Walk-in buyers face empty shelves for Apple's new foldable
Apple sold 23,000 units of the iPhone Duo on Friday, prompting staff to direct disappointed customers to the app for restocking details.
By Giovanni Serrano ·
Customers arriving at Apple Stores on Friday, October 23, faced a shortage of the company's first foldable smartphone. The iPhone Duo went on sale at retail locations worldwide, but physical inventory proved scarce. Store employees told shoppers who missed out on a walk-in purchase to check the Apple Store app on Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. That step offered information on which devices remained available in nearby stores.
Apple warned in a press release issued Friday morning that retail inventory would be limited. The caution proved accurate as lines formed outside outlets overnight. Crowds gathered in many countries to secure the new hardware. The company shared photos from various cities, showing staff inviting customers to try the device. Employees provided hands-on demonstrations and personalized shopping assistance.
Senior leaders attended the launch at key locations. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, visited the flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York. He was joined by retail executive Vanessa Trigub. Apple CEO John Ternus took a different route. He attended the Domain NORTHSIDE store in Austin, Texas. Retail chief Deirdre O'Brien accompanied him. Ternus had toured Apple offices in Austin earlier that week.
Austin hosts the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix this weekend. Apple serves as the exclusive F1 streamer in the United States. The presence of the CEO in the city aligns with that major sporting event. Mark Gurman reported on Ternus's earlier visit to the Austin offices. The combination of a product launch and a major sports event drew attention to the Texas location.
The launch marked the debut of the iPhone Duo. Apple positioned the device as its first entry into the foldable phone market. The company emphasized customer interaction during the launch window. Staff focused on demonstrating the new form factor. The limited stock strategy forced many buyers to rely on digital channels for immediate availability.
Source: 9to5Mac
