Buy iPad before or after Christmas?

joolesw1972

I just wanted peoples advice/opinion;
I am planning to buy my partner an iPad 3g for a "big" birthday mid January, am I better buying before or after Christmas?
I wondered if there would be any offers/reductions after Christmas - do iPads get reduced like other goods?
But then am worried about it being stressful making sure I get it on time/being out of stock.
If everywhere is the same price, I was thinking about ordering it from the online Apple store as you can get it engraved.

[Deleted User]

Wait till tonight.. there's a big apple announcemen (probably new iphone)

I've heared a rumour that apple may reduce the price of the ipad 2

No - ipads do not 'go on sale' like many other products - their price is very regulated by Apple

InsideInsurance

It is highly unlikely the iPad 2 will come down in price (other than to deal with currency movements) until the iPad 3 is launched (early next year based on the fact most products are updated annually?)

You'll not normally find them in sales, they simply don't need to be as until very recently they were selling quicker than Apple could manufacture them.

The best bet for a discount is either to look at Quidco or some other reward programme or consider using the Apple refurb store (http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad?mco=MTM3NTA4NDY)

hoyteam

iPad`s are reduced in price when the new model is released. At that point the new model takes the place of the previous model and sells for the same price. I don`t think you`ll be disappointed with the iPad2 and the 3 won`t be this year (though possibly soon after!)

Chartered_Eng

joolesw1972 wrote: »

I just wanted peoples advice/opinion;
I am planning to buy my partner an iPad 3g for a "big" birthday mid January, am I better buying before or after Christmas?
I wondered if there would be any offers/reductions after Christmas - do iPads get reduced like other goods?

As others have written, Apple don't usually drop their prices except when a new version is announced. Refurbished units (with full guarantee) are sometimes available at a discount but you won't be able to get them engraved by Apple. Apple's supply chain management is usually very good but the Mac news web sites will tell you when an older model is getting quoted at long delivery times, a sure sign that they are running down their inventory and getting ready for the new model (i.e. minimal price cutting needed).

Two suggestions, one is to buy it from John Lewis as they offer a 2 year guarantee for the same price as Apple. The second is Apple usually run a "Black Friday" discount day as they do in the USA. This year "Black Friday" falls on the 25th of November when they may offer 5% off a lot of their range at the on-line or high street shops. This is not usually announced until a week or two before hand. I got my iPad 1 at this "event" last year and got 5% off the case as well.

joolesw1972

Thanks for all the helpful replies, will keep a check out for black Friday and will have a look at the refurb site too. Thanks

NeverAgain_2

As others have said, little in the way of discounts available.

Can you buy face-to-face in an Apple shop?

The reason I ask is I've bought two MacBook Pros in the last year, and both times the shop was prepared to price match.

Each time Amazon was offering the £1,000 MacBook for £900 and the assistant matched that, after checking online it was showing 'in stock and available'.

You might find £40 or so knocked off an iPad.

Up to you to decide if it's worth it.

terrywastecake

on a side note, whilst engraving is a nice thought, if he ever wants to sell to upgrade to a newer model in a year or two it may devalue the ipad or at least make it a less desirable purchase for a prospective buyer.

just a thought.

Humphrey10

NeverAgain wrote: »

Can you buy face-to-face in an Apple shop?

Another reason for doing this is so you can check for dead pixels whilst still in the shop (eg http://iphonedpt.awardspace.com/ ), and get the iPad replaced immediately if it has any.