Apple Losing out on Impulse Sales

[diabolic]

is 1 millions iPad a lot? how it is compare to netbook?

Yes it is. If you compare the initial sales of the iPad, the first tablet to "catch on," with those of the Eee PC, the first netbook to "catch on," the Eee PC took 3 times longer to hit a million sales, even with a cheaper product.

The US launch of the iPad can't be considered anything but successful.

 

[Rm.237]

The bigger question is, if you're unemployed, why would you ever want to buy something you don't need? Maybe the inability to make an impulse purchase is doing you a great favor.

Not buying this one bit. Maybe if you were referencing a gaming only device or something of the sort. The iPad on the other hand has plenty of uses that can organize and simplify your life. Money well spent if you ask me.

 

[hugodrax]

I would be more worried about finding work than about spending more on luxury goods. Which the iPad falls under that category.

 

[Zepaw]

If anything there are losing out from case sales. They can sell as many as they can make because of damn resellers. I made the impulse decision to buy one yesterday, too bad I can't! No apple store in the state (which are all reasonably close) has any. It may be $40 compared to the $500+ but they could obviously be selling a lot more than they are if they had them.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I know they are doing the "Nintendo Wii" thing or any other "in short supply" thing, but I really want it right now. As I sit here tomorrow in my "right mind" I'm going to reconsider, but why not make it more accessible to everyone and make the money. And... Yes, I do own stock in Apple and am kind of upset that I can not add to the stock price, however small it may be.

Really? You know they are doing the "Nintendo Wii" thing? You mean you have SJ's playbook? Watch out. You see what happened to Jason Chen's home when he had Apple info he wasn't suppose to have.

You do realize you are contradicting yourself, right? First you imply Apple is intentionally short producing iPads to create artificial demand. Then in the next breath you say you want one NOW! Is your demand fake or real?

Do you really think Apple doesn't realize it can't make money on what it cannot put in a customer's hand; that excited customers might spend their money on something else before the next batch of iPads arrives? I know it's conventional wisdom to think businesses can create demand by shorting a product, but in the history of business, that has never been a viable plan. Sounds great on paper. Doesn't work in real life. Apple is cranking iPads out as fast as it can.

The delay may be demand, it may be a parts shortage. I seriously doubt is a marketing plan.

 

[traylorc]

I know they are doing the "Nintendo Wii" thing or any other "in short supply" thing, but I really want it right now.

Why would Apple need to employ such a marketing strategy? Demand for the ipad is already at a fevered pitch, Apple just announced yesterday they have already sold 1 million units in about half the time it took to sell a comparable number of iphones. There is no need to manufacture shortages.

You know not every manufacturing shortage is the byproduct of some sort of conspiracy theory. Sometimes demand outstrips supply, and manufacturers have difficulties keeping up with orders...even Apple. Just think about the manufacturing process...Apple is dependent on a variety of vendors/suppliers to parts to make ipad. If anyone of those vendors has difficulties (can't secure raw materials, equipment/assembly issues, etc...) then it impacts the completion of ipad units.

I don't think Apple is manufacturing shortages, they would love to say we sold just sold 1.5 million units rather than 1 million units. That would really ramp up demand because consumers read those press clippings and think "everyone is buying an ipad....maybe I better check it out". I would also mention the more units Apple sells the more it benefits their stock price.

 

[r0k]

I would be more worried about finding work than about spending more on luxury goods. Which the iPad falls under that category.

I agree. Job first. Ipad later. Unless... You don't have many expenses and have enough money on hand. Even then, a netbook might be a better value in your situation as many of the tasks involved in finding a job involve the ability to work with files like creating and posting a resume and while the iPad can be forced to do something like this, it's not the most efficient tool. If the real reason you want an iPad is for "fun" or to "kill time", there is a more fundamental question you need to ask yourself about motivation and focus that are needed to find and keep a job.

As for Apple creating the impression of a shortage, I don't think so. They are motivated to get as many of these things in users' hands as quickly as possible. Remember it's not only the iPad sale that makes money for Apple. Ipads sitting in a "secret warehouse" are not being used to download apps or buy music and books.

 

[qtx43]

I'm surprised that after the ridiculous unexpected sales numbers the Wii posted, that people still think it was an evil ploy. ...

It's not the initial ramp up, it's the fact that it was almost 3 years before I actually saw one (a Wii) in a store. I refuse to buy from resellers on general principle. While I didn't try extremely hard to find one, I did try more than it was worth. Now, I'm no longer interested. Not that it's an evil ploy, just corporate stupidity. But I can see how conspiracy theory kind of people will think it was an evil marketing trick. Apple will be better at predicting future demand, but yes, initial ramp up is always a guess.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Not buying this one bit. Maybe if you were referencing a gaming only device or something of the sort. The iPad on the other hand has plenty of uses that can organize and simplify your life. Money well spent if you ask me.

That's handy, because I'm not selling it.

 

[MikhailT]

Why would the fact that they have sold a million mean they aren't missing out on sales?

Anytime you have a popular product, and not enough inventory, you are going to miss out on sales... how many you have sold has nothing to do with that.
.....

It was stated with a bit of sarcastic tone.

 

[shen]

So... I'm not going to lie. I'm a wee bit intoxicated right now.

so to sum up....

Apple is losing out on $800 impulse sales to drunken unemployed people.

I imagine they will take that into consideration for future marketing purposes.

 

[Liam8]

It's true Apple should know by know everybody wants their new products (at least i do ), they should have enough iPads for everyone.

 

[wvuwhat]

Was able to pick one up at the Reston Apple Store today, loving it. Even made the decision to purchase it while I was sober...

 

[gtsipad]

They are definitely loosing out on the impulse buys in the UK. A month ago I was talking to two of my friends and both were pretty convinced they were gonna get iPads. Talking to them both again a month later both are now much more uncertain. Giving people more time to think about a device they dont really need will mean they are gonna loose sales.

That may be true for your friends right now...but i'll bet that once they get their hands on one, the credit cards will be jumping out of their wallets.