Neil Cybart, writing for Above Avalon:

One noticeable trend evolving over the past few weeks in the U.S. has been significant sales on Apple products at some of the country’s largest brick and mortar retailers. Best Buy and Target have offered sales on Apple products in the past, but this year feels different. While some have looked at these promotions as signs of waning Apple product demand and a directive by Apple to push excess supply through the distribution channel, the reality is much different. Retailers are positioning Apple Watch and iPad as the top gifts of the year, betting discounts for those two products will drive foot traffic into stores and page views to online stores. The end goal for retailers offering Apple Watch and iPad discounts is to generate the needed buzz and revenue to better compete with one of the best performing retailers: Amazon.

Interesting to see this effect. Apple product discounts used by retailers to fend off Amazon.

I did a little price checking, looking up the price of a 42mm space gray aluminum Apple Watch with a sport band.

• On Amazon: $380, with free shipping for Prime members
• On Best Buy’s site: $299, free shipping
• On Target’s site: $399, free shipping, includes $100 Target Card

Yup, those discounts would be enough to move me from Amazon to Best Buy or Target.