Yahoo Finance Discounted BlackBerry PlayBook a hit so far
As we inch towards the official onslaught of the holiday shopping season (it is Black Friday tomorrow) it could be a shopper's paradise this year with deals and discounts abound, particularly if you're on the hunt for a tablet computer.
To that end and in case you haven't heard, Research In Motion (RIM) has massively discounted its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet device around the world, reportedly for a limited time (until Dec. 1st in Canada). And while you'd think that would rankle retailers that have stocked up on inventory when a product is first introduced, the Globe And Mail finds electronics retailer Best Buy Canada regrets nothing.
"This week, RIM slashed C$300 from the price of most PlayBook models in North America ahead of U.S. Thanksgiving and the Christmas shopping season. The move should boost sales at the expense of RIM's operating margins."
But will it?
"Customer response has been amazing and much better than we originally anticipated," remarks Allan Kambeitz, director, Computing Solutions for Best Buy Canada. "In addition, other tablets, including the iPad, have continued to sell well and we believe the PlayBook promo has helped drive increased customer demand for all tablets."
Feel free to stop and catch your breath: RIM's discounted PlayBook initiative is being praised.
It's a similar situation for Future Shop Canada outlets as it turns out.
"There's been a phenomenal response to the PlayBook price drop," confirms Elliot Chun, communications manager, Future Shop Canada in Vancouver. "People love this sale and they're snapping up PlayBooks. There's definitely a sense of urgency (among customers) to get them at this price point.
"In the Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario) area where RIM is located, we had almost a couple hundred people lining up outside our Waterloo store this morning."
