Apple to offer ‘Black Friday’ discounts worldwide?

23 Nov 2010

As part of what seems to be an international plan, Apple’s Irish online site will be included in the tech giant’s seasonal “Black Friday” discounts this Friday, whereby Irish online shoppers will be able to avail of discounted iPads, iPods and Mac computers.

While Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US, many online retailers, including Amazon.com, have made it an international affair with all kinds of products selling at discounted prices.

On Apple’s Irish online store, the company said it would be holding a special one-day shopping event on 26 November.

Teaser campaign

A notice on the company’s Irish e-commerce site read: “Come back to the Apple Online Store this Friday for a special one-day-only shopping event. You’ll find dozens of great iPad, iPhone and Mac gifts for everyone on your list.

“Mark your calendars now. And until then, get started by browsing the Apple Online Store for great ideas,” it said.

In the US, a similar teaser campaign has been launched. Traditionally, Apple has offered modest discounts on Black Friday and authorised resellers would try to come up with steeper discounts, according to AppleInsider. While Apple offered discounts of US$101 off MacBook Pros and iMacs, resellers tried to go further with discounts as high as US$300.

Apple recently increased iPad orders in anticipation of strong Christmas sales.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com