iPod Shortages During Holidays
Even though the holiday season is still a little ways off,
retailers are already reporting that shortages of Apple's uber
popular iPod mp3 player are very likely. As has been a problem
with iPod's, especially with the popular iPod Nano being
released and the video enabled iPod hitting shelves, is that
there simply aren't enough of them. Apple can't make them fast
enough to meet the ridiculously high demand.
As Businessweek reports, ""All iPods are in very tight supply,
and Apple isn't filling 100% of its orders from us by any
means," says Charlie Tebele, president of Manhattan-based RCS
Experience. And Crutchfield's Anderson says Apple typically
ships less than 30% of what the retailer requests each week. The
Charlottesville (Va.)-based company put in an order for $3
million worth of iPod nanos after the product was released, and
the order still hasn't been nearly filled. It currently has $4
million of all iPod models on order."
The question of where there will be shortages isn't really a
question at all, predict most analysts. Shortages are
practically guaranteed. The only question at this point is how
bad the shortages will be. No one knows how many stores will
sell out and have barren shelves when shoppers walk in looking
for an iPod to buy as a gift for the holidays. Needless to say,
it would be well advised to head out and buy that gift as soon
as possible rather than wait until the holiday rush.