iPhone 5s Supplies Tightening in Apple's U.S. Retail Stores Ahead of Upcoming International Launches

While gold and silver models of the iPhone 5s have seen very tight supplies since the device's launch last month, a number of potential customers have noted that availability of even the more plentiful space gray models has been declining. Using Apple's in-store pickup availability system, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has been tracking supplies of the various models and has quantified a significant decline in iPhone 5s availability over the past two weeks.

Supply of the iPhone 5S has declined in the US from 27% of total SKU's available two weeks ago to 6% over the past week, based on our checks of 60 Apple stores. Separately, the percent of stores that had at least one SKU declined from 90% two weeks ago to 40% over the past week.

iphone_5s_availability_oct11
Munster believes that the decline is a positive sign for demand in the U.S., but also attributes some of the increased shortages to Apple potentially holding back some supplies in order to prepare for upcoming international launches starting later this month.

As another tool for tracking demand, Munster has also been looking at resale prices through eBay and Chinese site Taobao. According to Munster's data, iPhone 5s units have been selling at a 32% premium compared to retail pricing in the U.S., providing further evidence of strong consumer demand. iPhone 5c and Samsung Galaxy S4 units have been selling at 12% discounts to retail pricing, which Munster believes points to demand in line with supplies of the iPhone 5c.

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Top Rated Comments

phillipduran Avatar
148 months ago
I wish I got the gold model. :( So much faster than the other two colors.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kanesw Avatar
148 months ago
Because they weren't already tight?

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xerotech Avatar
148 months ago
Supplies are disappointing considering it is already October 11th.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
elvetio Avatar
148 months ago
..

The iPad3 and the 5s launch make me hate Apple soooo much. They obviously have immense contempt for their loyal customers.

Man, you need some friends..
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tymaster50 Avatar
148 months ago
This happens every year, why do people act surprised?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
148 months ago
I wish rumor sites would quite giving Gene Munster the time of day. This is a guy who does surveys based on standing outside the Apple store at Mall of America for two hours. And the guy who predicted the 5C wouldn't have Siri or a read facing camera to make it cheap. Another Minnesota embarrassment (and we have a lot of them). :rolleyes:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)