iPhones a la Walmart: $197/8gb & $297/16gb

[Kaido]

Shocker.

They will pricematch (Best Buy has it for $10 cheaper...gee whiz!).

 

[MBony]

From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: MBony
From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

Walmart is everywhere. My nearest Best Buy is 30 minutes away and my nearest Apple Store is 45 minutes away.

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony
From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

Walmart is everywhere. My nearest Best Buy is 30 minutes away and my nearest Apple Store is 45 minutes away.

Other than purchasing it and saving $3, why does this matter? Am I missing something? Customers will still have to go through the same activation process and be held to the same standards as if they bought from an Apple store.

 

[alfa147x]

so its not for $5, i think imma get a refurb iPhone 3g for $149

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony
From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

Walmart is everywhere. My nearest Best Buy is 30 minutes away and my nearest Apple Store is 45 minutes away.

Other than purchasing it and saving $3, why does this matter? Am I missing something? Customers will still have to go through the same activation process and be held to the same standards as if they bought from an Apple store.

You're missing the point - Wal-mart is everywhere. It's now more convenient to get an iPhone. Millions of people shop at Wal-marts every week and will see the iPhone there. AT&T Stores and Apple Stores are few & far between, at least in most places. The point is that more people will have easy access to them, therefore there will be more sales.

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony
From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

Walmart is everywhere. My nearest Best Buy is 30 minutes away and my nearest Apple Store is 45 minutes away.

Other than purchasing it and saving $3, why does this matter? Am I missing something? Customers will still have to go through the same activation process and be held to the same standards as if they bought from an Apple store.

You're missing the point - Wal-mart is everywhere. It's now more convenient to get an iPhone. Millions of people shop at Wal-marts every week and will see the iPhone there. AT&T Stores and Apple Stores are few & far between, at least in most places. The point is that more people will have easy access to them, therefore there will be more sales.

Right. That is what I said in my OP. From a business perspective that is great, but what value does it have for those who already own iphones?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony
From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

Walmart is everywhere. My nearest Best Buy is 30 minutes away and my nearest Apple Store is 45 minutes away.

Other than purchasing it and saving $3, why does this matter? Am I missing something? Customers will still have to go through the same activation process and be held to the same standards as if they bought from an Apple store.

You're missing the point - Wal-mart is everywhere. It's now more convenient to get an iPhone. Millions of people shop at Wal-marts every week and will see the iPhone there. AT&T Stores and Apple Stores are few & far between, at least in most places. The point is that more people will have easy access to them, therefore there will be more sales.

Right. That is what I said in my OP. From a business perspective that is great, but what value does it have for those who already own iphones?

Huh? Why does it have to have value for those of us who already own iPhones?

 

[MBony]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: MBony
From a business perspective, this is great, but as a consumer, why does this matter?

Walmart is everywhere. My nearest Best Buy is 30 minutes away and my nearest Apple Store is 45 minutes away.

Other than purchasing it and saving $3, why does this matter? Am I missing something? Customers will still have to go through the same activation process and be held to the same standards as if they bought from an Apple store.

You're missing the point - Wal-mart is everywhere. It's now more convenient to get an iPhone. Millions of people shop at Wal-marts every week and will see the iPhone there. AT&T Stores and Apple Stores are few & far between, at least in most places. The point is that more people will have easy access to them, therefore there will be more sales.

Right. That is what I said in my OP. From a business perspective that is great, but what value does it have for those who already own iphones?

Huh? Why does it have to have value for those of us who already own iPhones?

Sorry, that part came from left field. I am just trying to understand why Walmart selling the iphone is any big deal. I can understand it is a big deal to Apple and AT&T, but to you and me, why should we care? I guess if you don't have one it is one more place to buy it and you save ~$5.

 

[umrigar]

not having to wait in a Wal-Mart line, or deal with Wal-Mart employees: PRICELESS.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: MBony
Sorry, that part came from left field. I am just trying to understand why Walmart selling the iphone is any big deal. I can understand it is a big deal to Apple and AT&T, but to you and me, why should we care? I guess if you don't have one it is one more place to buy it and you save ~$5.

if the iphone marketshare skyrockets yet again w/ walmart as a vendor now, it bolster's apple's and att's standing. This will no doubt bring in revenue for future development of what's next for consumers (while we might not NEED a what's next, improvements in technology are always welcome IMO). A larger marketshare might also mean more developers, and more/better apps.

Unfortunately, it will likely not lead to any changes in the closed app store model.. so I really really really hope android can take off next year, or else no one is going to catch up anytime soon.

 

[eternalone]

Originally posted by: umrigar
not having to wait in a Wal-Mart line, or deal with Wal-Mart employees: PRICELESS.

But I would put up with that for awesome prices and thats why people do. But you also forgot wall mart has selection, you can buy a good Tv at a good price and buy everything else at Guaranteed low prices. Such as razors shampoos food products etc.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: eternalone

Originally posted by: umrigar
not having to wait in a Wal-Mart line, or deal with Wal-Mart employees: PRICELESS.

But I would put up with that for awesome prices and thats why people do. But you also forgot wall mart has selection, you can buy a good Tv at a good price and buy everything else at Guaranteed low prices. Such as razors shampoos food products etc.

you know, it's usually not worth it to me to fight the mad mob constantly at walmart. There are only a few things we go there for, 1)glad sandwich bags that are the flip and fold type.. NO one has these anymore 2) motor oil.

TV selection usually sucks and the boxes look like they've been through destruction derby... I'm not sure if it's better down south where there's a walmart every block, but here, i'll spend more to save my sanity.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

$3 is not nearly enough to get me to set foot in a Wal-Mart. I hate that place with a white-hot passion. Target charges about 2% more and is 100% more pleasant to shop in.

IMO for most customers it makes sense to buy at the Apple store, other things being equal, because they are probably the most knowledgeable and don't seem to be on commission.

 

[TheStu]

For me it doesn't matter much. The nearest WalMart is about 5 minutes from my house (if that) and the nearest AT&T store is about... 5 minutes from my house (if that). They are right next door to each other, so if I were to ever get an iPhone (which is less an issue of wanting and more an issue of affording) I would just pick based on how busy AT&T is at the time. Plus at WalMart I don't think you will have people that are working on commission trying to get you to get bluetooth headsets and car chargers and all of that. I know that is how we did things at RadioShack. Person buys a cellphone, that was money in my pocket on top of my hourly. Person buys a cell phone and some accessories.. BAM! more money for TheStu.

 

[umrigar]

commission sellers don't bother me... i have not problem making an informed decision and saying 'no.'