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Target Offering $200 Gift Card for iPad Trade-in, Including First Generation [Updated]

ipad 1 bought outside UnitedStates

Hi guys,

I had hard time yesterday at target. Lots of people in front of my line got 200$ GC. My ipad1 was bought in Europe and thus target system couldn't find this model and rejected my ipad. Same thing happened to person behind me who bought his iPad2 in China.. :(

I don't understand how an iPad bought somewhere else can make a difference to them. May be they hooked their system to verify only models sold in US?

Target representative said something like this: all models numbers sold within US end with "LL" (which represents country/region) and they cannot lookup ipad model numbers ending with anything other than LL.

Any suggestions?
 
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Is This A Limited Number Offer?

Does anyone have any indication on whether this is a limited-number-per-store offer?

I didn't find out about it until yesterday, but was at my local Target (Novato, North Bay, CA) at 8am, but was told by the guy at the mobile counter that they "only had 50 gift cards", that they "ran out yesterday", and that "Apple was sponsoring it and only allowed a certain number".

I was late for work so didn't have time to press him any further, but I haven't seen any other mention of limits, so maybe I should go back tonight or tomorrow and try again?
 
simoneves said:
Does anyone have any indication on whether this is a limited-number-per-store offer?

I didn't find out about it until yesterday, but was at my local Target (Novato, North Bay, CA) at 8am, but was told by the guy at the mobile counter that they "only had 50 gift cards", that they "ran out yesterday", and that "Apple was sponsoring it and only allowed a certain number".

I was late for work so didn't have time to press him any further, but I haven't seen any other mention of limits, so maybe I should go back tonight or tomorrow and try again?
Click to expand...
I haven't heard that it depends on their stock of gift cards, and it would be rather odd for Apple to impose limits on which Target stores can take how many trade-ins, but you have to deal with what each store is doing, whether or not it matches other Target stores.

I suggesting phoning the Novato store, the San Rafael store, and the Petaluma store, since all three have mobile sales, but only talking to the mobile guy when he's on duty. Other Target employees will know even less, and some of them apparently give out answers when they don't really know.
 
My understanding is that they have to use a particular card, not a regular Target gift card, because of the financial arrangements for the offer (this is what the staff said @ my Target). In my case, they closed the line shortly after me, because they were about to run out, but they said they would be getting more cards. Of course, because today is the last day, maybe there really are no more to be had.
 
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I also had no problems in Columbus, OH. I'm in the market for the mini and I figured I'll wait until Black Friday/the retina comes out for a better deal. I just noticed on the Meijer web site (Meijer is a department store similar to Walmart/Target here in the midwest) and they're offering on Thanksgiving Day the iPad Mini for $299 plus you get an $80 gift card to use on your next shopping trip. I'm thinking if Target doesn't sweeten the pot I'll go that route and use my Target $200 on groceries.
 
I took my 1st gen to a local Target in SC and had no issues whatsoever. Wiped it before going in and was given a $200 'Electronics Trade In' card. Sales associate said I didn't have to buy anything right away but did say it had to be used towards a new iPad.

Since Target didn't see fit to have any 32gb Airs in stock in ANY of my local stores (like even up to 2 hours away!) OR online, I just used it to get gift cards online because I'm too lazy to venture back out into Friday afternoon traffic and deal with someone at the store refusing to honor the card. I did what someone said upthread and used the GC as a Mastercard (Target recognized it as a MC immediately) and used the last 3 digits of the 6 numbers on the bottom center of the card as the security code. No issues!

Just a heads up, Target charges $1.95 for any gift card purchase online, even for ecards, which is mind-numbingly stupid... I just got $195 worth of cards mailed to my house. I feel pretty silly, but overall pleased with the experience. $200 for a 1st gen? A steal really.
 
simoneves said:
Does anyone have any indication on whether this is a limited-number-per-store offer?

I didn't find out about it until yesterday, but was at my local Target (Novato, North Bay, CA) at 8am, but was told by the guy at the mobile counter that they "only had 50 gift cards", that they "ran out yesterday", and that "Apple was sponsoring it and only allowed a certain number".

I was late for work so didn't have time to press him any further, but I haven't seen any other mention of limits, so maybe I should go back tonight or tomorrow and try again?
Click to expand...

I just had mine swapped in San Leandro. Guy said they did 200 yesterday and would certainly run out today, so I wouldn't leave it much longer. Once they're gone, that's it.

A lot of people were there, and I could hear many more on the phone asking.

It also takes a while to do, I was in the store for 45 minutes, waiting for four iPads ahead of me to be processed.
They wouldn't take my Dad's iPad as it was bought in the UK, but my wife's old US one processed fine.
The gift card simply says Target Electronics. I bought an iPad Mini with the proceeds and got another $25 gift card for that too!
So moved from a iPad1 -> iPad Mini for about 100$ inc tax. Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Traded mine in today (1st gen 32GB wifi), got my $200 gift card, no iPad airs in any target here in Columbus Ohio. I waited 1 month for my Gold iPhone 5s, now starts the wait until I can get a 16GB AT&T white iPad air from the online target store. :mad:
 
Just wanted to let people know they check the model number of your iPad and if it's one that wasn't purchased in the US they won't accept it...or if it's a refurbished \ "Service" model number (my model # was actually "661-5569LL") they also will not accept it.

I live in a border city close to Canada, and I saw a lot of Canuck's get turned away.
All they do to check the model number is go to settings -> about.

Now you can change this to look like something else if you jailbreak and use winterboard in combination with the "fake about screen" theme...which is exactly what I did (I changed it to MB292LL/A), and it worked.

Hope this helps others out who were denied a gift card.

Also -- they did not stipulate the $200 had to be used to purchase an iPad air...they give you a target gift card that can be used to buy anything from Target (I believe it works on target.com too but I am not certain).

I actually wanted to buy an iPad Air though...$279 for the latest and greatest tablet, can't beat that deal! But I was told none of the targets in this area have any stock of iPad air wifi 16GB (heh!).
 
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You can use the card on target.com, you use it in the credit card type of payment, however you can't use two credit cards on target.com. If you are buying something less than $200, use the card.I called the number on the back of the card on what to do if you want an iPad. I was told to use the trade in card to buy a regular gift card from a target store. So I did, went in got denied asked for the manager, had a logical conversation and bought the regular gift card. Went home and ordered a sprint LTE iPad Air with the 200 dollar gift card and my target red card. Got an extra $38 off the iPad. Since all LTE iPad Airs are the same I'll take it in to AT&T and get a sim. The sprint iPad air is the only one In stock on target.com.
 
bbotte said:
You can use the card on target.com, you use it in the credit card type of payment, however you can't use two credit cards on target.com. If you are buying something less than $200, use the card.I called the number on the back of the card on what to do if you want an iPad. I was told to use the trade in card to buy a regular gift card from a target store. So I did, went in got denied asked for the manager, had a logical conversation and bought the regular gift card. Went home and ordered a sprint LTE iPad Air with the 200 dollar gift card and my target red card. Got an extra $38 off the iPad. Since all LTE iPad Airs are the same I'll take it in to AT&T and get a sim. The sprint iPad air is the only one In stock on target.com.
Click to expand...

.......Why they just give the Gift card in the first place?
 
bbotte said:
You can use the card on target.com, you use it in the credit card type of payment, however you can't use two credit cards on target.com.
Click to expand...

What I did to get around that is just to buy an emailed gift card from Target for $200 using the electronics trade-in card. Of course, there's no tax or shipping for emailed gift cards. You can then use that in conjunction with a credit card to buy something more than $200. :D

To actually buy something using the trade-in card, here's what I did (I'm not saying all these steps are necessary, but this is what worked for me):
1. Go to www.getmybalance.com
2. Enter the card number on the back of the card (16 digits long - 12 of those digits are probably behind something you have to scratch off, and the other 4 are the number directly to the right of the 12) and the security code (the 6 digit number on the bottom of the card)
3. Once you've logged in and can see the balance, click on the "Edit Registration", enter in your billing info, and click save
4. Go to Target and get to the billing step of an online order. Select the credit card option.
5. Enter the card number, expiry date, the first three digits of the security code you entered in step 2, and the name and billing info you entered in step 3.
6. That should be it!
 
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I had no issued getting the $200 gift card for a 1st Gen 3G 64gb. While the rep was checking me out I asked if a lot of people had been in and he said "Oh yes" and said he figured he's done approximately 300 trade-ins. I decided to use the card for a wifi 16gb mini and noted the price was $329. Another rep stated he would match the $299 target.com price and honored the $25 gift card being offer in conjunction with the iPad mini promotion. I essentially got a mini for $75 which I felt was a pretty good deal.
 
Sold iPad 4

Just sold my iPad 4 64gb black, for $625. Had to buy a game so found one on sale for 99cents...@ GameStop.
 
Lol

brought my ipad 1 64gb at&t and i think he ****ed up and i got a $400 gift card LOL looks like he put down 2 ipad 1 64gb att ipads i was happy man
 
jamesmack1 said:
What I did to get around that is just to buy an emailed gift card from Target for $200 using the electronics trade-in card. Of course, there's no tax or shipping for emailed gift cards. You can then use that in conjunction with a credit card to buy something more than $200. :D

To actually buy something using the trade-in card, here's what I did (I'm not saying all these steps are necessary, but this is what worked for me):
1. Go to www.getmybalance.com
2. Enter the card number on the back of the card (16 digits long - 12 of those digits are probably behind something you have to scratch off, and the other 4 are the number directly to the right of the 12) and the security code (the 6 digit number on the bottom of the card)
3. Once you've logged in and can see the balance, click on the "Edit Registration", enter in your billing info, and click save
4. Go to Target and get to the billing step of an online order. Select the credit card option.
5. Enter the card number, expiry date, the first three digits of the security code you entered in step 2, and the name and billing info you entered in step 3.
6. That should be it!
Click to expand...

Sorry, James. I am still confused. What will happen after step4. If the card only have 200$, will the system remind the insufficient balance and ask for another credit?
 
I traded in my iPad 1st gen 32GB Wifi only. Easy $200. Really awesome deal for 1st gen owners.
 
No go in Florida

I went to trade my 1st gen at a store in Orlando on the 8th. Got there and was informed that I could only trade it in for an item from the store. They had none in stock. Argued for a bit, then went home to call guest relations. They assured me that there was no reason for them to not just give me a $200 gift card instead. I was told to go back to the store and try again, so I did. Talked with the manager and she called corporate, who told her, right in front of me, that there was no reason for her not to give me the card. She still refused. Called guest relations again. That person told me that they are going to extend the promotion into next week, to give stores time to get stock. Talked to a supervisor on saturday and they told me there is no plan to do that. So, guest relations straight up lied to me about that to get me off the phone.

Then, decided that I would just trade my ipad in for a pair of Beats headphones, then return those for store credit, since I had seen that done right in front of my the previous night. Was informed that they no longer are allowing you to trade in for whatever you want... only iPads... but they still have none in stock.

The kicker is... they told me that they had been issuing the gift cards with no problem up until Thursday... So, they obviously changed the policy once they realized they weren't going to be making money off iPads anymore.

Complete bait and switch. In the end, I was never able to take advantage of the promo... but you can be sure that I'm going to exhaust every avenue I can to let corporate know about this trainwreck of a promo... in my experience anyways. :mad::mad::mad:
 
My iPad Air 16GB Sprint is out for delivery from Target.com! Going to take it straight to AT&T or Verizon unopened to get it on AT&T's or Verizon's Network. Haven't decided yet. I'm leaning AT&T as they will let me purchase 1GB for $25 over 90 days right?
 
Took this sprint iPad Air to AT&T and they gave me a free sim, threw it in connected me to the network, I chose the non auto renewal 1GB plan that lasts 90 days for $25. Works like a champ. Pretty shocking experience going from a first gen iPad to the Air. Wow! Not a bad deal for $440 out of pocket.
 
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Damn neither Target stores or online have either iPad Air or Retina iPad mini.

Might as well try to get one on black friday.

Chance of getting them both seem pretty slim.
 
irDigital0l said:
Damn neither Target stores or online have either iPad Air or Retina iPad mini.

Might as well try to get one on black friday.

Chance of getting them both seem pretty slim.
Click to expand...

Look up the DPCI number from target.com and call you target store and to someone in electronics and ask them to check the number. I went to my local target they said call Friday.
 
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