It's the Weekend, Can You Get iPhone 3G?
News Analysis. In many locations, chances are better than they were on Tuesday. |
Many of the states with sold-out stores on Tuesday have phones today, which shows that Apple is getting out inventory where it's needed. I had expected Apple to just favor stores in high-traffic metropolitan areas. Instead, the company is moving inventory to where it's needed.
For example, no Apple stores in Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington or Wisconsin had phones for sale three days ago. Today, iPhone 3Gs can be bought in some stores in these states. Apple also has iPhone 3Gs available from company stores in more states. Today, iPhone is sold out in 11 states compared to 21 on Tuesday (I had previously said 20, but overlooked Oklahoma). Apple has stores in 38 states.
By my count, as of store openings today, the iPhone 3G is sold out in 114 of Apple's 188 stores. The number sold out on Tuesday: 117. The company is managing inventory pretty well, but the weekend ahead looks ugly. Many buyers who waited a week will be looking for phones and short lines.
On Wednesday afternoon, I stood in line at San Diego's Fashion Valley Apple Store for more than two hours to get a white iPhone for my daughter; white was the only model available. That store is sold out of iPhones today. Lines have been longer at Apple Store UTC, in La Jolla, with wait times on Wednesday ranging from three to five hours. The store has limited availability today. Lines could be ugly with the other San Diego area store sold out.
Here's iPhone 3G availability as checked at 10:45 a.m. ET using Apple's online utility (Apple updates at 9 p.m. local time the previous day, so many Eastern locations with limited supply may already be sold out as of this posting):
Alabama: sold out.
Arizona: sold out two locations, limited availability in two stores.
California: sold out in 20 locations, limited availability in 15 stores.
Colorado: sold out four locations, but 8GB, Littleton.
Connecticut: sold out one location, limited availability in two stores.
Delaware: sold out.
Florida: sold out nine stores, limited availability in five locations.
Georgia: sold out two locations, and limited availability two other stores.
Hawaii: sold out.
Illinois: sold out four locations, limited availability in two stores and all models in Chicago and Oakbrook.
Indiana: limited availability in the one store.
Iowa: sold out.
Kansas: sold out.
Kentucky: all models in the one store.
Louisiana: sold out.
Maryland: sold out three locations, limited availability two stores.
Massachusetts: sold out six locations, limited availability Cambridge and all models at Braintree and Peabody stores.
Michigan: sold out three stores and limited availability at two other locations.
Minnesota: sold out one store and limited availability three others.
Missouri: sold out.
Nebraska: sold out.
Nevada: sold out in Reno and limited availability in Las Vegas stores.
New Hampshire: limited availability in the one store.
New Jersey: sold out eight locations, but limited availability in two stores.
New Mexico: limited availability in the one store.
New York: sold out six locations, all models in five other locations and limited availability in two others.
North Carolina: sold out one location, all models in Durham and limited availability in Charlotte.
Ohio: sold out one location, limited availability in two other stores.
Oklahoma sold out one location, limited availability in one other store.
Oregon: sold out.
Pennsylvania: sold out three locations, all models in two other stores.
Rhode Island: sold out.
Tennessee: sold out two locations, all models in one other store.
Texas: sold out 11 locations, limited availability in three stores.
Utah: sold out.
Virginia: sold out five stores, limited availability in one other location.
Washington: sold out three locations, limited availability in one other store.
Wisconsin: sold out one store, limited availability in other store.
Comments (4)
Stores appear to be receiving iPhone inventory continuously. The last two times I checked the local store, which was listed in the online utility as being out of stock, there were a few iPhones available. In one case, my wife was told that the phones had arrived earlier that day.
Posted by skips | July 18, 2008 2:29 PM
Joe, any idea whether the "restocking" of iPhones this week is still using the "1 million iPhones" Jobs mentioned on Monday? In other words, when he claimed 1 million sold, was he including stock still in the channel, and being distributed this week?
Posted by AAPLWatcher | July 18, 2008 2:45 PM
I went to my local AT&T store on Sunday and order an iPhone. Called the store an hour ago to see if they knew when they were going to get them in. They said that they have no idea and my guess was as good as hers
Posted by joelc | July 18, 2008 2:53 PM
The ATT stores are doing direct fulfil. I went on the 11th at noon. they were sold out, and said just do a direct fulfil and you will be called when yours comes in. 5 business days later they called, I came in and activated my phone. no line no wait. ATT said they are doing this approach so you dont have to go all over town and wait in lines. very simple and easy.
Posted by chris | July 21, 2008 12:32 PM