[petermcd]

The numbers I've heard here in China are three weeks from the factory door to a warehouse on the West Coast of the USA (don't forget loading/unloading and time clearing customs). Typically, factories require you to complete payment and take possession before the product leaves their factory doors. There is often an inspection of completed goods at the factory before payment is made, and the buyer takes possession.

Perhaps Apple has told their manufacturing partners they will only take possession once the product arrives at their warehouse in the US, moving this time window from Apple's books to their supplier's books.