Apple’s Black‑Friday Phone Fiasco: The Short‑Supply Scoop
Ever try to snag the newest iPhone on Black‑Friday and walk out empty‑handed? That’s exactly what a handful of customers found out in Apple’s own playgrounds this year.
The Bethesda Blues
- Sally Gannon and her little tech‑savvy son, Michael, headed to an Bethesda Apple Store looking for the shiny iPhone 14 Pro. The shelves were bare.
- They’re now eyeing the online checkout with a delivery date set for Dec. 28.
The From‑Cousin‑to‑Cold‑Cabinet
- Abisha Luitel was all set to give her 21‑year‑old cousin the latest Pro. The store, however, was as dry as an empty bottle.
- She settled for an older iPhone 12 instead—no one wants a vintage!
What’s Really Happening?
Dan Ives of Wedbush wrote that iPhone shortages are “accelerating” and have hit retailers hard. He warned that Apple Stores are seeing a 25‑30% drop in certain 14 Pro variants—and that’s not exactly a holiday‑season confidence boost.
Foxconn’s Crunch
Foxconn’s massive Chinese plant, the world’s biggest iPhone factory, has been dealing with strict Covid locks. Workers are growing restless, and production lines are just not humming. Reuters got the scoop that tough conditions could slash outputs even more.
California’s Blue‑sky—Oops, California’s Green‑sky?
Apple didn’t comment this Friday, but it had already said on Nov. 7 it expects fewer 14‑Pro and 14‑Pro‑Max shipments than earlier promised. The plant’s rat‑race has been interrupted, and it’s a big headache for Apple this holiday season.
Retailers Rattle
- At the Bethesda mall, a staffer skimmed the shelves: almost no Pro or Pro Max units. “We’re almost out,” they said.
- In Raleigh, the iPhone 14 Plus is completely gone; the base 14 model is tight.
- Best Buy earlier flagged the same problem—high‑end iPhone shortages are a real show‑stopper.
What the Analyst Is Saying
Wedbush’s Dan Ives projects sales will dip—about 8 million iPhones on the Black‑Friday weekend versus a 10 million haul last year. He’s pinning this slide squarely on supply snags.
Count the Days
Meanwhile, online shoppers are facing a waiting game: the Apple website’s queue for a brand‑new iPhone 14 Pro can stretch to 40 days—and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
So, if you’re planning to buy a holiday gift and still want to dig into the shiny new iPhone, you might just end up furloughing your hopes—or at least placing an order for a cold, distant delivery.
In Summary
- Major iPhone shortages hit Black‑Friday Apple Stores.
- Foxconn’s plant struggles due to Covid restrictions and worker unrest.
- Retailers and online platforms show awaiting times stretching into weeks.
- Sales expectations for 2025 holiday season look shaky.
Good news? If you’re okay with a bit of patience, the iPhone 14 Pro is still on the horizon—just maybe a few months away.
