The Daily Valet. - 12/18/19, Wednesday
✔️ There Are No More AirPods Pro
Wednesday, December 18th Edition
I was going to ask for some new AirPods for Christmas but ...
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
AirPods Pro Sell Out Online
What’s worse, they’re now being flipped by resellers
Apple's new AirPods Pro, the upgrade to their wireless earbuds, are proving to be even more popular than the original. While some people were surprised by the $250 price tag, it turns out the price isn’t really much of an issue. The problem is that they can't keep them in stock.
The noise-canceling, wireless ear buds are out of stock across most online retailers, CNBC reported Tuesday. That means anyone who had those little status symbols on their wish list better hope their orders are already filled.
I guess we should've seen this coming. Last month, retail analyst Dan Ives told Barron’s that they'd be one of the hottest items for Black Friday. And a recent Evercore ISI survey indicated AirPods are among the most wanted holiday gifts among teens and young adults.
Apple was the first to sell out. They're now quoting delivery times around January 10. The big box retailers and Amazon were next. Now, your best bet is to try an actual store in person (novel, I know), but that's a long shot.
The option you're left with right now, if you absolutely need a pair for Christmas, is to check eBay. Hypebeast reports that there are multiple resellers offloading pairs for an extra hundred bucks, though some have soared in prices to over $450.
If you've got the money, go for it. But if you want my advice? Give an IOU with an iTunes gift card over paying extra. And don't give an alternative earbud if you know they want the AirPods Pro. They'd rather know they're coming, over a pair that's like them, but not quite.
↦ Need Gift Ideas? We've got nearly two dozen different guides to help you out.
The House Votes on Impeachment Today
Trump rails against the process with a dramatic presidential letter in the style of his tweets
A majority of House lawmakers have said they plan to support at least one article of impeachment against President Trump, reports the Washington Post. No Republicans have said they will break ranks in the full House vote, which is planned to take place today after six hours of scheduled debate.
Trump is set to be the third president in US history to be impeached, and denounced the process in an angry six-page letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Wall Street Journal said that the letter was written in much the same style as his tweets.
If the House does impeach Trump, the matter then moves to the Senate for a trial, expected in January. The timeline and format of a Senate trial remained uncertain late Tuesday, as party leaders sparred and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters, "I'm not an impartial juror. This is a political process."
↦ Fact Check: The New York Times fact-checked the president's letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi ... and there are more than a few inaccuracies.
Australia Braces for Extreme Heat Wave
Blistering temperatures may exceed 120°F
Australia will likely set a record for its hottest day ever this week, as temperatures soar past 104 degrees in most of the nation’s major cities, with inland areas of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia possibly eclipsing 122 degrees, reports The Guardian.
The heat wave, which is unusually severe for so early in their summer, is affecting the entirety of the continent, and will no doubt intensify an already-overwhelming bushfire season. More than 100 fires are currently burning in New South Wales, and the Sydney metropolitan area is anticipating "extreme fire danger" due to the heat.
But some Aussies are responding to the temperatures in the most Australian of ways. Like the gentleman who ignited social media by posting a video of the pork roast he was able to cook in his car.
Be Careful When Ordering from Amazon
One man’s trash is another man’s Prime order
You rip open the Amazon box and pull out the item you just ordered. It's shrink-wrapped. It's (seemingly) clean. You'd never know it was recently fished out of a dumpster. But that's exactly what is happening, according to an investigative report by the Wall Street Journal.
They not only found sellers offering items sourced from the trash, but were able to set up their own Amazon store with products they found in dumpsters, including an unopened but possibly defective jar of lemon curd.
Some sellers told the Journal that they'd been doing this for years. And the reporters were generally shocked at how easy it was to do on their own.
In response to the exposé, Amazon updated its policy to specifically forbid sellers from offering items that came from the trash, which it said "has always been inconsistent with Amazon's high expectations of its sellers and prohibited by the Seller Code of Conduct on Amazon, which requires that sellers act fairly and honestly to ensure a safe buying and selling experience."
↦ Cautionary Tale: Let this remind you to be weary of those third party sellers offering prices that seem a bit too good to be true.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
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The Need for Speed
Can a boom in high-speed trains solve America’s transit crisis?
Trains represent the most efficient and environmentally responsible way to transport large groups of people over land. But for Americans, logistics remain an issue: Is it possible for us as a society to travel this way? Inside Hook examines the potential.
There's certainly hope. And the environmental impact would be huge. Just one bullet train from Dallas to Houston would remove more than 14,000 vehicles a day from one highway between the two cities.
In California, they're pushing forward with an aggressive plan for high-speed lines up and down the state. One train will get you from Los Angeles to San Francisco—363 miles at 220 mph with no stops—in just under two hours. The only downside? It won't be ready until 2033.
In Florida, things are moving a bit faster. Miami-based Brightline currently offers a high-speed train that runs between Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. And the company has recently taken over the route from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
↦ Even Faster: Various Hyperloop companies are already working with transportation authorities in North Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Nevada.
Sales We’re Eyeing
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Morning Motto
Fight past the resistance to putting in the work.
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