Apple has now completely sold out of its launch day iPad allotment in its U.S. online store, with all 18 models now offering shipping estimates of March 19 for new orders. Accounting for shipment time, customers placing orders now shouldn't expect them to arrive until the middle of the week following the device's launch next Friday.
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A similar situation exists in the Canadian online store, while the stores for Australia and Singapore quote shipping dates of March 22 for all models. Stores for Apple's European launch countries (France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK) and Japan are all quoting shipping estimates of 2-3 weeks for new orders.
Apple is planning to launch the new iPad in 25 additional countries on March 23, but with new orders in the first round of launches already bumping up against that window, Apple may be hard-pressed to have sufficient stock available to meet launch demand in the second round of debuts.
Top Rated Comments
The first batch lasted much longer than I anticipated.
That's what she said?
This is actually the first time I have pre-ordered a new product so I have it on 'launch day', it is fun to finally be a memeber of the club.
Yet this happens every time :)
Must... resist...
The first batch lasted much longer than I anticipated.
Waiting for the inevitable "it took 48 hours to sell out - I told you it was a crappy update" :)
Given the massive amount of these things they apparently moved into the US and the number of pre-orders that are also drop shipping directly from China, it is an indicator of just how popular the iPad is that it sold out in only 48 hours.
It will be interesting to see the launch sales numbers. Another home run for Apple in spite of all the nay-sayers.