Apple plans limited third-party iPad sales

An escaped playbook from Best Buy has confirmed that the retailer will aggressively promote its Best Buy iPad launch but carry only a low supply. Each shop will have four demo iPads, and Best Buy plans to make the iPad the front cover item for its April 11th flyer nationwide, even for stores where the iPad won't be sold; TUAW hears customers will be steered to any nearby Best Buy that might be carrying stock.

Supply, however, will be tightly rationed. Each participating store should have no more than 15 iPads in stock, split equally between the different capacities. Another 15 should arrive on April 11th, but Apple may tell Best Buy before launch day that it doesn't have replacements. Stores may be asked to hold back a portion of their initial supply to prevent disappointments when customers come in after the flyer appears.

No online sales will be available, at least initially, but each physical store will also be carrying most of the iPad-specific accessories as they become available.

The playbook paints a clearer picture of Apple's overall launch strategy that hints at a slightly larger number of iPads being available from the outset. Apple has so far only promised that it would sell the iPad at its own stores this coming Saturday and staggered its 3G and international launches largely to keep a steady supply. Such tightly managed retail strategies have been very unusual among e-readers and tablets; Barnes & Noble has had to control where and how customers could buy the Nook, but it had to limit sales to online-only customers between October and February and had no plans to expand beyond its own bookstores for retail.

Separately, contact at an Apple retail store has claimed that official stores will only start opening general sales of "leftover" iPads at 3PM on April 3rd, with all other sales before then limited to the now full reservation program.

By Electronista Staff