Assumption, as I wrote is based on the logic that Apple has not stopped guaranteeing April 3 delivery for iPads but will not guarantee delivery for iPad accessories. 2+2=4.
That has nothing to do with how many extra units will be available in stores, nor has there ever been any indication that Apple is
guaranteeing availability of reservations or that the online system would stop taking reservations once some capacity limit had been reached.
Those are a lot of assumptions, all of them baseless.
I'll say it again... there is not going to be a shortage of iPads on launch day. Apple is going to be well prepared.
And I'll say it again...you have nothing to base that assumption on. There may not be a lot of competition for walk-in units, but there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that there will be mountains of them for walk-in customers.
Where would they put them? 800 iPads take up the space of 3000+ iPhones. Apple stores don't have that kind of room--even just a few hundred iPhones at most locations were piled under the display tables.
You are comparing with the iPhone as-if it's not possible for Apple to make more iPads then iPhones.
It's already certain that they've made more iPads than iPhones at launch.
You keep assuming that because they can meet preorders, there is both the room and the motivation to send mountains of extra stock to stores beyond what was reserved. There will be some additional units for walk-ins, but nobody knows how many. Individual stores don't even know.
What is the point in saying "oh I'm sure there won't be any shortages"? There may well be plenty to go around, but there's an equal chance that there won't be. If you want one on the third, just place a reservation. Don't make a wild assumption that you'll be able to walk into the store and buy one on Saturday.
Mmm, I'd have to strongly disagree here. Just because a person can afford an iPad (or at least has enough available credit on their card) doesn't mean they're all that savvy about online shopping/ordering.
You can place your reservation in-store or by telephone, too. There's no payment involved. Anyone who knows that Saturday is the launch day should also know that reservations are available. Anyone who asks about the iPad now is told the launch date and offered to place a reservation if they want by Apple store employees. I've watched it happen.
Never mind all the people who say they won't buy one until they can play with it in the store. Those people fall into the 'informed' category but also haven't pre-ordered.
And why wouldn't they reserve one? If you go to the store and play with one and don't like it, just walk away. The reservations will be erased at 3:00.
Going around and telling people not to worry because they'll definitely be able to walk in and buy one without huge lines or shortages is a pretty foolish thing to do. I'm not saying they'll sell out in 20 minutes. I'm saying, why take the chance?
