Best Buy Not in Trouble with Apple? Holding iPad 2 Stock for 'Upcoming Promotion'

[Mattie Num Nums]

Yeah, that makes a little more sense. But what....iPad2 accessories?

I still have a hard time buying their reason.

A lot of these companies also have Agreements with the Manufacturers on when, how, and what they can sell. Maybe Apple has told them to run this promotion to help draw not only sales but accessories sales or like I said above maybe its a promo like the Back to School promo.

 

[Surely]

A lot of these companies also have Agreements with the Manufacturers on when, how, and what they can sell. Maybe Apple has told them to run this promotion to help draw not only sales but accessories sales or like I said above maybe its a promo like the Back to School promo.

I dunno......it doesn't seem like Apple is having a hard time selling their iPad2 accessories, especially the Smart Cover. I don't see why Apple would ask BB to run a promotion in order to sell 3rd party accessories.

 

[millypede]

I really don't think so It will be a margin building exercise, PC World (or Dixons/Currys/Whatever) did it on the last iPad, they will shrink wrap them up in higher margin products and tell people those are the only bundles they have in stock at the moment. If they are making very little margin and selling lots it will bring down the gross margin for the stores. Its just simple margin building.

 

[G5isAlive]

What a surprise, Tech Crunch got a story completely wrong

and it was repeated by MacRumors and everyone jumped all over it...

really you are just going to point a finger at Tech Crunch? We are all to blame here for jumping.

 

[millypede]

I dunno......it doesn't seem like Apple is having a hard time selling their iPad2 accessories, especially the Smart Cover. I don't see why Apple would ask BB to run a promotion in order to sell 3rd party accessories.

Apple wont, 3rd parties will, they pay BB a ton of cash to push their products, they pay for the advertising, shelf space etc.

 

[JAT]

I bet it is simply..."We have the iPad 2 in stock and no one else does. Come get one."

Maybe they'll hire some drunk to stand on the corner in an iPad costume like all the tax preparation places do for March-April 15.

 

[Cyclotrode]

I wonder what the special promotion is.

I'm guessing that it's probably for an upcoming Reward Zone Member shopping event that they hold every so often. They usually do those events on Sundays after normal store hours.

 

[RalfTheDog]

Yeah, that makes a little more sense. But what....iPad2 accessories?

I still have a hard time buying their reason.

As I said above, they will probably use it to sell something they can't move. My guess, "Purchase a Windows 7 phone, we will let you buy an iPad 2."

 

[ninjadex]

More sensationalist "reporting" from another tech blog. Best Buy has been known for holding hot items (game consoles, etc.) for Sunday flyer promotions, for years. It was obvious that was what was going on here.

But no, Tech-Crunch-Gear-Whatever has to drag Apple, even Tim Cook into it. What a bunch of gossip rags... it's embarrassing.

 

[FriarNurgle]

Bet they are lowering the price and want to avoid refunding money to so many people.

 

[croooow]

Why would you run a promotion on something that sells out the moment they come into inventory?...

It's not to promote the iPad 2, it's to promote BestBuy (get people into the stores and try to get them to buy other stuff. iPad accessories or maybe some of the other rubbish they have in there)

 

[RebootD]

More sensationalist "reporting" from another tech blog. Best Buy has been known for holding hot items (game consoles, etc.) for Sunday flyer promotions, for years. It was obvious that was what was going on here.

But no, Tech-Crunch-Gear-Whatever has to drag Apple, even Tim Cook into it. What a bunch of gossip rags... it's embarrassing.

And fake outrage from the people here

They are a store and can do as they please with their inventory. If they want to keep 20 of them locked in a sealed vault they can for as long as they want.

It only gets into the "wrong" territory if they held back stock and then charged more than MSRP creating a fake supply shortage to boost prices.

 

[Surely]

As I said above, they will probably use it to sell something they can't move. My guess, "Purchase a Windows 7 phone, we will let you buy an iPad 2."

Yeah, I don't see Apple approving a promotion like that with their current flagship product.

 

[LightSpeed1]

Great cover story.

 

[mdlooker]

Special Promotion?? lol..What are they going to create more of a demand for the iPad 2?? This makes absolutely no sense.

There are people all over that have ordered iPad's as early as 11 MARCH and STILL DON'T HAVE THEM!! Promotion..Are you kidding me??

Lies..all lies.. lol I don't believe any of it.

I would love and welcome to be eduacted on this scheme.

 

[pw1388]

What it is that if something is on the Sunday ad then they legally need to have a minimum amount of the product in stock. If you read the fine print it would say this amount of this product in store. So I don't get all the Best Buy hate here...

 

[RebootD]

I would love and welcome to be eduacted on this scheme.

Corporate plans events/sales/promotions months in advance. They couldn't see the future, and lack of iPad 2 supply, so to keep on track for whatever promo they have coming they are keeping a minimum supply to guarantee sales on that day. It's quite simple really.

And no it isn't to build iPad 2 hype it's to get feet through the door (Best Buy) on a particular day, probably a normal slow sales weekend.

Now everyone breathe and realize the world doesn't work just for you.

 

[stagelighteyes]

If

The key word in that is IF most best buys don't have any ipads in stock to begin with and neither do apple store. There is a very short supply of them right now. so IF a store has some based on SOP they can hold them. It'll only be till Sunday so calm yourselves down. As for the PS3 can only be sold with a PSP you should have told him to shove it and spoke with a manager. That can get a kid fired

 

[iScott428]

I wonder what the special promotion is.

Hey Best Buy, not sure what you are waiting for but last time I checked the special iPad 2 promotion was the release on 3/11...Seriously a BS excuse and weak stuff if they are really holding back supplies.

 

[miamialley]

I realize this is a rumor site, but posting conflicting rumors in the same day is getting obnoxious. Is there ANY fact checking at all?

 

[KnightWRX]

We are all to blame here for jumping.

Who's this we ? My first post in that other thread was questionning the source of the rumor and asking why everyone was taking it as fact without any proof.

Use "I" if you must, don't include all of us in your over-reaction.

 

[princealfie]

I will be picking up an Asus EEE Transformer from Best Buy soon. That device looks mad deadly!

 

[toddybody]

Promotion: Best Buy would like you to pay for an iPad 2 in full...to get on a list, that may get one by Aug. Oh, and uh...a free keychain too.

 

[FriarNurgle]

I realize this is a rumor site, but posting conflicting rumors in the same day is getting obnoxious. Is there ANY fact checking at all?

We are part of the news (rumor) process. It's kinda fun seeing stuff like this develop.

 

[Mistrblank]

I wonder what the special promotion is.

Probably in the form of "bundles" where you're required to buy an iPad with their special accessory packs just so they can push overpriced accessories out of the door.