Assessing iPad 2 Prices UK And Inventory Availability

The iPad 2 was released in the UK in late March 2011 with a 5% discount announced by Apple prior to the retail release date.  This discount announcement obtained additional media coverage in UK newspapers and tech magazines but the iPad 2 Prices UK inventory is at a low and demand for the product is reaching record levels.

• Base Model Costs

The published price on the Apple UK site for the iPad 2 UK is £399 for the base model, 16G wireless.  Other models are priced higher as they have more storage and add the 3G capability.  iPad 2 Prices UK are comparable with other global markets and research shows little difference in Apple’s international pricing strategy making it a level playing field.

• Demand

iPad prices UK are less talked about then the inventory issues that retailers including the Apple store are experiencing.  The demand for the iPad 2 is ever increasing and inventory is not sufficient to supply this demand.  Over 14 million first generation iPads were sold in the UK alone and this number is expected to significantly increase with the release of the iPad 2 and the long awaited features this generation of the iPad has.

• Out of Stock?

Published iPad 2 prices UK vary from £229 to £399 for the 16G wirless.  A quick search of online retailers show cheaper prices but when attempting to order the item is out of stock. If a purchaser was to attempt to buy the iPad 2 at the Apple retail price through their online store, the store does not enable a click through to complete a purchase.  Other iPad 2 products can be purchased, the docking station or cover were both in stock, but the iPad 2 can not be obtained online.

• Price War

The price and inventory war will continue until Apple is able to keep up with the demand.  Current original iPad owners can trade in their iPad and upgrade making the iPad 2 even more difficult to purchase.  This could increase the product numbers from the predicted 28 million to 42 million iPad 2 pieces sold, a massive increase from previous sales in the UK.

• 5% Discount?

It is interesting to search online and check the iPad 2 Prices UK through various retailers and confirm if they can actually be purchased.  The inventory issue could effect the iPad 2 Prices UK and make the original 5% discount offered by Apple null and void due to this demand.  Online retailers seem to just want the iPad 2 on their website and get customers onto their site so perhaps visitors purchase more items other than the out of stock iPad 2.