Global chip supply constraints are affecting 'everybody but Apple'

Kuyangkoh

applguy said:

Beats said:

larryjw said:

Is Apple the world's number one supplier of anything? 

Most companies survive by mass marketing of cheap stuff, which means they need to have a massive supply of components.

Almost everyone outsells Apple, except in Apple's niche areas. Apple simply doesn't need the massive supply that others do. 

Apple is the main supplier of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches etc. This is why they’re facing monopoly crap. 

Apple is the only supplier of iPhones, iPads, and Apple watches.

Dont forget the fake Apple ones

hexclock

Beats said:

larryjw said:

Is Apple the world's number one supplier of anything? 

Most companies survive by mass marketing of cheap stuff, which means they need to have a massive supply of components.

Almost everyone outsells Apple, except in Apple's niche areas. Apple simply doesn't need the massive supply that others do. 

Apple is the main supplier of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches etc. This is why they’re facing monopoly crap. 

Huh? By that line of reasoning, McDonald’s has a monopoly on Big Macs. 

get serious

JWSC said:

As I’ve said before, this is the power of being able to funnel billions in cash, sometimes years in advance of need dates, to secure future component orders.  Tim Cook or no Tim Cook, not many companies can do this.

I would say that most companies "WILL" do this.
Unlike Apple many companies prioritize stock buybacks and acquisitions over building a cash reserve. Steve, Tim and Apple learned from the dark days of the 1990's that having cash on hand provided amazing opportunities. For many years investors and the Wall Street press whined about Apple's lack of dividends, mergers and repurchases punishing their stock valuation. Now having that war chest enables so much.  Things like helping suppliers tool-up, longer term and more profitable relationships for suppliers are just a couple as well as repurchases and dividends. Todays Apple has grown out of the financial discipline of 1997-2010 and onward.

igorsky

Beats said:

larryjw said:

Is Apple the world's number one supplier of anything? 

Most companies survive by mass marketing of cheap stuff, which means they need to have a massive supply of components.

Almost everyone outsells Apple, except in Apple's niche areas. Apple simply doesn't need the massive supply that others do. 

Apple is the main supplier of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches etc. This is why they’re facing monopoly crap. 

Yep.  Apple is the world's first "monopoly" that doesn't have the lead in market share in any product it sells.

techconc

larryjw said:

Is Apple the world's number one supplier of anything? 

Most companies survive by mass marketing of cheap stuff, which means they need to have a massive supply of components.

Almost everyone outsells Apple, except in Apple's niche areas. Apple simply doesn't need the massive supply that others do. 

What are you talking about?  Exactly the opposite is true.  Apple is sometimes late bringing features to market specifically because they have to make far more of them than any of their competitors.  Let's look at Q4 2020 smartphone sales for example...  
http://https//www.forbes.com/sites/dwightsilverman/2021/02/22/apple-back-on-top-iphone-is-the-bestselling-smartphone-globally-in-q4-2020/?sh=e3d456d4ca7d

Apple shipped 80 million, Samsung shipped 62 million, Xiaomi shipped 43 million, etc.  and it drops off from there.  Apple's numbers are also spread across fewer models. The point being, Apple's supply chain challenges are greater than any of their competitors. 

avon b7

igorsky said:

Beats said:

larryjw said:

Is Apple the world's number one supplier of anything? 

Most companies survive by mass marketing of cheap stuff, which means they need to have a massive supply of components.

Almost everyone outsells Apple, except in Apple's niche areas. Apple simply doesn't need the massive supply that others do. 

Apple is the main supplier of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches etc. This is why they’re facing monopoly crap. 

Yep.  Apple is the world's first "monopoly" that doesn't have the lead in market share in any product it sells.

But Apple isn't alone in the hot water.

Google is being investigated for many of the same (or very similar issues).