Apple iPad Archive

Just over a year ago I wrote a post about how QVC and the other home shopping channels maximize the spiffs they make on their electronics products, especially the computer products. The basic idea behind their system is to sell “packages” where they take a popular electronic item like an Apple iPod Touch, Wii, etc. and bundle it with some “dollar” accessories so they can charge more for the package.

Here are the accessories included in the QVC bundle: rotating case/stand; touch stylus; music speaker ball; ear buds; retractable audio cable; headphone splitter; screen protector with cleaning cloth; car charger; and $75 Zinio gift card.

Outside of the Zinio card (which I doubt many actually use), the other accessories look like you can grab them on eBay or at Frys/BestBuy for a few dollars. I will also bet that the hosts will never tell viewers that this is the old model.

So how much does the iPad 2 cost as “today’s special value” on QVC?

• 16gb WiFi model – $699 (DOUBLE the Apple Store price of $399)
• 16gb WiFI + 3g model – $849 (Apple Store price $529)

And on top of the price, QVC charges $15 for shipping!

Overall I generally like what QVC offers in other categories but SHAME ON YOU QVC.

When I was in college, I worked at The Wiz in NYC and early on I realized that selling the accessories was the way to make the big commission checks. Sure the IBM PS/2 computers provided a nice spiff, but the real checks came when you sold a surge protector, a mouse pad or a telephone wire to connect to a BBS. Except I never offered my customers crap, the stuff QVC jams into their package is stuff you will likely never use.

One of the ways QVC tries to justify their price is their “easy pay” plan. This payment plan takes the full amount and charges your credit card a portion each month. The television hosts explain in all caps (!) that this easy pay plan has no interest but in all reality, you are paying a premium price to get the monthly payments and in the case of the iPad 2 deal, you walk away paying a LOT more.

Before the Today’s Special Value went live tonight, the same package sold for $814.00 on the QVC website. That’s a whopping $414 over the Apple Store price!

If you want to buy an iPad 2, I suggest either buying it directly from Apple or Amazon. The issue with Amazon is that they are only selling the new iPad directly, the iPad 2 is through all third party companies. The same goes for the new iPad – Amazon is only offering it through third parties so if you need it immediately, go with the Apple Store.

Lastly, since the price difference between the iPad 2 and new iPad is so close, I very much suggest buying the newest version.

At SXSW 2011, the biggest mini-event seemed like it wasn’t the conference or the parties at the bars, but the pop-up store Apple setup to sell the brand-new iPad 2. Many of the tech blogs covering SXSW were trying to get all of the details and photos of the Apple Pop-up store before its opening. Lots of blogs covered the line of geeks waiting for the latest tablet.

With lots of chatter that the iPad 3 will be announced on March 7, will we see another pop-up store arriving in downtown Austin at SXSW 2012? SXSW interactive runs from March 9-13 and SXSW music and film run through the 18th.  There are two stores in Austin but both are not within walking distance or a reasonable cab fare from downtown. The 2011 pop-up store was just a few steps from the convention center and I heard the chats on line were some of the best conversations during the entire event.

Google has setup an “interactive village” near the Austin Convention Center to offer lots of developer events (including Android) throughout SXSW. Apple’s potential offering to SXSW attendees might be the latest version of the iPad. Something tells me that if Apple does offer the iPad 3 at SXSW, the Google Village will be running a bit light for a few hours while a caravan of developers head to Congress Avenue to get their iPad fix. Since the Google village is to far to walk to the potential pop-up store, maybe Google should offer a shuttle to help developers get their crack and then back to Google.

There is a rumor going around the deal boards that Target will offer a $75 gift card if you purchase an iPad 2 on either Black Friday or Saturday. The deal is in-store and should be applicable to any Apple iPad 2 model with 3G either on Verizon or on AT&T.

The pricing is the standard Apple pricing which means:

• 16GB – $629
• 32GB – $729
• 64GB – $829

If you purchase the 16GB model, it’s basically a 12% discount which is pretty good considering you can’t buy the device from Amazon. It’s important to note that Target does charge sales tax on the iPad 2.

If you have a Target red credit card, they will take another 5% off the iPad 2 that you select. This is probably going to be one of the best deals this weekend for the Apple device – especially if you don’t want to fight the crowds for the stores that offer one iPad 2 for some crazy low price to get you in the door.

MicroCenter has announced a $50 price cut on the Apple (AAPL) iPad 2 tablet device. The deal is only good in-store at all Microcenter locations – which appear to be spread out across the U.S. Basically the deal should cover the tax since Microcenter charges sales tax.

Since the iPad 2 isn’t sold at Amazon, this deal seems to be the best out there over the past few months. For the WiFi-only iPad 2 – the pricing for the 16GB, 32Gb and 64GB are $449.99, $549.99 and $649.99 respectively. For the 3G model (you pick either Verizon or AT&T) the prices (same GBs) are $579.99, $679.99 and $779.99.

One secret deal hunter tip – Apple stores will pricematch – typically they only price match for stores that are “close” – but if you want an iPad, print out the full email and head to your local Apple store and give it a try!

There is good discussion about the deal on Fatwallet and SlickDeals.

I remember when the new Air Jordan sneakers came out — everyone wanted the new style, no one wanted last year’s model. You could get huge discounts on the “old” version of the sneakers — sometimes more than 50% off the original price.

Earlier this month we saw Apple reduce the price of their refurbished iPad devices by about $150. And just a week ago Josh Lowensohn at CNET reported that AT&T reduced the price of the AT&T 3G version of the original iPad by $100. AT&T is still offering their iPad deal — a 16GB AT&T 3G original iPad is selling for $429.

Today I am reading on multiple deal boards with several confirmations that Verizon is selling the 16GB WiFi original iPad for $299. This model does not come with the 3G service only WiFi and the deal appears to be available only in Verizon stores. Confirmations have come in from across the country.

If you read some of the Apple fanboy blogs, it seems like if you have an iPad 1, you might not want to upgrade to the iPad 2. The fanboys suggest if you are purchasing the iPad for the first time, the iPad 2 is the way to go. Apple describes the iPad 2 as, “faster, lighter, thinner” — I think the big difference is the camera and the “cool” cover (that’s the real gem of the iPad 2 and why the fanboys ran out to buy one so they can make sure everyone knows they got an iPad 2 like the Jordans).

This deal is a $200 savings over the new iPad 2. That’s a lot of apps you can buy. I think this deal will get a lot of people thinking of an iPad before they consider an Android tablet.

So the big news today from Apple is the new iPad 2. It is thinner yadda yadda, lighter yadda yadda, has more ram, has some cool new software, Scoble loves it, it can get you dates, it can help you balance your checkbook, it can help you fix a flat tire, there’s nothing it can’t do. Brad McCarty at Next Web has a recap of all of today’s iPad 2 announcements including the seriously cool case that can be folded up into a stand.

Last September, I posted about a variety of refurbished iPad deals at the Apple Store. At the time, the refurb iPad 16GB WiFi model was available for $449.  Today they have lowered the price to $349 or $150 less than the new iPad 2. The Apple Store has all of the details. The prices range from:

• $349 for the 16GB WiFi model
• $479 for the 16GB WiFi + 3G model
• $529 for the 64GB WiFi model

Apple notes regarding their refurbished Apple iPad devices:

• same 1 year warranty as a brand new iPad
• all manuals and accessories
• a new battery and outer shell (to me this makes the device look brand new)
• a new white box (ha!)

So if you don’t care about the cameras, the thinnerness (new word!) or the lighter weight of the iPad 2 and still want to get in on the action, you might want to check out a refurb iPad original. You can call it the Classic iPad like Classic Coke.

Last week I provided several ways to save money if you want to buy the new Apple  iPod Touch. This weekend I am back with a way to save money if you want to buy an Apple iPad. Apple offers refurbished iPad devices which are $50 less than a new iPad. To me that means that if you buy your iPad at Apple, it’s like getting an iPad without paying any sales tax.

Pricing for the refurbished models: 16GB WiFi: $449, 32GB WiFi: $549, 64GB WiFi: $649 (click the links on the left side of the Apple webpage for the 32/64 models).

As a side note, normally I would recommend an Amazon purchase but the iPad devices listed on Amazon (all third-party sellers) are priced way above what the Apple Store charges for the device.

Apple is well known for excellent quality in their refurbished items – I have an iPod Nano from about four years ago that was a refurb and still works and looks brand new.

Apple notes regarding their refurbished Apple iPad devices:

• same 1 year warranty as a brand new iPad
• all manuals and accessories
• a new battery and outer shell (to me this makes the device look brand new)
• a new white box (ha!)

Last week I bought my second Dell refurbished laptop and both of them act and look brand new. So the next time you are considering a computer or electronics purchase, have a look at refurbished options. You can save some money and keep a product out of the landfill at the same time.