Why are Airpods still so hard to get?

[JoeyD74]

The Airpods are already available in my country. After all this time... However you can only buy from a few people who have managed to find in the U.S. while probably travelling, and I suspect they have brought here without paying import fees, yet they ask for less than Apple in their official (and local) website.

The only online store that was charging similar prices compared to individual sellers has just raised the price of this item in a matter of days, and now it's more expensive than even Apple is selling. Disgusting.

When I see how overpriced this item still is and the scarcity that remains to this date, I can only wonder two things: either it's really hard to manufacture (despite the fact no one has addressed this point) or Apple is adopting this new strategy to increase their profits. Either way, it's a shame they are still asking us to wait 6 weeks until delivery.

I ordered today from one of these sellers, since it's new and sealed. Will see how things go from there.

You keep going on and on about Apples greed to make money, they are selling them for a set price so if a reseller gets them and doubles the price it doesn't go to Apple.

5 times. I cancelled/refunded this thing a total of 5 times in a row for lack of stock and because the seller couldn't ship immediately and couldn't fulfill my order. Some were even ordering more and it would take over 10 days.

And I have to read Apple's minions saying, after almost a year, this isn't the scarcity principle in effect...

Please, God... when are the aliens going to carry me out of here?

Well, I'll have my money back in a few days (again...) and won't bother with these expensive phones anymore (yes, they are expensive for the rest of the world unless you are rich and/or live in the US).

Perhaps 10 years from now there will be enough stock, in the meantime Apple's sycophants that can't even acknowledge this company only cares about making huge profits will probably wake from their comas. And perhaps after all this time they will present some shred of evidence to explain why my "conspiracy theory" has no merit.

The funny thing is that my theory is self-evident as the Sun will rise tomorrow, while their weeping and gnashing of teeth is only that, a futile veneration for a company that couldn't care less about its users.

I just ordered and received a second pair from AT&T, how is it you can't get one pair?

 

[jigzaw]

It does seem bonkers that they announced these things in September and they're still virtually impossible to get. At this point it probably makes more sense to wait for Airpod 2 with volume control (missing that function is potentially a deal-breaker for me, and I hear that Siri gives you a "you must unlock your phone" message so that's useless when not holding the phone).

I don't buy the conspiracy theories. I would think that if they sold more, Apple would make more money. Scalpers don't send their profits to Apple, so I don't understand the "Apple makes more from re-selling" theory.

I'm also impatient and don't feel like signing up for a 6-week shipping wait. Also not super eager to order from AT&T because I like Apple's 2-week no-questions-asked return policy and have always found AT&T extremely difficult to deal with customer-service-wise.

I want to walk into the store, look at them for a few minutes, and if they excite my interest I'll walk out with them. Holding out until that becomes possible. If it isn't possible anytime soon, I'll likely just lose interest and continue to enjoy my current headphones.

 

[biscuit0819]

They're out of stock for 6 weeks over here too. There must be people who have inside knowledge that read this board so what's the issue. QC makes sense but nothing else stacks up.

 

[neuroga]

I didn't even know there was a stock issue. I just bought my pair from abt electronics last night. Didn't have to pay tax and they'll be here by the 26th. Just checked and they're sold out now.

 

[Perene]

I managed to get a pair. Had the patience to try and look for another unit...

Now it's on the way, 100% confirmed. It should arrive in a week or two.

I paid less than what Apple is selling in my country, in their official site, yet I still had to pay import fees that made the whole thing expensive, but it was either that or expect months for the thing to arrive (with no idea if I would be able to fool customs and pay less), and risk buying from eBay or some online store that hasn't the same reputation than BHPhotoVideo, Best Buy, etc.

Pictures from the ad: http://imgur.com/a/bMQ3M

And the tracking number: https://goo.gl/UfCcDL

 

[Shanghaichica]

It's amazing that they still have a 6 week wait time.

Anyhow I got mine in January but I had to buy mine from a third party seller and I paid about £50 more than the price Apple sell them for. However the seller had them in stock and I received them the next day and they were new and sealed. So for me the extra was worth it as it was better than waiting for 6 weeks to get them directly from Apple. I've been very pleased with them. They are excellent.

 

[madeirabhoy]

in portugal they are gold dust and apple portugal won't deliver to the islands. so i had to order 5 weeks ago from worten who said 6 weeks, same as apple. today they phoned me and i was so excited. til they told me they can't get them full stop.

 

[The Game 161]

It's amazing that they still have a 6 week wait time.

Anyhow I got mine in January but I had to buy mine from a third party seller and I paid about £50 more than the price Apple sell them for. However the seller had them in stock and I received them the next day and they were new and sealed. So for me the extra was worth it as it was better than waiting for 6 weeks to get them directly from Apple. I've been very pleased with them. They are excellent.

my mate did the same kind of thing. he went on amazon and paid i think 190 for them.

 

[Charadis]

I'm surprised these are still backorderd on Apple's website and other big name retailers. Even Nintendo's new Switch system is starting to trickle in stock recently despite selling out very quickly.

I waited about a month for my Airpods, ordered February, but I used a visa checkout promo code to take $25 off ($147 after tax in AR) plus got points to help my Best Buy rewards, so the wait was bearable.

I wonder what it will be like this holiday season ...might not be necessary to release Airpods 2 or multicolor options for a while

 

[jackwills]

I'm surprised these are still backorderd on Apple's website and other big name retailers. Even Nintendo's new Switch system is starting to trickle in stock recently despite selling out very quickly.

I waited about a month for my Airpods, ordered February, but I used a visa checkout promo code to take $25 off ($147 after tax in AR) plus got points to help my Best Buy rewards, so the wait was bearable.

I wonder what it will be like this holiday season ...might not be necessary to release Airpods 2 or multicolor options for a while

Do you like it?
[doublepost=1493476116][/doublepost]Was going to buy the Airpods but weeks after weeks of wait they were never in stock, went for the beats X

 

[puckhead193]

Do you like it?
[doublepost=1493476116][/doublepost]Was going to buy the Airpods but weeks after weeks of wait they were never in stock, went for the beats X

I was on the fence about them. I signed up for the istock notification emails. A few days later I got an email. so I pick them up. Needless to say I love them. While sound is subjective, they sound fine for today's pop style music. There so simple to use good battery life. My only complaint that I don't like is that you can't change tracks or volume, you neither need your apple watch or phone.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Hopefully gen 2 is announced in September, released in October. I'm really waiting for a sleeker design and meaningful sound improvements which may not come till gen 3.

 

[bthompson]

Ordered mine through att on Thursday morning, arrived Saturday morning. Pretty shocked!

 

[Recognition]

I just signed up on istocknow, got an email early one Wednesday morning, ordered online, picked them up on the Friday.
Very easy. No stress!

 

[Gav2k]

Do your costco stores not stock them. Over here every costco has stock with regular top ups

 

[slingshott]

It's pretty obvious that Apple dropped the ball with these and WAY underestimated demand. Considering they did the same thing with the 7 Plus I'm sure whoever does their projections will be getting called into Timothy's office for a little sit down at some point.

 

[janeauburn]

June 17, 2017, and there's a 1.5 month wait time to get these! LOL! Apple are idiots.

 

[MICHAELSD]

June 17, 2017, and there's a 1.5 month wait time to get these! LOL! Apple are idiots.

The constrained supply is actually increasing demand. If they were just readily-available $159 wireless EarPods then they wouldn't be as hot. But since they're so difficult to get they become rare and desirable. Apple is genius...

 

[janeauburn]

The constrained supply is actually increasing demand. If they were just readily-available $159 wireless EarPods then they wouldn't be as hot. But since they're so difficult to get they become rare and desirable. Apple is genius...

Haha. Screw that. I canceled my order. I ain't waiting. Today they coulda had my money. Tomorrow, who knows?

Apple is dumb.

 

[AZhappyjack]

June 17, 2017, and there's a 1.5 month wait time to get these! LOL! Apple are idiots.

Haha. Screw that. I canceled my order. I ain't waiting. Today they coulda had my money. Tomorrow, who knows?

Apple is dumb.

Clearly Apple is worried about losing a sale...

You don't get your way so "Apple are idiots" and "Apple is dumb".


#rollTide

 

[MICHAELSD]

The funny part is if all the people complaining about waiting ordered AirPods when they went up for sale they'd all have them...

 

[fyun89]

Pay attention to other stores like BestBuy and Target. They seem to receive separate shipment.

I think this is a smart marketing by Apple. When they ship them to these third party store, they make buzz and give more people some hope of "cut-in-the-line" purchase.

 

[democracyrules]

Clearly Apple is worried about losing a sale...

You don't get your way so "Apple are idiots" and "Apple is dumb".


#rollTide

The above comment is absolutely true sadly the type of attitude is current trend

 

[Cryates]

People whining on a forum about having to wait an extended period of time for a pair of earbuds is truly first world problems. Imagine if these same people had actual problems in life.

 

[puckhead193]

I think the problem was when they were announced, there were a lot of haters (myself included) didn't like/understand them, thought they looked dumb etc. But as people started to get them and share them with the friends they understand them more.
At first I didn't like them but now they are my go to headphones for everyday life. I signed up for the istock notifications found a pair within a week and figured I would try them out. If I didn't like them I could sell them or return them. Since then I haven't put them down.