

Users in the U.S. attempting to access Apple’s online store are currently seeing a “be right back” message, signifying a temporary outage. This scenario reflects a similar incident earlier today in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe. The outage is part of Apple’s preparations for its Black Friday sales event, which continues until December 1.
Throughout this event, Apple is providing gift cards valued up to $250 with the purchase of qualifying products, such as Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. For instance, purchasing an iPad Air, iPad (A16), or iPad mini makes customers eligible for a gift card of up to $100, whereas an eligible Apple Watch purchase will earn a $50 gift card.
Although the gift card offer is attractive, it’s crucial to remember that it necessitates an additional purchase to redeem its value, which might not represent the most advantageous deal available. For instance, Apple’s official Amazon store currently has discounts on various items, such as AirPods Pro 3 for $30 off, AirPods 4 for $60 off, and AirPods Max for $150 off. Moreover, several MacBooks and iPads are priced such that they could exceed the value of Apple’s gift cards.
For shoppers seeking the best bargains this season, it is recommended to explore platforms like 9to5Toys for thorough listings and comparisons of available offers.