Amazon's out of the original Amazon Echo right now, and they won't say why
Sorry, but you can't buy the original Amazon Echo at Amazon.com right now.
Amazon.com is reporting the original Alexa intelligent assistant-hosting speaker is "Currently unavailable: We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock."
The deficit comes just a day after running a blockbuster sale on refurbished Echo devices ($79.99).
Even refurbished, $79.99 is $100 off the original price. How that led to a supply shortage on brand-new Echo speakers is unclear. There are still ample supplies of Amazon's other Echo devices, like the Dot, Show, and Look (still an invitation-only fashion selfie camera).
Amazon confirmed to Mashable that the Echo is out of stock, but wouldn't explain why. Instead, a spokesperson offered this statement:
Customer response to Echo and Alexa continues to be incredibly positive, and we’re energized by the enthusiasm of our customers. We’re working hard to get back in stock as quickly as possible, and in the meantime you can still order Echo Dot and Echo Show.
Imagine Apple's three-year-old iPhone 6S going out of stock or even last year's iPhone 7. That's how strange it is for Amazon's popular, three-year-old smart home device to disappear from Amazon shelves. Its absence leads to some questions and possibilities.
Is Amazon purposely keeping Echo supplies down to drive people to its other, newer Echo devices like the brand new and pricier ($229.99) Show?
The other option is that Amazon is preparing an update and has stopped producing the original Echo, which has not changed since its release in 2015. Considering all the fresh competition from Google (Google Home), Microsoft (Harmon Kardon Invoke) and Apple (HomePod), it's high time Amazon updated its flagship smart home assistant.
Amazon, of course, is not saying.
In the meantime, if you really want an original, brand-new Echo ($179.99) right now, supplies at Best Buy and Staples appear unaffected.
Topics Amazon Amazon Echo Innovations
Lance Ulanoff was Chief Correspondent and Editor-at-Large of Mashable. Lance acted as a senior member of the editing team, with a focus on defining internal and curated opinion content. He also helped develop staff-wide alternative story-telling skills and implementation of social media tools during live events. Prior to joining Mashable in September 2011 Lance Ulanoff served as Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for the Ziff Davis, Inc. While there, he guided the brand to a 100% digital existence and oversaw content strategy for all of Ziff Davis’ Web sites. His long-running column on PCMag.com earned him a Bronze award from the ASBPE. Winmag.com, HomePC.com and PCMag.com were all been honored under Lance’s guidance.He makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Fox News, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Kelly and Michael, CNBC, CNN and the BBC.He has also offered commentary on National Public Radio and been interviewed by newspapers and radio stations around the country. Lance has been an invited guest speaker at numerous technology conferences including SXSW, Think Mobile, CEA Line Shows, Digital Life, RoboBusiness, RoboNexus, Business Foresight and Digital Media Wire’s Games and Mobile Forum.
