Apple Reportedly Wants to Sell Products in Korean LG Retail Stores [Update]

[MacRumors]

Apple is reportedly eyeing a new partnership with LG that would allow the South Korean tech giant to sell iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches at its more than 400 retail "LG Best Shops" in South Korea, according to a report from Business Korea.

LG recently shut down its smartphone business, leaving retail space previously used for marketing its handsets being left empty. Apple is now, apparently, eyeing to use that retail space to sell its own iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. Apple's own retail presence in South Korea is still relatively small, and accepting a deal with LG to sell its products at more than 400 "LG Best Shops" is an easy way to expand its presence.

The two companies are reportedly discussing the establishment of separate Apple corners within the shops that are directly run by Apple employees or allowing LG Best Shop employees to sell Apple products after LG Electronics acquires the right to the sale of Apple products. The two sides have yet to decide when the partnership starts, but some market experts predict that it will be some time after the end of July when LG Electronics completely pull out of the smartphone business

According to the report, LG and Apple are at a disagreement over the sale of Mac computers. LG sells its own "Gram" laptops, and offering Apple's Mac in the store would be a disadvantage. As a result, the two sides are likely only to agree on selling iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. An LG spokesperson said in a statement to Business Korea that "nothing has been decided yet" and that they're "exploring all possibilities."

Update: According to a new local report, LG has suspended talks with Apple to potentially sell iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches at its "LG Best Shops" across South Korea. The report notes that LG has been spectating public opinion around the prospect of a partnership with Apple and has ultimately decided to discontinue talks.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Wants to Sell Products in Korean LG Retail Stores [Update]

 

[Freeangel1]

NO Macs being able to be sold in these 400 LG stores? Not good.
probably other sticking points too.
A boost for iPhone sales.

 

[Lategamer]

If Apple is selling their stuff in the LG stores, do you think they should be paying for the privilege? I mean, LG will get a cut, right?

Stick that up your Epic Pipe, Tim Sweeney

 

[swm]

this falls into my mind...

 

[syklee26]

NO Macs being able to be sold in these 400 LG stores? Not good.
probably other sticking points too.
A boost for iPhone sales.

This is quite obvious. LG sells their own branded notebooks in Korea (LG Gram is actually the top seller in Korea)

 

[syklee26]

LG continuing to build good relationship with Apple in hopes of landing contracts for Apple Car...

 

[danny842003]

NO Macs being able to be sold in these 400 LG stores? Not good.
probably other sticking points too.
A boost for iPhone sales.

whats not good?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Looks like Apple is collaborating more with other companies to boost sales. very smart!

LG company is very huge in Japan and other Asian countries.

 

[TakeshimaIslands]

Looks like Apple is collaborating more with other companies to boost sales. very smart!

LG company is very huge in Japan and other Asian countries.

Is this a joke? You must be mistaking Japan with LG's native nation south korea.. i can assure you that LG is virtually non existent in Japan where Apple have near domination of the market.


if LG are smart they will team up with Timmy if they want lucrative battery contracts with Apple for their car in the future

 

[swm]

Looks like Apple is collaborating more with other companies to boost sales. very smart!

LG company is very huge in Japan and other Asian countries.

except if you find out that apple already has 2/3 of the japanese market, and the rest is dominated by local brands as kyocera, sony.

Mobile Operating System Market Share Japan | Statcounter Global Stats

This graph shows the market share of mobile operating systems in Japan based on over 5 billion monthly page views.

gs.statcounter.com

 

[bryanios]

Is this a joke? You must be mistaking Japan with LG's native nation south korea.. i can assure you that LG is virtually non existent in Japan where Apple have near domination of the market.


if LG are smart they will team up with Timmy if they want lucrative battery contracts with Apple for their car in the future

have you heard of LG appliances?

 

[kyjaotkb]

I mean, LG’s mobile operator U+ is presumably already one of Apple’s top resellers in Korea, so technically LG has been selling iPhones in their own shop for a while already.
The big question is, will these shops stock any 5K monitors? Hmmm…

 

[Usernotmaker]

Looks like Apple is collaborating more with other companies to boost sales. very smart!

LG company is very huge in Japan and other Asian countries.

Careful, you're in danger of starting a political storm between Japanese (Takeshima) and Korean (Dokdo) nationalists...

See Liancourt Rocks on Wiki

 

[NavySilver]

Apple seems to have some trouble behind the scenes to expand its physical retail presence in South Korea, so this is not a bad alternative. The demand for Apple products is absolutely there.

 

[tcgjeukens]

If Apple is selling their stuff in the LG stores, do you think they should be paying for the privilege? I mean, LG will get a cut, right?

I would say 30% is an industry standard cut.

 

[jonnysods]

This kind of reminds me of how they take up a space in the Best Buy stores around here, and they actually refer to them as Apple Stores. They had Apple Watch pop up stores, this is a good way to get a foothold in the market. LG leaving the smart phone business will leave a hole as I understand they were very popular in South Korea.

 

[ChineseBots]

this is smart and shady at the same time lol🤣

 

[DMcH]

Will they also be selling HP branded iPods?

 

[kyjaotkb]

I mean, LG’s mobile operator U+ is presumably already one of Apple’s top resellers in Korea, so technically LG has been selling iPhones in their own shop for a while already.
The big question is, will these shops stock any 5K monitors? Hmmm…

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오직 LG유플러스샵 고객에게만 드리는 특별한 이벤트! iPhone 12의 완성, 유샵을 보라이벤트를 소개합니다.아이폰, 아이폰12, 아이폰 12, iPhone12, iPhone, MGM프로모션, 1만원, 프리미엄사은품, 제휴 혜택 132만원 할인

shop.uplus.co.kr

 

[Reason077]

It would be great if Koreans could discover Macs and start using them more. Perhaps then we’d finally get PUBG on Mac!

 

[Hexley]

Make Apple pay through the nose for LG's retail rent space and do not allow them to push Macs.

 

[ksec]

I would be surprised if an OLED or some other Display is not included in the deal.

 

[tongxinshe]

That will definitely help Apple getting some market share in Korea. Korea SmartPhone market has been exclusively just Samsung and LG.

 

[fishmongerer]

LG continuing to build good relationship with Apple in hopes of landing contracts for Apple Car...

Apple washing machines and dryers.

 

[fishmongerer]

That will definitely help Apple getting some market share in Korea. Korea SmartPhone market has been exclusively just Samsung and LG.

iOS is doing pretty good in Korea. LG is now out of the phone business.