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Preorders of ‘disappointing’ iPhone 5 sell out in less than an hour at Apple [updated]

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:35PM EST
BGR

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We recently wrote that following all the leaks and rumors leading up to the iPhone 5 unveiling, the only thing more predictable than the new iPhone itself was people’s reactions to it. Well, the only thing even more predictable than response to the iPhone 5 was the fact that preorders would sell out quickly. Apple (AAPL) made preorders of its new iPhone available on apple.com at 3:01 a.m. EDT, 12:01 a.m. PDT and in less than one hour, the company’s initial stock of new iPhones for Verizon Wireless (VZ), AT&T (T) and Sprint (S) was depleted. Disappointing indeed. Shipping time for new orders placed on Apple’s website slipped to two weeks just before 4:00 a.m. EDT, where it remained at the time of this writing. Verizon, AT&T and Sprint each still quoted launch-day delivery for new iPhone 5 preorders placed as of 8:15 a.m. EDT Friday morning.

UPDATE: Verizon ran out of launch-day stock late Friday morning, and AT&T sold out of its preliminary iPhone 5 inventory just before 1:00 p.m. EDT on Friday.

UPDATE 2: Sprint is now quoting delivery times of up to 2 weeks for new iPhone 5 preorders.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.