Late last month Staples started carrying the BlackBerry PlayBook 16GB model for $299 after mail in rebates. Now following the lead of Best Buy, Staples US is offering the BlackBerry PlayBook for $299 sans any sort of rebate since the discount is now “Instant.” The 32GB PlayBook model and 64GB PlayBook model are also now selling without rebates for $399 and $499 respectively.
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The deals keep on getting sweeter for the BlackBerry PlayBook stateside. The latest retailer to drop their price is RIM’s official featured launch partner Best Buy. Unlike Staples and Office Depot which are offering mail in rebates we simply get the $299 price upfront from Best Buy. You can pick up a 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook for $299 at Best Buy now. The 32GB model is $399 and the 64GB model is $499.
Sales seem to be doing well with the device getting backordered. I was hoping to wait until it was back but its worth mentioning so you can keep an eye on it!
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With select retailers in Canada and the US discounting the BlackBerry PlayBook many are wondering if this will be done across the board. Right now RIM’s key launch partner, Best Buy in the US, has not discounted the device which makes many of us wonder what the story is. Turns out RIM told the BoyGenius that this is just a holiday promotion “intended to drive sell-through and increased adoption of the BlackBerry PlayBook.”
Full wording from RIM below:
The official retail price of BlackBerry PlayBook has not changed. However, as mentioned on the Q2 earnings call on Sept. 15th, we have a number promotional plans in place for the fall with our retail partners that are intended to drive sell-through and increased adoption of the BlackBerry PlayBook. We are already starting to see some of these promotions being implemented in the form of instant rebates and gift cards within the consumer channel, and expect these promotions to continue into the holiday season. The BlackBerry PlayBook has established itself as a high-performance tablet, and we are confident that these activities, along with the upcoming software upgrade, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, will help to generate an increase in demand and sell through of the BlackBerry PlayBook over the upcoming months.
The official retail price of BlackBerry PlayBook has not changed. However, as mentioned on the Q2 earnings call on Sept. 15th, we have a number promotional plans in place for the fall with our retail partners that are intended to drive sell-through and increased adoption of the BlackBerry PlayBook. We are already starting to see some of these promotions being implemented in the form of instant rebates and gift cards within the consumer channel, and expect these promotions to continue into the holiday season. The BlackBerry PlayBook has established itself as a high-performance tablet, and we are confident that these activities, along with the upcoming software upgrade, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, will help to generate an increase in demand and sell through of the BlackBerry PlayBook over the upcoming months.
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T-Mobile might be selling the BlackBerry Bold 9900 to customers for $299 but one of our tipsters let us know about a program T-Mobile is running for BlackBerry developers. Developers can get the BlackBerry Bold 9900 for $199.99 for a limited time after a $50 mail in rebate. T-Mobile did something similar in the past together with RIM for previous devices so its nice to see them continuing. The offer for developers expires on November 1st 2011 and requires a 2 year agreement though they nicely waive the $35 activation fee. No word on if this offer is also good for users who are upgrading.
To get the deal you need to call 1-866-464-8662 and select option 3. After that you need to mention promo code 7490TMOFAV to get the deal. They also don’t mention if you need to prove you are a developer but that should be easy since anybody can be a developer these days. They also have promos for the Curve 9300 (Free) and Bold 9780 ($74.99) but I recommend the Bold 9900 if you can afford it. I also noticed a page for the PlayBook but they don’t have a discount for it.
Check out the deal at www.rimdevelopers.com
They also have a list of resources, and links for developers to find out more information about developing for RIM. Also for those interesting in upgrading, they have links to the trade-up program where you can get some $ for your old BlackBerry device.
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We told you about the Amazon price discounts yesterday but Staples made things a bit more interesting this week. They are offering up $100 off many of their tablets including the BlackBerry PlayBook until July 30th. The coupon only works in stores and is limited to US Staples stores but it still is a great deal. If you are planning on picking up a PlayBook now is the time since this gives you $100 off all the models. Kudos to the CrackBerry team for spotting this one. You can print the coupon from this link and take it in to stores to redeem. Let us know if you use it!
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The majority of us probably have had at one time or another a loyalty reward card from a store or two. You know, those little plastic debit cards or the miniscule keychain version. From there it just snowballs. Next thing you know, you've got 20 of those little plastic nusiances hanging from your keychain. I'll sign up for just about anything if it saves me a buck or two. When I heard about CardStar for BlackBerry back in May of last year, I was ecstatic! No more having my husband complain that the cards hit his knee when he drove my car or the added bulk when he carried my keys in his pocket. All my cards were safely relocated onto my device and all were still easily accessible when I went out shopping. I've used the app numerous times and never had much of a problem with it except for a difficult scanner here and there. Yesterday I ran across an app called Key Ring Reward Cards in BlackBerry App World. I was very curious to see how this app would compare to CardStar and if I'd prefer one over the other. Keep reading after the jump to see which app came out on top!
Let's begin with a brief introduction to each application...
Key Ring Loyalty Cards, by Mobestream Media, states you can simply scan (yes SCAN!) or type the barcode number into the app to add all each of your cards. After you've added your cards you'll instantly receive coupons (in the app that are available to print) if any are available.
Both CardStar & Key Ring are currently available for BlackBerry, iOS, Android & Windows Phones. CardStar is also available for the Ovi platform. CardStar's current version is 1.4 MB (the main reason most complain about this app) while Key Ring comes in at only 789.4 KB.
Both are free apps.
CardStar allows you to back up your cards onto your device's media card. You can then email that file to any other devices that you may want to have the same cards available on. At this time that is your only option for sharing cards. You do have the option of consolidating all your cards into 1 or 2 cards through an affiliate program just to have on hand in case you forget your device.
Key Ring's backup is cloud based. Once you create an account and sync your cards to the cloud, you're done. Any other devices with the app and using the same account can just click sync and the cards will automatically update (I have it on 4 devices, 3 of which are different platforms). You can also login via your computer and manage your cards online. Key Ring also has an option to email the card to specific people via email. This works out great in instances like when I'm visiting my mom in Virginia and need her loyalty card for a local grocery store. I don't want to have to sign up for a card that I may only use 4 or 5 time a year. Key Ring can also give you a printout of all your memberships with barcodes.
Both CardStar and Key Ring have the option of displaying your barcode (if there is one for that loyalty program) or membership number in case the scanner won't scan it. I've scanned from both apps at numerous locations without any issues except once or twice at Best Buy, who still hasn't updated their scanners. Very rarely will the cards scan from either app if the clerk tries to swipe it over the flatbed scanner.
For CardStar, if you know a store has a loyalty program you'll have to either sign up online or actually go into that store and get your membership number that way.
CardSt
Inside the Key Ring app, you will find promotions and specials as well as exclusive coupons. The app will even let you know if the coupon needs to be printed out in order to redeem in store. In an update that is coming, you will have the option to share these offers via Facebook and Twitter.
CardStar has the option to go to the retailer's website and get contact information, some account login access and location searches.
CardStar's last update was back in December I believe with the introduction of the in app promotions.
Chris at Mobestream Media informed me that they have a dedicated team working on the BlackBerry version of their app and that future updates (hopefully being released very soon) will include similar features that are already available in the other platform versions such as the following:
I'm always trying to simplify my daily routine by utilizing my BlackBerry to the fullest extent. I've been using CardStar for over a year and have recommended it to numerous friends and family. It's a nice app but doesn't seem to be doing much with the BlackBerry version like they have with the other platforms. With the functionality and options that Key Ring Reward Cards already offers and the updates it will soon have, I for one have made the switch (I literally scanned all 32 loyalty cards and entered in 8 manually, only because they didn't have barcodes, into my BlackBerry last night) and have already started telling my friends and family about it. This is definitely the app to have regardless of which platform you use and especially if you are a multi-platform user. Just knowing I can easily recover my cards via the sync option if I lose or switch devices without having to re-enter a thing is a huge plus for me.
