Apple locks resellers out of iPad sales
Only available direct from Apple
Apple's iPad is available for pre-ordering, but only via Apple's own stores, not its retail partners.
Even Apple's approved resellers are not allowed to take deposits or pre-orders from customers keen to try and lay hands on the genius-tablet.
We were contacted by irritated Apple dealers, and passed on their questions to Apple: is it likely there will be shortages at launch so you have been forced to restrict supply? Or does Apple believe it will sell enough directly through its own stores?
We asked an Apple spokeswoman for answers. She suggested we read the Apple press release which talks about "select Apple resellers". At the time of writing she has been unable to tell us who these resellers are in the UK.
Apple is accepting pre-orders for iPads from today - the historic boxes will be available from 28 May in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
At least one reseller we spoke to today was willing to take our money for a pre-order, as long as we kept it quiet. Presumably he would then have run round to Apple's Regent Street retail HQ. Or maybe he was just going to take our money...
John Lewis said it will sell iPads, but it didn't know when it would have stock or whether or not it would have the full range.
UK prices start at a recommended retail price of £429, up to £699 for a full-fat, 64GB box with Wi-Fi and 3G. Mobile operators have already released their data bundles deals.
Some online dealers are already flogging the boxes, with or without Apple's official blessing. ®
COMMENTS
neutal reporting
I don't think it is strictly necessary to refer to Apple's wild flailings at extending their ipod empire as "genius-tablet" or "historic boxes". I suppose I could understand the use of "historic", insofar as no phone or computer manufacturer has ever before released a device so uniquely devoid of features.
Actually...
maybe it IS "genius" after all! A genius business move that is unfettered by the needs of the consumer.
1. as portable as iphone? No
2. camera? No
3. USB port, please? so i can plug in missing functionality? No
4. running MacOSX? No
5. cheap? definitely No.
6. runs Flash? No
7. works as a phone? No
ipod Chunky might be a better name.
Trust me, we don't all think like that.
I like Apple desktop kit, I own some of it, it's quite nice. Apple the company and especially the cult around the risen again Lord Jobs of Cuppertino? Full of freaking, 100% A-grade horseshit! I don't get fanbois! Worshipping a businessman? Worship someone who has actually added to the sum of humankind's achievements, not a computer dealer who has lined his own nest eh?
Rather worship Jim Jones, at least you get a trip down Mexico way and a free drink at the end!
A very cynical person once said..
Something along the lines of, "The average person wouldn't bother to pick up gold laying around his feet, because he wouldn't want to get his hands muddy.
But the crafty businessman knows that if he picks it up, cleans it off and puts it in a pretty package, he can sell it to that same person for ten times the price.
A really savvy business man knows that he can do the same thing with just the pretty, shiny package, and keep the gold for himself."
Jobs is a really savvy businessman, end of story.
Hmmm
Sounds almost like Apple are deliberately restricting the supply of ipad in order to raise public awareness and get as much journalistic attention as possible.
What's the expression, any publicity is good publicity ?
