Order one of Apple’s latest tablets now and it won‘t be delivered until the middle of next month. But ask for in-store pickup and you can have it today.
The iPad Air 3 and iPad mini 5 just launched, and demand seems to be fairly high.
iPad Air right now
A check of the Apple Store website found that a base model 10.5-inch iPad Air ordered today for shipment to Atlanta will arrive no sooner than April 11.
However, when that same device is ordered for in-store pickup, there are 11 Apple Stores in Georgia with this iOS tablet ready to be picked up now. Only one location has no stock.
Pick up an iPad mini today
The situation is similar for the latest iPad mini. Our research shows that this 7.9-inch tablet won‘t be delivered until April 15 if ordered today, but there are three Apple Store locations in the Atlanta area with stock.
This situation isn’t unusual. Many customers prefer to pick up their products in an Apple Store so the company always makes sure there’s stock of its newest devices for them. Also, Apple likes to get customers into its retail locations where they might be tempted to buy a few other items.
Judging overall demand for new products by seeing how quickly they sell out online is a dicey business. Still, the fact that there’s a multi-week wait for the iPad Air 3 and iPad mini 5 could be a sign that they are selling well.
Other options
Naturally, Apple isn’t the only retailer offering these tablets. A check of Best Buy’s website shows that it has the new iPad Air ready to be delivered tomorrow. Or there’s a location in Atlanta with stock ready to be picked up today — the same is likely to be true in other cities. However, this national retailer doesn’t current list the iPad mini 5.
Walmart can deliver either model on Monday, April 1. Or they can be picked up on Monday from one of this national retailer’s stores, with free shipping.
