Best Buy and Toys R' Us Selling iPads on Sunday

[marksman]

Why is this on the front page? It's like saying that WalMart is now selling a junk tablet. Except this article says that Toys R Us and Best Buy is now selling iPads. This isn't front page news.

Because it is hard to come by an iPad 2, and lots of people are interested in getting them, so when two national retailers run special promotions making them available it is of interest to a lot of people.

The better question is why did you post in this thread if it was no interest to you... It is not hip or cool... it is just wasteful and ignorant.

 

[roadbloc]

Toys R Us? Seriously? What a bizzarre place to buy a tablet PC. I guess we'll be seeing them with the Fisher Price laptops.

 

[IndyGopher]

It's both sad and sickening to see how many Apple fanboys are elitists who only want Apple products to be sold at upscale stores. Such fanboys want Apple products to be regarded as high-end fashion accessories and status symbols. What a shame that Apple has such a feminized culture associated with it. I miss the days when Apple products were regarded as tools for accomplishing tasks.

I don't know that I would call it feminized, but it certainly seems bratty and petulant. Sell them everywhere! Someone mentioned Starbucks and 7-11... and while they were being douchenozzles about it, I say those sound like great ideas. I don't care if they sell them at hot dog carts in the park... the more places that sell them and the more people that see them the better. When you limit an item to boutique stores, the items get a stigma of being posh and elitist... that is NOT how you move tons of product.

 

[burtba]

Good luck to you guys. As far as stocks for the general population, what a completely botched release by Apple.
In Australia I've checking Apple.com.au regularly. Initially after the first handful were released, their web site has shown 3-4 weeks, that was up for 2 weeks, then dropped to 2-3 weeks, which has now been up for 2 weeks+
Be nice to have some sort of very rough idea!!

 

[thelonelylimo]

I'm fine with Best Buy... but Radio Shack & Toys "R" Us, not so much.

 

[Popeye206]

Toys R US is an odd distribution point, but genius from a marketing exposure point. It's going to get the Apple brand in front of a lot of families.

I think it's more odd that Toys R Us wants it. It's so far off their normal product type, but it could be that Toys R Us is looking for new segments to open in order to try and save their business????

I loved the Starbucks comment. That would make sense since most iPads end up at Starbucks! LOL!

 

[jamesryanbell]

Remember folks: It's only paradise if it's a limited access paradise.











(Kidding. Chill out. )

 

[Yankee617]

I don't know that I would call it feminized, but it certainly seems bratty and petulant. Sell them everywhere! Someone mentioned Starbucks and 7-11... and while they were being douchenozzles about it, I say those sound like great ideas. I don't care if they sell them at hot dog carts in the park... the more places that sell them and the more people that see them the better. When you limit an item to boutique stores, the items get a stigma of being posh and elitist... that is NOT how you move tons of product.

Having more distribution points does not increased the supply; it just spreads it out more thinly, making it even harder to locate the few supplies that do exist.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It's both sad and sickening to see how many Apple fanboys are elitists who only want Apple products to be sold at upscale stores. Such fanboys want Apple products to be regarded as high-end fashion accessories and status symbols. What a shame that Apple has such a feminized culture associated with it. I miss the days when Apple products were regarded as tools for accomplishing tasks.

Seems like you have your own special elitism. However, I don't think true Apple fans care where it's products are sold. I know I certainly don't. I have liked Apple products since the early 80s. I'm in it for the technology and productivity. The day they leave that harbor I'm out, regardless of whatever special status the brand may hold. But I have seen no evidence of that happening. Apple products may be more mainstream now than 15 years ago, but they help me be as productive as ever.

Good luck to you guys. As far as stocks for the general population, what a completely botched release by Apple.
In Australia I've checking Apple.com.au regularly. Initially after the first handful were released, their web site has shown 3-4 weeks, that was up for 2 weeks, then dropped to 2-3 weeks, which has now been up for 2 weeks+
Be nice to have some sort of very rough idea!!

Err... seems like a broad estimate like "2-3 weeks" is a rough idea. It's also not a long time. If people would just order and get on with their life there would be no need to hunt and peck and moan.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Having more distribution points does not increased the supply; it just spreads it out more thinly, making it even harder to locate the few supplies that do exist.

It's called planning ahead.

While there may not be enough ipads right now, as soon as there are enough the distribution is expanded.

I agree with another poster: Positioning for gaming.

In any Apple store the ipads are hogged and blocked by a lot of kids.
They got the idea of what they want

As for where to buy : Who cares? If you get one anyplace that would be great!

 

[rdlink]

Err... seems like a broad estimate like "2-3 weeks" is a rough idea. It's also not a long time. If people would just order and get on with their life there would be no need to hunt and peck and moan.

Agreed. Recipe for sucess:

Click.
Enter credit card information.
Get on with life.
Sign for package when it arrives in about three weeks.
Enjoy your new device.

The delays were actually a good thing for me. Gave me time to "cool off" and realize that my iPad 1 is working just fine for me, and I can get along without upgrading to this generation.

 

[mrfrosty]

My local target (Davenport) have 5 * 64Gb wifi in White.

At 7:45 there were about 8 people in the queue outside the store

 

[Al Coholic]

The delays were actually a good thing for me. Gave me time to "cool off" and realize that my iPad 1 is working just fine for me, and I can get along without upgrading to this generation.

LOL! That's precisely why the "limited supply" iPad2 launch was such a fiasco. You impulse buyers couldn't pull the trigger. Seriously... were this any other company other than Apple at least top 3 execs would have had their asses thrown out the door.

As an aside... my local Wal-Mart has had iPad2's for 2 weeks now. I've been there at least 3 times a week and they're always in stock.

 

[maclaptop]

Toys R Us? Seriously? What a bizzarre place to buy a tablet PC. I guess we'll be seeing them with the Fisher Price laptops.

Yep, get the kiddies hooked on iDevices early. Apple everything, paint their rooms white and let the mind control begin

 

[KnightWRX]

Toys R Us? Seriously? What a bizzarre place to buy a tablet PC. I guess we'll be seeing them with the Fisher Price laptops.

I think it's more odd that Toys R Us wants it. It's so far off their normal product type, but it could be that Toys R Us is looking for new segments to open

You're right, it is, they usually stick to HP, ASUS and Toshiba Laptops :

http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3634444

Did you even bother to look up what Toys r' Us sells before making that comment ? This isn't a "new segment to open".

in order to try and save their business????

Why is every business but Apple struggling and looking to save themselves ? Why is it everytime a company other than Apple is mentionned around this forum, it has to be close to bankruptcy and desperate to generate revenue and relevency ?

News flash, a lot of businesses aren't struggling at all, even if they aren't associated with Apple.

 

[*LTD*]

It's both sad and sickening to see how many Apple fanboys are elitists who only want Apple products to be sold at upscale stores. Such fanboys want Apple products to be regarded as high-end fashion accessories and status symbols. What a shame that Apple has such a feminized culture associated with it. I miss the days when Apple products were regarded as tools for accomplishing tasks.

Frankly, as pro-Apple as I am, I fully support the sale of this device at as many stores and outlets as possible. This device is truly for *everyone*: your 2 year-old ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4EbM7dCMs ), your grandma, the jet-set CEO, your brother, your sister, doctors, nurses, lawyers . . . everyone. It should get as much exposure as possible for how effing brilliant this device is and how well it works. It's a tool, a toy, you name it, it's whatever you want it to be, all rolled into one beautifully designed chassis.

As for "feminized culture" being associated with Apple products, I doubt it has anything to do with "elitism" per se. Apple tends to give technology a very "feminine" touch - meaning the products tend to have very curvy, attractive, almost sensual lines. These aren't button-festooned franken-devices with missile launchers bolted on. Attractive, minimalist design will always have some association with feminine sensibilities. This is normal.

 

[Stella]

Doesn't matter where Apple sells its products. Better to make your products available everywhere than in just one or two specific stores. Remember: Not every city has an Apple store and can be quite a distance to the closest.

Best Buy is an ideal place to sell iPads, since its a consumer electronics store.... Apple is a consumer electronics company ( these days ).

BTW - Best Buy has been selling iPads for a long time, so only makes sense they sell iPad 2...

 

[russomd]

Woot got a 32 gb black! at tru. Thank you macrumors

 

[maclaptop]

Agreed. Recipe for sucess:

Click.
Enter credit card information.
Get on with life.
Sign for package when it arrives in about three weeks.
Enjoy your new device.

The delays were actually a good thing for me. Gave me time to "cool off"

I'm with you on every point, except the cooling off period.

Now that Apple's quality control had tanked, I know that there's a great likelihood ill get a bad one and the return game will begin.

Even though I have an Apple store nearby, I buy BTO, so I'm stuck with what has become "The Crap Shoot, Gambling The Apple Way".

 

[bossxii]

I don't really find it strange that Toys R Us will self, it, they gave a dedicated area for console games and electronics. Apple clearly knows kids love glossy, shine toys. Set the iPad up at the right height at they will find it and mom and dad will cave and buy them one. They already went the Walmart, Target route its not Apple is trying to maintain some image of only BB or Apple stores, they are clearly expanding into any store they can to sell product.

When you see them in a kiosk at McDonalds...then they will be nearing global domination.

 

[pmz]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8G4 Safari/6533.18.5)

Agreed. Recipe for sucess:

Click.
Enter credit card information.
Get on with life.
Sign for package when it arrives in about three weeks.
Enjoy your new device.

The delays were actually a good thing for me. Gave me time to "cool off"

I'm with you on every point, except the cooling off period.

Now that Apple's quality control had tanked, I know that there's a great likelihood ill get a bad one and the return game will begin.

Even though I have an Apple store nearby, I buy BTO, so I'm stuck with what has become "The Crap Shoot, Gambling The Apple Way".

Yea ok, keep dreaming fantasy boy. The stories you read online dont actually count as a measure of Apples quality control.

I've never had to return any of a dozen Apple devices.

 

[maclaptop]

1) Yea ok, keep dreaming fantasy boy.

2) The stories you read online dont actually count as a measure of Apples quality control.

I've never had to return any of a dozen Apple devices.

1) Name calling is so childish

2) Assuming is.... Well you know what they say

Sorry you're feeling so down.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

This would be a good thing if ANY of those stores actually had any iPads for sale.... As it is now they are just adding another store chain for people to check inventory

Doesn't matter where Apple sells its products. Better to make your products available everywhere than in just one or two specific stores. Remember: Not every city has an Apple store and can be quite a distance to the closest.

 

[Thunderhawks]

LOL! That's precisely why the "limited supply" iPad2 launch was such a fiasco. You impulse buyers couldn't pull the trigger. Seriously... were this any other company other than Apple at least top 3 execs would have had their asses thrown out the door.

As an aside... my local Wal-Mart has had iPad2's for 2 weeks now. I've been there at least 3 times a week and they're always in stock.

The board that oversees what the top 3 executives do at Apple knows more than you about production issues of MILLIONS of hi-tech devices.

Anybody familiar with production and distribution issues knows that despite excellent planning there may be issues during production that cannot be forecast.

Selling and shipping MILLIONS in a few weeks is a exactly fiasco for whom?

 

[RWinOR]

When you see them in a kiosk at McDonalds...then they will be nearing global domination.

I see them at the Best Buy Kiosk's in all the major airports around the country.

If you have flown anywhere lately you have notice Apple products, IPads, MacBooks are the preferred electronic device on most major flights. I was at JFK last week, The waiting areas had 100's of Ipads built into the seats for all those waiting so they could surf the web.