Wal-Mart next to carry Apple's iPhone - report

[AppleInsider]

Discount department chain Wal-Mart may become the second independent US retailer to carry Apple's vaunted iPhone 3G next month, according to an unconfirmed report.

Citing one of its "ninjas," BGR claims to have it on good authority that the big-box retailer will join Best Buy as the only other third-party iPhone reseller ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Specifically, the gadget blog believes an announcement is scheduled for Saturday, November 15th, approximately two weeks before Black Friday -- traditionally the start of the US holiday shopping season and busiest shopping day of the year.

BGR had previously joined AppleInsider in accurately predicting (1, 2) that Best Buy would become Apple's first authorized third party sales channel for the iPhone. However, it added in those reports that Radio Shack was also poised to carry the device.

The gadget blog said its uncertain whether Radio Shack is still in the running to receive the iPhone, but suggests that Wal-Mart "has swooped down and stolen" its thunder for the meantime.

Wal-Mart is the world's largest public corporation and private employer, operating over 3500 Discount and Supercenter locations in the United States alone. The retailer is also one of Apple's highest volume iPod resellers worldwide.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[digitalclips]

Well they are made in China after all

[adammull]

Originally Posted by digitalclips

Well they are made in China after all

The is the first reason I have found for me to not buy an iPhone. Thanks for pioneering offshore production and driving American Manufacturing in the ground, all a pre-cursor to our current economic turmoil, but you are going to sell iPhones. Thanks Wal-Mart!

Any news on next year's price since you demand your suppliers to supply the next model with more features for a lesser price?

[Auream]

Originally Posted by adammull

The is the first reason I have found for me to not buy an iPhone. Thanks for pioneering offshore production and driving American Manufacturing in the ground, all a pre-cursor to our current economic turmoil, but you are going to sell iPhones. Thanks Wal-Mart!

Indeed, thank God great companies like Apple do all their manufacturing in the U.S. Oh wait... well, of course, it's WAL-MART's fault that Apple makes their products in China! Yeah, thats it.

Any news on next year's price since you demand your suppliers to supply the next model with more features for a lesser price?

Yes, because heaven forbid the consumer gets a better price on a product with more features! How DARE they! Apple is such a small, tiny upstart company, they don't deserve to be squeezed in that way. Its a damn shame that these big, corporate titans beat up on little old Apple!

[WJHMH]

Walmart may offer the iphone but I highly doubt they will stock it. They work with companies like letstalk.com that processes the orders then ships out to the customer. One of many problems with letstalk.com is they offer remanufactured phones from the Philippines so it wouldn't surprise me in the least if this was passed on the Walmart consumer.

[adammull]

Originally Posted by Auream

Indeed, thank God great companies like Apple do all their manufacturing in the U.S. Oh wait... well, of course, it's WAL-MART's fault that Apple makes their products in China! Yeah, thats it.



Yes, because heaven forbid the consumer gets a better price on a product with more features! How DARE they! Apple is such a small, tiny upstart company, they don't deserve to be squeezed in that way. Its a damn shame that these big, corporate titans beat up on little old Apple!

Yes, Wal-Mart was one of the first. Capitalism is really the main cause. Do you supply anything to Wal-Mart, or do you just pretend to know what you are talking about?

They are awful.

[nvidia2008]

I am soooo glad if all goes well in a few days time I am getting the F*K out of Retail. Retail is just hosed, in no matter what country, Apple or not. End of story.

[techno]

LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUMMMMBBBBBBBBBBLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEE !

I can't wait for the egos to collide in this partnership. Talk about two control freak companies. This should be interesting. I would love to be a fly on the wall in those negotiations.

[anantksundaram]

Does Wal-mart sell iPods?

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Does Wal-mart sell iPods?

Never mind: answered my own question. http://www.walmart.com/search/search....y=0&Find=Find

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally Posted by adammull

Thanks for pioneering offshore production and driving American Manufacturing in the ground, all a pre-cursor to our current economic turmoil

Originally Posted by adammull

Capitalism is really the main cause.

Wrong.

Originally Posted by adammull

They are awful.

No they aren't. Through much greater retail and distribution efficiency, Wal-Mart has helped to lower prices for many people.

[teckstud]

Eew!
make that - EEEEWWW!

[teckstud]

I'm so glad that all the Joe Six-packs and Mavericky hockey-moms will be sportin' iPhones down the road.

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally Posted by techno

LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUMMMMBBBBBBBBBBLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEE !

I can't wait for the egos to collide in this partnership. Talk about two control freak companies. This should be interesting. I would love to be a fly on the wall in those negotiations.

Should be interesting. But Apple is in a different position that some of the companies Wal-Mart has worked with before in that they already have a very successful direct retail and distribution system. It gives Apple a bit more leverage than others might have. I also think that part of what happens with Wal-Mart is that they "scare" companies into compliance. I don't mean this in the mafia sense of it. It's really more that companies scare themselves into compliance. They get scared of not being on Wal-Mart's store shelves. I think Apple is less likely to suffer from this malady.

I also think Apple has a more differentiated product than many of the companies that have run up against Wal-Mart. This gives them additional leverage.

[TimUSCA]

What is the problem everyone has with Wal-Mart? Everyone thinks the big guy is always evil. Wal-Mart got to the size they are because of a good business model… and they succeeded. You can argue all day long if their business model is ethical or not, but it doesn’t matter.

And who gives a crap anyway? Wal-Mart is a huge chain and they sell a ton of iPods for Apple. You know what happens when a product ships more units because it is more widely available to the consumer? Prices drop!

Stop whining… this is good news. Everyone has a problem with Wal-Mart just because it is the cool thing to do.

[meelash]

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

I am soooo glad if all goes well in a few days time I am getting the F*K out of Retail. Retail is just hosed, in no matter what country, Apple or not. End of story.

Really! You work at an Apple reseller, right? What are your plans now?

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by TimUSCA

What is the problem everyone has with Wal-Mart? Everyone thinks the big guy is always evil. Wal-Mart got to the size they are because of a good business model… and they succeeded. You can argue all day long if their business model is ethical or not, but it doesn’t matter.

And who gives a crap anyway? Wal-Mart is a huge chain and they sell a ton of iPods for Apple. You know what happens when a product ships more units because it is more widely available to the consumer? Prices drop!

Stop whining… this is good news. Everyone has a problem with Wal-Mart just because it is the cool thing to do.

That's not the problem. Walmart is just plain tacky. Target would have been a better move.
I would expect to find a Zune in a Walmart not an iPhone.
Jonathan Ive must be cringing.

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally Posted by TimUSCA

Stop whining… this is good news.

Yes it is. Apple is trying to find more ways and places to sell more product. They want to be selling 100 million iPhones a year. They cannot do this only through the Apple (retail and online) stores, at&t stores and Best Buy.

Assuming these are carried at all Wal-Mart stores then, where I live, the iPhone suddenly becomes 2-3 times more available (compared to Apple, at&t and Best Buy retail stores) to customers. Nice.

This is great news.

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Target would have been a better move.

True. I'm a little surprised about that part of this. Maybe Target didn't want to play. Who knows.

[ByronVanArsdale]

Interesting - AAPL stock jumps plus $14 and everyone starts getting giddy! Keep those energetic posts flying!

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by adammull

Yes, Wal-Mart was one of the first. Capitalism is really the main cause. Do you supply anything to Wal-Mart, or do you just pretend to know what you are talking about?

They are awful.

I know. It's really a shame that people who otherwise couldn't afford things can afford them because Wal Mart squeezes their suppliers. I wish those poor people would just go without, you know?

[Chris_CA]

<rant>

Originally Posted by Chris Cuilla

No they aren't. Through much greater retail and distribution efficiency, Wal-Mart has helped to lower prices for many people.

Haven't really followed Walmart's at all, have you?

At what price did Walmart achieve their growth and ability to deliver lower prices?
By demanding their suppliers give them lower prices and also in many cases, demanding the supplier move their manufacturing to China.
And the only way to lower prices (in many, many) is by the suppliers moving their manufacturing to China where they pay the workers 80 cents an hour to churn out 60 pairs of pants an hour.
And guess who loses?
- the american worker who gets put out of a job.
- the towns who benefit from having those factories and jobs

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...s/wmchina.html
"For several years, Wal-Mart has been the single largest U.S. importer of Chinese consumer goods, surpassing the trade volume of entire countries, such as Germany and Russia"

How do you feel about this statement? -> "Greed is good" - Gordon Gekko

</rant>

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

Haven't really followed Walmart's at all, have you?

I have but, apparently, I've come to different conclusions than you.

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by Chris Cuilla

I have but, apparently, I've come to different conclusions than you.

If the ends (lower prices to "Joe six pack") justifies the means ("Joe six pack" loses his job) you win.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

How do you feel about this statement? -> "Greed is good" - Gordon Gekko

</rant>

Greed untempered by fear is not.

That's how I feel about that statement.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

<rant>
And guess who loses?
- the american worker who gets put out of a job.
- the towns who benefit from having those factories and jobs

Yes, every American who shops at Wal Mart should have to pay higher prices so the guy in Ohio can make pants for Wal Mart for five times the price that someone else can. And the person in China, who is happy to work for 80 cents a day (which will raise his standard of living twofold and make him the richest member of his family) should go screw off.

I'm sure glad people didn't feel that way back when America was the cheap labor for the rest of the world, which helped us generate the skills and economic wherewithal to become an economic power.

We should just close up our borders to any trade that will result in someone having to improve themselves to get a new job. That way we can be sure the world will stay the same, as it is today, forever. That way everyone can earn a great wage, prices can rise quickly, and quality can fall. Great plan!

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by cameronj

I'm sure glad people didn't feel that way back when America was the cheap labor for the rest of the world

When exactly was that?

which helped us generate the skills and economic wherewithal to become an economic power.

By your logic, take away all those jobs and we lose the skills and economic wherewithal to be any econimc power.

We should just close up our borders to any trade that will result in someone having to improve themselves to get a new job.

Which jobs do you think they can get since all the jobs are moving overseas? Not everyone can be a CEO.

Also keep in mind that "Joe six pack" is not be shopping at Walmart because he will become "Joseph wine drinker" because he "improved his skill set" and became a CEO.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

When exactly was that?

If it didn't happen in your lifetime, it didn't happen?

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

Which jobs do you think they can get since all the jobs are moving overseas? Not everyone can be a CEO.

Yeah I know, since the unemployment rate is 20%, right? Except the CEO jobs.

"ALL THE JOBS ARE MOVING OVERSEAS"

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by cameronj

If it didn't happen in your lifetime, it didn't happen?

Huh?
I asked a question. When was America the cheap labor for the rest of the world?

[mariofreak85]

they're gonna sell the jesus phone in hell?

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

Huh?
I asked a question. When was America the cheap labor for the rest of the world?

You're not familiar with the state of the world before the industrial revolution?

[maclvr03]

Way to dilute the brand. Bad idea Apple

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by cameronj

You're not familiar with the state of the world before the industrial revolution?

Sure. Since we had "cheap labor" for the rest of the world, what did we export?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by adammull

Yes, Wal-Mart was one of the first. Capitalism is really the main cause. Do you supply anything to Wal-Mart, or do you just pretend to know what you are talking about?

They are awful.

Boy, you anti-Walmart crowd (please note the correct way to spell it now) sure are a hoot.

Walmart has one mission, to offer products at the lowest price to consumers. They are fulfilling that mission and if anyone has reason to disagree with them, don't shop there.

The fact that they are the world's largest retailer indicates they are doing something right. Smart businesses thrive and grow, dumb, unresponsive businesses do not.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I'm so glad that all the Joe Six-packs and Mavericky hockey-moms will be sportin' iPhones down the road.

As a stockholder, I certainly am glad for this.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by teckstud

That's not the problem. Walmart is just plain tacky. Target would have been a better move.

Just like Apple decided to not go with at&t because so many people "hate them", right?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

<rant>


Haven't really followed Walmart's at all, have you?

At what price did Walmart achieve their growth and ability to deliver lower prices?
By demanding their suppliers give them lower prices and also in many cases, demanding the supplier move their manufacturing to China.
And the only way to lower prices (in many, many) is by the suppliers moving their manufacturing to China where they pay the workers 80 cents an hour to churn out 60 pairs of pants an hour.
And guess who loses?
- the american worker who gets put out of a job.
- the towns who benefit from having those factories and jobs

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...s/wmchina.html
"For several years, Wal-Mart has been the single largest U.S. importer of Chinese consumer goods, surpassing the trade volume of entire countries, such as Germany and Russia"

How do you feel about this statement? -> "Greed is good" - Gordon Gekko

</rant>

So, you'd rather pay for inefficient companies with more expensive products. Go ahead, be my guest.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Chris_CA

Also keep in mind that "Joe six pack" is not be shopping at Walmart because he will become "Joseph wine drinker" because he "improved his skill set" and became a CEO.

When's the last time you set foot in a Walmart? People from every economic bracket shop there. People who are smart about how much money they spend in a tight economy in particular.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by mariofreak85

they're gonna sell the jesus phone in hell?

Yes, and they're going to sell the hell out of it.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

....anti-Walmart crowd (please note the correct way to spell it now) ....

If you want to get really technical about it, the correct way to spell it is 'Wal*Mart' or 'Wal-Mart,' not 'Walmart.' (See their corporate website).