Friday, November 30, 2012

All I want for Christmas is an iPad - on the cheap!

Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons
You don't need Black Friday to get a deal on an iPad...

I recently read an article that said the most requested gift by teens and tweens for this holiday season will be a new Apple iPad. And who can blame them? I have owned my iPad2 now for about 6 months and it has become my go to device for everything from reading email to reading the newspaper to shopping. There really does appear to be an app for everything for the iPad.

So the question becomes not if a household will own an iPad, but how a household can get one on the cheap.

There were many discounts for iPads on Black Friday ranging from the 10% off offered in the Apple stores, to $60 off offered by Best Buy to gift cards offered with an iPad purchase by Target and Walmart.  But if you missed those discounts you are not totally out of luck.  There is one way you can always get a discount on an iPad - buy refurbished.

Refurbished is the way to go...
I bought my iPad2 refurbished in the Refurbished & Clearance Shop in the Apple Online Store for $319 and it came with the same one year warranty that comes with every new iPad. Apple tests and certifies all their Apple refurbished products and iPad models include a brand new battery and outer shell. The iPad will ship from China just like the new iPads and it will come in the classic Apple white box. The only difference is the box will indicate that the unit is refurbished.

NOTE: If you are going to buy a refurbished iPad, buy it from Apple - not some 3rd party seller.

When shopping in the Apple online refurbished store, supplies are limited, but updated frequently so you will need to keep checking until you find something that you like at the price that you like.

Apple has a store on eBay??? YES!!!
If you cannot find the refurbished iPad of your dreams using the Apple online store, then you can also check eBay. Apple recently opened a refurbished product store on eBay. According to the press, this Apple store on ebay was opened on a trial basis for Apple to test the waters of selling their products on eBay to consumers.  Buying a refurbished iPad in the eBay Apple Store can also save you not only cash off the retail price but also sales tax. The Apple store on eBay charges taxes only in California, DC, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Texas - unlike Apple’s official store that collects taxes in all states.

Check out these links:
REFURBISHED & CLEARANCE SHOP IN THE APPLE ONLINE STORE
APPLE CERTIFIED REFURBISHED PRODUCT STORE ON EBAY


I love my Targus Versavu iPad case because it rotates 360 degrees
Wrap your iPad in style and protection...
Once you buy an iPad, you need to get a case ASAP since you are protecting a highly used and highly expensive piece of hardware.

After I bought my iPad2, I ordered a $10 case off of eBay. I knew for $10 I shouldn't have expected much - and that is what I got, not much. It was a knock-off of a $70 Targus Versavu iPad case which allows you to rotate the case to stand the iPad both vertical and horizontal. Although the knock-off case protected my iPad, the stitching was sub par and the leather had a foul smell - wonderful.

So I aired out the case and kept in only long enough for me to find the authentic Targus Versavu iPad case on clearance at my local Target - I love that store. If you need a case that can stand your iPad both vertical and horizontal and you can find the real thing at a good price, I highly recommend the Targus Versavu iPad case.

The Case-mate Venture Case is an elegant lady 
If you are looking for high style for your iPad, then look no further than the cases manufactured by Case-mate. I first learned about Case-mate when I attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) back in 2011. They make wonderful, unique cases that will make people do a double take when they see your iPad. I love the Case-mate Venture case which allows you to stand the iPad horizontally. The case is well made and I love the two tone brown leather(ette) and fabric design - very stylish.

Be sure to check out the Case-mate website to view their entire line of technology cases.  If you are looking for both style and function, you cannot go wrong with Case-mate.

Check out these links-
CASE-MATE WEBSITE
CASE-MATE VENTURE CASES ON AMAZON.COM
TARGUS VERSAVU iPAD CASE ON AMAZON.COM


Part of the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Enjoy!

Disclosure: I was spent a complementary Case-mate Venture iPad case for review.  I am an Amazon.com affiliate.  All opinions are my own.


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FREEISMYLIFE December 2012 Calendar - Don't You Just Love FREE

FREEISMYLIFE December 2012 Calendar - All the December FREE in 1 List...

Keep reading to see all the great December FREE and low cost events, deals, contests and more in Detroit and beyond...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE DECEMBER BABIES - COME GET YOUR BIRTHDAY FREEBIES!!!



All Target Stores to have FREE WiFi and Online Price Matching for the Holidays


DEAL: $10 off $20+ online orders at Macaroni Grill with special code - ENDS 12/31


COUPON: $8 a day parking at Airlines Parking at Detroit Metro Airport ENDS 12/31


COUPON: $1.99 for Wendy's Kids' Meal & a $10 Gift Card Deal courtesy of Toys"R"US - ENDS 12/31/2012


12/01 - FREE Home Depot Kids Workshop 11/3 - Build a Holiday Picture Frame


12/01 - COUPON: FREE Document Shredding at Staples - ENDS 12/1


12/01 - Santa arrives at the GM Ren Cen on 11/23 with FREE Photos, Monday - Saturday till 12/22


12/01 - FREE 40th Annual Noel Night 12/1 5-9pm


12/02 - COUPON: $10 off $30+ purchase at Bath & Body Works - ENDS 12/2


12/02 - FREE Haircuts for Kids in Grades K-6 at JCP Salons every Sunday


12/03 - COUPON: Macys 25% off Friends & Family Pass - Good 11/28 - 12/3


12/03 - FREE Dearborn Main Library Blockbusters Film Series - DECEMBER 3—MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012)


12/04 - Coming to DVD on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - Dark Knight Rises, Odd Life of Timothy Green, and Thunderstruck


12/04 - FREE Sweet Jim Beam Bacon Swiss Burger at Red Robin on 12/4 for anyone named "Jim" or "James"


12/04 - COUPON: Macys Wow Pass for $10 off $25+ purchase 12/4 and 12/5 before 1pm

12/05 - COUPON: Macys Wow Pass for $10 off $25+ purchase 12/4 and 12/5 before 1pm


12/05 - COUPON: BOGO FREE Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cones at Baskin Robbins - ENDS 12/5


12/06 - FREE Movie Night at Birmingham Palladium 12 for 1st 1000 with 3 Canned Good Donations 12/6 6pm


12/07 - FREE eBook listed TODAY and every week on the Nook Blog for Freebie Friday


12/07 - GIVEAWAY: WIN the Movie Thunderstruck on DVD and Blu-ray - ENDS TODAY AT NOON


12/08 - Santa arrives at the GM Ren Cen on 11/23 with FREE Photos, Monday - Saturday till 12/22


12/08 - FREE Lowes Build & Grow Clinic for Kids 12/8 - Build a Gingerbread House


12/09 - FREE Haircuts for Kids in Grades K-6 at JCP Salons every Sunday


12/10 - FREE Dearborn Main Library Blockbusters Film Series - DECEMBER 14 - BRAVE (2012)


12/12 - WIN a $10 Febreze Holiday Collection Coupon Booklet and a $15 Visa Gift Card - ENDS 12/12


12/13 - COUPON: BOGO FREE Entrees at Pei Wei Asian Diner - ENDS 12/13


12/14 - FREE eBook listed TODAY and every week on the Nook Blog for Freebie Friday


12/14 - MOVIE REVIEW: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey


12/15 - Santa arrives at the GM Ren Cen on 11/23 with FREE Photos, Monday - Saturday till 12/22


12/15 - COUPON: $10 Target Gift Card with $50+ in-store Target purchase - ENDS 12/15


12/15 - Hey Kids! Who wants FREE Breakfast with Santa at White Castle on Saturday 12/15?


12/15 - LAST DAY TO USE THIS COUPON: FREE Document Shredding at Staples - ENDS 12/15

12/16 - FREE Haircuts for Kids in Grades K-6 at JCP Salons every Sunday


12/16 - BOGO FREE Holiday Beverages at Starbucks 12/13 - 12/16 2-5pm ONLY LAST DAY


12/16 - COUPON: 25% off single-item at Barnes & Noble in-store and online - ENDS 12/16


12/16 - LAST DAY to use THIS FRIENDS & FAMILY COUPON for 25% OFF at Sport Authority


12/17 - FREE Dearborn Main Library Blockbusters Film Series - DECEMBER 17 - GOLDFINGER(1964)


12/18 - Coming to DVD on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - Trouble with the Curve, Pitch Perfect, Liberal Arts


12/18 - GIVEAWAY: Panera Bread Dinner Rolls baked fresh starting 12/14 for your Holiday Feast - ENDS 12/18


12/20 - GIVEAWAY: Isotoner SmarTouch 2.0 Matrix Nylon Gloves make a great holiday gift - ENDS 12/20


12/21 - FREE eBook listed TODAY and every week on the Nook Blog for Freebie Friday


12/22 - WIN 1 Dozen Cupcakes to celebrate the Holidays from Metro Detroit's @JustBaked - ENDS TODAY AT NOON


12/22 - Santa arrives at the GM Ren Cen on 11/23 with FREE Photos, Monday - Saturday till 12/22


12/23 - FREE Haircuts for Kids in Grades K-6 at JCP Salons every Sunday


12/25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!


12/27 - EMPLOYMENT: Quicken Loans hiring for 500 positions during 12/27 Job Fair at Ren Cen


12/28 - FREE eBook listed TODAY and every week on the Nook Blog for Freebie Friday


12/30 - FREE Haircuts for Kids in Grades K-6 at JCP Salons every Sunday


GOING ON ALL MONTH

FREE $25 credit for opening a Serve® by American Express Prepaid Card - ENDS 12/31


SPORTS: Pay only $1.99 for HomeTeam iPhone/iPad App until 12/31


COUPON: $1.99 for Wendy's Kids' Meal & a $10 Gift Card Deal courtesy of Toys"R"US


Enjoy!


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