iPad First world problem....

Apple definitely won't have it on sale/cut however, it is up to walmart/target/best buy if they want to discount it so you might get lucky.

 

I saw a sign at Target the other day saying that they'll price match anything bought now, until sometime in January. So if it comes out cheaper, you might be able to get a price match. Ask them.

 

I think Walmart is also having a guaranteed in stock sale on the iPad 2 with a $75 gift card, thanksgiving night at 10-11pm. Awesome because if they're out, you get a raincheck. But it's not the 4, so it just depends on what you want.

 

I was having this problem as well. I went back and forth between buying it this weekend and waiting until Black Friday.

After much contemplation, I decided that getting a $60 Target gift card is simply not worth going through all the hassle of arriving early and waiting in line and hoping that I get one.

I went to the Apple Store this weekend with the intention of purchasing an iPad 4 and actually ended up reserving an iPad Mini and picking it up yesterday.

My financial situation may be much different than yours, but there is no way I could justify waiting until Black Friday and then waiting in line and dealing with crazy people and not even be guaranteed to get one.

That's just my outlook.

 

I don't think you can price match things that happen due to black friday.

 

Correct. No store will match black friday sales. It usually says this in ads and I work for Target and I know they don't.

 

Is $60 worth the hassle? To me it isn't.

 

OP,

Black Friday is mostly mediocre sales on stuff you didn't really want or need in the first place. Common tricks are to make bundles that include items you don't want, to hugely understock the actual good deals, and to have manufacturers make a cheap barebones version that closely approximates a more common and expected version.

Apple products in particular don't get much of a discount, if anything at all. In some rare cases there can be a good discount outside of Apple stores, but it's heavily advertised, "limited to stock on hand", and they'll stock somewhere around 5-6 units. That's how they get thousands of people into the store, who then buy something else in order to not walk out empty handed.

I think you are absolutely correct when you say MAYBE you'd get one if you got in line REALLY early. Personally, that's not worth it to me, and I think you are the only one who can answer if it is worth it to you.

As an alternative, generally the best deals for Apple products are in their own refurb store, deals which are sporadic but ongoing. Refurbs for the portable products get a new battery, new case, new packaging and accessories, and the full 1-year warranty. Of course the iPad 4 and Mini aren't on the refurb store yet, but they'll be there soon enough.

 

How do you know this?

Apple had the ipad on sale last year for black friday. Discount ranged from $21-$41 off depending which iPad you got.

 

I just do. Will have to wait till next Friday to know for sure.

 

In the same boat....
What about buying the iPad now from Target and then going back either on BF (after the lines die down) and trying to get them to match with the gift card?