Buying an iPad soon, just noticed availability is limited?

[travistaylor]

Hello all,

I have been eyeing the iPad (no pun intended) since the release, and I have decided to take the plunge. However, I originally planned on driving to Louisville, KY (my nearest Apple Store) to pick up a 64GB (can't decide to get 3G or not) model. Now I have noticed that people are getting on waiting lists and such for the unit.

First of all, does anyone around Louisville happen to know how long the waiting list is off hand? I'm just curious, but not curious enough to pick up the phone and call. Also, any word on when supplies will meet demand?

Sounds like I might have to give up on my dream of buying in an Apple Store and just buy one online... *sigh*.

 

[jfyrfytr25]

Hello all,

I have been eyeing the iPad (no pun intended) since the release, and I have decided to take the plunge. However, I originally planned on driving to Louisvilly, KY (my nearest Apple Store) to pick up a 64GB (can't decide to get 3G or not) model. Now I have noticed that people are getting on waiting lists and such for the unit.

First of all, does anyone around Louisville happen to know how long the waiting list is off hand? I'm just curious, but not curious enough to pick up the phone and call. Also, any word on when supplies will meet demand?

Sounds like I might have to give up on my dream of buying in an Apple Store and just buy one online... *sigh*.

Just decide on the model you want, call the store and do the reserve process, when it comes in they email you and you go to the store and pick it up. It beats calling around asking if they have stock. I ordered a 3G model on may 1st, I got an email may 11th. About 10days, (Chicago area)

 

[GoCubsGo]

You just noticed the supply constraints? You should just buy online.

 

[shashwat]

If u buy inline they are claiming its gonna take 10 business days...
I am in india and my friend is in the US on vacation...
Hes leaving on the 26th or the 27th...if he orders today his 10 th day would be 26th or 27th...
Is the delivery timeframe of 10 days accurate and i dont recieve delivery by then can i do something about it...?
Would really appreciate if anybody could help me here..

 

[travistaylor]

Well, I have been pretty out of the look as far as the iPad goes for the past couple of weeks...thanks to final exams. But, now that finals are over with, I can focus on what is truly important! So yeah, I wasn't aware of a significant shortage.

That said, I wasn't aware you could just call in a reservation at an Apple Store. That will work out perfectly, as I will just call and make plans to go to Louisville in a couple of weeks and hope that my iPad is in.

Well, that brings up another question... any experience as to how long the Apple Stores will actually hold the iPad you called to reserve? I guess there is a possibility that I could call and they would have it in before I actually get up to Louisville...

 

[antiprotest]

Where is the pun in "eyeing the iPad"? I am not challenging it, but I just can't see it in this instance. Please explain.

 

[travistaylor]

Where is the pun in "eyeing the iPad"? I am not challenging it, but I just can't see it in this instance. Please explain.

eye = i

eyeing the iPad... perhaps I should have just said (horrible pun not intended)? haha

 

[ukwildcat]

Well, I have been pretty out of the look as far as the iPad goes for the past couple of weeks...thanks to final exams. But, now that finals are over with, I can focus on what is truly important! So yeah, I wasn't aware of a significant shortage.

That said, I wasn't aware you could just call in a reservation at an Apple Store. That will work out perfectly, as I will just call and make plans to go to Louisville in a couple of weeks and hope that my iPad is in.

Well, that brings up another question... any experience as to how long the Apple Stores will actually hold the iPad you called to reserve? I guess there is a possibility that I could call and they would have it in before I actually get up to Louisville...

From what I've seen, they are generally holding it until the early afternoon of the day or the day after you receive the e-mail. The e-mail will tell you how long they will hold the iPad.

 

[travistaylor]

Gotcha. Thanks ukwildcat. I'm impressed there is a fellow Kentuckian lurking this forum. I'm a Racer, but have been a life-long Wildcats fan.

Speaking of that, I might also call some friends to see if the UK Bookstore has any iPads in stock. Lexington isn't too far of a drive from Louisville...and I could use them to buy the iPad since they have student IDs...hm...

 

[raremage]

If u buy inline they are claiming its gonna take 10 business days...
I am in india and my friend is in the US on vacation...
Hes leaving on the 26th or the 27th...if he orders today his 10 th day would be 26th or 27th...
Is the delivery timeframe of 10 days accurate and i dont recieve delivery by then can i do something about it...?
Would really appreciate if anybody could help me here..

The U.S. is a fairly large geographic area Depending on where your friend will be, he may or may not find available stock. I was in a Best Buy yesterday (Winter Garden, Florida) that had some in stock. If your friend calls around, he may be able to just find one.

 

[barkomatic]

When you find it, get the 3G version. It's $130 more but so worth it if you find yourself outside of a wifi network when traveling.

 

[4DThinker]

On the side note (no, not the volume buttons): eye-pad should have been finger-pad. Maybe digit-pad or dPad. With the IPS screen there is no way to only keep your one eye on it as anyone nearby can see what you're looking at. Although touching with your eye should work, it's not going to be that easy to control that way.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Wife is an eye doctor.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

The U.S. is a fairly large geographic area Depending on where your friend will be, he may or may not find available stock. I was in a Best Buy yesterday (Winter Garden, Florida) that had some in stock. If your friend calls around, he may be able to just find one.

Additionally, i believe the orders are shipping in 7-10 days, not arriving, so there is shipping at the end of that window which can vary probably up to 4-5 days. You can of course, pay for overnight. But that won't assure that you have one in 11 days either at this point.

 

[John Paul]

If you decide you don't need/want the 3G, then you may be able to find one in stock. It is the 3G ones that are totally sold out almost everywhere one looks. Some stores have totally sold out of the WiFi-only models but that seems very variable from store to store. But I haven't heard of any Apple Stores, anywhere in the country, that currently have supplies of 3G iPads you can just walk in and buy.

 

[travistaylor]

Ah, that figures. At first I had decided against the 3G, but the more I think about it... The more I want the 3G version! I guess I need to order ASAP, as I really want this before I go out of the country on June 17th...

 

[shashwat]

Thank you so much everybody for helping me out...
Believe me at this point all i can think of is getting hold of an ipad 3g 64 gb...
Special thanx to 2 people-one who said that theres stock in winter garden..i checked on my maps application on my iphone..it says it about 30 mins drive from orlando where my friend is going 2mrw..i just hope they hve 64gb 3g in stock till 2mrw..if u know of any places in that area-right now he is in miami..
Also the person who said that overnight is possible..m glad that it is..but then y cnt i get my ipad within 11 days if i get overnight shipping done??
Thnx again everybody for taking an interest in my query

 

[TraceyS/FL]

Thank you so much everybody for helping me out...
Believe me at this point all i can think of is getting hold of an ipad 3g 64 gb...
Special thanx to 2 people-one who said that theres stock in winter garden..i checked on my maps application on my iphone..it says it about 30 mins drive from orlando where my friend is going 2mrw..i just hope they hve 64gb 3g in stock till 2mrw..if u know of any places in that area-right now he is in miami..
Also the person who said that overnight is possible..m glad that it is..but then y cnt i get my ipad within 11 days if i get overnight shipping done??
Thnx again everybody for taking an interest in my query

You *should*, but it is a window, and there is no guarantee that it would make it in time. With that tight of a window, i personally would not feel comfortable entrusting that expensive of a package to make it to a hotel in time.

Unless of course, you have a backup in place to accept delivery of it and ship it to you. There are places you can have packages shipped too (UPS Store) if you have a "box" with them, that might then forward it if it doesn't make it in time - but that takes another day of coordination and set up.

The best option would have been for him to have ordered it from Apple upon arrival and have it shipped to Orlando.

But i just see supplies becoming TIGHTER leading up to the international launch date.

 

[shashwat]

You *should*, but it is a window, and there is no guarantee that it would make it in time. With that tight of a window, i personally would not feel comfortable entrusting that expensive of a package to make it to a hotel in time.

Unless of course, you have a backup in place to accept delivery of it and ship it to you. There are places you can have packages shipped too (UPS Store) if you have a "box" with them, that might then forward it if it doesn't make it in time - but that takes another day of coordination and set up.

The best option would have been for him to have ordered it from Apple upon arrival and have it shipped to Orlando.

But i just see supplies becoming TIGHTER leading up to the international launch date.

i read on apple's website that they only deliver it upon identifying the individual in whose name the shipment has been made...they follow this procedure thrice until its returned back to apple...

i know everything u said makes perfect sense...no doubt about that....But initially when he arrived we thought that we would find it somewhere atleast....god...how wrong were we...
Just spoke to him..,he checked out the apple stores in miami..called around 15 apple resellers in miami....called best buy in winter garden....no stock at all...none...nil...
now hes going to take a final try at the best buy stores in miami....
If he dsnt get there,he knows somebody in san fransisco and he is gonna ask the person to order via his credit card to his place...hes getting the overnight shipping done..whatever it costs......i am willing to pay... hes gonna hit SF at last bfre returning back...
Its risky...pretty risky...but its my only chance to get an ipad before late july...
I have been following like crazy the ipad 3g inventory in every place i could get to know of...
Still not at peace and wont be unless he sends across a confirmation of the online order to be done.....
For the residents of US-you guys-its so much easier.....If u dont get one 2dy u can order and sit back and maybe wait for 2 weeks..Thats really nice...
But apple is not gonna release the ipad in india before august....

Thnx so much everybody out here to help me out...
I really cnt thank you guys enough...!!!

 

[macswitcha2]

Just decide on the model you want, call the store and do the reserve process, when it comes in they email you and you go to the store and pick it up. It beats calling around asking if they have stock. I ordered a 3G model on may 1st, I got an email may 11th. About 10days, (Chicago area)

You can call the store and reserve one through the phone? I thought you had to be at the store?

 

[TraceyS/FL]

i read on apple's website that they only deliver it upon identifying the individual in whose name the shipment has been made...they follow this procedure thrice until its returned back to apple...

i know everything u said makes perfect sense...no doubt about that....But initially when he arrived we thought that we would find it somewhere atleast....god...how wrong were we...
Just spoke to him..,he checked out the apple stores in miami..called around 15 apple resellers in miami....called best buy in winter garden....no stock at all...none...nil...
now hes going to take a final try at the best buy stores in miami....
If he dsnt get there,he knows somebody in san fransisco and he is gonna ask the person to order via his credit card to his place...hes getting the overnight shipping done..whatever it costs......i am willing to pay... hes gonna hit SF at last bfre returning back...
Its risky...pretty risky...but its my only chance to get an ipad before late july...
I have been following like crazy the ipad 3g inventory in every place i could get to know of...
Still not at peace and wont be unless he sends across a confirmation of the online order to be done.....
For the residents of US-you guys-its so much easier.....If u dont get one 2dy u can order and sit back and maybe wait for 2 weeks..Thats really nice...
But apple is not gonna release the ipad in india before august....

Thnx so much everybody out here to help me out...
I really cnt thank you guys enough...!!!

SF is a better place for shipping than FL. OVernight should happen with most of the distribution centers without any effort - we are 2 days here in FL normally.

I"ve got my fingers and toes crossed for ya!

I personally though could not go thru the stress of trying to get one at a store right now. It would be wayyyyy easier to just order it and know you will get it. Of course, this coming from someone that is an hour or so away from any place that sells them in stores....

 

[zeferjen]

You can call the store and reserve one through the phone? I thought you had to be at the store?

I think it varies from store to store

 

[Battlestar]

You will have a much easier time walking into a store and picking up a WiFi only than a 3G.

 

[OGDaniel]

I suggest simply buying online. Maybe you could go to the Apple Store and buy an iPad case to make up for the lost excitement lol. I wouldn't want to buy it at an Apple Store though. I've went to 4 Apple Stores last week while I was on vacation and every one of them had crowds of people at the iPad demo tables, 90% probably not knowing a thing bout Apple Computers.

 

[kutsushita]

If u buy inline they are claiming its gonna take 10 business days...
I am in india and my friend is in the US on vacation...
Hes leaving on the 26th or the 27th...if he orders today his 10 th day would be 26th or 27th...
Is the delivery timeframe of 10 days accurate and i dont recieve delivery by then can i do something about it...?
Would really appreciate if anybody could help me here..

7-10 days is how long it takes for your product to leave apple. after that you have to add another 4-6 days to actually receive it. when i ordered mine it was still 5-7 days until shipped (ordered may 9th) and after placing the other the website told me date received would be may 18th-22nd. i'm afraid you're quite out of luck with that unfortunately.