Piper Jaffray estimates 500K iPad 2s sold 1st day

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster saw headcounts from long iPad 2 lineups as a sign that Apple may have had breakthrough launch day sales. He believed 400,000 to 500,000 iPads had sold based on increases at multiple Apple stores, especially flagships. The lineup at the 5th Avenue store in New York City had 1,109 in line on opening versus 730 for the original iPad; Minneapolis' Mall of America store more than tripled its lineup, from 105 to 334.

He acknowledged that the stores were a small sample but added that the much wider number of stores offering the iPad this time around, including Target, Walmart, and carrier stores, also meant many more devices moving out. Electronista has received multiple reports of stores like the Los Gatos location having run out, sometimes before those lined up before the doors-open moment had passed through. Apple saw online orders delayed to two to three weeks within a few hours.

At such rates, Munster estimated Apple would hit a million iPad 2 sales considerably faster than last year, when it took 28 days to reach the benchmark. International sales will be starting much sooner, just two weeks after the US versus almost two months between original iPad introductions.

By Electronista Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :  

Investor, gadgets, Piper Jaffray, Target, Apple, Walmart, iPad, iPad 2