If i ran a company trying to sell other tablets I think my head would explode to read how anxious people are to get their hands on an iPad. Granted this forum leans that way anyway but they aren't handing out tickets for android tablets.
While I *sorta* feel sorry for people who ordered an iPad2 and have to wait while some people can just walk into a Radio Shack and pick one up, I suspect that Apple has learned a big lesson with the AT&T exclusive contract for the iPhone; they gave Google/Android an incredible opening by sticking with AT&T for so long. Now it appears that Apple is sewing up all the distribution points as quickly as possible so that the competition won't have an advantage anywhere.
If you're a total fanboi, you should appreciate this even if it means waiting a few extra weeks for your iPad 2. Some of the other tablets are starting to appear now and if Apple is present *everywhere* before they even arrive, they (other tabs) are going to get buried.
Of course, if you're a true fanboi, you've either already got an iPad 2 so it doesn't hurt to wait another couple of weeks, or you put off buying until the iPad 2 to give time for Apple to "get it right" (in which case you've waited a year, what's another couple of weeks?).
Me? I plan on getting an iPad 2 with the iPhone 5 comes out and everyone's attention is diverted elsewhere :-)
If Apple doesn't do this, then retailers get upset. That is why Cosco jumped ship. Apple gave product to companies like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart way before it. Further, Apple may have been contractually obligated to do so.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeepBlue2
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
Last week was spring break for the University of Cincinnati and my wife went to the UC bookstore over lunch on Friday and picked up her iPad2, no problem.
The local Cincy Apple Store is still having lines and selling out before day's end. Anyone in a college town might want to try the same thing if it's spring break. Just a thought.
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freshmaker
Yeah, it does seem kinda silly. Why bother expanding distribution when you can't keep your current stores stocked? I don't get it. That said, it does seem like they are finally ramping up production a bit. I ordered mine on launch day, March 11th, and was told it would ship on April 1st. Got an email on the 26th saying it had been shipped, so it went out a week early. I agree with others in this thread though - they need to fill the orders they have in hand before expanding to new stores.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joebloggs
I agree. I've supported Apple so far through this. But this new move is crazy. Apple should fulfill the orders it has before shipping thousands of units to new suppliers.
Not picking on you 3 in particular...
You need to understand that an agreement for a retailer like Radio Shack to sell a product from a Manufacturer requires a contract and negations.
--Apple agrees to supply product at certain initial, then restocking levels,
--Radio Shack agrees to purchase given minimum quantities per month,
--There are a lot of additional details re: pricing, marketing, support, returns, etc.
A contract like this is negotiated months in advance -- and requires each party to make a best effort to fulfill their commitments.
So, in its iPad 2 inventory planning and ramp up, there was, likely, a percentage of product supply allocated to:
--US Apple Online Store
--US Apple Retail Stores
--US First Wave 3rd-Party retailers - BestBuy, Wal-Mart and Target
--First Wave Foreign Apple Online Store
--First Wave Foreign Apple Retail Stores
--First Wave Foreign First Wave 3rd-Party retailers
--US Second Wave 3rd-Party retailers - Radio Shack (and others)
*
*
*
This is a complex issue dealing with unknown demand, limited supply and many different different sales and distribution channels.
I think that Apple is trying to establish broad 3rd-party retail points for the iPad -- and rightly so!
To do this properly, Apple cannot blatantly favor its own online or retail stores.
None at my local retailer. There are no Apple stores in my state so they use other retail outlets. The local one told me on more than one occasion that Apple never ships new products to them for their launches. Apple always holds back for weeks or even a month. This isn't fair to their loyal retailers who set up large display areas for Apple products.
Adding Radio Shack as a distributor is a good idea for Apple but it takes sales away from the other computer retailers who have salespeople with at least some training regarding the products. I don't see the incentive for my local store to continue representing Apple when they are treated that way.
Apple opened up sales at the local Wal-Mart long ago for iPods. Now they sell iPads too. Will Wal-Mart start selling Mac Books? They already sell HP, Dell, and other brands of computers.
I want to buy an iPad but I can't wait weeks to get one because I need to sell my laptop to get the money. I can't go weeks without a portable device with a screen because I use it to make presentations. By the time iPads are readily available I might change my mind about buying one.
I can understand the frustration of the early buyers who haven't received their product. The whole scalping thing is also unfair to users. Apple needs better management people when it comes to estimating product demands. They'll loose sales due to this problem.
My sympathies to all those who (like me) have not yet been able to snag an iPad 2 locally.
And yes, perhaps, distributing them now through RS will end up even further diluting the supply available at other locations. Still I think this is a smart move on Apple's part. The amount of inventory available to potential consumers will not be affected but the iPad 2 will be put in front of even more pairs of eyeballs. Now this may hardly seem necessary at this point, given all the publicity it has already received and the fact that demand is currently far outstripping supply. But there remains the inherent pitfall of Apple falling victim to its own success, in that the term iPad itself could become genericized in the popular imagination. Should less savvy consumers then innocently wander into an electronics outlet and be presented with a Galaxy Tab or a Zoom or whatever, without the genuine article readily at hand, they might be misled into an unfortunate purchase. But as long as Apple's product is at least on display, even if not in stock, few will be so easily hoodwinked. Because even without being powered up, the iPad 2 is just so much darn sexier than all the rest. MNSHO
If I can get one there tomorrow, I obviously will, and I'll just cancel my online order with Apple. I don't care where I buy my iPad as long as I can get one and as long as it's not from a dirty scalper.
If you do get one there don't cancel your order from Apple you could sell it for more ... oh wait a minute ...
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
<snip>
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
While I agree that this news would be disheartening to people waiting for online orders placed a week ago, I think this should be good news for those annoyed with scalpers. Spreading the inventory thin makes it harder for them to be where the iPad is in stock--more regular customers will have access as a result...
You need to understand that an agreement for a retailer like Radio Shack to sell a product from a Manufacturer requires a contract and negations....... A contract like this is negotiated months in advance -- and requires each party to make a best effort to fulfill their commitments.
....This is a complex issue dealing with unknown demand, limited supply and many different different sales and distribution channels.
If you do get one there don't cancel your order from Apple you could sell it for more ... oh wait a minute ...
I see where you're going with that.
There is no chance of me ever becoming a scalper, I am a decent person. If I had an extra iPad, I would sell it to a friend, and not for one penny more than it cost me.
I would have no problems with scalping to a scalper though. If they were literally dying from starvation, I would not have any problems with charging them $1,000 for a piece of bread.
Apple ][ I have to ask ... what is dish network protecting folks from?
I'm not entirely sure, perhaps cable companies?
The original article can be found here:
A Radio Shack store in Hamilton, Montana is offering a different kind of promotion. Anyone who buys a Dish Network satellite system from them will be eligible to get a free gun. No, it?s not a video game gun for Wii or the PS3, this is a real gun. The promotion offers the buyers either a 20-gauge shotgun or a Hi Point 380 pistol.
Does anyone know the supply situation in the countries that started selling the iPad last friday? I haven't seen any updates! Did they sell out instantly like in the USA? Are they getting resupplied if so?
I agree about it being a killer app, Note taker is really nice and with a stylus I think it will be even better, the most useful feature I have been using is importing PDF's into it and using the PDF as a background and filling in forms. I use Evernote to act as central location for all my docs so I can edit and view them on any computer then in conjunction with NoteTaker on Ipad when with customers, I can write by hand on top of the PDf's or use the typing mode for even more precise and legible entry. All Note Taker needs now is copy and paste and it will be complete. My clients are really impressed and it saves me having to manually type my notes and forms into my computer at home , saving me valuable time. All this for $5 app amazing. I should be getting a finder's fee from apple for selling my clients on the Ipad!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum
Thanks for the heads up on Note Taker. I just bought it for our 6 iPads -- 1 each plus 1 (call me DaHarder 2).
It looks awesome!
I owned some some computer stores (1978-89). My partner beta tested VisiCalc. He was an expert by the time it was released.
AIR, it sold for $79 (or $99) -- at the time, most Apple ][ software sold for $9.99 - $19-99.
A customer would by several thousands of $ worth of hardware to be able to run the $79 VisiCalc program.
We made lots of $ because of VisiCalc.
Looks like Note Taker could be a similar driver for iPad use/sales.
I called a Radio Shack in NYC and they said they will be getting 1 Ipad 2. It will be a WIFI only model. Whats the point of putting it in the store, if only 1 will be available? I literally live around the corner from the store but what if they have a 64gb Black wifi one? It's a total crap shoot....ugh
Comments
Shortages will ease soon I think. Probably
If you're a total fanboi, you should appreciate this even if it means waiting a few extra weeks for your iPad 2. Some of the other tablets are starting to appear now and if Apple is present *everywhere* before they even arrive, they (other tabs) are going to get buried.
Of course, if you're a true fanboi, you've either already got an iPad 2 so it doesn't hurt to wait another couple of weeks, or you put off buying until the iPad 2 to give time for Apple to "get it right" (in which case you've waited a year, what's another couple of weeks?).
Me? I plan on getting an iPad 2 with the iPhone 5 comes out and everyone's attention is diverted elsewhere :-)
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
The local Cincy Apple Store is still having lines and selling out before day's end. Anyone in a college town might want to try the same thing if it's spring break. Just a thought.
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
Yeah, it does seem kinda silly. Why bother expanding distribution when you can't keep your current stores stocked? I don't get it. That said, it does seem like they are finally ramping up production a bit. I ordered mine on launch day, March 11th, and was told it would ship on April 1st. Got an email on the 26th saying it had been shipped, so it went out a week early. I agree with others in this thread though - they need to fill the orders they have in hand before expanding to new stores.
I agree. I've supported Apple so far through this. But this new move is crazy. Apple should fulfill the orders it has before shipping thousands of units to new suppliers.
Not picking on you 3 in particular...
You need to understand that an agreement for a retailer like Radio Shack to sell a product from a Manufacturer requires a contract and negations.
--Apple agrees to supply product at certain initial, then restocking levels,
--Radio Shack agrees to purchase given minimum quantities per month,
--There are a lot of additional details re: pricing, marketing, support, returns, etc.
A contract like this is negotiated months in advance -- and requires each party to make a best effort to fulfill their commitments.
So, in its iPad 2 inventory planning and ramp up, there was, likely, a percentage of product supply allocated to:
--US Apple Online Store
--US Apple Retail Stores
--US First Wave 3rd-Party retailers - BestBuy, Wal-Mart and Target
--First Wave Foreign Apple Online Store
--First Wave Foreign Apple Retail Stores
--First Wave Foreign First Wave 3rd-Party retailers
--US Second Wave 3rd-Party retailers - Radio Shack (and others)
*
*
*
This is a complex issue dealing with unknown demand, limited supply and many different different sales and distribution channels.
I think that Apple is trying to establish broad 3rd-party retail points for the iPad -- and rightly so!
To do this properly, Apple cannot blatantly favor its own online or retail stores.
Adding Radio Shack as a distributor is a good idea for Apple but it takes sales away from the other computer retailers who have salespeople with at least some training regarding the products. I don't see the incentive for my local store to continue representing Apple when they are treated that way.
Apple opened up sales at the local Wal-Mart long ago for iPods. Now they sell iPads too. Will Wal-Mart start selling Mac Books? They already sell HP, Dell, and other brands of computers.
I want to buy an iPad but I can't wait weeks to get one because I need to sell my laptop to get the money. I can't go weeks without a portable device with a screen because I use it to make presentations. By the time iPads are readily available I might change my mind about buying one.
I can understand the frustration of the early buyers who haven't received their product. The whole scalping thing is also unfair to users. Apple needs better management people when it comes to estimating product demands. They'll loose sales due to this problem.
And yes, perhaps, distributing them now through RS will end up even further diluting the supply available at other locations. Still I think this is a smart move on Apple's part. The amount of inventory available to potential consumers will not be affected but the iPad 2 will be put in front of even more pairs of eyeballs. Now this may hardly seem necessary at this point, given all the publicity it has already received and the fact that demand is currently far outstripping supply. But there remains the inherent pitfall of Apple falling victim to its own success, in that the term iPad itself could become genericized in the popular imagination. Should less savvy consumers then innocently wander into an electronics outlet and be presented with a Galaxy Tab or a Zoom or whatever, without the genuine article readily at hand, they might be misled into an unfortunate purchase. But as long as Apple's product is at least on display, even if not in stock, few will be so easily hoodwinked. Because even without being powered up, the iPad 2 is just so much darn sexier than all the rest. MNSHO
There's a small Radio Shack real close by me.
If I can get one there tomorrow, I obviously will, and I'll just cancel my online order with Apple. I don't care where I buy my iPad as long as I can get one and as long as it's not from a dirty scalper.
If you do get one there don't cancel your order from Apple you could sell it for more ... oh wait a minute ...
Still waiting for mine...
You and me both ;-)
+1 - ordered mine a couple of weeks ago and it's still listed as 3 weeks off (April 20).
Just got mine!!!!!!!
Sorry.....
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
<snip>
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
While I agree that this news would be disheartening to people waiting for online orders placed a week ago, I think this should be good news for those annoyed with scalpers. Spreading the inventory thin makes it harder for them to be where the iPad is in stock--more regular customers will have access as a result...
...
You need to understand that an agreement for a retailer like Radio Shack to sell a product from a Manufacturer requires a contract and negations....... A contract like this is negotiated months in advance -- and requires each party to make a best effort to fulfill their commitments.
....This is a complex issue dealing with unknown demand, limited supply and many different different sales and distribution channels.
Exactly.
If you do get one there don't cancel your order from Apple you could sell it for more ... oh wait a minute ...
If you do get one there don't cancel your order from Apple you could sell it for more ... oh wait a minute ...
I see where you're going with that.
There is no chance of me ever becoming a scalper, I am a decent person. If I had an extra iPad, I would sell it to a friend, and not for one penny more than it cost me.
I would have no problems with scalping to a scalper though. If they were literally dying from starvation, I would not have any problems with charging them $1,000 for a piece of bread.
Apple ][ I have to ask ... what is dish network protecting folks from?
I'm not entirely sure, perhaps cable companies?
The original article can be found here:
A Radio Shack store in Hamilton, Montana is offering a different kind of promotion. Anyone who buys a Dish Network satellite system from them will be eligible to get a free gun. No, it?s not a video game gun for Wii or the PS3, this is a real gun. The promotion offers the buyers either a 20-gauge shotgun or a Hi Point 380 pistol.
http://www.slashgear.com/montana-rad...hase-28142874/
I am curious, but haven't heard any word...
Thanks for the heads up on Note Taker. I just bought it for our 6 iPads -- 1 each plus 1 (call me DaHarder 2).
It looks awesome!
I owned some some computer stores (1978-89). My partner beta tested VisiCalc. He was an expert by the time it was released.
AIR, it sold for $79 (or $99) -- at the time, most Apple ][ software sold for $9.99 - $19-99.
A customer would by several thousands of $ worth of hardware to be able to run the $79 VisiCalc program.
We made lots of $ because of VisiCalc.
Looks like Note Taker could be a similar driver for iPad use/sales.
/