I never understood why they even have these discounts (i.e. $41 off an iPad with Retina)? It seems so minor and not even worth it to advertise. Seems like other competitors do a lot better in trying to provide a better savings for their customers. What are your thoughts?
Hey, I'll tell you what. You can get a good look at a butcher's *** by sticking your head up there. But, wouldn't you rather to take his word for it?
I can go to Target or Walmart and get a discounted Apple iPad or iPhone and leave happy.
or...
I can go to an Apple store, talk to a store rep that can show me things in action on his/her iPhone and either help solidify my decision to buy an iDevice, accessory, etc and know that I'm set up and ready to go before I leave.
You pay for the Apple experience, not necessarily the Apple product. At an Apple store there are Apple store employees, overhead, expenses, and some odd fixation on only selling products and accessories related to Apple and their offering. Weird, huh?
Target can sell an iPad less expensively than an Apple store. Why?
1. Locations - Target has a larger retail footprint than Apple. When combined with its online store you really can't be taxed to heavily to find a Target store nearby.
2. Bulk purchasing - Target has already bought and paid for the inventory it gets from Apple. Even if they aren't necessarily paying Apple in 30/45/60/90 days, Apple has sold product to Target. Target got a discount, they will sell either at the suggested retail and make a small mark-up or will buy ahead and get holiday "door busters" to make just the same or a little less mark-up for holiday sales figures.
Let Target sell you an iPad for $100 less. That $100 has to be made up somewhere - whether in lower price breaks on other items or no additional service after the sale. If you want an iPad for less, that is what you will use. If you already know an iPad costs "x" and you are willing to pay that AND you want support, go to the Apple store. (Or another specialty shop, etc)
But don't complain about supply versus demand, bulk-buying power and distribution versus specialty shops with limited footprint and narrow product focus. Apple doesn't have to do better - they already have.
Edit:
To clarify - "doing better" means they have both the specialty shop and big box retailer market covered. What more could you ask for? Free devices? Sigh...