The launch of the Apple iPhone 4 is drawing near and stores like Best Buy, Radio Shack and Wal-Mart are getting ready and stocking up. If this launch is going to be anything like the past, and I’m thinking it’s probably going to be a lot worse, stock levels are going to be drained quickly and the number of iPhone 4 handsets available just won’t be able to meet demand. After seeing what Best Buy has in store for inventory, things aren’t looking so bright.
According to the chart above, stores are going to be carrying anywhere between 20 and 70 handsets. Such limited stock would undoubtedly be depleted in just a few short hours, if not less. I’m not entirely sure how well Radio Shack or Wal-Mart are doing with their stock levels for launch, but Best Buy is pretty huge so this might be an indicator for the number of available iPhone 4 handsets at other retailers.
Whether you pre-ordered or not, you definitely want to get in line early on June 24 for launch. When stores run out of stock that day, there’s no telling how quickly it will get replenished or whether your luck will improve over the subsequent days. But not to be all doom and gloom, most reports around the web say that Apple will be cranking out smartphones in the millions each month. So perhaps things won’t be so bad after all, but better safe than sorry. If you want the iPhone on launch day and you didn’t order one to be shipped to your house, get in line early!
[Via: iClarified]