Tickermine1's Instablog Casey Ryan founded TickerMine in 2008 and serves as CEO and Head of Product Development. Previously, Mr. Ryan was a Senior Research Analyst covering the Wireless industry at Nollenberger Capital. Prior to that, Mr. Ryan covered the Wireless sector as a Research Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities. Mr. Ryan received his BS from Drexel University and his MBA from the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt. Tickermine1 http://seekingalpha.com Apple Products Holding Prices Steady, iPods, iPhone Sales Look Healthy. http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/395436-tickermine1/862-apple-products-holding-prices-steady-ipods-iphone-sales-look-healthy?source=feed 862 Apple Products Holding Prices Steady, iPods, iPhone Sales Look Healthy.
       

Apple Stores See Some Uptick in iPod Touch Sales
Over the past week, we surveyed Apple Stores to gauge trends in sales of iPod's and computers. We asked the following questions:

1.    Are you discounting any iPod's?
2.    What is the best selling iPod model?
3.    Have you sold more iPod's in the past month than in the previous month?
4.    Are you planning on discounting computers soon?


•    87% of respondents said they were not discounting iPod's currently.
•    63% of respondents said that the iPod Touch was the best selling iPod model. 23% said that the new iPod Shuffle was the best selling model.
•    57% of respondents said they had sold more iPod's in this past month than in the previous month.
•    63%  of respondents reported not discounting computers or any kind. 37% said they were discounting computers.


Key Takeaway:  Apple stores appear to be holding the line on pricing. This trend has been consistent throughout 2009.  We believe that the pricing discipline could positively impact Apple's performance.  Business also appears to be trending upwards in April. In our related survey on AT&T stores (www.thechannelcheckers.com/blogs/) sales of the iPhone continue to look strong with positive trends in new iPhone account openings in addition to simple hardware unit sales.



 AT&T Store Survey Show Strength in iPhone.
Over the past week, we also surveyed AT&T Stores to gauge trends in sales cell phones and new account sign ups.  We asked the following questions:

1. What is the best device to get for e-mail?
2.Has there been an increase in the number of people opening accounts?
3.What is the best overall selling phone?
4.What is the best selling music device?


•    53% of respondents said that the Apple iPhone was the top device for e-mail.  The Blackberry Bold was seen as the best device by 27% of respondents.
•    53% of respondents state that the number of new accounts opened at their location has increased in the past month.
•    The Apple iPhone was seen as the best selling overall device by 67% of respondents.
•    The Apple iPhone was seen as the best music device by 53% of respondents. 20% cited the Sony-Ericsson W350.


Key Takeaway: The Apple iPhone appears to maintaining its strength as the leader in every category we survey – best overall, best for e-mail and best for music.  New account openings appear to be moving up a bit.  We believe that AT&T Wireless is doing well with the strong allure of the Apple iPhone drawing in new users.

For access to the underlying surveys or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@tickermine.com
 

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:59:48 -0400 Apple Products Holding Prices Steady, iPods, iPhone Sales Look Healthy.
       

Apple Stores See Some Uptick in iPod Touch Sales
Over the past week, we surveyed Apple Stores to gauge trends in sales of iPod's and computers. We asked the following questions:

1.    Are you discounting any iPod's?
2.    What is the best selling iPod model?
3.    Have you sold more iPod's in the past month than in the previous month?
4.    Are you planning on discounting computers soon?


•    87% of respondents said they were not discounting iPod's currently.
•    63% of respondents said that the iPod Touch was the best selling iPod model. 23% said that the new iPod Shuffle was the best selling model.
•    57% of respondents said they had sold more iPod's in this past month than in the previous month.
•    63%  of respondents reported not discounting computers or any kind. 37% said they were discounting computers.


Key Takeaway:  Apple stores appear to be holding the line on pricing. This trend has been consistent throughout 2009.  We believe that the pricing discipline could positively impact Apple's performance.  Business also appears to be trending upwards in April. In our related survey on AT&T stores (www.thechannelcheckers.com/blogs/) sales of the iPhone continue to look strong with positive trends in new iPhone account openings in addition to simple hardware unit sales.



 AT&T Store Survey Show Strength in iPhone.
Over the past week, we also surveyed AT&T Stores to gauge trends in sales cell phones and new account sign ups.  We asked the following questions:

1. What is the best device to get for e-mail?
2.Has there been an increase in the number of people opening accounts?
3.What is the best overall selling phone?
4.What is the best selling music device?


•    53% of respondents said that the Apple iPhone was the top device for e-mail.  The Blackberry Bold was seen as the best device by 27% of respondents.
•    53% of respondents state that the number of new accounts opened at their location has increased in the past month.
•    The Apple iPhone was seen as the best selling overall device by 67% of respondents.
•    The Apple iPhone was seen as the best music device by 53% of respondents. 20% cited the Sony-Ericsson W350.


Key Takeaway: The Apple iPhone appears to maintaining its strength as the leader in every category we survey – best overall, best for e-mail and best for music.  New account openings appear to be moving up a bit.  We believe that AT&T Wireless is doing well with the strong allure of the Apple iPhone drawing in new users.

For access to the underlying surveys or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@tickermine.com
 

]]> t aapl Harley Unit Sales Look To Be Increasing on Sporster Sales, Polaris Victory Brand Well Thought of But Business Looks Slow http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/395436-tickermine1/861-harley-unit-sales-look-to-be-increasing-on-sporster-sales-polaris-victory-brand-well-thought-of-but-business-looks-slow?source=feed 861  

Harley Unit Sales Look To Be Increasing on Sporster Sales,  Polaris Victory Brand Well Thought of But Business Looks Slow

Victory Brand Strong, Sales Not As Vigorous in April
Over the past week, we surveyed dealers that sell Polaris Victory brand motorcylces and Polaris brand ATV's. Many of these dealers sell multiple brands, with the exception of Harley.  The survey's intent is to guage general motorcycle sales trends and attempt to get at Polaris Victory demand specifically.  We asked the following questions:

1.    What is the most popular brand of motorcycle you sell?
2.    What is your view of the Victory Brand of motorcycle?
3.    Do you offer any deals or good financing options on Victory motorcycles?
4.    Is financing going away because of the economy?
5.    Are you as busy as normal, or is now a good time to buy because business is slow?

•    Polaris was cited as the most popular brand at 57% of dealers we spoke with.  17% thought that Kymco was the most popular while another 17% cited Yamaha as the most popular.
•    The reviews of Polaris bikes were generally focused high quality, strong sell through and popularity.
•    60% of respondents say they are offering good deals on financing. 40% say they are not.
•    70% of respondents say financing is not going away due to the economy. 30% say it is.
•    67% say that now is a good time to buy a motorcycle because is slow. 33% say that business is normal and the deals are not extra good.

Key Takeaway:  Polaris brand motorcycles appear to be strong on the brand front compared to other brands carried at motorcycle dealers (excepting Harley Davidson Dealers).  The negative elements of the report revolve around the 40% saying that there are not good financing options and the 67% who say that business is slow and therefore now is a good time to buy a Polaris (or any other brand) motorcycle.


Sportster Sales Drive Improving Sentiment at Harley Dealers

Over the past week, we surveyed 30 Harley Davidson dealers across the United States  to track sales trends of Harley Davidson motorcycles. We asked the following questions:

6.    What bike model sell the most right now?
7.    Are you sold out of any models right now?
8.    How are business levels compared to this time last year?
9.    Has there been an increase in sales in the past month?


•    The Harley Sportster XR 1200 was cited as the best selling model by 57% of respondents.  The Dyna  series, which includes the Fat Bob and Rocker C models was seen as the top seller be 13%. . 
•    87% of respondents said they were not sold out of any models.  13% said they were sold out of some models and cited the Dyna Rocker C as one model that was sold out.
•    43% of respondents believed that business was worse in early April compared to April of last year. 30% saw business levels as the same as last year, while 27% believed that business was better than last year.
•    Despite the negative sentiment on business compared to this time last year, 57% of respondents did say business had increased in the past month. 43% did not believe that business had increased in the last four weeks.

Key Takeaway:  The absolute results for Harley appear to be generally negative. However, the data reads less poorly than in recent surveys.  The 57% who see business increasing in the past month is the best reading for this question in the past few months. The low priced Sportster continues to be the top selling model.  Potentially lower gross margins tied to the Sportster could a downside to this statistic.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@tickermine.com
 

]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:57:58 -0400  

Harley Unit Sales Look To Be Increasing on Sporster Sales,  Polaris Victory Brand Well Thought of But Business Looks Slow

Victory Brand Strong, Sales Not As Vigorous in April
Over the past week, we surveyed dealers that sell Polaris Victory brand motorcylces and Polaris brand ATV's. Many of these dealers sell multiple brands, with the exception of Harley.  The survey's intent is to guage general motorcycle sales trends and attempt to get at Polaris Victory demand specifically.  We asked the following questions:

1.    What is the most popular brand of motorcycle you sell?
2.    What is your view of the Victory Brand of motorcycle?
3.    Do you offer any deals or good financing options on Victory motorcycles?
4.    Is financing going away because of the economy?
5.    Are you as busy as normal, or is now a good time to buy because business is slow?

•    Polaris was cited as the most popular brand at 57% of dealers we spoke with.  17% thought that Kymco was the most popular while another 17% cited Yamaha as the most popular.
•    The reviews of Polaris bikes were generally focused high quality, strong sell through and popularity.
•    60% of respondents say they are offering good deals on financing. 40% say they are not.
•    70% of respondents say financing is not going away due to the economy. 30% say it is.
•    67% say that now is a good time to buy a motorcycle because is slow. 33% say that business is normal and the deals are not extra good.

Key Takeaway:  Polaris brand motorcycles appear to be strong on the brand front compared to other brands carried at motorcycle dealers (excepting Harley Davidson Dealers).  The negative elements of the report revolve around the 40% saying that there are not good financing options and the 67% who say that business is slow and therefore now is a good time to buy a Polaris (or any other brand) motorcycle.


Sportster Sales Drive Improving Sentiment at Harley Dealers

Over the past week, we surveyed 30 Harley Davidson dealers across the United States  to track sales trends of Harley Davidson motorcycles. We asked the following questions:

6.    What bike model sell the most right now?
7.    Are you sold out of any models right now?
8.    How are business levels compared to this time last year?
9.    Has there been an increase in sales in the past month?


•    The Harley Sportster XR 1200 was cited as the best selling model by 57% of respondents.  The Dyna  series, which includes the Fat Bob and Rocker C models was seen as the top seller be 13%. . 
•    87% of respondents said they were not sold out of any models.  13% said they were sold out of some models and cited the Dyna Rocker C as one model that was sold out.
•    43% of respondents believed that business was worse in early April compared to April of last year. 30% saw business levels as the same as last year, while 27% believed that business was better than last year.
•    Despite the negative sentiment on business compared to this time last year, 57% of respondents did say business had increased in the past month. 43% did not believe that business had increased in the last four weeks.

Key Takeaway:  The absolute results for Harley appear to be generally negative. However, the data reads less poorly than in recent surveys.  The 57% who see business increasing in the past month is the best reading for this question in the past few months. The low priced Sportster continues to be the top selling model.  Potentially lower gross margins tied to the Sportster could a downside to this statistic.

For access to the underlying survey or for more information, please contact Jason Katz at 415.867.0959 or jason@tickermine.com
 

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