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UK - Getting hold of an iPad quickly

A

apkent

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 3, 2010
16
0
Finally decided after much too-ing and fro-ing that I want an iPad in my life.

Unfortunately the three nearest Apple retail stores are out of stock, as are PC World and Currys. I've been tempted to order online but they're quoting you will recieve your order 17 working days later. Thats nearly a month!!!

Anyone got any ideas how I can get hold of a plain 16gb wifi without paying a premium and without having to wait?

Any ideas appreciated!

Cheers,
Andy
 
I got a 64gb wifi from PC World 2 days after I started looking. Seems that they're getting small amounts of stock fairly regularly, so just checked online regularly and when one appeared reserved it for collection.

However 64gb iPads seem easier to get hold of, so you may not be so lucky.
 
I ordered my iPad from the Apple Online Store and it ended up coming 14 days early!
My estimated shipping was 2nd July and I got it 2 days ago (22nd June)!
I was absolutely shocked, I also called all the Apple Stores I could get to, all they could do was put me on a reservation list and would contact me when they got stock, but I didnt want to wait so just did it online.
You will be better off getting online, you'll most likely get it early like I did...
Still so shocked that it got to me 2 weeks early lol!
 
Sod it then, online it is. Will be annoyed if it takes 4 weeks to come of course but hey ho. No way I'm going to start bidding on ebay listings!

I have been checking the PCWorld/Currys websites to see if any stock appears but no change whatsoever over the last few days. As pointed out I guess the cheapest version is likely to remain the most popular due to price alone.
 
Know anyone in the states? Maybe they can watch Craigslist for you: buy one & ship it off to you when one becomes available. Most of the pads up on CL are priced up, but you can still find a deal if you keep an eye out.
 
Unfortunately not, no.

I did consider ordering a new ipad from the US Apple store, but I guess you're having an much of a supply shortage as we are!
 
apkent said:
Unfortunately not, no.

I did consider ordering a new ipad from the US Apple store, but I guess you're having an much of a supply shortage as we are!
Click to expand...

Might as well try and get yourself onto the priority list and order online, and whichever becomes available first, just cancel the other.
 
The Apple stores are getting steady stock in all the time, if you want one get on the list. Though prepare to wait for the 32gb models, they are in most demand.
 
JayGill said:
I ordered my iPad from the Apple Online Store and it ended up coming 14 days early!
My estimated shipping was 2nd July and I got it 2 days ago (22nd June)!
I was absolutely shocked, I also called all the Apple Stores I could get to, all they could do was put me on a reservation list and would contact me when they got stock, but I didnt want to wait so just did it online.
You will be better off getting online, you'll most likely get it early like I did...
Still so shocked that it got to me 2 weeks early lol!
Click to expand...

This seems to be happening a lot in the UK at the moment. I was expecting another 2 weeks of waiting before mine arrived, and yet here it is...
 
I couldn't find any 32gb stock anywhere, so I put an order in online. I'm hoping to get it before the 10th July date they gave me, but I'm still looking in shops locally etc to see if I can pick one up.
 
My local Apple store (Exeter) has plenty of 16GB WiFi iPads. I think if you just reserved a spot at all your local Apple stores, you'd get it much sooner than 4 weeks.
 
I ordered on 5th June and had an expected shipping date of 19th June and an estimated delivery date of 21st. But finally got it delivered on the 23rd. I had ordered iPad accessories such as the case and docking station as well as the camera kit and the O2 Sim. All delivered except the camera connector.

From my phone calls to Apple CS, I suspect that if you just order the iPad it will be shipped quickly. I guess the case and the docking station is delaying deliveries for online orders. Also, better to reserve an iPad instore as well as ordering online, you can cancel one of them depending whichever comes first.

Hope this helps
 
Thanks all. I was planning to order online as per a previous post but I have now just put my name down with a couple of local Apple stores and will wait to see how long it takes.

Rather annoying that there is such a long wait for online orders. I can appreciate that refilling the stocks of physical retails can take some time, but online should be guaranteed to be with you sooner than a month.
 
I'm in London and have had great success on eBay. Found the perfect iPad ... and actually saved a few quid because it had been opened. I was able to do a "But It Now," then pick it up in-person later in the day. Generally, if you don't find the deal you want immediately, just check back on eBay every couple of hours and you'll most likely soon find something you fancy. Lots of nice deals to be had, if you simply cannot wait.
 
I spent a whole day looking for a 3G iPad 16GB model. Was looking at PCWorld's website for hours, no luck.

Woke up the next morning, thought 'sod it' and checked the PCWorld website again, a store near me had some in stock so reserved and collected.

Turns out they got a delivery of 10 in that night.

Check in the morning, check every hour as PCWorld update their website that often
 
Quick update....

Having put my name down with several stores on Friday I had an email this morning to say my iPad was ready for collection. Two hours later and picked it up leaving a very long afternoon wait before I could take it home.

Now all up and running and chuffed to bits with it :D

Can't really complain at a 4 day with now can I!
 
I've found a few 16gb and 64gb (wifi and 3g) from Premium Resellers:

http://www.apple.com/uk/buy/apr/

Also, you have Currys/PC World, if going through their 'Reserve and collect' system, make sure to select the actual model you want and you're very unlikely to find any with 32gb in my experience. Bestbuy keep promising stock but no luck yet. I tried calling my local Apple store but was in the queue for 25 minutes so hung up, tried second closest (80 minutes away) and same story. Walked into my local Apple store when passing and asked to put my name down on the list, he said to wait at the genius bar and he'd be right back. Gave it 15 minutes and thought sod it, wasn't even that busy. I always get crappy customer service at Apple though.

I ordered (32gb wifi) online, states 17th July (hehe)... we'll see.
 
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