Ok I made that Title up. Well not really. Its a solid suggestion. It was fitting since I just happily sold my Mac Mini POS I’ve been using as a table leg leveler and Apple crushed a ton of dreams today in their pre-sales launch. Apple got their money and YOU didnt get an iPhone 5. But like a Jerry Springer abused guest, you’ll still love em and go back to em. Why? Because everyone wants something thats perceived to be scarce, that few can get and everyone wants. Its a weird co-dependency drug.
Apple flubbed up another sales launch of the iPhone, this time the iPhone 5. Its was a mess of complaints all over Twitter. The sales page still wasnt working by 12:10 am. I got very lucky and I checked into Twitter’s Trending Topics. People had barely started to report that you could order through the Apple Store App. I tried it and after about 5 failed efforts of trying to get all the way through the order, one finally stuck and by 12:30 I was IN. That Theme Song from Chariots of Fire song started running through my head as I got the confirmation emails. About 12:45 am people started posting Apple had run out and was offering 2 weeks later delivery. Then I started watching the aftermath of bloodletting on Twitter. If there is a hell, an abyss of burning, screaming and gnashing of teeth, it was on Twitter live last night.
Many of my friends that I was sure had one, didnt get one. I saw some top social media people like iJustine complaining about ordering. I was bummed because I know how much they love and promoted Apple. It didnt seem fair. Does Apple care? FUCK NO. Let me get up off the floor from laughing and I’ll tell you why.
See a long time ago I read a little book called The Emperors New Clothes. I can still see the pictures and story. Its a story of exclusivity, scarcity and PERCEPTION. Then I went to Wall Street. Apples not stupid. They run off of the one of 2 major business model choices. The highest prices for the highest perceived value at maximum profitability. Oh ya, and the shit is hard to get when its new. Scarcity. Human nature always wants what it cant get and it will pay for privilege. I used to have friends who owned nightclubs. They would run you around the block to give everyone the perception people are lined up and fighting to get in. Meanwhile more people would stop cars and get in line. And all the fish are biting. Meanwhile my friends would sit in their empty nightclubs laughing as they drove up the fever that would over flow the bar with rabid money as people with limited time raced to get high and party.
A company like Apple is smart and they have lots of money where they could easily over produce and come to market for everyone at once. They could easily over deliver. But over capacity, over inventory, over production, leads to discounts, leftovers and no lines. A couple of years of that and your perception of scarcity and value go down along with prices and profitability. Next thing you know you’re buying your Apple product at Ross Discount Stores. Does Apple make great products? Yes. Are the Apple Stores and Genius’ great? Yes. But I’ve also seen great products at Ross Discounts. In the end, is it worth all that bullshit of standing in line for hours and staying up late at night to get one? NO. Its a PHONE people. Will Apple fix their initial sales order system and scarcity that seems oddly and conveniently problematic to get since 2007? HELL NO. Did you just read what the HELL I just wrote?
Anyway on with our codependent relationship, Apples my drug maker, I’m selling on the corner and you’re standing there drooling over my videos no matter how offensive I write this post. No matter how they cut it, it goes to you and I for the highest scarcity of availability and price. Its a great product. Now tie me off and shoot me one up Apple. I’ll see my little drug fix iPhone 5 around Sept 21st…oh ya…and I’ll be sure to give you a taste.
ps. The Joke in the Title isnt “Windows 8.” The joke is that Apple WOULD EVEN CARE to fix anything on the scarcity of their product.
nice