2.5 G5 Problems??, can't buy 'em? Options

[ourmanflinty]

I just got quoted on two 2.5 Ghz G5's and two 23" cinema displays for our customer but was told by MacWarehouse that the 2.5's are 'in constraint'...which was explained as they are not available, there are problems and he couldn't say when or if they could get them...anyone else aware of this or is he just stalling me 'cos they have no stock. The quote was ridiculous as well, only £2.50 less than on the apple store ha ha someone please tell me how to get them cheaper!

[CanadaRAM]

Constraint means that APPLE is shipping fewer machines than there are orders for. Believe me, if the retailer had any machines to sell they would gladly take your money. But they are at the mercy of Apple shipping the stock. The "reason" for the backlog is immaterial. Sometimes retailers feel they have to make up some kind of justification "there was a fire at the plant that provides rivets to the company that makes brackets for the video card manufacturer who supplies Apple and so all these machines are hung up waiting for rivets.." - it doesn't matter a whit. Either Apple is shipping or they are not .

All retailers in a country will be in the same boat, unless one company had bought a large stock of G5's they haven't sold yet. Those situations tend to even themselves out in a matter of days, though, as the stocks are sold. The other way some sellers get around this is to import machines from another country - this may void the warranty and may get you a machine with the wrong voltage and/or a foreign language manual. This is called gray market - and is not recommended.

Generally, the only way to get a machine that is under constrained supply is to put down a deposit and get in the queue for the machine. Ordering a standard stock model -usually- gets it to you faster than a build-to-order.

Why do you believe that you should be able to find a machine significantly cheaper than the Apple Store? Apple gives the retailers between 3% and 5% profit margin at Apple store prices. Sometimes on models Apple has on promotion, the dealer makes nothing at all.

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com