Where can I get the Apple AirPods without waiting six weeks?

If you’ve ever been tempted by Apple’s AirPods, then the chances are that you’ll know about the six-week waiting time on all of its shipments.

Of course, AirPods launched with the iPhone 7 back in September 2016, but unprecedented demand and slow product turnaround mean that the Cupertino firm has struggled to keep up with sales and has slapped a six-week wait on any new orders.

If you’re the impatient sort and want to get your hands on a pair of AirPods now rather than wait a month and a half for your set to arrive, here’s what you need to do.

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Call into an Apple Store

Although Apple’s online store has a six-week wait on AirPods, you can count on your local Apple Store carrying a pair or two for you to pick up. Plus, iStockNow has put together a useful map, showing off all of Apple’s retail locations and stock counts.

Buy them from A&T

As MacRumors regularly announces, A&T sells AirPods for their standard $159 retail price on a regular basis. However, unlike the official Apple website, A&T ships the AirPods next day and delivers to any address in the United States. However, these stocks are often limited, as demand is still high, so make sure that you bookmark the page and check back regularly to ensure you can get your hands on a pair ASAP.

Use a resale website

Amazon, Gumtree, and eBay all post AirPods on their websites from resellers – but you sometimes may end up paying more for your headphones than you should. Set up alerts and check back regularly – the chances are that you’ll score a pair if you keep looking.

Get some patience

If you can’t get to an official Apple Store and want to own your own pair of AirPods, we recommend waiting it out and purchasing them on the Apple website. Sure, you have to wait six weeks, but many users have reported that their earphones arrived much quicker. Plus, you’ll know that you’re buying genuine Apple stock, and you’ll get free shipping to boot.

Have you managed to get your hands on a pair of AirPods? Let us know on @AppleMagazine.

About the Author

Jack is a Creative Manager at Precise English, a copywriting and marketing agency in the United Kingdom. Jack loves entertainment, and runs the celebrity news website CelebMix in his spare time.