“Around 6 a.m. on April 3, 2010, prospective iPad buyers began lining up at the Apple Store in Durham, N.C., with similar lines forming at other Apple Stores across the U.S. as early as the day before,” Charles Jade reports for GigaOM. “Nearly a year and around 20 million iPads later, it appears history is about to repeat itself with the iPad 2 launch.”
“While the U.S. store does list buying details, the big difference from last year is that there is no pre-order option… The iPad now has a proven track record and a stellar reputation, meaning the pressure on local Apple Stores and retail partners like Best Buy, Walmart, and Sam’s Club will be intense,” Jade reports. “Further, the iPad 2 will not go on sale until 5 p.m. EST, which means the line will be growing over the course of the entire day, with a big push towards the end as people leave work early to get in line.”
Jade reports, “While Apple Stores will have the longest lines, they will also have the most stock. Expect Apple’s retail partners to get shorted on units, and there’s no word on whether AT&T and Verizon stores will have any new iPads at all. Especially if you want the 16 GB Wi-Fi model, which is the most popular model, be at an Apple Store as early as possible.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Who is this Fred Mertz and why is it that he’s always contributing stories but I have never seen a comment from him even though he’s a reader?
he comments on stories quite a bit. even has a regulation fred mertz picture.
Puzzling.
Whadya want?
Pleased to meet ya!
Freeeeed! Ricky won’t let me be in the show!
Thanks, Fred, for your tireless contributions. Having said that, I do wonder if you’re another persona of SteveJack. Just kidding. Kidding! Ethel! 😉
Fred is Steve Jobs’ alter ego. When he’s not answering his email, he looks for Apple stories.
They should be more specific – AT&T and Verizon will only sell 3G models. If you want Wi-Fi only, go to Apple or one of the other options.
Several people iKnow plus moi will be Buying da iPad 2 🙂
No need to line up because it can’t be like the iPhone 3GS!
Millions having been waiting for version 2 and the band wagons are hitting the trails. Go Apple!
BUY AAPL stocks! 2011 = $422
Apple stock has been dogging it since mid-February, which I suppose is around when Steve announced his medical leave. Why that took the wind out of Apple’s stock I really don’t quite understand. Steve sounded good at the iPad 2 event. All Apple is doing now is retracing and not even that strongly. Middle East problems? Sales are still strong, so I don’t get it at all. $422 seems far off at Apple’s current pace. Investors don’t seem very interested or enthusiastic about Apple despite Steve’s best stage efforts and Apple’s almost certain tablet dominance. Big question. Revenue and reserve cash will increase, but will the share price follow?
> Expect Apple’s retail partners to get shorted on units
Yeah, because Apple make more profit per iPad if they sell them in their own stores. And it just does not seem right to line up at Best Buy to get an iPad.
Now, about those pallets…
I have verified with employees at the local Walmart and Target that they will have inventory – though they don’t know how many. Their best guess was “a couple of each model”. When I asked if they were going to allow people to line up for them, they said “absolutely not”, that they were not setup for that. I have to work Friday and the closest Apple Store is 45 miles away. I’m going to take my chances with Walmart and Target Friday evening, if I strike out it will be off to the Apple Store Saturday morning bright and early.
From what I’ve read, the iPad 2 goes on sale at 5 p.m. in all U.S. time zones.