AirPods now shipping post-Christmas from Apple, many other online retailers
In the U.S., at least, AT&T may be the best bet to score AirPods online before Christmas, as Apple and a number of other vendors are now listing post-Christmas dates for shipping.
Apple is quoting delivery and pickup dates no sooner than Jan. 5, while Best Buy is saying Jan. 4, and Verizon's earliest date is Dec. 29. Sprint and B&H Photo are simply sold out.
AT&T appears to have some stock left with two-day shipping. A few Amazon partners are offering used AirPods, but also at marked-up prices.
Apple has long had trouble keeping up with demand for AirPods, often taking weeks to ship. Availability has improved significantly within the past few months, thanks to increased production by Apple, but the holiday crush is presumably taking its toll.
With the exception of Amazon, all of the above vendors may potentially have units in stock at their physical outlets, varying from location to location. That inventory is likely in short supply.
Apple is quoting delivery and pickup dates no sooner than Jan. 5, while Best Buy is saying Jan. 4, and Verizon's earliest date is Dec. 29. Sprint and B&H Photo are simply sold out.
AT&T appears to have some stock left with two-day shipping. A few Amazon partners are offering used AirPods, but also at marked-up prices.
Apple has long had trouble keeping up with demand for AirPods, often taking weeks to ship. Availability has improved significantly within the past few months, thanks to increased production by Apple, but the holiday crush is presumably taking its toll.
With the exception of Amazon, all of the above vendors may potentially have units in stock at their physical outlets, varying from location to location. That inventory is likely in short supply.
Comments
However, don't hold your breathe on speed. Ours went from Shanghai, to Memphis (Fed BarX) where live, to Japan, to Memphis. NOT fast---3 days projected and 10 days or more to deliver.
FedEx stinks-----but this time they did not destroy the package as they usually do.
No rational person would use Fed Barf unless they were making bread and needed to have it kneaded. Or perhaps a steel mill is short of cold rolling capacity.
Best Apple product...EVER.
I did have to exchange my first pair, though, due to a very faint electrical "pop" every several seconds during periods of silence on my iPhone, iPad, iMac, and MacBook Pro. The replacement pair does the same thing, but not quite as bad.
Personally though, never had a problem FedEx.
2) It reminds me of South Park characters making fun of their teacher's name by calling her Miss MakesMeSick, Miss ChokesOnRocks, etc. without ever realizing her actual name, Diane Choksondik, is already better than they could imagine.
I've also noticed them in a few other retailers, often in large quantities. Of course, the ones I'm seeing on shelves are already in the channel, orders are coming from the factory, so it might be they've pushed them through to retailers by preference.
Geeze, you have my credit card, put me in a queue and send me some when they come in! Anyway I'd have long forgotten about that $16 by now if I'd just ordered from Apple.
I want a pair for my girlfriend and a second pair for me (one for home, one for travel). I'll check with Apple with I visit, but I won't count on getting any soon.
I'll admit it's not a strong stock indication, but that there is one set there does suggest the whole sell out thing is more hype than reality.