But just to be clear, it's not good business to frustrate your customers. Let's be clear about that, Tim.
Tell that to Nintendo who after two and a half years still cannot manufacture enough game systems to meet demand. Sony, and Microsoft would love to have half the frustrated customers that Nintendo has. As well as the profits too sense Nintendo is the only company making a true profit on their little white game box.
If the majority of potential customers were so frustrated to the point of no longer interested in the product there would not be a line every morning in front of GameStop stores hoping to find a Wii, or Apple stores looking for iPhones.
I was in The Mall at Short Hills (Short Hills, NJ) the other night. 8:00 P.M. on a Wednesday night over 200 frustrated customers standing in line waiting to not give Apple their money making sure Apple knows how bad their business practice is.
/sarcasm
It is easy to think that companies planned this. However, there is no deep seeded conspiracy. If there was, and if this was the retail secret to success every company would be doing this with every product.
It cost money to manufacture an product. If a company makes to many of a product then they have unsold stock collecting dust on store shelfs. If they make to few then a potential customer might buy a competing product. There has to be a balance, but not with just two but with a third ball... cost.
In order for Apple to produce more iPhones they have to buy more parts, authorize the assembly manufactre to hire more employees, all this cost money and can eat up profit margin.
So, a company has to juggle keeping investors happy by showing profit or high return on investment and retailers happy, and customers happy. And while I do not mean any offense, and I hope none is taken, those who are angry or frustrated about not being able to just walk in off the street and buy a iPhone in 10 minutes are really in the minority.
