iPad UK shortages were always on the cards after iPad UK launch queues. Now if you’ve been waiting to snap up your very own Apple tablet you could be in for a wait. New shipping dates on the Apple site and reports from antsy Apple fans suggest the UK could be suffering an iPad drought until the middle of June. It’s like the tech equivalent of a hose pipe ban…

In his announcement last week heralding iPad sales of two million and counting, Steve Jobs seemed to be warning about impending iPad shortages. He said Apple was “working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.” It seems they still need to crank up production.

Last week, the Apple Store was showing iPad 3G orders as shipping in June with iPad Wi-Fi models arriving within 3 to 5 days. Now all iPad UK orders have an estimated arrival of 7 to 10 days slapped on them. That suggests we’re facing an iPad UK shortage until June 17.

We’ve received reports that Apple isn’t fulfilling iPad UK preorders through its Business Store and that the flagship Apple Store in Regent Street has been sold out of iPad 3G models since last Tuesday. UK Best Buy Stores have also shifted all their iPads.

We contacted Apple UK. Though they didn’t explicitly acknowledge a iPad UK shortage or offer up a definitive date for fresh stock, an Apple spokesperson said: “Demand for the iPad has been off the charts. We are working hard to get iPads into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.”

Have you been struggling to get your hands on an iPad? Send us your stories in the comments below.

Out now | From £429 | Apple

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  • Chris

    The Apple store in Manchester is all out of iPads too. I have reserved a 3G model for when their next shipment arrives. I was told that, due to security reasons (apparently a substantial iPad delivery is a big secuirty risk) they could not confim when they are expecting a shipment. It could be faster than the Apple website or it could be longer. With no obligation to buy my reservation I was told I could order from the website and see which arrives first. Picking up an iPad in store would of course spare any delivery related stress!

    • bensillis

      How are the local DSGi shops around you (Currys/PC World) stocked?

      • Chris

        From what I can gather they too are out of iPads and the 32GB 3G model is apparentley the most popular (unfortunately that is also the one I'm after) Interestingly, I haven't seen a whole lot of iPad advertising when it comes to Curry's and PC World…

        • bensillis

          Oh no! Probably some Apple restriction. They have a reputation for driving a very hard bargain.

  • Mark

    As my laptop had just broken, I wandered into the apple store Buchanan street Glasgow on Sunday and was informed they were out of stock and had no idea when they'd be back in. They put my name on a priority list and told me I'd receive an email when they arrived. I received this email the next day and collected my pad. They had only received enough to cover those priority customers so i guess I lucked out. On thing of note though, although it received a brand new wifi only model in UK packaging, the iTunes store was defaulted to Dutch. Perhaps apple are scrambling together ipads from other territories to cope with uk demand.

  • trevor

    Here's a tip, make a saving and buy the wifi version only and use your mobile phone as a wifi hotspot with an app from JoikuSpot

  • Adam

    Ordered mine on or just after launch day, i got this e mail on june 7th

    We are delighted to tell you that we plan to ship your iPad order earlier than we had anticipated.
    We now plan to ship your product on or before 18th June.

    :( twiddling thumbs while i wait

    • Philipwelton

      Got the same message mine was shipped 16th June for delivery 18th and just checked today 19th and it is still in Koln

  • Tom Austin44

    I’ve had trouble getting my hands on a 16GB or 32GB 3G model. I’m on the priority list at Milton Keynes and Cambridge and waiting for a shipment (hopefully soon!!!!). I’m forcing myself not to fork out an extra £100 for one on eBay.

    Is it worth ordering one from Apple.com and seeing which turns up first? Do they only take payment when the order is shipped?

    Interested in other peoples experiences of the ‘priority list’.

    • http://twitter.com/Emmetd Emmetd

      Selling my 32gb 3G for price I paid with box and case mate, then ur postage. Just want price I paid as need new iphone

  • jo

    ordered mine on the 27th may a day before UK launch …got the same email as Adam :

    We are delighted to tell you that we plan to ship your iPad order earlier than we had anticipated.
    We now plan to ship your product on or before 18th June….well i ordered it as a surprise bday gift fr my partner (bday on the 19th jun) ..its been a mad wait :( …thank god i have another gift as a backup ;) …Now whosoever said an apple a day ..lolz

  • Benmartin_editor

    Ordered mine on the 1st of June. Apple tell me it will be shipped on or before the 18th which is this Friday! Was kind of hoping it would arrive on Friday but this now seems unlikely as I've received no email regarding shipping!

  • aaatraders

    picked up a 32gb from PC World 2 weeks ago, just hit their site & it tells you who / where have stock….no such luck with accessories though…had a case on order for 2 weeks at apple & still waiting

  • jo

    got a shipping dispatch email about my ipad yesterday evening(17th june) was able to track it on UPS site…it started off from china…now sitting in cologne,germany for clearance….estimatated delivery is between 21-25 june ….finally so far so good…but i m wondering about my keyboard dock …it always said shipping by june 7th..& still says on my order status..is it going to be delivered with my ipad or seperate…no idea !!! so much confusion for a simple order :(

  • Philipwelton

    Order my 64GB Ipad 24th May, was told expect delivery 7th June, got an e-mail on the 12th of June saying we are excited to tell you we will be despatching delivery earlier (!!!) than expected and I will have the item despatched 18th June for delivery 22nd June.
    Got an e-mail 16th June saying the item has been despatched and I will recieve it 18th June well its 19th today and the UPS tracker shows the item as still in Koln.
    How can apple get away with treating people like this its disgusting how in this day and age can they not give a date and stick to it rather than mess people about like this.

  • Michaelhebden

    i have been quoted delivery 2 august from apple shop

  • Waiting_for_iPad

    I put myself on the priority list for a 32GB 3G iPad at Westfield Apple Store, London, on 9 June (nearly two weeks ago now, today is 21 June), and I haven't received mine yet.

    I just received an (what seems to be an automated “token gesture”) email a week ago saying that I am moving up on the list and they are doing their best to get me an iPad, but nothing since then.

    I hadn't realised that the iPad shortage is this bad in the UK.

    • Ste

      I am in exactly the same position, this is begging to turn into a joke.

    • Gav

      Thats rather depressing, I stuck myself on this list (at westfield) on the 16th, and was told 'can't give a firm date, but anticipate 7-10 days (same as website).
      I phoned yesterday to whinge at them, and he said I might hear in the next couple of days.
      yeah right… I should have ordered online! lol

  • Dallat2525

    I have mine for sale guy if you would like to Buy if:

    I am selling my week old Apple Ipad. I bought it and as much as I love it I have decided I want the new Iphone 4, maybe I should not have been as impulsive lol.
    It comes with apples own case which was thirty pounds plus need for speed, Korg ielectribe, Pages, Sketchbook, digi drummer and plane finder HD. These all had to be bought seperate and came to at least thirty pounds as well. This adds up to 660 pounds for everything on sale.

    I dont need the money that much so will not be accepting silly offers for my Ipad, sorry to sound cheeky but these are in demand throughout the country and are in short supply, and in some instances out of stock for weeks.

    Thanks for looking and feel free to ask any questions.

  • Dallat2525

    Sorry that was my ebay listing but I decided not to give money hungry ebay ten percent of my profit :)

  • Waiting_for_iPad

    Continuing from my earlier post above…

    I finally got my iPad last Friday after being on the priority list for 2 1/2 weeks at Westfield Apple Store in London. I actually called the Westfield store on Thursday to ask about the status and the person who answered the phone said “It's not here yet but you will probably get it quicker if you order online”, so I ordered one from the online Apple store on Thursday evening, just to receive the email from Apple next morning saying that my iPad is waiting at the Westfield store. So I cancelled the online order and went to pick up the iPad at Westfield.

    I hope the iPhone4 & iPad shortage gets better soon. It's getting a little silly.

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