm saying.
Of course 250 million iOS devices sold shows the incredible success they've had. What my post really says is by making use of the proven "scarcity value" marketing technique, adding to the perceived value so thye have an easier time holding a high premium price on their iPhone line in particular.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
So, sales of iPhone 4 Jan - June 2011 can be explained how? The same way the 3GS had large sales, right?
So, sales of iPhone 4 Jan - June 2011 can be explained how?
Keeping the perception that product is in short supply makes it more in demand. Surely you know that. Tickle me Elmos and Cabbage Patch Dolls back in the day, and more recently Wii's, iPads, XBox Kinect's, etc. all prove the notion that restricting product assists in leading to buyers willing to pay a premium to get it. Standing in lines to get them is a small additional price to pay.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
I think most intelligent buyers, and face it, that is Apples target market, realize that there is an infinite supply but the price is always the same. There are no bargains, no haggling, no wait for it to go on sale that every other vendor resorts to. You want it, you buy it. That is all there is to it. It is hardly ever really sold out. You might have to order online and wait two weeks but intelligent people are usually patient people, even those who insist on waiting in queue at the Apple store.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
I shudder to ask if you think this is a display of "logic"...
Quote:
Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow."
Wait, how can they impulse buy it "now" vs. "tomorrow" if Apple is restricting the supply artificially?
Your "argument" makes absolutely no sense whatsoever
Keeping the perception that product is in short supply makes it more in demand. Surely you know that.
Why should we "know that"? Based on what? Meaningless and uniformed internet speculation that has nothing more than quantity of repeat storytelling as it's pedigree?
Quote:
Tickle me Elmos and Cabbage Patch Dolls back in the day
Both of which were events that happened exactly once - almost as if the manufacturers underestimated supply, ran out, and then compensated the next year.
Wow! Amazing!
Yup, rather than actually sell products to anyone who would buy them, the manufacturers artificially limited them to get the sales... next year? The day after Christmas? Exactly when is the best time to stop artificially constraining supply and actually selling your product to anyone who wants one anyway?
I think most intelligent buyers, and face it, that is Apples target market, realize that there is an infinite supply but the price is always the same. There are no bargains, no haggling, no wait for it to go on sale that every other vendor resorts to. You want it, you buy it. That is all there is to it. It is hardly ever really sold out. You might have to order online and wait two weeks but intelligent people are usually patient people, even those who insist on waiting in queue at the Apple store.
Bingo! Especially the part I bolded.
Again, it really isn't that complicated:
The only marketing strategy Apple needs is to make "insanely great" products!
Comments
Evidence from every recent product launch would indicate that some of this "shortage" is planned, contributing to the scarcity value of Apple products. It's beyond a reasonable belief to think that one of the best product-management companies in the world would always run out of new products with days of their release. No, this isn't evidence that Apple is selling every device it can possible make. It's chosen to use scarcity as a marketing tactic. Smart too, since potential buyers may be willing to pay a bit more than they otherwise might, believing if they don't buy it now they may not find it later.
What you're asserting is pure speculation. There is not any evidence that the shortage is either planned or unavoidable. We just don't know. Theorizing is fine but we shouldn't pretend that we know.
For every pressured sale induced by the perception of scarcity, there is also potential for lost sales due to that same scarcity. We don't how apple manages that tradeoff. And even if we did, it would still be unclear if the strategy were truly optimizing profit, marketshare, brand value, etc.
I'm saying that resources(supplies) are finite and demand is outstripping supply. You're begrudging Apple for being popular yet claiming they are profiting by not profiting. That's just stupid on the face of it.
You generate hype when you have none, not when you have plenty. What Apple is lacking is enough resources to build devices fast enough. As an investor I'd be suing Apple if they thought for a second they were purposely not selling their products.
There may be some element of inventory control. They probably want to make exactly as many as they need each week. Selling out at every store, everyday at the end of the day, is perfect. There is always the online Apple store if they underestimate slightly in the brick and mortar deliveries.
Well that didn't last long. What? Four posts in for the first naysayer?
Dude, I truly hope in your real life you don't go around pointing all the negatives you see (but aren't necessarily true).
Why are you assuming he's claiming Munster's numbers are high?
He just said don't trust him - sound advice any way you slice it.
As far as kids are concerned, the educational software available on the iPad is the best there is and much of it works on the iPhone/iPod as well... do not have to pay extra to install in all the devices registered to me (5 max). There are cases that make the iPad child proof (almost!). Take a look at the Visual Body software.
Your never going to convince a certain number of people that quality is worth paying for, or that going bargain basement can cost you more in the long run.
Never mind the enjoyment of using a truly superior product with a superior experience and being more productive because of it.
Refurbished iPads have been regularly seen - before the holidays anyway - at $350. Perfect for kids. And for many applications smaller screens are just smaller screens. Less room and a decreased user experience. They are only an advantage for those tablet makers that can't compete on price with Apple when matching feature for feature.
It's chosen to use scarcity as a marketing tactic. Smart too, since potential buyers
Yup, because a potential buyer is better than a real buyer
I can't believe people think they are rational while peddling this crap...
I'm saying that resources(supplies) are finite and demand is outstripping supply. You're begrudging Apple for being popular yet claiming they are profiting by not profiting. That's just stupid on the face of it.
You generate hype when you have none, not when you have plenty. What Apple is lacking is enough resources to build devices fast enough. As an investor I'd be suing Apple if they thought for a second they were purposely not selling their products.
You didn't do that web search I suggested, did'ja?
You also didn't actually read the entire post either apparently. If you had you'd have seen I was praising Apple for the marketing scheme, not begrudging them.
There may be some element of inventory control. They probably want to make exactly as many as they need each week. Selling out at every store, everyday at the end of the day, is perfect. There is always the online Apple store if they underestimate slightly in the brick and mortar deliveries.
Sure, there is inventory control. They figure out the optimal values to send to each Apple Store, the online store, and their affiliates. They also won't put 10 iPads in a truck then a jet by themselves to get to a store because that's just not economical. But the idea that they are halting production or stock piling product simply to create an artificial demand is crazy. What's he saying while trying not to directly say it is that Apple's success, brand recognition, and mindshare have not been created honestly nor are real outside an fake bubble.
They also won't put 10 iPads in a truck then a jet by themselves to get to a store because that's just not economical.
No they use fedex. They can ship as many or as few as they like with little additional expense.
I remember ordering online some small item from the Apple Store a while back and was surprised that it showed up the next day via fedex directly from China.
I think they have so finely tuned that Foxconn has a dial that they can turn to speed up or slow down the volume with infinite control.
Yes sir I am. Let's examine what you are saying. You're suggesting that Apple does such terrible planning that they've underestimated the market for every new iPhone and iPad product since 2008
Look at the growth curves for iOS devices. They are unprecedented. Apple owns the entire supply of 10" capacative touch-screens to the point where competitors are doing everything from trying to convince end users smaller is better to making monopoly accusations.
And you think they are intentionally holding back?
Seriously?
losing millions in sales due their inefficient and poor production plans.
"Losing millions"? Prove it. Unlike people such as yourself, most people seem to have no problem waiting for devices to ship. Again, I point you to their meteoric year over year growth. If they are so grossly incompetent as you intimate, the first couple of years should have been flukes as the dupes got separated from the smart people.
Or, the more likely answer: not everyone is an impulse buyer with zero self control over the "ooh shiny" and the whole "scarcity" thing is vastly overblown
Before responding, take a moment to do a web search using "Apple scarcity value".
10,000 monkeys on the Internet flapping their yap still doesn't equate the works of Shakespeare - or intelligent thought. Boy Genius Report could float a shit rumor, half way legit sites like AppleInsider could repeat it and then "legitimate" news organizations could cite it as being legit since it's from "multiple sources". It's still a shit rumor. Same thing with your web search.
Garbage in, Garbage out.
Here's a more important question for you: all those Internet geniuses you reference with your web search - if their so smart - how come they don't run companies that are better than Apple?
Ugh... the secrets to business are not complicated: Make compelling products that your customers will value.
Doing it right is hard. Much harder than "marketing", throwing silly accusations, or waiting for someone else to prove the right way and then copying them.
Apple is a finely tuned machine, vertically integrated and executing on all cylinders starting with the mandate of delighting the customer and building everything else from there. It's why they didn't care about criticism about copy/paste, multitasking, SD cards, USB ports, mounting as a hard drive and all the other useless tech blather. They know their target (hint - not the science experiment prone geeks) and they are executing to them, at their own pace. And their sales (as Steve has often been quoted) and continuing blockbuster success prove the soundness of their philosophy.
Until they start to falter with sales, why should they change? I don't want them to change. If I want a product like everyone else makes, I'll just get it from everyone else. I'm glad Apple is different and that I have choice for my computing products. That difference has value. And that I value Apple's difference is what drives the tech elites, "open" fascists and other detractors crazy. How dare Apple not do things the "right" way. It's always hilarious to me that the "open" and "choice" advocates are pissed the most at Apple because they are different from their pet vendors or choices. Oh the irony...
I was praising Apple for the marketing scheme
The only "marketing scheme" Apple has - or needs - is to make fantastic and compelling products.
Not playing bullshit games that defy logic
What's he saying while trying not to directly say it is that Apple's success, brand recognition, and mindshare have not been created honestly nor are real outside an fake bubble.
No, that's what you'd like others to believe I'm saying.
Of course 250 million iOS devices sold shows the incredible success they've had. What my post really says is by making use of the proven "scarcity value" marketing technique, adding to the perceived value so thye have an easier time holding a high premium price on their iPhone line in particular.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
Look at the growth curves for iOS devices. They are unprecedented. Apple owns the entire supply of 10" capacative touch-screens to the point where competitors are doing everything from trying to convince end users smaller is better to making monopoly accusations.
I'm actually worried about the rumours of Apple's next iPad using displays from 3 different sources, which is indirect proof they are trying hard to keep up with demand. If multiple competitors are getting all the business they can handle there could be less of a chance for these manufactures to worry about quality control as much as much per component which could escape Apple's quality control in the final product. That's just speculation, but I did replace my iPad 2 because of excessive backlight bleeding.
No, that's what you'd like others to believe I'm saying.
Of course 250 million iOS devices sold shows the incredible success they've had. What my post really says is by making use of the proven "scarcity value" marketing technique, adding to the perceived value so thye have an easier time holding a high premium price on their iPhone line in particular.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
So, sales of iPhone 4 Jan - June 2011 can be explained how? The same way the 3GS had large sales, right?
So, sales of iPhone 4 Jan - June 2011 can be explained how?
Keeping the perception that product is in short supply makes it more in demand. Surely you know that. Tickle me Elmos and Cabbage Patch Dolls back in the day, and more recently Wii's, iPads, XBox Kinect's, etc. all prove the notion that restricting product assists in leading to buyers willing to pay a premium to get it. Standing in lines to get them is a small additional price to pay.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
I think most intelligent buyers, and face it, that is Apples target market, realize that there is an infinite supply but the price is always the same. There are no bargains, no haggling, no wait for it to go on sale that every other vendor resorts to. You want it, you buy it. That is all there is to it. It is hardly ever really sold out. You might have to order online and wait two weeks but intelligent people are usually patient people, even those who insist on waiting in queue at the Apple store.
Would they have sold more actual devices by making them available at every corner store? Probably, but then some buyers might be tempted to delay the purchase if they believe they can pick one up whenever they want to. Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow." Apple, Sony, Lexus, Bose, and other premium vendors understand there's significant value in restricting supply and suppliers.
I shudder to ask if you think this is a display of "logic"...
Instead it's "quick, decide if you're getting it right now. It might not be in stock tomorrow."
Wait, how can they impulse buy it "now" vs. "tomorrow" if Apple is restricting the supply artificially?
Your "argument" makes absolutely no sense whatsoever
Keeping the perception that product is in short supply makes it more in demand. Surely you know that.
Why should we "know that"? Based on what? Meaningless and uniformed internet speculation that has nothing more than quantity of repeat storytelling as it's pedigree?
Tickle me Elmos and Cabbage Patch Dolls back in the day
Both of which were events that happened exactly once - almost as if the manufacturers underestimated supply, ran out, and then compensated the next year.
Wow! Amazing!
Yup, rather than actually sell products to anyone who would buy them, the manufacturers artificially limited them to get the sales... next year? The day after Christmas? Exactly when is the best time to stop artificially constraining supply and actually selling your product to anyone who wants one anyway?
I think most intelligent buyers, and face it, that is Apples target market, realize that there is an infinite supply but the price is always the same. There are no bargains, no haggling, no wait for it to go on sale that every other vendor resorts to. You want it, you buy it. That is all there is to it. It is hardly ever really sold out. You might have to order online and wait two weeks but intelligent people are usually patient people, even those who insist on waiting in queue at the Apple store.
Bingo! Especially the part I bolded.
Again, it really isn't that complicated:
The only marketing strategy Apple needs is to make "insanely great" products!
The rest, as they say, will take care of itself.