“If all goes well and we have no supply problems, we should sell around 400 units per month. We will set ‘fair’ prices, below those charged recently on the grey market,” says Popeneciu. “We are hoping to sell our whole stock of several hundred units this weekend.”
She says, for instance, that the 16-GB WiFi enabled iPad 2 tablet, which first became available in Romania in March, when several local retailers sold it for RON2,500 (EUR588), will be available in the iSyle chain for RON2,099 (EUR494). “Those in a rush paid EUR100 or even EUR200 more.”
The iPad 2 tablet will be available in Romania through Apple’s official channels as of Friday, simultaneously in several stores in Romania, – in line with the strict requirements imposed by the US company – reads an announcement from Apcom, Apple’s only official distributor on the Romanian market.
The iPad 2 tablet will be available in iStyle stores and with online retailer eMag, as well as with prepaid mobile data services from Vodafone, according to an announcement of the operator, who did not provide details on the offer.
With iPad’s official entry into Romania, the iStyle chain will also offer servicing for the product. “Up until now, we couldn’t provide service, due to Apple disallowing service for products that have not been officially launched in Romania,” Popeneciu says.
The manager of the iStyle chain estimates Romanians have bought around 30,000 iPad tablets so far, with interest for these products still high.
In the first five months of this year, iStyle posted EUR2.5 million sales, up 7% from last year. (EUR1=RON4.2517)