The release of Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus has been momentous to say the least. Both longstanding Apple customers and “switchers” alike have been determined to get their hands on the elusive device. As usual, customers have continued to crowd Apple stores in search of the new phone since the announcement of its release on September 19, 2014.
The device has many new attractive features that would make even a cellular phone novice covet the new phone. The most attractive feature of the phone is its significant change in size. The iPhone 6 is 5.44” high and 2.64” wide and the iPhone 6 Plus is 6.22” high and 3.06” wide. This alone has converted consumers who refused to buy previous versions of the iPhone due to how small the phones were. The Touch ID feature is also one of the most craved features of the phone. The development of technology makes security an important and genuine concern for most. Touch ID’s Fingerprint Technology transforms the process of entering a password. The feature allows users to access their phone by simply touching the phone. It also eliminates the need to enter billing information and/or passwords when making purchases. I could go on and on about the awesome features of both iPhones, but I would not want to cause you to salivate with a desire that you may not be able to satisfy.
Disappointingly, Apple may have put their foot in their mouth by hyping up the phone’s release with its renowned secrecy and major announcement. Subsequently, consumer demand far outweighs Apple’s ability to supply consumers’ needs. Many people are furious with Apple for hyping up such a release when they continue not to have enough stock on hand. Many are determined to pick up their devices at an Apple Retail Store as opposed to waiting the average 3 – 4 weeks it takes just for the shipping process to begin. After this wait it can take up to another week to receive the iPhone and have it in hand. Unfortunately, picking up the device in an Apple store is like getting blood from a turnip.
With the holiday season upon us, the limited stock is causing a serious uproar amongst those who “need the iPhone in their lives”. It will be interesting to see if Apple will be able to meet the overwhelming demands prior to December 25, 2014.
Aside from the limited supply, consumers report that apple has other obstacles. For instance AT&T Next customers are not allowed to purchase in Apple Retail Stores. They must purchase directly from AT&T whose shipping dates are even longer than Apple’s. Verizon Edge customers cannot make their purchase online for in-store pickup. They must purchase their devices in an Apple Retail Store and with the availability being what it has been – good luck with that.
Overall the tenacity of Apple customers should be admired or at least understood. Apple is the most innovative company in existence and the Fortune 500 company continuously wins awards for its intuitive inventions. This brings to light the reason these customers refuse to end their search. However, their anger could be viewed as invalid since nothing in this process is new. After all, history repeats itself every time Apple releases a new iPhone. I am excited to see what happens with the release of the iPhone 7.
Blog By April Brown
Image courtesy of Kārlis Dambrāns – Flickr License