Target Information

[jmgore75]

Variation on a theme

I was able to pick up an iPad 2 thanks to the helpful information in this thread. To aid my search, I created a script with python to help me by checking the Target stock page, and emailing me if there was a local availability.

As it is set right now, this script requires Gmail.

To use the script,

1. Unzip CheckTargetStock.zip
2. Edit CheckTargetStock.py and fill in your email info, dcpi, and zipcode
3. Save CheckTargetStock.py
4. Launch Terminal.app
5. Navigate to the directory that contains CheckTargetStock.py
6. Run 'python CheckTargetStock.py'

I scheduled the command 'python CheckTargetStock.py' to run every 20 minutes using Lingon.

I liked that script so much I enhanced it. This version allows you to check multiple models and zipcodes, and is set up to check periodically and email you with any changes. Instructions are in the file. Cheers! Here's hoping I can snag one before the scalpers.

Edit: I updated the script on page 38 to fix a lot issues people mentioned.

 

[thenobody]

Theres no instructions there and how do you use it on a pc?

EDIT: oh i see the instructions but how can it be used with windows 7?

 

[psychedelia]

I was just at the Woodland Hills store where the online inventory checker comes up with limited available for the 64GB version. They had none :/
And yes, I did ask them to check the code, etc. But no go.
There are a few stores in the this area that have had 'limited available' up on the stock checker for the whole of this week, yet they don't seem to have any.

 

[keviha]

I was just at the Woodland Hills store where the online inventory checker comes up with limited available for the 64GB version. They had none :/
And yes, I did ask them to check the code, etc. But no go.
There are a few stores in the this area that have had 'limited available' up on the stock checker for the whole of this week, yet they don't seem to have any.

Ran into the same situation at the Target in Wilsonville, OR. It's entirely possible stock could be off by one.....and possible an employee/mgr doesn't want it to be sold....problem is knowing where the truth lies.

 

[jmgore75]

Theres no instructions there and how do you use it on a pc?

EDIT: oh i see the instructions but how can it be used with windows 7?

It is straight python so if you have that installed that you should be able to run it. Beyond that I don't enough about the windows python installation to say.

 

[jster25]

I liked that script so much I enhanced it. This version allows you to check multiple models and zipcodes, and is set up to check periodically and email you with any changes. Instructions are in the file. Cheers! Here's hoping I can snag one before the scalpers.

Hey,
So I tried running the script using python TargetIpadStock.py and it says "Tar" is not defined. What is this, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[schmoopy.design]

I liked that script so much I enhanced it. This version allows you to check multiple models and zipcodes, and is set up to check periodically and email you with any changes. Instructions are in the file. Cheers! Here's hoping I can snag one before the scalpers.

I suck. I can't even figure out how to point it to the place my file is saved.

 

[morepowa]

I liked that script so much I enhanced it. This version allows you to check multiple models and zipcodes, and is set up to check periodically and email you with any changes. Instructions are in the file. Cheers! Here's hoping I can snag one before the scalpers.

this works fantastically, thank you. the instructions have the wrong file name to execute so it threw me for a loop for a moment. Easy fix though for anyone, just type in the file name as you saved it.

Thumbs up

 

[EthernetCard]

Problem with the Python script. Came back saying:

AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'format'

Is there something that I forgot to change??


EDIT: Ran it again with no problems. Not sure what the problem was....

 

[cfitz7111]

My local Target has 5 32gb WiFi black models in stock but won't sell. I had them check the sku and the lady said "yes we have 5" she then proceeded to call the back room to have it pulled and I heard her on the phone say "oh! they are not released yet?" she then walked away to continue her call in private (I assume) and about 5 mins later a big guy from the back comes out and says "we dont have any" to which I reply "your computer shows 5 in stock" to which he shrugs and says "I looked and there is none back there"

From there I went to Customer Service but they gave me the same story.

Frustrating experience and I really don't know why they would hold stock. Oh well

Working at Target I can tell you that it is very possible, that they had the units, and were holding them until Sunday (flyer day). They do this with a lot of hot items, things come in off the truck and are held because they are in the upcoming weeks ad flyer.

I would check back first thing tomorrow morning, 8am opening.

Also it is interesting that the iPads arriving on normal trucks and not coming in UPS or FedEx drop shipped from Apple.

 

[cfitz7111]

Note: I'm specifically trying to be unclear/full of plot-holes here, as to not implicate any current employees. I'm also a long-time reader, but this is my FP.

First of all, I got my iPad2 this morning from one of the Target stores. The inventory status is 100% real-time. The horde of us bought out what's available (according to the electronics sales rep) in the store, and the online inventory tracker updated within minutes to say it's not available anymore.

For the particular store I went to, there were at least 2 models listed as "Available". When I got there, we formed a line and waited outside. When the store opened, we all walked in a line to the electronics counter (the whole bunch of us were very courteous). We asked the guy if they had iPad 2s in stock, and he basically came out with 3. (So now we know if there are 3 or more in the store, it's listed as "Available".)

However, all 3 were of the same model! Now that is just weird. We know that the tracker is real-time, and that these are all scanned in. So it's improbable that this was some sort of human error. Therefore, there must be some of the other model in the back. However, the person kept saying no, there weren't any available.

Now here's the kicker...while we were waiting, one of the other employees told us to come back later, because Target is doing the "hold the supplies to get customers to come back" deal. We didn't believe him, but he said, "ok, which one do you want?" We gave him a model, and he showed us the clipboard and pointed to the entry, "Look, it's right here, and we have X in stock. Management is doing the hold-the-supplies game for the iPad 2s, trust me. They want to create an image of shortage so people will keep trying to come back."

All this while, no one in the line mentioned about the inventory tracker. So his story jives with what the online tracker is saying. And after we approached other sales representatives to talk to the manager about this, they sure did spend their time "talking" to the manager about whether or not they got any.

Believe whatever you will, but given my experience, this does seem to be in line with why there are false positives in the trackers, and the "fiduciary duties" of Target to try and get more revenue.

Working at Target I can tell you that NOT all of Target systems for inventory are real time updated. Depending on which item search program is used, they will give different numbers. Two, including the one on line, is updated prior to the opening of the store, it IS NOT updated in real time. If a team member uses the RF system, that will indicate a number of on hand, but if the item is not properly located in the backroom, and being held in the cage, a team member might see that they are in the store, but since they are not located in a location, they can not pull the item.

It is also very likely iPads are being held for an ad flyer, if they are in the flyer, inventory gets held during the week prior, in order to have them on Sunday that the ad launches. They have done it with the Kinnect during the holidays.

 

[EthernetCard]

How do you change the recheck time on the Python script mentioned above?

 

[psychedelia]

Ran into the same situation at the Target in Wilsonville, OR. It's entirely possible stock could be off by one.....and possible an employee/mgr doesn't want it to be sold....problem is knowing where the truth lies.

I guess maybe we have to wait till something shows up as 'available'.

Alternatively,
If anyone manages to snag a 64GB Wifi for me in the LA area I'd be happy to compensate them

 

[jhgnag]

The links worked for me. Checked first thing this morning. There was one 64gb 3 g in the metro area at Gatrell. I drove down and arrived at 8:15 15 min after opening) and they had 1. Just 1, but that's all I needed. Thanks for posting.

 

[Elenex]

Well I woke up this morning and headed to Burbank,CA to claim the "available" white 32gb's. They had 3 but 5 people were ahead of me. Stopped by the Target in Norwalk that has been showing white 32GB's available. It is a glitch and they are receiving 70-80 calls a day because of it. The guys told me they receive shipments @ night and that Monday is the largest day for electronics, so come in @ 8 am on Tuesday. Tomorrow they said just check the tracker and hit up your local Target from tonights shipments.

 

[Hobbes.]

I liked that script so much I enhanced it. This version allows you to check multiple models and zipcodes, and is set up to check periodically and email you with any changes. Instructions are in the file. Cheers! Here's hoping I can snag one before the scalpers.

Hey I have got terminal working and updating however it's only emailed me once and i've set it up to check ever 20 minutes. Is there a reason why it only emails me after my first check and not after every check?

 

[tmt345]

Working at Target I can tell you that NOT all of Target systems for inventory are real time updated. Depending on which item search program is used, they will give different numbers. Two, including the one on line, is updated prior to the opening of the store, it IS NOT updated in real time. If a team member uses the RF system, that will indicate a number of on hand, but if the item is not properly located in the backroom, and being held in the cage, a team member might see that they are in the store, but since they are not located in a location, they can not pull the item.

It is also very likely iPads are being held for an ad flyer, if they are in the flyer, inventory gets held during the week prior, in order to have them on Sunday that the ad launches. They have done it with the Kinnect during the holidays.

I did a quick google search and found there is such a thing as an ASIN check for Target.

1. What are all the ways to check?
2. Will this (ASIN) give me the same results as the one we have now?
3. What are the iPad 2 ASINs? (If it yields different results)

Thanks to anybody who helps me with this.

 

[355922]

for the script email address... is it

username@gmail.com ?

or

username ?

 

[jster25]

for the script email address... is it

username@gmail.com ?

or

username ?

I wasn't sure at first so I checked the original poster's script and the instructions said to use username@gmail.com, so that's what I am using. I am not sure if it works or not, as the ipad is not available. The script seems to be running fine though and running periodically, but like I said, I don't know if the email function works since there are no stock to be found.

(Terminal)
Macintoshesktop macbookuser$ python TargetIpadStock.py
Checking: 2011-03-19 19:41 : iPad is not currently available
Checking: 2011-03-19 20:01 : iPad is not currently available
Checking: 2011-03-19 20:21 : iPad is not currently available
Checking: 2011-03-19 20:42 : iPad is not currently available

 

[CC047]

Burbank, CA Target showing a 64GB Black ATT in stock. Store inventory shows it on the floor. They insist that can't be possible. I'm just too far away to go check it out. But if anyone closer wants that model, might be worth a look.

 

[schmoopy.design]

Got confirmation at my local Target that I have 90 days to return the iPad (opened or not) with no restocking fee. I have now busted open the 32GB black WiFi that's been sitting on my desk since Wedsnesday. I'll use this one until I locate a white one and make my final decision then.

 

[mgchan]

How do you change the recheck time on the Python script mentioned above?

search for "waitInterval = 20" and change it to however many minutes you want to wait.

thanks to the people who put time in to write this, don't know if the email function will work but we'll see if a target ever gets something in stock. easy to get it running in the background on my linux machine.

 

[Jawa]

Success!

South Florida here: Decided to check the target stock one last time around 8:48 pm after having checked every hour since 7 am and giving up. To my surprise the target in Aventura had the 16 GB White Wifi listed as available. I called them and sure enough they had five in stock, so I got down there and they had sold only one of them. So now after days of searching I finally got one

So my fellow south floridians, there are some circulating around here. Earlier in the afternoon the targets in Miramar and Fort Lauderdale had the same models in stock, but sold out by the time I called. Just keep checking the target tracker and as soon as you see it say available, RUN down there.

 

[EthernetCard]

can anyone confirm that the email part of the python script works? every time I test it with a store that comes back saying they have stock it seems to fail. Anyone have success with the email part of the script?

 

[jster25]

can anyone confirm that the email part of the python script works? every time I test it with a store that comes back saying they have stock it seems to fail. Anyone have success with the email part of the script?

Do you know of a zip code with stock? I want to test.
The target around me are out of stock so I am not sure if the email actually works. I do get messages in terminal saying ipads are not available but that's pretty much it.