T.J. Maxx and Marshalls Selling iPad for $399 ($100 off)

This one is fun (and weird).

After calling a number of T.J. Maxx stores. Here's what I know.

Apparently a memo was sent around this morning to T.J. Maxx store managers indicating select stores were receiving iPads.  Not every store was on the list.  One manager that I talked to said it seemed like less than 50% of stores in her state got the single shipment of 10 iPads.  No word on if more shipments were coming. Selling price was $399 ($100 off).

By the way, one store had already sold their 10 iPads, another store had sold 5, both saying they are getting swamped with callers and people asking if the "iPad rumor" is true.

Online reports also say Marshalls (T.J. Maxx's sister store) is selling iPads.  The Marshall locations that I called had no clue what I was talking about.   It was sort of weird asking...excuse me, do you have iPads at Marshalls this evening?  The answer was hmmm no, we don't.  Apparently Marshalls in Florida have iPads in stock.

What is going on here?

T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are both U.S. nameplates for TJX Companies.  TJX is known for selling off-price well-known consumer brands ranging from clothing to home goods.  It would be very hard to believe that Apple is involved in some arrangement with TJX to sell iPad for $399.   If someone can buy a $399 iPad at T.J. Maxx, those $499 iPads at the Apple Store, Walmart, and apple.com now look a whole lot more expensive.

One theory I can think of is that TJX simply came in contact with a shipment of iPads and saw an opportunity to really cause a stir.  There are 900 T.J. Maxx stores in the U.S.  Assuming 350-400 of these stores got the 10 iPad shipment, we are talking about 3,500 - 4,000 iPads (then add in Marshalls).  Rounding up,  maybe we are talking about 5,000 - 10,000 iPads involved in this situation (assuming there is only one shipment cycle).

Maybe TJX had the opportunity to purchase 5,000 iPads from a third party for retail price and is now discounting each $100 to simply create a superb marketing campaign (it's working).  The interest in T.J. Maxx stores is through the roof tonight as the stores are getting calls inquiring about iPad (Black Friday only one week away).  5,000 iPads x $100 discount is the price of a solid commercial for TJX on network TV, so this marketing campaign isn't that expensive.

I want to see how this plays out.  Did Apple sign some agreement with TJX? Are there more $399 iPad shipments coming?   Hopefully the juicy details get leaked.