Amid supply chain disruption, Apple is curbing customers from purchasing more than two iPhones per person from its online store. The Cupertino, California-based company is limiting online bulk purchases of iPhones and other products, in countries including the US and China, anticipating severe supply constraints due to the coronavirus pandemic across the world.
The cap on online purchasing comes as Apple was forced to close down all physical stores outside China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. However, many analysts observed that the company has also resorted to limiting purchases to prevent reselling in the grey market.
Reportedly, customers in numerous countries were prevented from buying more than two units of the same model iPhones, across all models. For instance, customers can still buy more than two iPhones in one order, but then they would have to be different models—for instance, two iPhone 11s, one iPhone 8 Plus and one iPhone 11 Pros.
The restrictions are applicable to the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Max. Other models like iPad Pro also have purchasing limits. The last time Apple restricted bulk purchasing was in 2007, when the iPhone was launched, to stop people from reselling the models.
Apple is bracing up for testing times due to supply chain disruptions and weak demand across the world in view of the coronavirus scare. In February, the tech giant had cautioned that the company would unlikely meet its revenue projections due to the coronavirus.
After shutting down its physical stores in coronavirus-hit China for more than a month, Apple, earlier this week, announced that all the stores have resumed functioning in the country. At the same time, it announced closure of all its stores outside China until March 27. However, the online store is open. Apple has about 500 stores in 24 countries around the world.
