“Long lines awaited the launch of the iPhone 5S in NYC but many customers soon found out the stores had shortages of the gold version,” Shara Tibken reports for CNET. “The first people in line at Apple’s flagship store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue waited 15 days for the 64GB gold iPhone 5S only to find out the store had no supply of that device available.”
“Ceballo, who planned to buy the 64GB version of the iPhone 5S in gold, said he’ll settle for the gray version,” Tibken reports. “Many other people toward the front of the line expressed frustration with the lack of the gold iPhone. The 5S launch marks the first time Apple has offered its flagship phone in that color, and customers haven’t been able to preorder the device. To get the iPhone 5S on launch day, they have to stand in line. However, the gold color was rumored to be in short supply ahead of the launch, something confirmed by the lack of the device at one of Apple’s biggest stores in the country.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: In our checks, iPhone 5s 64GB Gold began with a long shipping time, with delivery promised within 7-10 days from the very start of sales.
Did anyone nab an iPhone 5s 64GB Gold that “ships immediately” from Apple, a carrier, or other retailer?
Got mine last night at 3:04am est, dilivery 9/30/13.
A lucky rare one you are, indeed.
Online store listed 7-10 day ship time for all gold models as soon as it opened at 3:04 Eastern Time. I ordered one. We’ll see what happens.
I don’t understand, how hard is it to produce a different color? It’s like they do it on purpose to drive demand making people think it’s rare. It’s just another color. I’m a big Apple fan but sometimes they frustrate me with the things they do. I mean, you finally come out with a new color besides white and black and now on launch day you don’t have many ready? Please.
PRODUCING the other color isn’t hard (unless you’re talking the original white iPhone). PROJECTING DEMAND of a brand new product accurately is VERY hard.
I actually do think it is the production that’s the problem. It’s probably the application of the gold paint that is causing low yields. How? In what way? I don’t know, but this is my best guess.
I can’t think that is it, because it’s anodizing (not paint) and gold is one of the easiest (that and grey/black) colors to achieve (reliability and consistency with) via anodization.
I think it is likely a combination of staggering demand and misjudging just how staggering the demand in the US was going to be (particularly with the press, bloggers and astroturfers panning it, it could have been a poor seller) thankfully it proves that people pretty much make up their own minds.
I would expect given Apple’s legendary (literally) speed and flexibility in their supply and distribution channels, people should be able to (fairly) quickly get what they want despite the crushing demand.
Good point – I’m not up to speed on the manufacturing process. I just can’t believe that they would look at it and not think that they would sell a boatload of them.
Apple could have just looked at the MDN Poll. š
Maybe they’ve allocated more of them to China, where I gather gold is very popular. Perhaps the other colours will be more constrained there.
I could not have said this better myself. Let me try; ” Yo Apple is podding me off right now!! They release the iPhone 5S in a third color option but the don’t make enough of the color. They are just evil geniuses trying to take everyone’s money and it works. Everyone’s new iPhone 5S requires a new 2 year contract and your locked into it for thousands and thousands. Apple is good they got me hooked. I’m a huge Apple fan. My iPhone 5S 64 GB in gold ships by Oct. 10 and this Golden phone better be what I am expecting!!
Ordered a gold 5s and got 1-2 days shipping.
ya, think? š
I sent a picture to MDN. I got TWO 64 Golds with a 1-3 day ship time. Due by the end of the month. I checked the site afterward (just seconds)?and they were at 7-10 days. It wasn’t HOURS, but minutes.
Who says Apple doesn’t do marketing surveys?! Hey let’s offer a new color, say gold, produce very little. Hype it up. See if it would be a big seller. When it turns out it would be, make the people continue to wait with some ridiculous delivery times. The NEW Apple… Same as the old one!
TROLL ALERT!!!!
TROLL ALERT!!!!
TROLL ALERT!!!!
I believe MDN’s question wasn’t if anyone was able to ORDER the gold version, but if anyone was able to buy it IN A STORE and take it home.
As for the “unexpected” lines (only Wall Street Analysts could expect no lines), I’m sure the media will quickly point out that there is severe miscalculation of initial supply of the gold model, so as you know, Apple is doomed…
The anti-Apple hysteria on the Yahoo news commentary threads is, in a word, hysterical.
This isn’t rockt science. There was no preorder. Apple had no idea how popular gold would be. They’re not going to produce a ton and then have them sitting on store shelves unsold.
… and how many previous models of iPhones were left sitting on store shelves unsold over the launch weekend ?
Apple ( and anybody with any sense ) knows that whatever number of gold iPhones they are able to manufacture for the first couple of months, they will sell every last one of them immediately. After the first couple of weeks they will see what people choose to buy and can then adjust subsequent manufacturing capacity to reflect those preferences.
Will the motherfucjers make AAPL drop coz of the constraint ?
While they might not have known how many to make in gold, you’d think they could have a handful ready on launch day for people waiting a week.
Freakin Daniel Eran Dilger has one, that jerk.
http://instagram.com/p/ee_36dTO6E/
I initially wanted to get a 32GB gold but that ran out, even tho I was 15th in the line. Limited stocks for 32GB were apparently delivered to the outlet. Between the 16 and 64, I got the latter instead. Blessing in disguise.
Me and my daughter got the only two 64 GB gold ones in Arkansas (at least the only two at the only Apple store in the state.
AT&T in Winston-Salem, NC had no gold, and told everyone in line that no store in this region got gold, even the Apple store. (How would they know this?) So my wife opted for the grey 32g and I ordered a gold 32g at the store, delivery in 21 to 28 days. Oh well, I’d rather wait than to be wishing I had waited, for the next 2 years.
And get this … the sales guy said he was only 1 of 2 “Android” guys in the store, and we were lucky (or not) that we got him. AND, he said, “Many people don’t know this, but most of the internals of the 5S were copied from Samsung.” I planted my face in my hands. Told him he must only read from Fandroid web sites. Can you believe there are people like that running wild in the streets?
āMany people donāt know this, but most of the internals of the 5S were copied from Samsung.ā
Yes – obviously Apple must have copied those 64 bit phones that Samsung recently announced they were hoping to make one day.
Any idiot who downvotes your excellently sarcastic comment obviously can’t read.
If that were true it’s because Samsung copied Apple as the iPhone 5 was released before the S4.
You know, this stereo, $300, pay no attention to the name. It’s got Sony guts.
Lol what a retard, a complete and utter bafoon. Drooling mindlessly on his own shirt.
Running wild in the streets would’ve been preferable to being in the position of power he was in, where unwitting victims assume he has at least some knowledge of what he’s talking about and not completely bullshitting.
No,he isn’t stupid.He is chasing the android spiff to pad his income.
I launched the app at 12:01:01 and got 1-3 day ship time for a gold 64GB. By 12:10 it was at 7-10 days, and by 12:26 it was October.
Apple screwed up here.
I was one of people who camped out over night only to find that there was no stock of the gold iPhone (I wanted a 64GB AT&T version).
I can understand under-estimating demand, but in this case, were they seriously expecting ZERO sales on launch dayā½
What they should have done is either hold back the entire launch of the 5S (especially if they were low on stock on other configurations); or announce that the gold would come later (like they did with the white iPhone).
Instead, they promoted that the gold would be available today at stores when it simply wasn’t.
Apple has always made buying a new product on launch day an experience that made you feel like a rock star or celebrity at a movie premiere. There’s cheering, photographers, press, bright lights, and you feel like you’re walking down the red carpet.
Going home empty handed after camping out all night is the opposite feeling of that š
I got gold 64 at apple store Raleigh NC. Only 3 in stock. I love it but the prices on eBay are tempting me to sell it
Ordered my wife a 64GB Gold iPhone shortly after 2am CST. Originally showed shipping in 1-3 days. Email I received at 2:10am showed 7-10 business days (delivery 10/7-10/10).
I ordered a 16GB Gold iPhone on our business account this morning (because Verizon Business customers couldn’t order until 8am local time). Shipping time showed ships by 10/28. Based on my prior experience with Verizon, they generally under promise and over deliver.
Gonna be a lot of unhappy people….BUT remember, they have more global carriers than they did with the last iPhone release. Why does everyone feel the company screwed up because they couldn’t predict the demand? I would not have wanted them to push back the launch just so that the people waiting in line at an Apple Store could feel like a rockstar…but then again, I don’t live near an Apple Store and wouldn’t camp out for days just to be the first one to have a new cell phone.
I hear everyone wants a gold iPhone because they are …….snappier!!!!!
I just checked them out and the GOLD is very very very (3 times) nice I must say…! But so are the 5C too! so impressed with how the 5C looks and feels!
I wanted one until I heard they were out so I got the one I wanted last. The black one. So I got hyped up over the black. 3 hours later as I was leaving my wife and I stopped and checked out the gold one on display and I really didn’t like it. I would have preferred the white and silver I had on my 5.
But again it could be because I had the black one and my mind was set. I haven’t had black iPhone since the 4. I had white 4s-5. I wanted gold cu it was different. But I forgot how sleek the black is. With a red apple case. I’m loving it. I’m glad it worked out the way it did.
Again, it’s prolly like that cuz I couldn’t get gold. So after that sunk in I was like f it. I’m leaving with a 5s. And I’m not saying Its ugly at all. I’m just glad I got the black one. Along with millions of other people. Lol.
Got my 64g Gold last night. Shipping 1-3 days
BIg thumbs down for the white face on the gold iPhone 5s. Apple missed a golden opportunity (as it were) to create a true classic in black and gold.
Apple just doesn’t get things like this wrong. My cynical side says its Apple’s somewhat misguided attempt to divert sales towards their 5C which was miraculously in stock in all colours.
Before anyone comments I bong philhardacre@hotmail.com a 32GB gold item online at 12.02am in UK & sadly have to wait. But it’ll be worth it š
That was meant to read “I ordered” a 32gb…. Doh
People need to get a life! Seriously!
Just came home from work, my contract of T-Mobile was long overdue, called then and requested for upgrade and ordered 5S Gold 64GB which is going to be delivered tomorrow or Monday, got confirmation txt š
T-Moble (EE) still have some Gold for immediate dispatch, anyone on T-Mobile UK network can order to be delivered on Sat/Monday š
Hurry up guys before it goes out of stock.
I’m gonna wait for the Black and gold iPhone. Now thats more my style.
It’s not gold coloured… Have you seen real gold? It’s a nice color but it is more sole kind of alloy. Not gold.
Xmas promo sales
Apple iphone 5s 64gb Factory fully unlocked phone……………500usd
Contact us via email…………….digitalcameraltd007@hotmail.com