Never Mind - Apple Still Loves Best Buy
April 8, 2011
According to CrunchGear, Apple has stopped selling the iPad 2 to electronics retailer Best Buy until further notice. This decision was based on Best Buy’s reluctance to sell the second-generation tablet to customers once a store had reached its limit of sales for the day. But, not so fast: it looks like this rumor has been debunked.
This story, published earlier in the week, stated an anonymous tipster who worked for Best Buy said Apple was angry with the Minnesota-based retailer for not stocking its shelves of iPad 2s, even when they were available. It got so bad, Apple COO Tim Cook himself made the decision to stop iPad 2 sales to Best Buy.
Soon, "Apple hates Best Buy" stories began popping up here, here, and here.
However, now this same tipster says all is fine, and Best Buy will continue selling the iPad 2.
He forwarded this purported email to CrunchGear from Cook, proving as much:
SL, My understanding is most of their stores sold all of their initial supply on the first night of the launch and the balance were out by the following day. I am not aware of any units being held. TimWhile this entire story may have been true, it is unlikely. For one, would Best Buy actually risk Apple’s wrath? After all, it was the first non-Apple retailer to sell the original iPad in 2010. Second, would Apple do something like this without first announcing it to the press? Finally, would Cook be emailing the person, who just happened to be the “tipster,” to let them know all was fine? What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.