White iPhone 4 Supply Issues – Where Is The White iPhone 4?
If you go back through all of blog articles written prior to the iPhone 4 announcement by Steve Jobs at the WWDC2010; and if you comb through the Steve Jobs’ keynote speech on the iPhone 4; and if you dig through all of the press releases, announcements, and blog posts that have been written since Steve Jobs’ announcement, you will not find one single mention of the white iPhone 4 not being available on June 15th – the day everyone can pre order the new iPhone 4 – up until yesterday that is when the all of a sudden, the white iPhone 4 will not be available for the pre order launch. I would argue that the white iPhone 4 is an example of an on-going supply issue that is occurring at Apple. Failure to properly prepare in terms of logistics has plagued the iPad launch, and now here we are again faced with a shortage issue with the white iPhone 4. A lot of people were wanting the white iPhone 4, obviously, or else there wouldn’t be so much attention brought to the issue. So what’s up with the shortage of the white iPhone 4? Why isn’t Apple giving us more information about the “why” behind no white iPhone 4?
80 replies on “White iPhone 4 Supply Issues – Where Is The White iPhone 4?”
Just wonderful. Up until 3:00 a.m. and no white iPhone. I’m tired and not even a little amused.
I feel your pain bro same thing and I'm on east coast. I waited all night knowing I had to work an AM shift, nearly cried when I found out
AT&T told me yesterday white Iphone won't be available until late August.
In my personal thoughts bad apple for telling everyone that it would be ready for pre order but again maybe its about demand there really isn’t enough people that wants it. the black iphone sells more then white so its only right they sell the black ones 1st i only met 1 person out of 15 i know personaly that has a white one and didn’t want it but got stuck with it.
From what I have experienced….everyone wants the white iphone, and it is much more in demand than the black one. The ones that have the white iphone, certainly did not get "stuck" with it.
The same time the new IPhone will actually be white instead of having it on the back and usually being covered by a protective case and no one knowing you even have a white phone.
The front is white too. So yes, you will be able to tell that you have a white iPhone (if the front of yours is white)
that's exactly what he was saying
He needs a translator. Or he could just learn english.
asshole
Think what you meant to really say here is that on the new I Phone 4 people will be able to see that its a white I Phone 4 as the front panel is also white unlike the white I Phone 3g which only has a white cover that tends to be covered to prevent scratch marks. At the same time covering the I Phone 3g would ultimately stop people from realizing or seeing the actual colour and model of the I Phone you have.
Apple, the the phenomenal fortune 500 company whose stock has risen 1000 fold over the last decade can't get production management right? Every major date?
Don't be so gullible. There's no supply issues here. It's all orchestrated to create demand. The white option is just color. Its not made of different material than the black iphone. But by taking away what Apple believed to be was the "must-get" option, it created an even higher premium and exclusivity factor to the white iphone. Apple will sell ice to an eskimo. And then hold out on the "white color" as a premium option and blame it on supply.
Actually White color are more in demand than black one according to google…
Hi Tasha – what stats are you using to determine that?
No one has any reason to google the black iphone because the white one is the one that isn't available.
I live in a two iphone household. We wanted one white iphone and one black iphone just to tell them apart easier. Yes most of it will be covered by a case, but just enough will show to tell them apart.
why not get two different color cases.
I'm in the same boat. My wife wants white. Now how do I enjoy mine in front of her?? Steve????
lol thats funny
I would hum a happy tune while playing with my new iphone just to get under her skin.
so glad i decided on black last week. it's more professional in appearance and, true to what they say, black is always in style.
If Apple wasn't ready to meet the demands of thier customers regardless of what color Iphone they wanted they shouldn't have started pre orders and gotten evreyone pumped up.
Or they should have let everyone know when they announced the pre order date, that it was only that black that was going to be available.
I am very disappointed that it will not be available in white on launch day. I am very fortunate to have a great husband though. We live in a 2 iphone household as well. He has black and I have white. He is going to give me the new black one until my white one comes in later. Great guy!!
Did anyone here pre ordered at Best Buy? I was their first customer this morning and they took my white order saying that they have them in their warehouse. I seriously question that… especially after this afternoon when they stopped taking orders all together for the white iPhones. We are going to have 2 phones (black for my husband & white for me) but I just don't want to wait for the white one if it will not will come in on June 24th, not knowing when it becomes available. I just want two phones on the 24th. So, I went back this evening to change it to black. They were still trying to convince me that they actually have the white ones, and can get them on the 24th… I am confused and really don't know who to believe… Did anyone have a similar experience today?
You should definitely go back and talk to them about it because I went to Best Buy at about 1:30 this afternoon (intending to order a white iPhone 4) and they told me that they had received an e-mail prior to that informing them to stop taking pre-orders for the white because, evidently, no one knows when they will come out. Extremely unprofessional, as they took orders for the white ones earlier that morning and now some are expecting a white iPhone 4 on the 24th…not gonna happen as it seems.
Yes I was the first person to pre order two white iphones on june 15th. I have called everyday and even posed as other people. All the managers confirmed that they do have a limited amount of white iphones. I have not heard anything different. I guess maybe they do. Doest matter if they do, i will be the first person with the white phones on the 24th :)
well it does matter if they do, because if they don't, you won't be the first person with a white one.
What Brandon said– I am in the same position and they told me they believed they would be receiving a limited stock shortly after the release date. I am not sure if this is true or not but if it is, that day will be Christmas in June. (Or July!) I do not think that this is a production issue on Apple's part. The white phone looks significantly different than the past models that looked black in the front, so of course people are going to want the hip new iPhone. You will be able to tell from 30 feet away that it's one of the new ones…and let's be honest, how awesome do they look with the bumpers on? I think the black one wouldn't rock a pink bumper nearly as well…
Apple knew this weeks ago yet made no mention??? Why??? All they had to do was say so weeks ago or when Steve Jobless announced it. What was he thinking? Did they actually think this would go away? I waited all night to preorder, the minute the website went up with the iPhone I was ordering until I discovered I had the black and had no option to go white. No way … I will wait … thanks for the usual blunder Apple with your dumb pointless secrecy …
Both sites are still down for me, it’s 10:45 AM Eastern, I feel like the people saying they were successful are lying to frustrate those who are routinely checking every 15 minutes or so.
Bob and PEM – first off, your information is skewed… There are reports that 4 in 10 are white, especially outside the US – the white version is actually seen as a lux color and harder to get in some markets. As for cases, if you may note, the design of even Apple’s “case” is called a “bumper” and protects the stainless portions only, as the back and front are made of a special silica glass that is not prone to scratching unless abused – plus there will be many applique companies that now only provided their product for the front, whereas now they can provide for the back surface too (most provide two covers, the original and a replacement – now they can sell twice as many when a customer wants to apply a new “fresh” one). Many mirrored or chameleon (color/clarity-changing) skins will be available, in addition to the aforementioned “bumpers”.
Oops – I meant 2 in 10, making over 20%, which is a significant number when we’re talking millions…
From a manufacturing standpoint, it is always a challenge when you have multiple types (colors, sizes, styles, etc.) of an item because you are faced with the challenge of overstocking. I bet previous iPhone's in white were not as highly demanded as this current iPhone 4, so their manufacturing numbers were 2 to 1 (black versus white), if not more. So this overage in black causes a huge cash flow problem if all the white versions sell out first and Apple / At&t sits on a bunch of black iPhones. So to offset this, they are pre-releasing the black first until the inventory becomes more manageable. Otherwise, you are sitting on zero white iPhones and a million (hypothetically speaking) black iPhone 4's.
Why wouldn't they give a date then of the white version if this were the case?
Why should they. People are buying the black version now since they do not want to wait for the white that they would originally prefer. A good percentage of people are doing this and if we knew of a release date for the white version, people would just wait.
From a manufacturing standpoint, it is always a challenge when you have multiple types (colors, sizes, styles, etc.) of an item because you are faced with the challenge of overstocking. I bet previous iPhone's in white were not as highly demanded as this current iPhone 4, so their manufacturing numbers were 2 to 1 (black versus white), if not more. So this overage in black causes a huge cash flow problem if all the white versions sell out first and Apple / At&t sits on a bunch of black iPhones. So to offset this, they are pre-releasing the black first until the inventory becomes more manageable. Otherwise, you are sitting on zero white iPhones and a million (hypothetically speaking) black iPhone 4's.
Why wouldn't they give a date then of the white version if this were the case?
Why should they. People are buying the black version now since they do not want to wait for the white that they would originally prefer. A good percentage of people are doing this and if we knew of a release date for the white version, people would just wait.
have you seen its made it way to facebook now! .
THERE IS NO OFFICAL WORD FROM APPLE ABOUT THE WHITE IPHONE 4'S UNTIL THEN EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP MAKING STORY'S UP THERE IS NO OFFICAL WORD ON THERE WEBSITE MY OPINION IS THAT THEY SOLD OUT THE WHITE IN SECONDS THEY DIDNT THINK WHITE WOULD SELL LIKE THAT …
are you stupid or what? it has never been available
OK BUT WHERE ON THE APPLE WEBSITE IT SAYS THE PHONE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 24TH AND IAM NOT TALKIN ABOUT FORUMS IAM TALKIN ABOUT A DIRECT MESSAGE TO ALL CUSTOMERS
IT SAYS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE I DONT THINK THAT MEANS A MONTH FROM NOW ITS JUST NOT AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER AT THIS TIME U NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK
Damnnn I just called Best Buy in Harahan, Louisiana and they tell me the white iPhone4 isnt gonna be ready for sale till August….. wait what????????? Thats BS!!!!!
My contract with Verizon expires in August so that is jus insentive for me to wait and not pay an early termination fee. Thats cool.
I am seriously disappointed though because I have been looking forward to this for a long time. I have never had an iphone and I just know I will love it. I too like a geek stayed up till midnight waiting and was so frustrated when they didn't have the white. I tried for the black just because i had waited up and was there but i couldn't even get through. I think i will just chill and see what happens.
I wanted white too, and ther is no reason for them to not release the white except fornthe same thing that another guest said about creating a demand. There has never been a launch where both colors were not available. I think Apple should explain themselves on this or at least announce when it will be available. I would normally just be patient and wait but, I already sold my iPhones so I could order new, so I need a phone asap. Do what I did, order the black and if the white comes out within 30 days, then exchange it WHERE YOU bought it(AT&T, apple, best buy, and yes there is a 10% restocking fee, but oh well) you can not return a purchase from best buy at ATT or apple, that way you dont go without a phone. If it looks like it won't be out within 30 days of your purchase, then flat out return the phone and reverse the upgrade, so you will be eligible to REupgrade when it does.
I am beyond disappointed. I have been waiting for the white for such a long time now, and I am sure I am not the only one. Many people have told me a number of different release dates??