AppleInsider Staff
Walmart plans to get the jump on Black Friday this year with a sales event one week early featuring gift-card-based sales and discounts on a wide range of items, including Apple's new iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6.
A new 16-gigabyte Wi-Fi iPad Air 2 will be available for $489 with a $100 Walmart gift card starting this Friday, Nov. 21, at 8 a.m.
In addition, Walmart will be offering a $75 gift card with the purchase of a 16-gigabyte iPhone 6, itself priced at $179 with a new two-year service contract. The year-old iPhone 5s will also come with a $75 gift card and a discounted on-contract price of $79.
Finally, Walmart's week-early Apple deals also include both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s available for $0 down for AT&T Next or Verizon Edge customers.
That exact same iPhone deals will also be offered as part of the company's formal Black Friday sale on Nov. 28.
Still an exclusive deal for Walmart's actual Black Friday sale, however, is an offer bundling a $30 gift card with first-generation iPad mini units discounted to $200.
For non-Apple deals available this Friday, Walmart will also offer a Samsung 58-inch Smart LED HDTV for $698. A 40-inch Samsung LED TV with "Frozen Sing-Along Edition" will also be available for $298.
Walmart will also sell a four-piece table tennis set for $79, a Black & Decker 18-volt 2-battery NiCad drill for 69.98, and a Hoover High-Performance Bagless Upright Vacuum for $98.
Walmart also said it will be matching or beating Black Friday offers from top national competitors. Specific items and prices are set to be unveiled at the company's website on Thursday, Nov. 20.
"The retail environment is incredibly competitive and we know that our customers are looking to us for the lowest prices and great deals all season long," said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer of Walmart U.S. "That's why we've more than doubled the amount of items included in our Pre-Black Friday Event. Combined with our Black Friday weekend, there is absolutely no other place to shop this holiday season."
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20 Comments
I think if the Mini were $149, I'd consider it. I want one as a book reader and light "go anywhere" tablet.
The downside of going to Walmart is I have to shower afterwards because going there makes me feel so dirty!
[quote name="Paul94544" url="/t/183510/walmart-to-start-black-friday-sales-a-week-early-with-special-offers-on-apples-ipad-air-2-iphone-6#post_2642046"]The downside of going to Walmart is I have to shower afterwards because going there makes me feel so dirty![/quote] I always go for a delousing afterwards.
Is Staples a top competitor? Would they match that $239 iPad mini Retina deal they're offering?
[quote name="Paul94544" url="/t/183510/walmart-to-start-black-friday-sales-a-week-early-with-special-offers-on-apples-ipad-air-2-iphone-6#post_2642046"]The downside of going to Walmart is I have to shower afterwards because going there makes me feel so dirty![/quote] I try to avoid doing business with them. I find being open on Thankgiving to be especially objectionable. I'm not as bothered as some with many of WalMarts practices but I just find screwing over thousands of employees just to get a jump on Black Friday to be very objectionable.