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iPad availability in the US (as of 8/1/10) - UPDATED: BOUGHT AN iPad

S

SiMBa37

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jul 5, 2010
235
0
New York
My wife really wants an iPad, she's content with the Wifi only 16gb model. I live in NY w/n proximity of 3 apple stores, and no one carries it, and they are not helpful in terms of their shipments. The 4 Best Buys within 45 min driving distance are also sold out.

I went ahead and ordered online today, est delivery date is 8/19!! Wow, didn't realize supply was that low.

Lets say I find one in a store between now and then, will Apple let me return the mail order one without a restocking fee?


UPDATE (8/2/10) - BOUGHT AN iPad (See post below)
 
ryanmcv said:
As long as it is still sealed and unopened. You may have to pay for return shipping, however.
Click to expand...

I was contemplating just bringing the unopened box with the receipt directly to my local Apple store and returning that way, think its possible?
 
I feel your pain. I also ordered online and the waiting is killing me. I've heard a couple stories of delivery occurring a day or two ahead of schedule, so I'm hoping I might get lucky too.
 
I routinely buy things on the online store, go to the apple store and if stock, purchase and cancel my online order while the guy rings me up. As long as not shipped yet, no big deal, and if it shipped already, it's only a couple days from you at that point anyway.
 
I'd recommend checking out your small Apple resellers around your area. You'll be surprised by the amount of mom & pop shops that are authorized resellers. Apple has a nice tool for finding them here: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/index.html. You can limit your search for just places that sell iPads too.

I managed to find mine at a resellers when Best Buy and the Apple Store were sold out. If the store is nice enough, they may even have a waiting list that is shorter than the other places if they're out of stock.
 
cavemonkey50 said:
I'd recommend checking out your small Apple resellers around your area. You'll be surprised by the amount of mom & pop shops that are authorized resellers. Apple has a nice tool for finding them here: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/index.html. You can limit your search for just places that sell iPads too.

I managed to find mine at a resellers when Best Buy and the Apple Store were sold out. If the store is nice enough, they may even have a waiting list that is shorter than the other places if they're out of stock.
Click to expand...

That is a nice tool. I found a couple Macxprts around here and a Maccafe, whatever the hell that is, that carry Apple products. Already own an iPad but nice to know for the future.
 
SVT Amateur said:
Try www.macmall.com. Last I heard they had WiFi in stock and they don't charge sales tax (assuming you aren't in the same state that they operate out of).
Click to expand...

Please avoid MacMall unless they tell you they actually have the iPad you want in stock. Pre-ordering with them is a lot slower than through the Apple Store.
 
cavemonkey50 said:
I'd recommend checking out your small Apple resellers around your area. You'll be surprised by the amount of mom & pop shops that are authorized resellers. Apple has a nice tool for finding them here: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/index.html. You can limit your search for just places that sell iPads too.

I managed to find mine at a resellers when Best Buy and the Apple Store were sold out. If the store is nice enough, they may even have a waiting list that is shorter than the other places if they're out of stock.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the link, gave it a try but all that resulted were the Apple Stores in Long Island, NYC, and Connecticut. It may work for other metro areas.
 
I've bought two now from one of my local Apple retail stores by just walking in. The key is the lower end models are in either the highest demand or the lowest quantities. Both times they have had the most expensive one in stock (64gb wifi + 3g), but not the least expensive (wifi 16gb).

Short story, buy a higher model and walk out today with one in hand!
 
SiMBa37 said:
My wife really wants an iPad, she's content with the Wifi only 16gb model. I live in NY w/n proximity of 3 apple stores, and no one carries it, and they are not helpful in terms of their shipments. The 4 Best Buys within 45 min driving distance are also sold out
Click to expand...

Try Tekserve?
 
I ordered online. Found one in store about 45 minutes away about 7 days before it was supposed to ship. I just went online and canceled. Simply put, if you find one, check your order status and cancel the one online.
 
I was able to get my 32g Wi-Fi from Best Buy last week after just three days of persistence. All the BB stores in the MD/DC/VA area open at 10am. They all told me they did not know when an Apple shipment would come in, but usually was overnight and on shelves first thing in the morning.

I made a list of 4-5 that were somewhat nearby, using the BB store locator on their website, and started calling each store in the morning at 10am. Took a minute or so to talk with person who answered, total of about 15 minutes. On the third day I hit the jackpot - they had the exact model I wanted. Went over and picked it up.

One BB store would let me purchase an iPad with a credit card over the phone and then go to pick it up in their store, but that was with a 32g 3-G model. The store that had the Wi-Fi only that I wanted said first-come-first serve. So I jumped in the car and soon thereafter had it in my hands! :)
 
Saberj said:
I ordered online. Found one in store about 45 minutes away about 7 days before it was supposed to ship. I just went online and canceled. Simply put, if you find one, check your order status and cancel the one online.
Click to expand...

How long did it take for the website charge to disappear off of your credit card?
 
cavemonkey50 said:
Try using your zip and specify iPad on the drop down. City names don't seem to work too well in dense areas.
Click to expand...

Did that, just came up with one re-seller who didn't have it. On the plus side, just check Best Buy.com and 1 store right near my work says they have in store availability, I'll have to give them a call before I leave, perhaps I can pick it up.

I assume that apple products bought in Best Buy can still be brought to the Apple Store for service if something goes wrong, right?
 
SiMBa37 said:
Did that, just came up with one re-seller who didn't have it. On the plus side, just check Best Buy.com and 1 store right near my work says they have in store availability, I'll have to give them a call before I leave, perhaps I can pick it up.

I assume that apple products bought in Best Buy can still be brought to the Apple Store for service if something goes wrong, right?
Click to expand...

Yeah, any products covered by AppleCare can be brought in to the Apple Store. Thank God, too. Dealing with Best Buy's customer service would be a total drag after dealing with Apple's.
 
Try ebay. I've sold 10 ipads as buy it now. Combining with bing cashback you also save a lot
 
Wow - guess I lucked out. Decided to get an ipad on Friday - was targeting the 32Gb wifi. Went to Best Buy at 2pm and they still had a 32 wifi and a 64 wifi/3G. So I went with the wifi. I plan on using the ipad for a year or so until Ipad 2.0 comes out and then letting my daughter use the old ipad.
 
Wailord said:
Yeah, any products covered by AppleCare can be brought in to the Apple Store. Thank God, too. Dealing with Best Buy's customer service would be a total drag after dealing with Apple's.
Click to expand...

Do you have to purchase apple care in order to bring your pad in for service within the warrenty period? I assume no.

While on the topic, do you guys recommend Apple Care for the iPad. Its 1/5 the cost of the product! (at least for the model i'm interested in)
 
SiMBa37 said:
Do you have to purchase apple care in order to bring your pad in for service within the warrenty period? I assume no.

While on the topic, do you guys recommend Apple Care for the iPad. Its 1/5 the cost of the product! (at least for the model i'm interested in)
Click to expand...

No, AppleCare simply extends the phone support from 90 days to two years and the hardware support from one to two years. All iPads (actually, I'd assume all Apple hardware) come with 90-day phone support/one-year hardware support standard.

As for whether or not I'd recommend it, I dunno. :p
 
Yayy

cavemonkey50 said:
I'd recommend checking out your small Apple resellers around your area. You'll be surprised by the amount of mom & pop shops that are authorized resellers. Apple has a nice tool for finding them here: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/index.html. You can limit your search for just places that sell iPads too.

I managed to find mine at a resellers when Best Buy and the Apple Store were sold out. If the store is nice enough, they may even have a waiting list that is shorter than the other places if they're out of stock.
Click to expand...

WOW. Thank you very much for this! I ordered my 16gb wifi on July 28th through the online Apple Store and they said it wasn't going to ship until the 11th! I called a local store and they had them in stock for me to pick up today! The Apple case I got from the online store shipped in about 3 days, so I already have that.
 
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