MidEast arrival of iPad 3 could be delayed

UAE deliveries of Apple’s latest iPad device could be delayed following news the technology giant has run out of stock for online pre-orders, a local retailer has said. Shipments to the Gulf state, described as a second tier market, are likely to be postponed while Apple seeks to pacify customers in first wave markets, the general manager of Dubai-based electronics retailer Plug-Ins said. Earlier this week, Apple told US media that the demand for the new iPad was "off the charts" and was forced it to revise its delivery times for online buyers. “I think they've certainly under shot the demand for this launch,” said Plug-Ins' Omar Abushaban. “This will, in all likelihood, cause a significant delay in the launch of the iPad 3 in this market since we'll see a magnified ripple effect here. Since we're not a first wave market, and taking into account the precedent that Apple has set with these launches in the past, they'll ramp up production [in first wave markets] to satisfy the backlog of pre-orders and retail bookings and then they'll consider second tier markets in their forecast," he said. “Inevitably, this will drive up the already outrageous price tag on parallel stock that will be available in the UAE. UAE consumers can expect to pay up to double and triple the retail price when these are available through gray market channels.” The third iteration of the tablet computer was unveiled last Wednesday at an event in California, attracting the attention of tech-savvy consumers around the world. Customers who placed orders on the earlier side of the pre-sales process were initially told they would receive the tablet on March 16, the same day that the new iPad would go on sale in stores. However, Apple confirmed on Saturday that any new orders in its home market would not ship until 19 March, three days after its official release. Shoppers who buy an iPad through Apple's website in markets such as Australia, France, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore and the UK can also expect holdups, with reports citing possible delays of two to three weeks. The Hong Kong online store says the new iPad is currently unavailable. Long wait times for Apple products have become typical in recent years, with deliveries of the iPad 2 postponed by five weeks and customers waiting around a month for the iPhone 4S in late 2011. But other UAE retailers have played down the issue, saying supply problems are inevitable with the release of such a popular device. “Honestly, it's a case of making a mountain out of a molehill,” said Ashish Panjabi, COO of Jackys, who last week warned retailers not to buy the iPad 3 for the first month when prices will be at their highest. “Apple has been very ambitious in trying to roll out the new iPad in as many countries as possible and has improved the time to market with each product launch. “In this case, it is still great to see them closing the gap where they are now talking in days and weeks instead of months, or even years as was the case when the UAE got the iPhone 3GS for the first time officially. “Managing the supply and demand equilibrium has always been a challenge for any Apple product at launch.”