Wal-Mart stores already advertising iPhone 3G availability

[AppleInsider]

Adding a bit more confirmation to what is widely presumed, a few Wal-Malt stores have jumped the gun and are starting to advertise availability of Apple's iPhone 3G ahead of an official roll-out planned for later this month.

Over the past week, readers have noticed both window decals and cardboard display jackets (pictured below) showcasing an iPhone 3G alongside text that simply reads: "iPhone 3G. Now available at Wal-Mart."

As previously reported and further confirmed by one of the discount chain's internal memos this week, the vast majority of Wal-Mart stores will begin selling the Apple handset beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 28th.

Although rumors had suggested the possibility that the retailer had obtained an exclusive deal to market a special-run 4GB iPhone 3G for $99, those reports now appear to be inaccurate. Wal-Mart will instead carry Apple's existing 8GB and 16GB models, which will sell for $197 and $297 respectively with a two-year AT&T contract.

In preparation of this month's roll-out, 488 Wal-Mart stores were selected this week to participate in a pilot program to ensure all of the retailer's systems are functioning properly for the official launch.



As part of the program, each of the stores were instructed to complete the sale of five iPhone 3Gs to their associates for the aforementioned prices. The associates are entitled to a 15% discount on their AT&T wireless bill, however.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Ireland]

I would have thought being available before Christmas would have been handier. Better late than never I suppose. Now where's my damn eBay iPhone!?

[Roos24]

I am not sure what to think of this move. Does Apple expect to sell more iPhones now that they are available through channels known for their low prices even though there is no price advantage? Like selling to people who have threshold fear to enter an Apple or an AT&T store? I guess this is as much about Apple trying to establish OSX as *the* platform for cell phones as anything else, but one might wonder what is next...

[freethinker]

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

[cameronj]

Originally Posted by Roos24

I am not sure what to think of this move. Does Apple expect to sell more iPhones now that they are available through channels known for their low prices even though there is no price advantage? Like selling to people who have threshold fear to enter an Apple or an AT&T store? I guess this is as much about Apple trying to establish OSX as *the* platform for cell phones as anything else, but one might wonder what is next...

You must live on one of the coasts, right?

[walshbj]

Originally Posted by Roos24

I am not sure what to think of this move. Does Apple expect to sell more iPhones now that they are available through channels known for their low prices even though there is no price advantage? Like selling to people who have threshold fear to enter an Apple or an AT&T store? I guess this is as much about Apple trying to establish OSX as *the* platform for cell phones as anything else, but one might wonder what is next...

There are tons of people who ONLY shop at Walmart. It's all they have. There's a reason Walmart has the power it exerts over suppliers: They sell TONS of stuff. It's a huge amount of exposure for the iPhone. Believe it or not, there are Americans who have no idea what the iPhone is.

[aaarrrgggh]

Originally Posted by freethinker

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

Quit being a snob. Walmart dramatically increases the accessible market and more importantly the marketing for the iPhone. There are plenty of people that are several hours from an Apple store, and an hour from a Best Buy-- but have a Walmart within 30 minutes that they actually go to once or twice a week. Just because people shop at Walmart doesn't mean they are poor... especially in areas where Costco doesn't have a presence.

For the quarter, it also means that Apple is stuffing the channel with 100-250k additional iPhones that will show up as Q1 sales. I'd be surprised if the addition of Walmart doesn't add an additional 300k actual customer sales in the quarter as well.

[afishertx]

Originally Posted by freethinker

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

Walmart has been selling iPods for years, along with many other "discount" chains. I don't see the issue...

[walshbj]

Originally Posted by cameronj

You must live on one of the coasts, right?

It's surprising that so many people still don't know the basics about Walmart, its influence, and its saturation.

[slapppy]

A big whopping $2.00 off is what I've read somewhere.

[stonybrookadam]

Originally Posted by freethinker

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

Walmart has been selling the iPod line for years, and sells the AppleTV as well. There is a large Apple-only displaycase set up in the electronics center plan for all Walmarts.

In these economic times, you should be FAR more concerned that prospective Apple consumers will share your "premium brand" mentality. People are far less likely to purchase luxury in times of belt-tightening. If you can reach out and sell to the masses, so be it.

Walmart hits a VERY large cross-section of the market. To Apple/AT&T, these are new accounts to snag. If you'd rather that Apple products be restricted to individuals in a high socioeconomic bracket, you're not going to do well in our new socialized economy...

I use Apple products for their inherent quality, NOT because I want to look "elite". How about you?

[ncee]

I too, choose not to shop at Wally World, but YES MILLIONS do ship there, and I would not be surprised if more then half of them NEVER heard of the iPhone, and or if they heard of it, NEVER knew how to purchase one.

YES - this will open up the market place for a hugh increase in iPhone sales.

YES it weakens the mystique of Apple products … BUT

if the goal is to sell a ton of Apple products, as much as I hate it, and I'm sure do as well, Wal-mart is a great plan.

I STILL won't go in, but many others well.

Skip

[walshbj]

Originally Posted by slapppy

A big whopping $2.00 off is what I've read somewhere.

Apple hasn't caved to Walmart pricing, fine with me. iPhone at Walmart is nothing but good news for the iPhone. Like someone said, they sell ipods already.

I think Apple gets away with playing both sides of the street here. My local Apple store is next to Luis Vuitton, Burberry, St John, and Nordstrom. Apple fits in as a high-end good. Admittedly, an iPod doesn't look as glamorous in Target, but I think the brand is strong enough to stand up to the challenge.

If anything was going to drag Apple down it would be the AT&T store! Take a look at this photo from the original iphone launch....

[paxman]

Walmart style CLASSY advertising board!

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by cameronj

You must live on one of the coasts, right?

Irish guy got that one

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by walshbj

There are tons of people who ONLY shop at Walmart. It's all they have. There's a reason Walmart has the power it exerts over suppliers: They sell TONS of stuff. It's a huge amount of exposure for the iPhone. Believe it or not, there are Americans who have no idea what the iPhone is.

The same 50% who voted for Bush?

[paxman]

Originally Posted by walshbj

If anything was going to drag Apple down it would be the AT&T store! Take a look at this photo from the original iphone launch....

Ouch... but you can have your laundry done at the same time - n-i-c-e!

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by Ireland

I would have thought being available before Christmas would have been handier. Better late than never I suppose. Now where's my damn eBay iPhone!?

Don't worry, the iPhone will be there for all those Walmart customer returning their dissatisfied Christmas gifts.

So Apple will hit them up on the back side...

[Rot'nApple]

Originally Posted by Ireland

The same 50% who voted for Bush?

As opposed to the other 52% of Americans who voted for Obama because he has no core values, typical, and can't make up his mind so he has to have both an iPod and Zune!

Pay for Play - Chicago politics is a coming to Washington!

What did the president-elect know and when did the president-elect know it? Jeez Obama, most politicians wait until they are in office before having to deal with scandalous questionable dealings!

Oh, I take that back, Clinton's womanizing was well know before he got in with his Arkansas politics - affairs 'r us.

Have fun America!

[Quash]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

As opposed to the other 52% of Americans who voted for Obama because he has no core values, typical, and can't make up his mind so he has to have both an iPod and Zune!

Pay for Play - Chicago politics is a coming to Washington!

What did the president-elect know and when did the president-elect know it? Jeez Obama, most politicians wait until they are in office before having to deal with scandalous questionable dealings!

Oh, I take that back, Clinton's womanizing was well know before he got in with his Arkansas politics - affairs 'r us.

Have fun America!

Actually it was 62%

Im sorry but, what country are you living in?

[roehlstation]

Originally Posted by freethinker

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

Dude, they've been selling iPods for a while now.

[elroth]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

As opposed to the other 52% of Americans who voted for Obama because he has no core values, typical, and can't make up his mind so he has to have both an iPod and Zune!

Pay for Play - Chicago politics is a coming to Washington!

What did the president-elect know and when did the president-elect know it? Jeez Obama, most politicians wait until they are in office before having to deal with scandalous questionable dealings!

Oh, I take that back, Clinton's womanizing was well know before he got in with his Arkansas politics - affairs 'r us.

Have fun America!

You might make sure there are facts behind the charges before you embarass yourself. Don't just listen to the rumours and right-wing propaganda.

Oh, and if you're comparing things, you're saying Clinton's womanizing is worse than Bush's lying to get us into Iraq, where 4,000 Americans have died, and we've spent close to a trillion dollars? I know what you're going to say: God told Bush to do it (as he claims), so it's okay.

[addabox]

Originally Posted by Rot'nApple

As opposed to the other 52% of Americans who voted for Obama because he has no core values, typical, and can't make up his mind so he has to have both an iPod and Zune!

Pay for Play - Chicago politics is a coming to Washington!

What did the president-elect know and when did the president-elect know it? Jeez Obama, most politicians wait until they are in office before having to deal with scandalous questionable dealings!

Oh, I take that back, Clinton's womanizing was well know before he got in with his Arkansas politics - affairs 'r us.

Have fun America!

Gosh, an entire winger screed without a single factual item. What a startling turn of events.

Perhaps if the folks on the right can figure out how to talk about something other than their bitter resentments and endless appetite for made up shit, they will fair better in elections to come. A country with actual and difficult problems might like to hear about ideas for governance instead of lunatics foaming at the mouth about birth certificates and the like. Just a thought.

Back on topic, Apple's cache doesn't come from where they sell their stuff, it comes from what they sell. The Apple Stores are a unique retail experience, to be sure, but they serve as much as educational and propaganda outposts as benchmarks for how Apple stuff "ought" to be sold.

Of course, the exact same people who drone on about Apple hipsters in black turtlenecks sipping lattes and sneering at their unwashed PC brethren will now crow about how Apple is dumpster diving, apparently incapable of noticing the irony.

Sort of like the same people who keep telling us that Obama is a king hell socialist are going to crow about how he has "betrayed" his leftist buddies when he does centrist things, eh Rot'nApple?

[Lafe]

Originally Posted by stonybrookadam

Walmart has been selling the iPod line for years, and sells the AppleTV as well. There is a large Apple-only displaycase set up in the electronics center plan for all Walmarts.

In these economic times, you should be FAR more concerned that prospective Apple consumers will share your "premium brand" mentality. People are far less likely to purchase luxury in times of belt-tightening. If you can reach out and sell to the masses, so be it.

Walmart hits a VERY large cross-section of the market. To Apple/AT&T, these are new accounts to snag. If you'd rather that Apple products be restricted to individuals in a high socioeconomic bracket, you're not going to do well in our new socialized economy...

I use Apple products for their inherent quality, NOT because I want to look "elite". How about you?

Well said. Wal-mart also sells gorgeous Sony Bravia flat-screen HD televisions, nice cameras, and all kinds of high-end gear. I don't see the Sony fans crying about it. Wal-mart is a wide-open door to waves and waves of consumers who might never enter an Apple store or walk into an AT&T store. (Come to think of it, if they did, the AT&T jerk would suggest they buy some phone-of-the-day instead of an iPhone. AT&T is a terrible partner for Apple, IMHO.)

This is great news.

[emulator]

Originally Posted by freethinker

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

apple elitists for the win. no wonder the rest of the world laugh at you for being not much different from unix/linux or any other nerds, right? the only difference is apple dans spend more unnecessary money

so in your theory, the low class people who you think are and live in trailers will have the cash for a 2 yr $120/mo. contract? in case you have missed, walmart won't sell the unlocked GSM iphone at this time for $297...

[brax.j]

Originally Posted by Roos24

I am not sure what to think of this move. Does Apple expect to sell more iPhones now that they are available through channels known for their low prices even though there is no price advantage? Like selling to people who have threshold fear to enter an Apple or an AT&T store? I guess this is as much about Apple trying to establish OSX as *the* platform for cell phones as anything else, but one might wonder what is next...

Apple Stores-


Wal-Mart-


A lot more people are now able to get an iPhone.

[Ireland]

One little Bush jab and the whole thread implodes!

Heck, look at it this way, he's not too stupid to not duck a shoe

[NOFEER]

expanding availability is the right move to move the iphone to more and more mainstreem, it puts massive pressure on android phone, BB's etc, the more iphones out there the more apple developers see this as a "must develop for". it also says how stable, easy to use and i bet a great way to push the mobleme service. it also allows many more accessories for the iphone, i am 1hour from a best buy, and 3 hours from an apple store.
now looking for an upgrade next summer. apple is developing its line, as per ipod so market grows, we grow, software grows, apple grows, others dwindle--
we want the iphone to be ubiquitous everywhere for all to use.
hey remember when we looked for software and developers for the mac and we saw few. now apple gets their attention....about freaking time.
iphone halo effect, hmmm more macs, more mobleme, more developers, hey this is wonderful
bring on voice dialing, cut n paste and a new video conference iphone this june.

[djames42]

Originally Posted by ncee

I too, choose not to shop at Wally World, but YES MILLIONS do ship there, and I would not be surprised if more then half of them NEVER heard of the iPhone, and or if they heard of it, NEVER knew how to purchase one.

It's possible they haven't heard of the phone, but anyone who walks into a Wal Mart having not heard of the iPhone is unlikely to see why they should pay $197 for a phone, when there's a free Nokia sitting right next to it. People pay for the iPhone (and its premium service contract) because they know what a revolutionary device it is.

[quinney]

Originally Posted by Ireland

One little Bush jab and the whole thread implodes!

Heck, look at it this way, he's not too stupid to not duck a shoe

Even a paramecium can respond to stimuli to preserve itself.

[manager2]

We hope this news is true and we may be able to get iPhone 3G for the site http://dlservicesincservices.com
Go Apple Go Walmart

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by djames42

It's possible they haven't heard of the phone, but anyone who walks into a Wal Mart having not heard of the iPhone is unlikely to see why they should pay $197 for a phone, when there's a free Nokia sitting right next to it. People pay for the iPhone (and its premium service contract) because they know what a revolutionary device it is.

iPod = WalMart
cheap-o cellphone = WalMart
Smartphone =/= WalMart
Returns= no MMS

[robb01]

Think this will open up the app market even more?

______________

[uluvbs]

Does anyone think they are allowing Wal-Mart to do this now (as opposed to a few months ago) so Wal-Mart can help deplete the stock of iPhone 3Gs over the next couple of months, and then Apple will release the next iteration of the iPhone a few months afterwards?

There has to be a reason why Apple did not initially allow Wal-Mart to stock the phone.

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by freethinker

There goes my Apple stock. Talk about cheapening a brand- killing the mystique of a premium brand name.

Apple has officially gone Wal-Mart.

Its a sad day.

Feel free to waste your money at those "other" stores on any product you buy, including various grocery items. WalMart isn't for the poor, it is for those that are SMART in how to save money. In case you didn't know, WalMart and Target both sell Apple products. They also sell other name brands too, like Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Philips, Sharp, Sony, Samsung, etc. Maybe the WalMarts near you are not the best quality, but the ones in my city are very nice. To make my shopping experience even easier, they even have self-check out! Apple products aren't for the super-rich or elite either. I don't know what gave you that idea. Also, when you buy an Apple product at WalMart or Target, it looks just like the one you bought! Did you also know Apple products are sold for less on eBay too? So keep wasting your money to think you are cool.

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by djames42

It's possible they haven't heard of the phone, but anyone who walks into a Wal Mart having not heard of the iPhone is unlikely to see why they should pay $197 for a phone, when there's a free Nokia sitting right next to it. People pay for the iPhone (and its premium service contract) because they know what a revolutionary device it is.

Wow are you dumb. The iPhone doesn't have a Premium Service Contract. It has the same AT&T contract that is featured on ALL phones supporting AT&T! I have the same 450 min plan that is offered with any AT&T plan, all I had to do was add data for $20 when I got my iPhone. That's not a premium service contract, I added a data feature. You think very highly of yourself to assume if a person has not seen the iPhone, they would be too stupid to understand it. Get over yourself.

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by brax.j

Apple Stores-


Wal-Mart-


A lot more people are now able to get an iPhone.

Thank you! Someone that is actually smart figured out Apple's plan for increased sales! Put your product with a store that is EVERYWHERE! Duh! That's why they have been selling iPods for years!

[Fast Fred 1]

Originally Posted by paxman

Walmart style CLASSY advertising board!

That's just a Apple cardboard iPhone sign covering a permanent sigh that says,
"GED classes held on saturday mornings."

[city]

One can buy an iPhone when they pick-up their Hitler cake. The real fun will come Xmas 2009 when each store will offer 2 iPhones at $69 each and people arrive at 3 am and stampede when the doors open. I won't shop there.

[adam1134]

Originally Posted by ncee

I too, choose not to shop at Wally World, but YES MILLIONS do ship there, and I would not be surprised if more then half of them NEVER heard of the iPhone, and or if they heard of it, NEVER knew how to purchase one.

YES - this will open up the market place for a hugh increase in iPhone sales.

YES it weakens the mystique of Apple products … BUT

if the goal is to sell a ton of Apple products, as much as I hate it, and I'm sure do as well, Wal-mart is a great plan.

I STILL won't go in, but many others well.

Skip

Wow. You seem quite snooty for someone who is functionally illiterate. It is not only the rich and famous who purchase Apple products, and it is not only knuckle dragging Neanderthals that shop at Wal-Mart.

For those concerned about Apple's brand, you also need to think about availability. I sold my 1st gen 4GB iPhone to someone in rural Michigan via eBay for $300. She did not buy the old one because she was stupid. She bought because she desperately wanted and iPhone and there was not an Apple or AT&T store for a couple hundred miles! She does have a Wal-Mart within 10 though. Maybe Apple is onto something here…