Buy a lot, sell at a high price: the bluff of iPhone 18 sales in Israel

The iPhone 18 launch in Israel began for the first time in the first wave alongside the US, but an initial shortage of stock due to the closure of the airport on Yom Kippur and high demand are causing delivery delays. Industry sources estimate that additional shipments will arrive in the coming days. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of speculators buying dozens of devices and selling them at a high price is recurring, and retailers have extended delivery terms to 60 days to curb this.

The iPhone 18 launch in Israel presents a complex picture: for the first time, Israel is included in Apple's first launch wave alongside the United States, but this move creates acute inventory challenges. Official sales began on September 18, but the closure of the airport on Yom Kippur immediately after the launch halted the flow of additional shipments. As a result, only some early orderers have received the device so far. Industry sources estimate that additional shipments will arrive in the coming days, and by the end of the Sukkot holiday most early orders will be fulfilled, although particularly sought-after models and colors may be delayed by an additional week. Meanwhile, a phenomenon is recurring where speculators pre-order 10-20 devices on retail websites, and when the initial stock runs out within two days, they offer them at a significantly higher price. In response, most chains have extended pre-sale terms to delivery within 60 days, to prevent quick speculative profits. Chains like iDigital and Partner report delivery in order of purchase, while iStore notes particularly strong demand with orders doubling compared to the iPhone 17 Pro series.