Apple warns employees that replacement iPhones are in low supply

Apple has warned its store employees that there will be a shortage of replacement iPhones for two to four weeks according to a report in Bloomberg. 

According to Apple Store employees who were not named, the iPhones that stores stock to replace customers’ very broken or smashed devices will be in short supply due to strain on the supply chain caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Bloomberg reported that “The workers, known as Geniuses, were advised in a memo that they can offer to mail replacement iPhones to customers and provide loaner devices to ease delays.”

It went onto say that other employees have noticed a shortage of individual parts as well as the replacement iPhones. Geniuses will often attempt to repair iPhones with such spare parts when someone comes in with a faulty device, before potentially reverting to issuing them a replacement.

Much of the supply chain and manufacturing of iPhones happens in China where the virus originated. It is one of the first sings that Tim Cook’s famously ludicrously efficient supply chain is finally seeing the knock on effect that is inevitable from a worldwide event like a viral outbreak. 

Official Apple retail stores in China are only just reopening after all 42 were closed.