CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple retail employees have been told to warn customers against visiting stores to buy the iPhone Duo without a preorder when the company's first foldable smartphone goes on sale Friday, the latest sign of the severe supply shortage surrounding the $1,999 device.

Apple Store employees told MacRumors they had been advised that there will likely be no iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day, Oct. 23. Staff were instructed to discourage customers without preorders from coming in expecting to buy the device, warning that they would likely leave disappointed.

It was not clear how firm the guidance is or whether it applies to Apple stores worldwide. Apple has not publicly said whether any of its stores will have iPhone Duo units available for walk-in buyers on launch day.

Apple's online store currently tells customers to check back on Saturday, Oct. 24, for in-store pickup availability. Pickup reservations were briefly offered when preorders opened on Oct. 16 before Apple disabled the option.

The Oct. 24 message does not guarantee that stock will be available that day.

If the guidance to employees is widely applied, it would close off one of the few remaining routes for customers hoping to avoid the lengthy wait times for online orders.

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