Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
had my wife (who is a tools programmer) install the python script this morning and within 25 minutes or so, had an ipad2 in my hands (the exact one i was looking for).

Thanks! And when I went to purchase mine - the guy in front of me said he was there due to checking the online inventory also. Kinda funny.

Thanks again. Will read again when ipad3 comes out :)
 
I fixed a bug in the error reporting for the script on page 38. I hadn't actually been logging any errors, it's been working fine for me.

So fine in fact that I finally got my iPad (well, really my wife's iPad, but I'll be borrowing it for World Of Goo). At around 11 am all the Targets in the area started getting stock. At 11:25 my script messaged me about WIFI 16GB Black at the Target down the street... I thought about it a couple minutes (wanted white, but not that much) and then headed out. As I got to the electronics department there was one left. There was another guy with phone in hand not 60 seconds behind me.

I'm now running the script for a friend who pre-ordered but probably won't get it before a trip he's taking. Here's hoping it works for him.

Sweet. Bite me, scalpers. Thanks to mo620 and thank you Target! Wish I had known about this sooner, it would have saved me some frustration!
 
Oh and also thank you frgttnsemicolon for writing the original version of the script! I've written a lot of python but had never actually worked with those modules before.

If Apple has any sense they'll start being more proactive with avoiding resellers. I think they were half the problem. Granted the only really good solution is to have enough inventory to satisfy demand in the first place, but there's still a lot they could do to make it harder for those who make things harder for the rest of us.
 
I am having some weird issues with the python script. Everyone else seems to be alright. I have it setup and running correctly however when the script DOES find something it gives me a message saying "Checking: Failed". However when this happens I do a manual check and I get a store that says available for one of the models that I am looking for. Can the script only check one DCPI number per zip per script in order to get a message back saying that it is available? I have two seperate scripts running checking all of the black models on two different zip codes but do I need a serperate script for EACH model of the iPad as well? Also, after the initial email saying that I am tracking I never get any messages saying that something was found as available and I assume this has to do with the fact that the script thinks that it is failing. Some help would really be appreciated!

If you run with the -c flag set it will send you an email every time it runs if there are models available. Otherwise it will only send you emails if the status changes.

I would not suggest running two scripts at the same time in the same directory - they might conflict with each other for access to availability.txt. You should only need one script for any combination of zipcodes and models.

Also as I said I fixed a bug in error reporting in u7. I would suggest deleting availability.txt before you run again - if it was corrupted it could cause problems.
 
I got the python script working. Do you have to leave terminal open for it to run every 30 minutes? Also, how do you stop the script when you no longer want to run it?
 
I'm in Tx, the target in my area hasn't restocked since I purchased mine.

I'm in Fort Worth, TX and I have not really seen anything in stock since I started following this thread several days ago. I'm probably just not checking it when they are in stock for the hour or two each day.

sigh.
 
i cant express how grateful i am to this community ..... syncing all my **** to my ipad right now
 
I got the python script working. Do you have to leave terminal open for it to run every 30 minutes? Also, how do you stop the script when you no longer want to run it?
The script will ony work when the terminal window is open. You can minimize, but not close the terminal window, and the script keeps working.
To stop the script from working, just close the terminal window.
 
Guys thanks for the info a uk visitor to Florida just scored two White 16gb wifi at Kissimmee West before anyone say scalper one is for the wife

Also they stock checker was not showing wifi only I originally agent for a black 16gb 3G AT&T but they had none they have I would say 8 left in various type defiantly 16gb 3G verizon and 16gb wifi only

I would not say scalper for someone who buys two, even at once. Those who come here and brag about buying 4 at once and cleaning out stores are what I would call scalpers.

For the most part, despite the fierce competition for these devices, the attitude in this thread has been quite helpful and friendly despite a troll or two.
 
Missed out by minutes

Missed out on one tonight by literally minutes in Waterbury, CT. Guy was buying the last one they had when I showed up. D'oh.

Here's to hoping more stores get some in tomorrow.
 
If you run with the -c flag set it will send you an email every time it runs if there are models available. Otherwise it will only send you emails if the status changes.

I would not suggest running two scripts at the same time in the same directory - they might conflict with each other for access to availability.txt. You should only need one script for any combination of zipcodes and models.

Also as I said I fixed a bug in error reporting in u7. I would suggest deleting availability.txt before you run again - if it was corrupted it could cause problems.

Ya, I ended up creating another directory and having a script in each to check two seperate zip codes. I think I had a problem with the script not working because I was on Python 2.5. Now that I have upgraded to 2.7.1 and have two scripts in two different directories I haven't had a problem. It has been running for the past 8 hours. Thank you for your input!

When I ran them both out of the same directory I had changed the availability file name as well to avoid that problem but I think the way I have it set up now will work out the best.
 
Target iPad Locator

For those of you who are interested, I have created a web-based tracker going off of the PHP code that was suggested earlier in the thread.

I modified it a bit, and it seems to work fine. I uploaded a copy of it to my server for all to use. I'd appreciate comments/concerns/feedback. Also, I'd appreciate it if you limit searches to 2-3 ZIP codes at a time and just overall being not so obsessive when refreshing. It does take a while to load because it is pulling all the data through the Target servers for each model (18 if my math is correct) and each zip code you enter.

http://nicroth.com/ipad/

Enjoy. :apple:

PS: If my server blows up, well, I'm sorry. I tried!
 
Last edited:
For those of you who are interested, I have created a web-based tracker going off of the PHP code that was suggested earlier in the thread.

I modified it a bit, and it seems to work fine. I uploaded a copy of it to my server for all to use. I'd appreciate comments/concerns/feedback. Also, I'd appreciate it if you limit searches to 2-3 ZIP codes at a time and just overall being not so obsessive when refreshing. It does take a while to load because it is pulling all the data through the Target servers for each model (18 if my math is correct) and each zip code you enter.

http://nicroth.com/ipad/

Enjoy. :apple:

PS: If my server blows up, well, I'm sorry. I tried!

You're the freakin' man!!!
 
If you run with the -c flag set it will send you an email every time it runs if there are models available. Otherwise it will only send you emails if the status changes.

I would not suggest running two scripts at the same time in the same directory - they might conflict with each other for access to availability.txt. You should only need one script for any combination of zipcodes and models.

Also as I said I fixed a bug in error reporting in u7. I would suggest deleting availability.txt before you run again - if it was corrupted it could cause problems.

Is the '-a' switch option redundant? There's no need for this option if we hardcode the email address into the script right?

Additionally, the help file for '-a' gives the same explanation as '-c' which confused me. Looks like '-a' is just used to set an email address from the command line. But you still need the email password which means we still need to edit the script =P

Correct me if I'm wrong...i'm a python n00ber. Still learning.
 
Thanks

New to the community, and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone on this thread--from the first person to post the DIPC #'s & links to the numerous success stories.

I was able to find an white 32GB at Target in Long Beach after many, many failed attempts in LA and Long Beach (every minute counts). When I arrived, there were 2 white 32GB available (the link stated "available"). When I checked the links about 20 minutes later, the status changed to "limited availability." Status changed around 1pm, and I picked up the Ipad around 1:20pm.

To those who haven't found one yet, don't give up! Keep checking the links because they're pretty accurate. Best bet would be to call and check to see if they received any before driving LONG distances. Check the links from 6am-1pm. Availability seems to change within that time range.
 
Made this for my own use, though I'd share:

http://ryon.co/ipad2

It doesn't do anything fancy, but it's a relatively handy and decent-looking (on the iPhone) interface for plugging all the various DPCIs + your ZIP code into Target's tracker.

During testing, sometimes this Just Didn't Work™; instead of the "Mobile Find In Store" page, an unhelpful error page would come up. But it seems to be working pretty well now. Use at your own risk, etc.
 
For those of you who are interested, I have created a web-based tracker going off of the PHP code that was suggested earlier in the thread.

I modified it a bit, and it seems to work fine. I uploaded a copy of it to my server for all to use. I'd appreciate comments/concerns/feedback. Also, I'd appreciate it if you limit searches to 2-3 ZIP codes at a time and just overall being not so obsessive when refreshing. It does take a while to load because it is pulling all the data through the Target servers for each model (18 if my math is correct) and each zip code you enter.

http://nicroth.com/ipad/

Enjoy. :apple:

PS: If my server blows up, well, I'm sorry. I tried!

Nice work!
 
Last edited:
The only Target that has gotten any in Atlanta the past 2 days was Marietta East.

Not true - I bought my 16GB black @ Buckhead-South on Monday.

Also Apple Store Lenox received a shipment of whites at the same time (lunchtime).

From what I saw yesterday, they were in-stock at 11:00am (legimately on shelves by 11:15am), first ones sold at 11:45/noon, and sold out by 3:30/4:00pm. The 64GB-AT&T went first (they only got 3-5 of those); last to go were 16GB-Wi-Fi.
 
I would not say scalper for someone who buys two, even at once. Those who come here and brag about buying 4 at once and cleaning out stores are what I would call scalpers.

I disagree. Target policy is ONE device per PARTY.

It's like altering the law to fit one's personal opinion, which isn't fair. I held off getting another one because there are people who don't have any.
 
For those of you who are interested, I have created a web-based tracker going off of the PHP code that was suggested earlier in the thread.

I modified it a bit, and it seems to work fine. I uploaded a copy of it to my server for all to use. I'd appreciate comments/concerns/feedback. Also, I'd appreciate it if you limit searches to 2-3 ZIP codes at a time and just overall being not so obsessive when refreshing. It does take a while to load because it is pulling all the data through the Target servers for each model (18 if my math is correct) and each zip code you enter.

http://nicroth.com/ipad/

Enjoy. :apple:

PS: If my server blows up, well, I'm sorry. I tried!

Thank you!!!!

Didn't get what I wanted, but I got one. 64 white Verizon.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.