Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Zero sold at Best Buy in San Diego at 11:30AM

TennisandMusic

TennisandMusic

Guest
Original poster
Aug 26, 2008
1,339
1
So, as a dev I was planning on picking up an iPad today to start work on a specific game we had planned for the iPad...I got there and there was a small crowd around the iPad area with three demo units. An older guy in front of me learned that flash wouldn't work on the device...and left. My turn...I mess around with it for a bit. Seems ok. I ask if they have any left in stock. The sales rep says "Yeah I have them." I ask how many they've sold, he replies "I haven't sold a single one yet."

What?!

I tried Pages and it seemed cool, but I brought up the keyboard and thought...wait, do I have to type with my thumbs? I could set it up on a dock and use a keyboard but then...why wouldn't you just use a far more powerful computer? I don't think I would use the device for movies, music, or photos (at least as a primary device)...I guess at this point I am just a little confused about the long term usage for this device. Is it going to be successful? I don't know. In fact the best thing about it seems to be the games potential. Seems like certain games could be GREAT on this thing. But how many people are going to want to do that?

It remains to be seen how well this thing will do. I was shocked that they had sold ZERO units after being open for a few hours.
 
Well since he said that "I haven't sold a single one" you could infer that he personally hasn't sold any. Were there other sales rep around?
 
What nexus said. He didn't say they didn't sell any. He said he hadn't sold any.

For all you know he started work at 11:00am.
 
No, he said the store had sold zero. It wasn't him, they had their full allocation in stock. He said that specifically. No reason to try and "sugar coat" it. I just thought it was a bit surprising, and a little disappointing as a dev. I'm really curious where this thing is going.
 
don't know which SD Best Buy store you checked, but the one in Mira Mesa (SD) was pretty much sold out. I stood in line ~8:30 and employee passed out most of their purchase slips. Remember. not all BB stores sell them, only the ones with Apple section of the store.
 
I haven't been able to figure out why some stores are swamped and others have sold almost none and have no line. Not sure what to make of that....
 
Love of all things Apple is regional. I haven't bumped into anyone in my midwest college town that mentioned wanting or getting one. $500+ is still a stretch for much of this recession-era populace, and if Apple experienced, the conservatives around here are content to "wait and see" what the next version brings.
 
TennisandMusic said:
So, as a dev I was planning on picking up an iPad today to start work on a specific game we had planned for the iPad...I got there and there was a small crowd around the iPad area with three demo units. An older guy in front of me learned that flash wouldn't work on the device...and left. My turn...I mess around with it for a bit. Seems ok. I ask if they have any left in stock. The sales rep says "Yeah I have them." I ask how many they've sold, he replies "I haven't sold a single one yet."

What?!

I tried Pages and it seemed cool, but I brought up the keyboard and thought...wait, do I have to type with my thumbs? I could set it up on a dock and use a keyboard but then...why wouldn't you just use a far more powerful computer? I don't think I would use the device for movies, music, or photos (at least as a primary device)...I guess at this point I am just a little confused about the long term usage for this device. Is it going to be successful? I don't know. In fact the best thing about it seems to be the games potential. Seems like certain games could be GREAT on this thing. But how many people are going to want to do that?

It remains to be seen how well this thing will do. I was shocked that they had sold ZERO units after being open for a few hours.
Click to expand...

Obviously a troll...
 
TennisandMusic said:
So, as a dev I was planning on picking up an iPad today to start work on a specific game we had planned for the iPad...I got there and there was a small crowd around the iPad area with three demo units. An older guy in front of me learned that flash wouldn't work on the device...and left. My turn...I mess around with it for a bit. Seems ok. I ask if they have any left in stock. The sales rep says "Yeah I have them." I ask how many they've sold, he replies "I haven't sold a single one yet."

What?!

I tried Pages and it seemed cool, but I brought up the keyboard and thought...wait, do I have to type with my thumbs? I could set it up on a dock and use a keyboard but then...why wouldn't you just use a far more powerful computer? I don't think I would use the device for movies, music, or photos (at least as a primary device)...I guess at this point I am just a little confused about the long term usage for this device. Is it going to be successful? I don't know. In fact the best thing about it seems to be the games potential. Seems like certain games could be GREAT on this thing. But how many people are going to want to do that?

It remains to be seen how well this thing will do. I was shocked that they had sold ZERO units after being open for a few hours.
Click to expand...

My local Best Buy had at least 40+ units in stock, not one sold. I played with it, and i'll pass. El Centro, Ca.
 
Ljohnson72 said:
I suspect many people didn't know Best Buy was carrying them. Also getting them from Apple directly is just a better experience :) At about 8:45 all the employees ran out of the store really pumped and gave everyone high fives. They gave out water and coffee and a restaurant from the mall came down handing out doughnuts and mini-smoothies.
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that not many consumers would know they could buy the iPad at BB. I think more to the point is that early adopters are Apple fans and where do Apple fans like to go to buy their latest toy? Why, to an Apple store, of course! where they can bask in the glow of the crowd that is 100% pro-Apple. birds of a feather...
 
Phil A. said:
Why do you say that? Does anyone posting anything that can be perceived as negative on the iPad automatically become a troll in your eyes?
Click to expand...

I can't count the number of times I've been called a troll because I'm not an Apple fanboy. whenever I question certain things such as lack of flash and multitasking, I am either attacked as a troll, or get my membership suspended for 3, 5, and 7 days because someone in authority decided I'm "trolling". very frustrating. I can take the heat here as a non fanboy. Nevertheless, it would be nice if fanboys could be less vicious in their attacks on non-believers.
 
Ljohnson72 said:
I don't. Best Buy was extremely secretive about the matter, especially with rumors of very low stock. Even then, most Best Buy shoppers are average consumers, whom i doubt browse the web 24/7 checking on Macrumors.
Click to expand...

agree with you completely. average consumers don't come here.
 
So what's the point of all the expectations that since one BB or 2 or 100 hadn't sold a single iPad... that it's a flop?
Hello?
Fact is, it's selling pretty hot right now. Period. Will know how many are going to be sold this weekend in a couple of days. Till then, doesn't matter. At least the iPad is available now... for those who want to own this.
 
iPad seems... pointless? Amazing? Both?

I must say, I agree with you. I'm not a big developer or anything (although sometimes I wish I had the patience/skills to be), but I do think that the iPad fills the niche of... uh... well... nobody. I mean, come on, who doesn't already have an iPhone/iPod Touch and/or Mac that would be interested in them? What does the iPad do that these don't? Admitting, yes, like you said, the games look great, and overall, the device/OS seem like they'd provide an amazing experience when it comes to using them, but still... what. Is. So. New. About. It?
But you know, it's a completely new apple product, so it'll be really popular (not even mentioning the fantastic reviews it has thus far), and like you said, I'm interested to see how it works out for Apple. I'm not going to buy one, but I'll see if I can try one out at my local apple store on Monday. I'll post my opinions if I do.

And also...
phpmaven said:
Obviously a troll...
Click to expand...

Come on. Really? Just because someone doesn't like a new product from Apple makes them a troll? Loosen up, people. Listen to others' opinions.
 
It is not a matter of just not liking it.

It is how he couched it, or how these unbelievable details (ie the old man and flash for gods sakes), makes it very easy to question the veracity of his story.

He starts off telling us he is a developer planning on making a game for it, but then does not buy one because he has to type with his thumbs in pages?

It is not a matter of being negative, it is a matter of intentionally being negative in a nonsensical and unbelievable way, which is what the OP did here.

That is a picture perfect roadmap for what trolling usually is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back