iPad iPad Air 2 in Stock Today at Best Buy

[seanb61]

Emailed the local store manager about my issues yesterday with being told it was ready for pickup twice when it really wasn't. 64GB Gray was my order.

Got a call shortly after the email and was told that no, it still hasn't arrived and they have no idea when it will.

Looks like BBY has a real screw up going on with Gray 64GB and 128GB models.

 

[jrswizzle]

My husband also got $250 plus the $50 coupon today for the iPad 4th generation.

I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get the $50 coupon on top of my Air (which is valued at $250 on their website).

Still deciding whether cellular is necessary or not given the personal hotspot feature in iOS 8.....

$699 or $829....buy today or wait?

Is a dedicated cellular antenna worth $130 and a couple of extra days waiting?

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Also - just as a PSA to all those who are frustrated here.

If you have an Apple micro store within your local Best Buy, talk to the Apple Rep there if you have one. They will know what is going on with respect to embargos and can override the sales people in many cases.

I've stayed in touch with the Apple Rep at my local store (where I used to work) and he told me there is NO EMBARGO and that they are allowed to sell them as soon as they get them.

The fact that many here are reporting being told they can't be sold until today is contradictory to what's actually factual. Obviously the BBY employees don't have a clue - so just find the Apple Rep and ask.

 

[javaGuru]

A Best Buy within walking distance of my office actually has some in stock. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how to sneak one home so my wife doesn't kill me.

 

[DaveWonders]

Emailed the local store manager about my issues yesterday with being told it was ready for pickup twice when it really wasn't. 64GB Gray was my order.

Got a call shortly after the email and was told that no, it still hasn't arrived and they have no idea when it will.

Looks like BBY has a real screw up going on with Gray 64GB and 128GB models.

Had a similar experience. Ordered 64GB space grey for store pickup. Got the email it was ready and went to the store at opening (10am). Waited 30 minutes until finally a manager explained they were still looking and I could wait or get a call. I returned to work and got a call about 10 minutes later. Manager explained that they received no grey units and I could get another color or wait for the shipment. I would have canceled right then and there and gone across the street to the Apple Store (which had stock) but I used a few Reward Zone dollars and a mover's coupon. Ugh.

 

[Ledgem]

Is a dedicated cellular antenna worth $130 and a couple of extra days waiting?

I don't think the cellular version is worth it, unless you don't have an iPhone + tethering plan and/or you use your iPad as a GPS.

I picked up my Air 2 this morning. Traded in my old 16 GB iPad 3 and got $213 for it ($167 + $50 coupon), which was $13 more than I expected. As others said, the representative didn't ask for any accessories. She powered up the iPad, took it through a few screens, took down my contact information, and that was it. Not realizing that the amount was split between a gift card and a coupon, she slightly panicked when the gift card didn't have the full amount, but another employee was there to explain it.

No Air 2's were on the floor yet; another employee told me that they had just received their shipment the night before. They checked their system and found my desired capacity in all colors. I said what I wanted, they went to a locked area to get it, and that was that. A pleasant experience overall.

Best of luck to the rest of you!

 

[jrswizzle]

I don't think the cellular version is worth it, unless you don't have an iPhone + tethering plan and/or you use your iPad as a GPS.

I picked up my Air 2 this morning. Traded in my old 16 GB iPad 3 and got $213 for it ($167 + $50 coupon), which was $13 more than I expected. As others said, the representative didn't ask for any accessories. She powered up the iPad, took it through a few screens, took down my contact information, and that was it. Not realizing that the amount was split between a gift card and a coupon, she slightly panicked when the gift card didn't have the full amount, but another employee was there to explain it.

No Air 2's were on the floor yet; another employee told me that they had just received their shipment the night before. They checked their system and found my desired capacity in all colors. I said what I wanted, they went to a locked area to get it, and that was that. A pleasant experience overall.

Best of luck to the rest of you!

Ya....And I just got AT&T to bump me from 10GB to 20GB too....plenty to tether with....

The GPS & lack of needing my iPhone there are the only two reasons I'm considering the cellular version.

I honestly don't think I'd need either one.....

I suppose I could always get the Wifi-only and return/exchange it later for a cellular version if I had second thoughts.

 

[AppleRobert]

I was going to wait but I stopped by today to see if they had an Air 2 demo set up. I knew it was a reach because last night an employee said they had it but doubted it would be on display for today.

So I ended up buying a wifi Space Grey, no preorder no line no nothing. In and out the door in 10 minutes if it even took that long, sorry you folks are having problems.

 

[teerexx52]

I traded my iPad air today for $250 + $50 coupon for a new iPad air 2. Not a great deal but not bad either.

 

[seanb61]

Had a similar experience. Ordered 64GB space grey for store pickup. Got the email it was ready and went to the store at opening (10am). Waited 30 minutes until finally a manager explained they were still looking and I could wait or get a call. I returned to work and got a call about 10 minutes later. Manager explained that they received no grey units and I could get another color or wait for the shipment. I would have canceled right then and there and gone across the street to the Apple Store (which had stock) but I used a few Reward Zone dollars and a mover's coupon. Ugh.

Well I asked the store manager of he'd give me he silver 128 Gb in exchange for my ordered 64gb gray and cover the cost difference. He obliged and I now have a silver 128 for the cost of the 64gb.

 

[ryanmcv]

I just received an email that my iPad (64GB Space Gray) will now be ready for pickup tomorrow, and not today as originally promised. Seriously? I'm going there after work to get this settled.

 

[seanb61]

I just received an email that my iPad (64GB Space Gray) will now be ready for pickup tomorrow, and not today as originally promised. Seriously? I'm going there after work to get this settled.

Same thing happened to me while the manager was switching me to silver and 128gb. They have no clue.

 

[ryanmcv]

Same thing happened to me while the manager was switching me to silver and 128gb. They have no clue.

Unreal. I'm going to call when the store opens in 20 minutes. If they give me any trouble, I'm just going to cancel and head across the street to the Apple Store. I have Elite status at Best Buy and figured I could earn extra points and take advantage of their trade-in offer, but it's just not worth the trouble.

 

[Illuminated]

Called my local best buy and they said they don't release them till 31st...


WTF Best Buy.

 

[seanb61]

Unreal. I'm going to call when the store opens in 20 minutes. If they give me any trouble, I'm just going to cancel and head across the street to the Apple Store. I have Elite status at Best Buy and figured I could earn extra points and take advantage of their trade-in offer, but it's just not worth the trouble.

Look up the store on bestbuy.com... The store manager email should be listed. Explain the saga and and ask nicely. Tell him about my story and perhaps you can get the upgrade like I did. I asked for it specifically and he didn't have a problem doing it. Heading to another store to see if I can even-exchange it for a space gray 128 if they have any. Manager I worked with said that would be possible if I could find one.

 

[ryanmcv]

Look up the store on bestbuy.com... The store manager email should be listed. Explain the saga and and ask nicely. Tell him about my story and perhaps you can get the upgrade like I did. I asked for it specifically and he didn't have a problem doing it. Heading to another store to see if I can even-exchange it for a space gray 128 if they have any. Manager I worked with said that would be possible if I could find one.

I just got off the phone with my Best Buy store. I told the lady I had received multiple emails regarding my pickup status and provided her with my order number. She confirmed that my iPad is at the store and ready to be picked up today. She mentioned that their store-pickup system is overloaded due to the amount of preorders they have received for the iPad and Note 4. I can't get there until after work today, so I'll report back later.

 

[Wise87]

iPad Air 2 in Stock Today at Best Buy

My Best Buy had plenty but not demos. I traded in a iPad 3 and also got $50 towards Air 2. I had to pay for it before I could check it out. I opened it in store and brought up iTunes Radio. The vibration on the screen and back at 50% volume drove me crazy. I had the sales folks hold it without telling them what was up and asked if the noticed anything. All 3 said it had a bad vibration. Needless to say I told them I want to swap it for the original Air. My fingers felt tingly after holding it for a few minutes.

 

[WilliamG]

At Best Buy. Having similar troubles. They don't know why pick-up notifications were sent out. They don't have my 64GB wifi model at all. Lovely!

*edit*

Shipment came in as I was in the store looking cheesed off. I waited a bit and they had my iPad. Yay!

 

[jjahshik32]

My Best Buy had plenty but not demos. I traded in a iPad 3 and also got $50 towards Air 2. I had to pay for it before I could check it out. I opened it in store and brought up iTunes Radio. The vibration on the screen and back at 50% volume drove me crazy. I had the sales folks hold it without telling them what was up and asked if the noticed anything. All 3 said it had a bad vibration. Needless to say I told them I want to swap it for the original Air. My fingers felt tingly after holding it for a few minutes.

For me as long as the iPad's speakers aren't distorted then the vibration should be fine. Either way I'll be using it with a case around it so it should suppress the vibration.

 

[cindaddy]

I traded my iPad air today for $250 + $50 coupon for a new iPad air 2. Not a great deal but not bad either.

I did the same, but I stacked the 10% off coupon from the Mover's packet at the Post Office. $495 for a 64GB Wifi Air 2 is pretty decent.

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For me as long as the iPad's speakers aren't distorted then the vibration should be fine. Either way I'll be using it with a case around it so it should suppress the vibration.

The speaker is amazing. The vibration is big, but I usually have it in a stand when using the speaker. We'll see how it feels with a case on it.

 

[Wise87]

iPad Air 2 in Stock Today at Best Buy

The speaker sounded fine and there was no distortion. I forgot to add we did try and iPad air case and you can still feel it on the backside and definitely on the screen. Other than that it was a very nice device and the screen look great. I very seldom use eat buds and I'm always holding onto my iPad so this was an inconvenience just for me. Buy me going to the air I got a slightly better battery and I upgraded from a generation three so it's still a win situation for me.

 

[rhaezorblue]

I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get the $50 coupon on top of my Air (which is valued at $250 on their website).

Still deciding whether cellular is necessary or not given the personal hotspot feature in iOS 8.....

$699 or $829....buy today or wait?

Is a dedicated cellular antenna worth $130 and a couple of extra days waiting?

----------

Also - just as a PSA to all those who are frustrated here.

If you have an Apple micro store within your local Best Buy, talk to the Apple Rep there if you have one. They will know what is going on with respect to embargos and can override the sales people in many cases.

I've stayed in touch with the Apple Rep at my local store (where I used to work) and he told me there is NO EMBARGO and that they are allowed to sell them as soon as they get them.

The fact that many here are reporting being told they can't be sold until today is contradictory to what's actually factual. Obviously the BBY employees don't have a clue - so just find the Apple Rep and ask.

It is not worth it if you have an iPhone with hotspot available for your carrier. You don't even have to take your phone out of your pocket - you'll see "Johns iPhone" and you just tap on it, boom connected. Saved yourself hundreds you can now use for strippers.

 

[jjahshik32]

It is not worth it if you have an iPhone with hotspot available for your carrier. You don't even have to take your phone out of your pocket - you'll see "Johns iPhone" and you just tap on it, boom connected. Saved yourself hundreds you can now use for strippers.

Thats why I dont care about what type of phone that I have or how old it is. I just have my old samsung galaxy S4 that I just use to tether to my iPad. So as long as I can get email on my phone with a tethering option, I dont care about upgrading and I just focus more on my iPad upgrade.

 

[AppleRobert]

At Best Buy. Having similar troubles. They don't know why pick-up notifications were sent out. They don't have my 64GB wifi model at all. Lovely!

*edit*

Shipment came in as I was in the store looking cheesed off. I waited a bit and they had my iPad. Yay!

Glad you were able to get one. Your posts/feedback has always been helpful to me as I have made my way round this forum. I will wait your first impressions on a thread I recently started. Enjoy and thanks in advance.

 

[jrswizzle]

It is not worth it if you have an iPhone with hotspot available for your carrier. You don't even have to take your phone out of your pocket - you'll see "Johns iPhone" and you just tap on it, boom connected. Saved yourself hundreds you can now use for strippers.

Uhh, thanks for the advice, but I'll earmark that money for something else.

Just picked up a 128GB Silver Wifi only. Looking forward to playing with it after work. This thing is super thin and light.....really unbelievable.

 

[Illuminated]

Uhh, thanks for the advice, but I'll earmark that money for something else.

Just picked up a 128GB Silver Wifi only. Looking forward to playing with it after work. This thing is super thin and light.....really unbelievable.

I pre-ordered mine and still haven't gotten it yet. So much for a 'pre'-order...