Apple Sent Most of Initial iPhone Duo Stock to Retail Stores
Apple placed about 80% of its first iPhone Duo inventory in its stores, with flagship locations holding up to 250 units and some as few as 50.
Apple allocated roughly 80% of its initial iPhone Duo inventory to its retail stores, with individual locations receiving as few as 50 units, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reported. Gurman said, on his Power On podcast, that people close to the device's logistics indicated most customers who purchased a Duo in store on launch day obtained one by waiting in line.
Flagship stores were said to have held up to around 250 units, and the Fifth Avenue store was stocked unusually heavily because Apple executives attended the launch. The distribution of inventory helped explain why pre-orders slipped to late January within minutes on Oct. 16, while many who queued on launch day left with a new phone.
Apple described demand as "nothing short of extraordinary" and said it was working to satisfy demand "as quickly as possible," suggesting that delivery estimates could improve over time.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256 GB, with higher-capacity models priced up to $3,199 in the United States and comparable pricing in the United Kingdom.