iPad 2 Sells Out Overseas; Delivery Times Slip to 3-4 Weeks
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Looks like Apple has done it again. Based on reader reports, iPad 2s are sold out across stores in most of the 25 new countries where Apple launched this past Friday. Similar to what we witnessed in the US, Apple Stores acorss the 25 countries saw customers lining up at least 24 hours ahead of the doors opening in hopes of getting one of Apple’s new tablets. Demand for Apple’s new iPad 2 has far exceeded what we witnessed last year when the original iPad was released.
As was the case in the US, many international customers were turned away after a few hours with stock of the most popular iPads sold-out by the end of Saturday. Apple Stores once again had the largest share of available inventory with smaller resellers often getting fewer than 50 units of the popular iPad 2.
International Shipping times have also slipped an additional week. On Friday, Apple’s Online Stores showed all 25 countries had a 2-3 week estimated shipping window. On Sunday, all Apple Stores now showed the iPad 2 shipping in approximately 3-4 weeks.
These estimates are still better than the 4-5 weeks US customers faced shortly after the iPad 2 launched on March 11. Both Apple’s International and US Online Stores now show estimated shipping times for the iPad 2 to be 3-4 weeks. If you’re a glass half-full type, you’ll be happy to hear customers ordering online have repeatedly told us Apple’s shipping window is dead-on and that they received their iPad 2 well within the time-range Apple provided. If you do decide to order online, at least you should get your iPad 2 on time.
Apple began selling their second-generation iPad at Apple Retail Stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers at 5:00 p.m. local time this past Friday. International customers were also able to order online from their local online Apple Store beginning Friday at 1:00 a.m. local time.
