Buy online or wait for in-store purchase?

[brett429]

So, I went to one of the Apple stores here in Atlanta last night and they were sold out of iPads and had been for "quiiiiite a while... at least 8 hours," according to an employee (so dramatic, lol).

If I buy online, it won't be delivered until the week of the 26th... and I'd hate to have them become available again in the stores in the mean time. Naturally, I called all 4 Apple stores in Atlanta and none of them had any idea when they'd be back in stock.

Thoughts? Any idea how long new shipments are taking and how long they stay in stock afterwards? THANKS!

[mrcc]

it depends on u. i called the apple store they had a few 32gb and 64gb. but i want the 3g bb is all sold out.

[Nash Bridges]

Supposedly Apple stores get re-supplied the next day when they sell out and Best Buys take a week.

The decision for purchasing online vs. in store should be predicated upon what happens if there is an issue with the iPad. With the store you can walk in and walk back out with a new one. With an online purchase you have to deal with shipping and could get a refurb.

Personally with all of the WiFi issues going on I would opt for an in store purchase at this point.

Have you tried Best Buy?

[brett429]

Originally Posted by Nash Bridges

Supposedly Apple stores get re-supplied the next day when they sell out and Best Buys take a week.

The decision for purchasing online vs. in store should be predicated upon what happens if there is an issue with the iPad. With the store you can walk in and walk back out with a new one. With an online purchase you have to deal with shipping and could get a refurb.

Personally with all of the WiFi issues going on I would opt for an in store purchase at this point.

Have you tried Best Buy?

Thanks, Nash! I hadn't checked with Best Buy yet, I will give them a shot.

[barkomatic]

You could always order online and if you manage to get an iPad in the store just cancel.

As for taking it in for servicing, even an iPad purchased online can be brought to a store to be fixed or replaced if needed.

[noah82]

There's something magical about buying it from the Apple store

[jalpert]

There is something magical about not having to go to the Apple store for your iPad :-) Even if your online order ships and you decide you want to try and get one local, go for it. The restocking fee only applies to opened merchandise, just return your online order, unopened, to the store. With the free shipping, you should get a 100% refund.

Originally Posted by noah82

There's something magical about buying it from the Apple store

[JZ Wire]

Originally Posted by noah82

There's something magical about buying it from the Apple store

I agree. Its nice to walk in, ask for an iPad, and walk out with it in your hands. Then when you get home you can play with your new iPad all you want. You can even activate it at the store if you dont want to wait. Its all about the experience. Im waitin too, except im goin for the 3G. Any day now. . .

[brett429]

So, do we know how often the Apple stores get new stock of iPads? Since apparently NONE of the Apple stores I asked knew (or maybe they lied and just didn't want to tell me).

[Scott-n-Houston]

Originally Posted by Nash Bridges

With the store you can walk in and walk back out with a new one. With an online purchase you have to deal with shipping and could get a refurb.

If you buy online, you can still get service and replacements at the store. If that's what you were referring to with shipping or getting a refurb.