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*Where* are you planning to buy the iPad 3 from?
- Thread starter MacAttacka
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Interestingly a lot of people are expecting this thing to go on pre sale......Not to sure on that. I'll be camping at a Apple Store I believe. Maybe you guys can help me out but do they release iPad 3's at best buy day of launch?
Apple, last year i went after school (got there around 3) and was 80th in line. This year ill show up at....actually I'm not sure maybe at like 10 i don't want to get there to early. When i went for the 4s there were like 40 people at launch time (i was 10th in line) and i was there at 3 in the morning. So i got to think about what time i want to show up.
Yes they do. Saw a fairly lengthy line at my local Best Buy last year. However, I've never queued for an iPad on launch day so I'm not sure what to expect. I know iPhone lines on launch day get absolutely NUTS!!!
I can't answer because I don't know what Apple is planning. If they offer preorders, then I'll order online from them. If not, then I'll likely stand in line somewhere.
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That's sort of the problem, we don't know if there'll be a preorder or not. There was for the first, but not the second. And iPhones typically do. It's a toss up.
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That's sort of the problem, we don't know if there'll be a preorder or not. There was for the first, but not the second. And iPhones typically do. It's a toss up.
I am totally conflicted on this one. I am thinking of just buying from the online store. There is a local Apple Reseller here in town as well as, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Radioshack (I think) sell the iPad. But on launch day I am not sure who will actually have it besides the Apple store which is an hour away. Decisions Decisions.
I'm in the same boat. I'm guessing best buy will be a safe option.
If there isn't any pre sales also be the best spot to camp. not sure how you can camp at a mall for the apple store.
Question for people with experience:
Does the Apple store follow any particular set of policies for the launches that i should know about. For example, do people just line up before the store opens and the store sells its stock and thats it? Is it possible to line up and come away empty handed? Do employees keep track of who came in line? etc.
Does the Apple store follow any particular set of policies for the launches that i should know about. For example, do people just line up before the store opens and the store sells its stock and thats it? Is it possible to line up and come away empty handed? Do employees keep track of who came in line? etc.
Keep in mind that most Apple Resellers probably won't have as much as much stock on launch day as Apple. Apple will make sure their own stores are fully stocked before everyone else. If you want a guaranteed iPad 3 on launch day, go to the Apple Store.
Question for people with experience:
Does the Apple store follow any particular set of policies for the launches that i should know about. For example, do people just line up before the store opens and the store sells its stock and thats it? Is it possible to line up and come away empty handed? Do employees keep track of who came in line? etc.
Pretty sure if you're at the Apple store in line, and they run out. They will let the last available buyer know.
Question for people with experience:
Does the Apple store follow any particular set of policies for the launches that i should know about. For example, do people just line up before the store opens and the store sells its stock and thats it? Is it possible to line up and come away empty handed? Do employees keep track of who came in line? etc.
With the iPad 2 they came around after a few hours with tickets for each device, corresponding to how many devices they had. You could then go away and leave the line if you really wanted knowing you were guaranteed a device.
Kind of tough to predict a "usually" when Best Buy has participated in exactly ONE ipad launch...
Here's what happened last year: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1113466/
(handy how last year's threads are still here on MR and are searchable)
Basically - experiences varied from BB to BB, and it seems a lot did not get a full array of products, especially on the 3G side. Target and Walmart were apparently similarly spotty.
Unless they do things different, if you have a particular model you want and don't wish to buy "whatever's available" then an Apple store is the better bet.
The "safest" bet of course is a combination of ordering online as soon as doing so is possible and the patience to wait a week or two for your order to arrive. After standing in line for hours I'd hate to have to make a choice of walking away emptyhanded or buying something different from what I felt best fit my needs.
Best Buy. I have $205 in Reward Zone certificates there, and after selling my first gen iPad for $200, I'll only be paying $95 out of pocket (not including tax).
Fine if you want to wait; Amazon themselves doesn't sell ipads, and the third party sellers likely won't have stock to sell through Amazon for a little while.
Kind of tough to predict a "usually" when Best Buy has participated in exactly ONE ipad launch...
Here's what happened last year: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1113466/
(handy how last year's threads are still here on MR and are searchable)
Basically - experiences varied from BB to BB, and it seems a lot did not get a full array of products, especially on the 3G side. Target and Walmart were apparently similarly spotty.
Unless they do things different, if you have a particular model you want and don't wish to buy "whatever's available" then an Apple store is the better bet.
The "safest" bet of course is a combination of ordering online as soon as doing so is possible and the patience to wait a week or two for your order to arrive. After standing in line for hours I'd hate to have to make a choice of walking away emptyhanded or buying something different from what I felt best fit my needs.
I camp at Best Buy for Black Friday every year. Usually in my area the hot ticket item (usually the 200 dollar laptop or TV) is between 8-15. Thats pretty much every year. On new game consoles its between 60-80 depending on the size of the best buy.
Just wanted a rough figure of what I'm dealing with. If I show up to a best buy with 20 people in line I can either say I'm in good shape still or not and try another store in the area.
This, I'd like to have that first day Apple retailer experience. Plus I'm used to waiting in line for wonderful things.
I actually HOPE that they don't offer pre-orders online! I will be able to pick up a few, maybe convince some people to wait in line with me, and make some money off of eBay because they will be difficult to get. I don't live in a busy area and there aren't a lot of people who wait in line at the Apple Store, so as long as I get there a few hours before, I am almost guaranteed the model I want.
Best Buy and other retailers, besides Apple, never have more than ten, and their wait list is always filled. It's a waste of time to even attempt to get one from them.
Hopefully I can pre-order. If not, I'll get it online either way.
Hoe many of you are expecting it to be like the iPad 2 as far as availability?
Hoe many of you are expecting it to be like the iPad 2 as far as availability?
Yea, have to practice my mind reading. How can you REALLY expect anyone to be able to answer your question with anything other than a dumb response or a guess? Aside from EVERY store being different depending on many factors do you think we can read Best Buy's mind on how many iPad 3's they will have in stock? Reading some of the questions here is just too funny.
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