Apple's iPad 2 coming to 500 RadioShack locations starting Tuesday
Starting Tuesday, some of the most heavily trafficked RadioShack stores in the U.S. will begin selling the iPad 2, as Apple continues to expand the retail availability of its hot-selling touchscreen tablet.
AppleInsider has confirmed that the iPad 2 will be available at 500 RadioShack stores Tuesday. A corporate memo scarce on details only reveals that the chosen stores have already been informed they will receive the device for sale.
People familiar with the matter told AppleInsider that the deal to sell the iPad 2 at RadioShack was only finalized within the last few days.
The continued retail expansion comes only a few days after Apple launched the iPad 2 overseas in 25 countries. The second-generation iPad first went on sale in the U.S. earlier this month.
Signs of improving iPad 2 inventory came last week, when estimated shipping times from Apple's online store improved to three to four weeks. Previously, new orders were estimated to wait at least a month before shipment.
The iPad 2 has seen strong demand and regular sellouts at stores since it first became available. Apple's launch strategy has also been significantly more aggressive than with the first-generation iPad, which debuted only at Apple's stores and select Best Buy locations.
RadioShack's partnership with Apple expanded last March, when the company began selling the iPhone. The retailer also made waves late last year when it offered discounts on the iPhone, something rarely seen with Apple's rigidly priced handset.
AppleInsider has confirmed that the iPad 2 will be available at 500 RadioShack stores Tuesday. A corporate memo scarce on details only reveals that the chosen stores have already been informed they will receive the device for sale.
People familiar with the matter told AppleInsider that the deal to sell the iPad 2 at RadioShack was only finalized within the last few days.
The continued retail expansion comes only a few days after Apple launched the iPad 2 overseas in 25 countries. The second-generation iPad first went on sale in the U.S. earlier this month.
Signs of improving iPad 2 inventory came last week, when estimated shipping times from Apple's online store improved to three to four weeks. Previously, new orders were estimated to wait at least a month before shipment.
The iPad 2 has seen strong demand and regular sellouts at stores since it first became available. Apple's launch strategy has also been significantly more aggressive than with the first-generation iPad, which debuted only at Apple's stores and select Best Buy locations.
RadioShack's partnership with Apple expanded last March, when the company began selling the iPhone. The retailer also made waves late last year when it offered discounts on the iPhone, something rarely seen with Apple's rigidly priced handset.
Comments
Still waiting for mine...
You and me both ;-)
If I can get one there tomorrow, I obviously will, and I'll just cancel my online order with Apple. I don't care where I buy my iPad as long as I can get one and as long as it's not from a dirty scalper.
Doesn't seem fair / right.
A friend was at an Apple store this past Sat. morning...150 people waiting for Ipad 2's, they had got in between 15-20. I guess I should just resign myself to an online order and call it good. Radio Shack? C'mon Apple, fill up the pipeline at least a little bit first.
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
+1 - ordered mine a couple of weeks ago and it's still listed as 3 weeks off (April 20).
I have mine already I ordered it at 1:30 am on day 1 and was delivered 1 week later, this is by far the easiet and most useful computer I have ever owned because I can take it everywhere with minimal foorprint (like carying a paper notebook and inconspicuous) and sync my docs, music, and so on. I've been using the Note Taker app for a week now (from the guy who designed VisiCalc)
have fun
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
I agree. I've supported Apple so far through this. But this new move is crazy. Apple should fulfill the orders it has before shipping thousands of units to new suppliers.
They charged my checkcard for my iPad 2 on the 23rd. No update on the order at all on the 23rd or 24th.
On the 26th I get an email stating that the order had shipped! Hooray! Tracking # and everything.
Today I checked my bank account and they had cancelled the CC charge for some reason. No longer shows as pending and the money's sitting in my account. So, for the moment at least, I have a free iPad on the way. Just bizarre.
This is a stupid move by Apple. Why are they spreading the inventory even more thinly, when supplies are so tight?
You can't get an iPad 2 online for weeks. No retailer has updated inventory information on their website. The only thing you can do order online and wait for weeks, or go stand in line at some retailer and hope for the best--because they can't tell you if they are getting any supplies or not.
I ordered my iPad two weeks ago, and I still have two more weeks to wait.
The lunacy of this launch is seriously degrading my goodwill towards Apple.
Hey, be glad - I ordered mine 2 weeks ago and I have over 3 weeks to wait for mine, according to my order status. Sending units to Radio Shack is b.s. when they can't even fill the orders they already have.
I'm not happy with Apple either... I went on launch day, hoping to get one. I got there too late (still before opening, but not in time to get a "ticket" - which no one had told me they were going to start handing out tickets halfway through the day either)....but whatever. None of the employees made any effort to help me get one ordered or anything - they didn't give a shit.
I've gone to the Apple store several times, asking if they know when they get shipments or when the best time to check is (not asking for exact times/dates, just generally speaking - should I even bother checking the store during my lunch hour?). No one would give me any answer at all until recently someone finally told me that they only ever give out tickets in the mornings before store opening - people line up at like 5-6am. I tried going there last week, at 6am, and there were a bunch of guys waiting and they had already gotten all the tickets. I tried again the next day, slightly earlier.... same bunch of guys all in line - all got tickets. I could have gotten a white 16GB Verizon, but that's not what I want at all - but that was the only "ticket" they had left after handing out tickets to resellers.
Still, it took 2 weeks plus from ordering at 7:30am on US launch day.... maybe I'll get lucky and FedEx will actually show up today !!!
I'll bring it with me the next time I visit a real Apple store, so that I can fend off the scalpers.
I have mine already I ordered it at 1:30 am on day 1 and was delivered 1 week later, this is by far the easiet and most useful computer I have ever owned because I can take it everywhere with minimal foorprint (like carying a paper notebook and inconspicuous) and sync my docs, music, and so on. I've been using the Note Taker app for a week now (from the guy who designed VisiCalc)
have fun
Thanks for the heads up on Note Taker. I just bought it for our 6 iPads -- 1 each plus 1 (call me DaHarder 2).
It looks awesome!
I owned some some computer stores (1978-89). My partner beta tested VisiCalc. He was an expert by the time it was released.
AIR, it sold for $79 (or $99) -- at the time, most Apple ][ software sold for $9.99 - $19-99.
A customer would by several thousands of $ worth of hardware to be able to run the $79 VisiCalc program.
We made lots of $ because of VisiCalc.
Looks like Note Taker could be a similar driver for iPad use/sales.
/
Radio shack gets them before i get mine.... (ordered from apple.com)
Doesn't seem fair / right.
Maybe they ordered before you..