The BlackBerry PlayBook Gets a $200 Price Cut
Research In Motion's Blackberry PlayBook just got quite a bit cheaper.
RIM's Blackberry PlayBook tablet hasn't exactly been a roaring success. Launched to tepid reviews earlier this year, the device isn't flying off the shelves as quick as the company would like. Now it seems retailers are cutting the price in an effort to shift units. Boy Genius Report says multiple retailers are now selling the PlayBook for less than the suggested retail price.
According to BGR, Staples and Office Depot have discounted the slate by a massive $200 in the form of $100 in instant savings and $100 in mail-in rebate. Best Buy is offering a similar deal, though it stipulates that the 'sale' ends on October 6. Even Walmart is said to be getting in on the action, with BGR readers saying the retail giant is offering the 16GB model for a discounted price of $250.
RIM hasn't officially dropped the price of the PlayBook, though it recently hinted that it would be a part of promotional offers that the company has planned for later in the quarter. In a statement sent to Boy Genius regarding the price drops at retailers around the country, RIM said that the recommended price for the PlayBook remains the same but that it is already starting to see some of its planned promotions being implemented in the form of instant rebates and gift cards. The company said it expects the promotional deals to continue through to the holiday season.
The news of the price cuts follows Best Buy's decision to drop the price of the PlayBook by as much as $150 (depending on the model) for one weekend only at the beginning of September.
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Price cut on that thing.... Seems appropriate.
I have a $99 touchpad. I don't need that RIM junk...
Actually, I know some blackberry users that might get a lot more 'play' out of it than I would...
I wonder if they even have a native e-mail client for that machine yet?
Regardless.
That *should* give sales a boost.
But the reason, I think, that Blackberry failed the Playbook is that they NEVER advertised its capabilities to run Android apps.
I mean, I never saw ONE commercial that said that. In fact, I never saw a commercial for the Playbook at all.
Because why buy the Galaxy Tab when there's something that works better and has better and more stable apps and greater selection of others?
Come on, now. (And if I missed the opportunity to get a cheap HP TouchPad, which works *beautifully* by the way, this is what I'd be looking at instead.)
If these had been the prices all along they would've moved a lot of inventory. The PlayBook is far from perfect but being a BB user I think I'll pick one up now. Without native email and such it still doesn't appeal to the masses though.
I called the local Walmart, and they are not selling it for $250. The price online is still $498, so I'd like to know where this information came from. Can someone provide a link because I'm getting one if they're $250.
I used to do the blackberry thing, back when they had their shit together. Then Office 2010 came out and 6 months in, RIM still wouldn't provide an ETA on when my shit will sync with the new office. It took apple 2 days...
I will throw a party when this contemptuous piece of shit company goes bankrupt. I will literally buy alcohol and invite people over and celebrate.
Needs to make some publicity, $99 Playbook for a week anyone?
got my $150 touchpad
came in on friday finally after waiting 1 month.
We have too many companies trying to get Apple prices for sub-par units. Blackberry's tablet had a nice feel but lacked in so many ways. Even with Android support, it was too expensive.
Having owned several Android Tablets in the past, none of them were worth the price paid. I won't buy Android until it is stable.
Ugh. I *hate* mail-in rebates. They are just an excuse for companies to advertise pretend-savings, and if you do *anything* incorrectly such as seal the rebate request during the wrong phase of the moon, they will gleefully deny you your earned rebate. In fact, some companies will even deny receiving your mail-in rebate (which must have original receipts and UPC codes only! Sorry!) so they can avoid paying it out. Biggest scam around.
I thought the PlayBook was the only solid contender to the iPad, honestly. If only RIM had a more thoroughly baked software, it really could have stood a chance. Missing a lot of native app really kills.
The whole 'tether it to your phone for remote connectivity' idea is a massive fail. Why carry two devices when one should do. Sure you are connecting with one tariff etc but besides that there is no real benefit to that concept.
I have a iPad, and like it except for the fact that it loses it's Internet connection every 20 min and I have to reboot it. 3 weeks ago I bought a zoom and love it so far. I will be picking up a playbook tomorrow so that I can use it as an extension of my bb when I am in my car. IMO the iPad at 500 was the only one that is overpriced. Nobody will ever convince me it is better in any way than the others except in regards to the number of available apps, but really, 99.99% of the apps are a complete waste of time.
They can keep all those pads and facebook too.
I called Walmart Canada corporate headquarters - they are NOT selling it for $250, ever.