Today the iPad mini with 4G LTE cellular data goes on sale at Sprint, AT&T and Verizon, getting one may take some effort. If you wait until Thanksgiving and Friday, you may be able to get slightly better deal for Wi-Fi versions.
AT&T is offering $100 off the iPad mini with a two year data contract with shipping in seven to fourteen business days.
Verizon Wireless offers the iPad mini without a contract with shipping by November 19 for black models and white models shipping by November 21. The iPad mini is not available in Verizon stores, yet..
Meanwhile, Sprint is not offering the iPad mini online with a limited quantity at Sprint stores. Apple stores are not carrying 4G LTE iPads at all, but you can order them online with shipping in two weeks.
Already in limited supply, you may ask how do you get an iPad mini?
Wi-Fi versions should be available in Apple stores. In fact, the Apple retail store website, buy it online between 10:00 pm and 4:00am and pick it up at your favorite Apple Store. When you add an item to your cart, you can check its availability at an Apple Retail Store. If you see “In Stock,” you can pick up most items within an hour. And for most orders, you can even designate a friend or family member to pick it up for you.
We checked Apple online during the day to buy an iPad mini, the only option available in our area was delivery in two weeks.
We called our local Apple store and the sales rep said that the iPad mini models were selling out using the online process, while the iPad Retina Display models were in stock during the day.
We checked Target online and although the 16GB iPad mini was not in stock online or in stores, the 64GB $529.99 iPad mini model could be found online and in stores. However if you wait until Thanksgiving and Black Friday if you buy an Apple iPad you get a $60 Target Card - 11/22-11/24 only which is a better deal provided stock is available.