Apple revamps online ordering system to disguise iPad 2 shipment figures

By on Mar 16, 2011 at 7:18 PM
Tablets March 16, 2011

Apple may have revamped its online ordering system in an effort to prevent close-watchers from trying to figure out just how many iPad 2 units have shipped, according to sources speaking to AppleInsider. When the original iPad launched, users from Investor VIllage AAPL Sanity Board were able to figure out the number of iPad sales by comparing the order numbers. This year, however, orders are shipping with a randomly generated number. That means that you can’t look at order numbers to get a ballpark figure of how many iPad 2 units have shipped. That sounds like a logical move for Apple, which probably wants to keep sales figures close to the vest until it can announce an official number on its own. Oddly, though, Apple has not yet released any numbers in relation to how many iPad 2 tablets it has shipped. Analysts have estimated that Apple may have sold 1 million iPad 2s during its opening weekend, but we figure Apple would have made an announcement by now if that was fact. In any case, most retailers sold out of the device immediately, and as of yesterday there were still lines at the 5th Avenue Apple Store in NYC. So one thing is for clear: there’s certainly a large consumer demand. Enough for one Apple spokesperson to claim sales were “amazing.“

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14 Comments

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  • Anonymous

    this is news for people who get paid to report how many ipads apple may have sold before apple comes out and tells you

  • cynage

    large consumer demand? or….controlled supply to make it seem as though there’s a large consumer demand?

    • numetheus

      I would say judging by the people I have seen waiting in line to get one there is large demand. I saw no lines for any other tablets.

      • Anonymous

        Not true. The Xoom line in the downtown Chicago store was at least 5 deep.

      • JD

        They stand in line cause they know it is limited. Apple has always gave very little to stores on launch weekend.

      • numetheus

        That’s called demand. People want it … a lot more than they want Xoom. We won’t know just how limited Xoom was because let’s face facts, not that many people were interested. No demand.

    • http://twitter.com/xEcho64x William Clancy

      Controlled Supply? Do you really think thats the case, or are you just stupid…? or trolling. Apple is selling record number of devices at every turn, and as @numetheus pointed out, there is no other device on the market that anyone gives two Shts about….

      please dont post if your just gonna spead FUD

  • http://www.bignerdblog.com BigNerd

    Got mine today that I ordered at 2am on the 11th.

    Even the packaging is awesome.

    (Disclaimer: Not an Apple fanboy… just my objective nerdy opinion)

  • @j_nathaniel

    I have not seen anyone with an iPad 2 yet. I saw no line at the Verizon Store. There was no line at AT&T when I drive past either…I am certain these things are selling like mad but I think Apple is controlling the supply to make it seem more popular.

    • Anonymous

      I really fail to see how people can believe that the supply is being controlled. A basic understanding of logistics will tell you that there are only so many products you can push through a supply chain in a limited amount of time. With close to 1 million sold and Apple getting ready for an international launch date which should match that number I think that they are reaching the limit of the number of devices they can manufacture. Add that to the fact that there are reports that the suppliers of the components used to make the device are running out of the parts and everything points to the fact that Apple is making iPads as fast as they can – there is just a huge demand for the product.

  • Ken

    I have been wanting to get one when it came out, but my job just isn’t stable enough to risk the extra purchase.

  • Anonymous

    Man i should of bought more than five. Applenuts will pay any price now

  • Anonymous

    Folks, the people that stood in line EVERYWHERE, were paid by Apple to stand in line. Several members of our Intelligence Teams at the Goofan (aka Apple Hater) Foundation were offered money by shady characters to stand in line in front of Apple Stores and Best Buys and Wal-Marts and Targets, etc etc. They were offering hundreds of dollars!

  • http://www.facebook.com/wmcdaniel1 Wes McDaniel

    A post about a change in Apple’s order numbering system… Incredible.

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