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Wal-Mart prepping for Apple sections

puckhead193

puckhead193

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 25, 2004
9,582
874
NY
via engadget
While Wal-Mart will always be our hot spot of choice for picking up a mixed assortment box of granola bars and meeting other thrifty, outdoors-loving singles, the retailer is on a course to upping its electronics game, in light of the void left by Circuit City's closure -- about $11.1 billion in annual revenue just there for the taking. The store is rolling out new boutique sections for Apple and Nintendo products to some of its electronics departments this week, is adding to its selection higher-end Sony and Samsung televisions, will be expanding its Blu-ray equipment and selection, is nabbing some Studio One 19 all-in-ones from Dell next month, and obviously is getting the Palm Pre next month as well. Apple has been traditionally slow to offer up its higher-end products to Wal-Mart shelves, so hopefully this means that not only will Wal-Mart be doing Macs "right," but perhaps Apple will give a little in return and offer some more sub-$1000 macs beyond the Mac mini and low-end MacBook -- some Laptop Hunters fare, if you will.
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seems interesting well see how this goes. I still would not buy any electronic thing from walmart
 
Antares said:
Nasty. That would ruin Apple's brand reputation. Apple products do not belong anywhere near a Walmart.
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Really? Too bad they've been selling iPods since 2004 and iPhones since last year. I would imagine they're one of Apple's largest retail outlets.
 
sushi said:
That's true.

They used to carry the Performa line.

This is good news. Walmart is located in many places where there is not an Apple store.
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Location isn't everything. There's a thing called customer service that you can only find in an Apple Store. And I mean the ONLY place anymore! :rolleyes:




edit: 5,000th post!!! I'd like to thank the Arn for your dedication to this site. The demis for our time together, and The Academy for the great work they do.
 
iSaint said:
Location isn't everything. There's a thing called customer service that you can only find in an Apple Store. And I mean the ONLY place anymore! :rolleyes: ...
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I have no idea why you are rolling your eyes. If you need service, then you are not likely to find many Apple stores in the Gulf South where your Mississippi home is located.
 
MisterMe said:
I have no idea why you are rolling your eyes. If you need service, then you are not likely to find many Apple stores in the Gulf South where your Mississippi home is located.
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New Orleans (Metairie Apple Store) is only an hour away. There's also one in Ridgeland, north of Jackson. Birmingham, Baton Rouge, and Memphis are short drives from parts of Mississippi as well.
 
iSaint said:
Location isn't everything. There's a thing called customer service that you can only find in an Apple Store. And I mean the ONLY place anymore! :rolleyes:
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The Store within a store concept. Here is a link to another article on this topic. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10244755-37.html
I think it would be a great idea for them to do, especially with the store within a store idea. This is a great way to boost sales.
 
Hrududu said:
That they did, but it was a while ago. I guess it wouldn't surprise me to see Apple selling Mac Mini's and perhaps MacBooks. I wouldn't expect them to stock much more than that though.
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I would expect the consumer line. So we would see Mac Mini, MacBooks and iMacs for sale.

iSaint said:
Location isn't everything. There's a thing called customer service that you can only find in an Apple Store. And I mean the ONLY place anymore!
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Unfortunately, many rural people do not leave near an Apple Store. But they do live near a Walmart.

Personally, I like Walmart. When I am in the states, I shop there all the time.

twoodcc said:
i think this is a good thing. get macs to more people. what's wrong with that?
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Exactly! :)
 
I think it's a good thing. Most Apple customers are aware of the existence of Apple stores, and if they have one nearby when they want an Apple product that's where they'll go. But they shouldn't be limited to buying there or online. What if there isn't an Apple store for like 1000 miles in any direction?
 
iSaint said:
I do as well. I'm just not sure what kind of dedicated sales they can offer. The sales force in Best Buy aren't exactly the most helpful or knowledgeable about Apple Computers, how can we expect Wal Mart to be any better.
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I think that's the point with these stores. If you know what you want - you're in and out.

If not, go to an Apple Store or computer retailer...
 
iSaint said:
I do as well. I'm just not sure what kind of dedicated sales they can offer. The sales force in Best Buy aren't exactly the most helpful or knowledgeable about Apple Computers, how can we expect Wal Mart to be any better.
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oh, walmart will be worse. but, you get the same service other electronics as well
 
Will people please get off their high horse.

This can only be good for Apple, being in the largest supermarket chain in the US will dramatically increase awareness, profits and marketshare.
 
gkarris said:
I think that's the point with these stores. If you know what you want - you're in and out.

If not, go to an Apple Store or computer retailer...
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Well said.

If you know what you want, many times you can get it at Walmart for a decent price. And if you can't find what you want at Walmart, then there are plenty of other stores to try.

With Apple, a huge part of the country does not live near an Apple Store. Yet, are within a few minutes of a Walmart store. What a way to penetrate a larger consumer base.
 
Awesome.

I am curious if their pricing will be their own or they will stick to Apple MSRP?

I would dearly love Best Buy to actually have to compete with someone
 
Shivetya said:
Awesome.

I am curious if their pricing will be their own or they will stick to Apple MSRP?

I would dearly love Best Buy to actually have to compete with someone
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They will be an Apple Reseller just like MacMall et.al. Pricing will be set by Apple. If Wal-Mart chooses to offer rebates or discounts that's their decision.

And I'm guessing they will sell the lower price Macs.
 
i can just imagine the horror of a walmart employee trying to help someone choose the right computer or try to solve any issues someone brings in with their mac.. i mean if best buy doesn't even know what they are selling or how things work.. there is no hope for anyone employed by wally's. what a mess
 
kymac said:
i can just imagine the horror of a walmart employee trying to help someone choose the right computer or try to solve any issues someone brings in with their mac.. i mean if best buy doesn't even know what they are selling or how things work.. there is no hope for anyone employed by wally's. what a mess
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This won't be a problem at my local Walmart stores. They hardly ever keep any computers or computer related items in stock. They've had their iPhone display up for months but I have yet to see any on display or in stock. They sometimes have a few iPods in stock. I did manage to buy a iPod Touch from Walmart after calling around to three different stores and finding only one store store that had only one in stock.

The local Walmart stores usually have numerous laptops, computers and LCD monitors on display but it's extremely rare that that they have one new in a box in stock and ready to sell. And usually at least half of the display items won't have a price listed or they'll have a price sticker on them that belongs with some other item. It's a waste of floor space...
 
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