The Kindle 3 might soon see Nook 2 enter the eReader arena - What makes me think the Nook 2 release date will be the 11th?
The fact that Best Buy is offering a $25 ebook gift card with Nook purchases from today through the 11th. Thanks to MobileRead for the update -
Order a Barnes & Noble NOOK e-reader and you can get a free $25 e-book card. Use this card to purchase an e-book, magazine, or newspaper. Plus, you’ll get free shipping on both items.
The Steps are:
1) Select a Nook. 2) Select $25 eBook Card. 3) Add both to cart. 4) Order.
Here are a few key points -
- It’s with the Nook WiFi and with the Nook.
- If you count the $25 gift card against the price (which people will) it translates to $125 for Nook WiFi and $175 for Nook. Nook prices fall below Kindle 3 and Kindle WiFi prices.
- This is only offered at Best Buy. So far there’s no mention of this at the Barnes and Noble website.
The first question is whether this really means Nook 2 is about to arrive.
Nook 2 is definitely set to arrive
This ‘price drop before new eReader arrives’ pattern is something we’ve seen repeated again and again -
- Amazon did it with Kindle 1 just before Kindle 2 arrived.
- Amazon again did it with Kindle 2 just before Kindle 3 arrived.
- Sony did it with its Sony 300 and 600 eReaders just before Sony 350 and Sony 650 arrived.
There’s a very high chance that Best Buy is simply helping B&N clear Nook stock before the Nook 2 arrives.
Claiming the free $25 gift card is in response to the Kindle 3′s price makes little sense – There were no price cuts all through August even though Kindle 3 was selling like hotcakes and probably cutting into Nook sales.
Coincidentally, a Nook 2 release date around the 11th would go very well with the launch of B&N’s new Nook mini-stores (modeled on Apple Stores) which are slated for an early September release.
Why is only Best Buy offering the gift card?
Perhaps Best Buy wants to clear up its stock of Nooks in preparation for the Nook 2. It probably doesn’t want to be left with a bunch of hard to sell older Nook models. B&N can use left over Nook 1s as replacement units or can sell them as cheaper, ‘refurbished’ Nooks. Best Buy has stronger restrictions in terms of shelf space.
B&N tend to be slow on things - perhaps it just hasn’t gotten around to updating its website with the offer.
It’s a bit surprising that there’s a gift card for the Nook WiFi. B&N couldn’t be making much on the Nook WiFi and with the $25 gift card (perhaps equivalent to $15 in actual cost) it might end up taking a hit on each Nook WiFi sold.
11th as the likeliest Nook 2 release date
B&N might announce Nook 2 this week - However, the 11th seems far more likely. It’s enough time for it to set up its Nook mini-stores and get its marketing campaign ready.
The Nook 2′s release is the most eagerly awaited release after Kindle 3 and it’ll be a lot of fun to finally compare Kindle 3 and Nook 2.
Filed under: Barnes Noble Nook Tagged: | kindle 3 vs nook 2
HOLY COW you just made my week! I’ve been waiting for some news like this on the nook 2 for month. Hope ur gut is right
BTW you do such an amazing job with this site. Though I’m not into the kindle, even the upgrade, you detailed, thorough analysis has been superb! Also I’m an author and my wide works for one of the A5 and I think ur analysis and thoughts on the ebook and publishing industry are spot on!
Anyway thanks for this info and for this site!
-jeremy
you’re very welcome.
I hope you are right but I’m skeptical. First off, Best Buy ran the exact same promotion for the Nook a few weeks back. Second, sales and promotions always run from Sunday through Saturday, so that’s not much of an indicator.
Nook Wi-Fi is marked as “backordered” in Best Buy.
Wow, I can’t believe I missed this! Good thinking.
Another reason the week of September 11 (hopefully they won’t pick that exact date) makes sense is that there is a shareholders meeting for Barnes and Noble on the 28th, and the current chairman is facing a proxy battle for control of the company.
The company has invested money in developing the Nook 2, Leonard Riggio will want investors to see the results, rather than just the bill, before they vote.
Hmm… BN released the original nook with 6 months for pre-ordering. I doubt they would make a major release with less than three days notice.
It was more like 7 weeks. Announcing early really hurt them because Amazon was able to match a lot of features like PDF support. They won’t repeat that mistake.