TJ Maxx and the iPad

You may have heard/read about the 16 GB iPad showing up at TJ Maxx and it just costing $399 - a $100 discount.  

 

“The rumors are TRUE! Select (unadvertised) locations/limited quant,” TJ Maxx tweeted.

Many speculated this was an Apple sanctioned event and even a way for them to sell off some excess Inventory to make way for the upcoming iPad 2.  Others even said this was a major blow to Apples Image and showed they were having lower than expected sales of the iPad by doing this.  

 

However, those who said these things appear to be wrong as it looks to be mostly a publicity stunt by TJ maxx who purchased units in bulk and then unloaded them in their stores as a way to get some buzz going.  Why would TJ Maxx do this - well it probably cost them less to do this than it would have cost for all the advertising it would have taken to get this buzz.  CNET estimates we are talking about 80 or so iPads spread across multiple stores  mostly on the east coast and they are all sold out now.  So this looks to have cost them about $10,000. 

 

To TJ Maxx almost well done - You really should have waited until Tuesday to do it and then word would have spread on Wednesday and Thursday and that would have in turn had many people waiting on Black Friday to get into their local TJ Maxx to see if there were any iPads to be had at the low low price of $399.  Ok $399 is still a lot of money - but it is much better than the $488 price at Sams Club.  I would suggest you check your local Apple Store on Friday the 26th to see what they are offering for a price on the iPad - and also check the online Apple store.  In the past Apple has offered some discounts on Black Friday.  However it does not look like you will be getting a $399 price at TJ Maxx or Marshalls or anywhere else.