iPods backorder
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 09:41:20
I've been blogging my freeipods experience the entire time. Decided to do some investigation of my own
eCost Couldn't give me a number. But when I asked about the 20GB Apple iPod was told there was 'a lot'. No backorder. As of 1230 PM EST.
PCMall 223 in stock (enough for at least week). As of 1239 PM EST.
So that kinda blows the 'backorder' myth out of proportion. The company apparantly has more than a week of shipments. Nobody sounded like there was any sort of problem shipping ipods out the door.
No limits seem to be in place. In fact, the PCMall rep even joked with me "buy them all, and we'll make you a deal".
fresh27
27-09-2004 09:47:55
i'm sure there are limits. gratis is gonna buy from ecost no matter what, so ecost takes them as a guaranteed buyer, and withholds some ipods to send to individual buyers from other places.
but it is taking a long time. gratis isnt even sending offers to the vendor anymore. they suck.
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 09:50:11
Actually both have bulk sales methods.
The guy at PCMall (same company as eCost BTW) was only half joking when he said you can buy them all.
They do bulk sales all the time.
Point is, they apparantly have no pressing orders on thier inventory.
fresh27
27-09-2004 09:54:11
[quote6c945a5e64="DIGITALgimpus"]Point is, they apparantly have no pressing orders on thier inventory.[/quote6c945a5e64]
Yes, because Gratis isn't even sending any orders to vendors anymore.
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 09:56:35
[quote562bdfc829="fresh27"]
Yes, because Gratis isn't even sending any orders to vendors anymore.[/quote562bdfc829]
Hint hint.
Though that doesn't explain why people who ordered weeks ago still aren't shipping.
zainali
27-09-2004 10:05:27
gratis is probably waiting for money from advertisers. the usual turnaround time is 30 -60 days. they can't order 10000 ipods ($3 million) on credit cards.
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 10:29:08
[quote658cf43f32="zainali"]gratis is probably waiting for money from advertisers. the usual turnaround time is 30 -60 days. they can't order 10000 ipods ($3 million) on credit cards.[/quote658cf43f32]
That's very possible... but I still don't like dishonesty.
It's one thing to say that... it's another to say Apple's backorder is the problem.
CollidgeGraduit
27-09-2004 10:45:07
I'm pretty sure if Gratis had a bunch of orders, and were waiting on advertiser money, Apple or HP would extend them a decent line of credit, to be paid within 30 days. Very common with businesses.
fresh27
27-09-2004 10:50:19
Gratis has no direct connection with Apple or HP, they do all business through eCost or PCmall.
CollidgeGraduit
27-09-2004 10:51:11
Well then what I said applies to eCost and PCmall.......
Admin
27-09-2004 10:53:59
I've never heard of Gratis holding back on placing an order due to insufficient funds. In fact, they placed tons of orders during the eBay era even though eBay was threatening not to pay them at all (due to high levels of fraud).
There probably is another reason for the recent slowdown. Personally, if I know I'm going to be sprinting, I take a little rest beforehand. licoughli.
liCOUGHli
liCOUGHli
tyketto
27-09-2004 11:01:25
If anything, I think it's a combination of the cash flow and the admin's take. As for eCost, just because they're in stock, doesn't mean they have an allotment for Gratis. eCost/PCMall/MacMall probably knows what they can go through in a week and not want to push all that out the door for Gratis. Then they have a lot of customers angry. Gratis has to deal with us, not PCMall.
As I said somewhere else, I don't think Gratis is going to screw a bunch of people it needs to spread the validity of what it's doing so it can be successful with its other Web sites. It won't make money without us.
keyspacer
27-09-2004 11:06:08
Maybe ecost is waiting for a different stock of ipods. They know they can delay with Gratis. Ecost probably want to have enough in stock for anyone who is ordering off their website. They don't want to loose sales due to the high demand from a company that isn't paying them top dollar.
fresh27
27-09-2004 11:07:15
it's not eCost who is waiting, it's Gratis. Gratis hasn't sent any order to eCost in 12 days.
Anonymous
27-09-2004 11:13:49
Who cares? Just wait like everyone else.
matpic
27-09-2004 11:17:54
[quote8e285d7f18="fresh27"]it's not eCost who is waiting, it's Gratis. Gratis hasn't sent any order to eCost in 12 days.[/quote8e285d7f18]
How do you know that? Do you work for Gratis?
hacktek
27-09-2004 11:32:33
Because he's been processing since then he assumes that...
Cyrus328is
27-09-2004 11:37:31
Guys!
My status just got changed to STV!
I have been processing since thursday! Hurrah!
Cyrus
hacktek
27-09-2004 11:38:32
hehe the ones who have been waiting like 12 days are gonna be pissed P
fresh27
27-09-2004 11:47:06
yeah, well at least i finally got sent. even though i was processing a week more than he was, at least im finally sent to vendor D
DisastirousMurmur
27-09-2004 11:49:37
maybe they just recieved alot of ipods, but mostly shipments come in on tuesdays, but some stores get them on other days, so if they got moer ipods i might get mine soon )
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 13:45:04
All I know is Gratis is incorrect when they say Apple's supply is the problem.
That's not where the supply chain is breaking. It's closer to Gratis.
JGrayland
27-09-2004 13:51:30
Yeah theres no way its Apples fault for THIS much backlog. thats just crap. the truth is, they got more completed requirement peoples than they thought they would, and are trying to save face, and money by only ordering smaller shipments. you saw their numbers on that wired article, they were ordering ten at a time!
mremis
27-09-2004 16:00:26
i think apple isnt making enough mini's
not the 20gigers
are you guys talkin about minis or the 20gig
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 16:23:16
[quote4cc45b29a3="mremis"]i think apple isnt making enough mini's
not the 20gigers
are you guys talkin about minis or the 20gig[/quote4cc45b29a3]
I asked about the 20GB
The mini's do have some pressing demand... the 20GB's aren't in short supply. Demand is high, but in North America Apple is meeting demand.
Now today I confirmed their supplier is keeping up with demand also.
Leaving a missing link between us and our iPods.
tyketto
27-09-2004 16:40:47
Well, whatever it is, people seem to still be getting iPods. Apple may be meeting demand, but perhaps eCost just isn't getting enough to handle Gratis's orders; and perhaps Gratis held back to get a handle on what they had outstanding. Perhaps a large shipment is expected tomorrow (we can only hope, right?)
caveman
27-09-2004 16:58:27
heres hoping that when apple bumps up the production next month it makes a nice dent in the backlog....think they were hoping to increase production for apple and hp ipods to 100,000 a month
when it's "sent to vendor, waiting on product" doesn't that mean that gratis has sent the order to ecost? theoretically, we should be waiting on ecost, but obviously we aren't. So does that mean that STV isn't really sent to ecost at all yet?
snakeanthony
27-09-2004 17:19:01
[quotea99569fee9="Admin"]I've never heard of Gratis holding back on placing an order due to insufficient funds. In fact, they placed tons of orders during the eBay era even though eBay was threatening not to pay them at all (due to high levels of fraud).
There probably is another reason for the recent slowdown. Personally, if I know I'm going to be sprinting, I take a little rest beforehand. licoughli.
liCOUGHli
liCOUGHli[/quotea99569fee9]
Guys, I think he's trying to tell us something.
What's that boy? Timmy fell in a well?
Icarus
27-09-2004 17:25:48
"whats that boy? timmy fell in a well?"
HAHAHAHAHA
Da_KilLa
27-09-2004 17:35:11
for ecost to be a good site they need to keep their items in stock. their orders come before gratis. Im sure gratis gets their own pallets of ipods and is charged like that. If one store can sell 300 in one week what does that add up to. Im not saying that there is a shortage but you people really need to chill out.
Icarus That was funny )
gljvd
27-09-2004 17:44:05
I dunno about u guys but i have an order from 8/17 that still hasn't been filled, my sister has an order from 8/10 that still hasn't been filled but some of our friends that ordered in sept have gotten thier ipods (apple ones not hps) So i'm very pissed pissed off.
If its them waiting for money from advertisers than surely they have gotten the money from my referals which were done before 8/17 before they got money from the ones for sept. Which means i should have gotten my ipod.
DIGITALgimpus
27-09-2004 17:47:18
[quoted3bb8030d6="tyketto"]Well, whatever it is, people seem to still be getting iPods. Apple may be meeting demand, but perhaps eCost just isn't getting enough to handle Gratis's orders; and perhaps Gratis held back to get a handle on what they had outstanding. Perhaps a large shipment is expected tomorrow (we can only hope, right?)[/quoted3bb8030d6]
Actually eCost has more than enough. You can callup and order 100+ right now if you want. No problemo.
Mini's are slightly limited. But the 20GB apple's can ship out ASAP. Order before noon and get it next day.
caveman
27-09-2004 17:57:11
[quote838c710807="snakeanthony"][quote838c710807="Admin"]I've never heard of Gratis holding back on placing an order due to insufficient funds. In fact, they placed tons of orders during the eBay era even though eBay was threatening not to pay them at all (due to high levels of fraud).
There probably is another reason for the recent slowdown. Personally, if I know I'm going to be sprinting, I take a little rest beforehand. licoughli.
liCOUGHli
liCOUGHli[/quote838c710807]
Guys, I think he's trying to tell us something.
What's that boy? Timmy fell in a well?[/quote838c710807]
like i said, production ramp-up in october to 100k units per month.....quite a few large orders maybe since ecost/pcmall will be getting enough units to a) maintain enough inventory to fulfill regular customer orders and b) fill large gratis orders
jesterfx
27-09-2004 17:59:38
My personal guess is it's a combination of it all....
They are having to make bigger and bigger orders to meet all the new orders that have been going through lately. Before it was probably a lot easier to keep up but now they have to order 1000's for all the outstanding completes. They probably want to wait for the cash from the advertisers to help cover that cost otherwise they are paying that straight out of their own pockets until they get their leads referral money. On top of that, they probably wait for a certain number of orders (say 500) before they place and order...so if you ordered when they only had 400 you have to wait until they get to their mark before they actually send the order to ecost. If you happen to be in the last 5 then it will seem very fast. Not sure what kind of buld purchase deal they may have with ecost but maybe that is what they require? Or maybe it's just esier than trying to place all the orders that may come in every day.
Or maybe with all the congas and all these people making their 5 and getting ipods we have become too efficient and they are losing their profit and getting ready to move to cuba lol.
Da_KilLa
27-09-2004 18:01:04
another thing is that now they are at the peak of the "prymiaocd" um.. It is pretty hard to get five referals today. Basicially the only way you can do it is through people offline. this being said all they are starting to do is get money.
They WOULD not end the offer it is too profitiable after its been out for a while. the hardest time for them to get funding is the begining because everyone is recieving and hardly anybody is not recieving now its flipped.
EDITED EDITED EDITED EDITED EDITED EDITED
tyketto
27-09-2004 19:02:05
Hey admin, how about a little more light on your "coughing" fit.
jesterfx
27-09-2004 22:15:54
[quote4bb1382d61="tyketto"]Hey admin, how about a little more light on your "coughing" fit.[/quote4bb1382d61]I think it either means he knows they are getting close to the end of this life and going tails up....or that he knows about some other sites that are going to be coming out of the gate and that they are going to be even more busy. Hopefully the second, although it would be nice that they try to keep up with the current sites orders and such ;).
Then again it could mean he has that latest cold strain that has been going around heheh.
It does make you wonder though huh heheh.
ThisSunAlsoRises
27-09-2004 22:59:28
i figured he meant that gratis is getting flooded with orders and so they're holding back on sending out ipods until they can gaurantee profit...
jesterfx
27-09-2004 23:33:54
yeah I guess that could be true...but not nearly as dramatic P
keyspacer
28-09-2004 00:05:04
Remember they just started making the click wheel 20 gig ipods not too long ago.
tyketto
28-09-2004 04:56:33
Well, if he has information that the co. is going under, it would be terrible for him to keep touting the legitimacy of the offer through this site. I doubt he'd put his reputation on the line like that.
So I'd guess the company is planning to expand and expecting to get even busier.
CollidgeGraduit
28-09-2004 05:04:16
Analogies 101...
[quote61c39ee97e]Personally, if I know I'm going to be sprinting, I take a little rest beforehand. licoughli.[/quote61c39ee97e]
That means that maybe they're resting up before they go balls-out processing orders.
Inferno69
28-09-2004 05:14:27
heres some news for you goofballs.
The iPod Minis are no longer on back order.
http//store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore/
(look under the Mini pictures)
tyketto
28-09-2004 05:47:54
WIth no disrespect my fellow goofball, the Apple Store has the power to get the things before anyone else.... just because Apple has them, doesn't mean their other outlets do to. Although, it is a good sign...
comppimp
28-09-2004 06:18:59
[quote5a7e72cdf4="snakeanthony"][quote5a7e72cdf4="Admin"]I've never heard of Gratis holding back on placing an order due to insufficient funds. In fact, they placed tons of orders during the eBay era even though eBay was threatening not to pay them at all (due to high levels of fraud).
There probably is another reason for the recent slowdown. Personally, if I know I'm going to be sprinting, I take a little rest beforehand. licoughli.
liCOUGHli
liCOUGHli[/quote5a7e72cdf4]
Guys, I think he's trying to tell us something.
What's that boy? Timmy fell in a well?[/quote5a7e72cdf4]
Best. F'in. Reply. Ever.
Karma points for you.
DIGITALgimpus
28-09-2004 06:36:55
[quote3e79a4dd4e="tyketto"]WIth no disrespect my fellow goofball, the Apple Store has the power to get the things before anyone else.... just because Apple has them, doesn't mean their other outlets do to. Although, it is a good sign...[/quote3e79a4dd4e]
That is correct... and a big controvercy right now in the Mac community.
But what we do know is that there's no backorder on 20GB's. It's just Gratis isn't placing orders yet.
mts243
28-09-2004 09:11:23
Care to enlighten us on the licoughli licoughli post D
mts243
28-09-2004 09:24:29
Care to enlighten us on the licoughli licoughli post D
comppimp
30-09-2004 05:30:33
[quote8b49e0d1d6="mts243"]Care to enlighten us on the licoughli licoughli post D[/quote8b49e0d1d6]
Use licoughli licoughli common sense...
Tuffgong4
30-09-2004 10:51:00
I have a feeling people wouldn't complain as much if gratis actually had some kind of customer service...I mean I know i've asked them at least three questions and received the same answer back everytime.
also here's another idea...if gratis was so hard on money why would they be adding more websites to take orders from like freehandbags...money is not an issue...
why wouldn't they be able to let us place the order through to ecost or bestbuy or any website that actually has the ipods in stock so we see it actually going through as well...
gratis is completely legit and I trust them but I think the business model set up is flawed beyond belief
thermonuke
30-09-2004 11:00:23
I think the best thing that Gratis could have done, without comprimising time, money and a whole lot of either, would be... Forums! Or hell.. even a person to update us everyday on how things were going... That would be awesome as hell.. P
CollidgeGraduit
30-09-2004 11:03:04
Yeah.. once the page is in place, it would take all of 15 minutes to say "PCMall is backordered on HPs, but Apples are going out steadily"
I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I'm not complaining about the speed of service, just the lack of communication.
tetro
30-09-2004 12:11:17
I think the reason they won't mass purchase from other stores is that eCost probably provides the best discount rate. Unfortunately, they're skimping on the wrong areas. If people were getting their iPods faster, Gratis would have a lot more positive word of mouth signups. Their CS isn't that great too.
J2Duncan
30-09-2004 13:23:01
actually if they got there products out faster they would have better word of mouth and more people in general, because a lot of my friends want to sign-up but they are waiting to see mine.