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Apple’s iPad 2 Early Store Openings a Bust

By | March 15, 2011 | 9 comments
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Were you one of the many people that got up early this morning and stood in line at your local Apple store in hopes of getting an iPad 2? If you were, you probably found out it was a complete waste of time.

Word spread like wild fire across the web yesterday that select Apple Stores were planning to open their doors earlier than normal today. Apple store employees let customers know that they were opening some stores earlier than normal on Tuesday to accommodate customers wanting to buy an iPad 2. Only problem, inventory was once again way short of demand.

The PadGadget team visited local Apple Stores this morning at 8:00 AM and found some people had been in lines for at least an hour. Once 9:00 AM rolled around, the lines had grown to over 100 -150 people. Shortly after 9:00, Apple Store employees informed those waiting in line that FedEx had arrived but only delivered a meager 15 – 30 units. Clearly the news was a huge disappointment for hopeful customers who had been standing in line for over two hours. We’ve heard from readers that this same scenario played out across the country.

Most people speculated Apple was opening early because stores were receiving larger iPad 2 shipments to make up for low quantities during opening weekend. We heard many frustrated customers complain that they had been told by Apple employees yesterday they were expecting a large shipment and they should come back today to pick one up.

Apple needs to quickly address not only their supply chain issues at the root of iPad 2 shortages but also the way in which they communicate availability to potential customers. Setting expectations by opening stores an hour early only to find the store received 20 units is unacceptable for a company who prides itself on customer service and satisfaction.

During last year’s launch, Apple had an in-store preorder system in place that allowed customers to place their name on a list and then be notified once inventory had arrived and their unit was available. This simple system allowed customers to avoid standing in line for hours on end, only to then find out they had just sold out.

The people we spoke with this morning said this was not their first time waiting in line to get an iPad 2 and most doubted they would be returning to an Apple Stor any time soon. Customers were clearly frustrated with the lack of information coming from Apple Store employees, who supposedly have no idea when, what or how many iPad 2s they might get. Online ordering is only marginally better as shipping times continue to grow, with Apple’s Online Store now showing at 4-5 weeks waiting period.

Apple needs to get the iPad 2 inventory issues worked out quickly before potential iPad 2 customers start waiting in line for an iPad alternative.

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About Bill: Contact me via Twitter: @PadGadgetBill

  • John

    Experienced this very thing today in las Vegas. Was told iPads were coming to store and I needed to arrive early. 1 to 2 hours prior to store opening.

    After 1 hour, Joe apple employee came out and said delivery was here but no iPads arrived.

    Seriously thinking about skipping iPad 2 and just keep on using my iPad that I’m am using this very moment to type this.

  • Nani

    This is disappointing. This lack of information from Apple might help up to a point in building up the curiosity. But now, it has crossed that fine line.

    • Raul

      I do think it is time for Apple to give us some concrete information rather than leaving customers speculating.

  • Wayne Braun

    Ok – I’m tired of waiting and will probably just go buy an alternative – maybe one with a flash on the camera and one that can display flash content.

  • AlfieJr

    boy is this dumb. i can’t have my instant gratification! i can’t wait!! you promised!!! (actually, Apple didn’t) it’s your fault i feel bad!!!! waaaaaah!!!!!

    what crybabies. spoiled kids. if it is worth buying, then it’s worth waiting a month for. suck it up.

  • XAppleRetail

    I worked the floor in Apple retail for three years. While I can’t explain what happened today, I can assure you that retail employees, even the managers, find out what is being delivered to the store when it comes off the truck. No exceptions, and no “supposedly.”

    I speculate that this is to avoid souring sales of near end-of-life products in the days leading up to announcements. If no one knows at the retail level, all the better for sales. I can also add that around 1980 I was working for a retail Apple reseller, and I felt awful selling customers Apple ][+ computers knowing that the Apple //e was coming out in a few days.

    Having said all that, I really wish Apple would re-introduce the store-by-store inventory page they had on the web during the iPhone shortages. I know it would give the Apple Specialists more time to spend with customers who come into the store, and it would help customers like me, who want to buy an iPad2, to find them.

  • Mary C

    Hmm iPhone 4 with antenna screw up with a bumper as a consolation.

    A big hoopla of announcement about a iPad 2 yet no low stock in hand.

    Only to be informed of an early store opening resulting in people waiting in line once again and walking away empty handed.

    IPad alternative us my future. Poor apple I think they really tarnished their brand this time.

  • Jeff

    I read all the forums Monday night about Tuesday morning. I called my local apple store ad they confirmed opening at 9am but mentioned they had no stock. I went anyway at around 7:30 am. At 8 the manager asked us what we were doing, we asked him if he read the Internet? Then he told us he had no iPads to sell and advised us to leave but said he couldn’t make us and to form a line. He came out multiple times advising us to abandon hope and that there was no shipment. When we true to find out if he receive a shipment at all, even one with no iPads he hagan to ignore us and I felt he was being very rude and limited on the information that could have save us alot of time. At around noon the regional manager came out and told us all that if she received shipment rosy she wouldn’t sell it till Tommorow. The other guy new that and would not confirm with us. We could have left hours earlier. However the regional manager suggested we line up at 9am the next day the 16th. The first 6 people in line (which included me) discussed what we would do and 4 of us agreed to meet at 7 the next day.

    I was second in line at 7am and all 4 of us had met up again, being first. We then all noticed collectively that the sign had changed from ipad2 currently out of stock please ask a sales associate for assistance to limited quantities available on a first come first serve basis beginning at 9am. We then asked the guy at the front door and he was closed liped at first but after a while the 4 of us got little tidbits that we put together to confirm that they had only received 5 16gb black wifi and 5 64gb black Verizon. I walked away with exactly what I wanted a 16gb black wifi.

    The first thing I did with my new iPad in store was cancel my online order with it. I hope apple has anticipated that a majority of backorders online are from people disappointed on launch day and just wanted to secure them an iPad. I’d say most of those online orders will be canceled after purchases made in physical stores.

  • Ian Mowatt

    I have queued at two Apple stores over the past week in Houston and faced exactly the same issues, it was a joke that no one bothered to tell us there were no Ipad’s until the store doors opened. I’ve also tried calling them and they have little to no information on their delivered, their supply chain sucks and they need to get this sorted out quickly. Will be trying again tomorrow morning, failing that, i might resort to buying an alternative…….