Amazon Echo and Echo Dot are sold out on Amazon
Amazon has sold out of its Echo and Echo Dot home speaker devices in the run up to Christmas, with the Dot due to be back in stock on 27 December and the Echo on 19 January 2017. The devices have been sold by Amazon at a discount since November, which may account for the lack of stock. The high demand may mean that shoppers turn to Google’s rival Home device, though there is still stock in physical stores.
It appears that Amazon did a poor job of judging the demand for its smart speakers, the Echo and the Echo Dot.

Both devices are currently sold out on Amazon's website, with the Echo Dot slated to be available again on Dec. 27(opens in a new tab), and the larger Echo only coming on Jan. 19(opens in a new tab), 2017.

According to The Wall Street Journal(opens in a new tab), however, both devices were still available in some retail stores Monday, meaning there's still a chance to grab one if you don't mind a little walking.

Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashabl

Amazon spokeswoman Kinley Pearsall told(opens in a new tab) Bloomberg that the Echo still might be available at a number of other places, including Amazon bookstores, Best Buy, Lowe’s, Staples, Sears and Toys "R" Us.

Amazon has offered the $179.99 Echo and the $49.99 Echo Dot at a significant discount since late November, which likely contributed to the devices flying off the virtual shelves.

While high demand is generally a good thing, Amazon probably would have preferred to have the Echo in stock at least until the holidays. With the Amazon devices out of stock, shoppers are likely to go for Google's competing Home device, which is currently available for purchase(opens in a new tab) on Google's website and several other retailers.