Best Buy Sells Almost as Many iPhones as Apple Retail

[MacRumors]

AllThingsD reports on findings of a survey by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners which investigated where iPhone owners purchased their device.

The found that the breakdown of retail vs online sales was 76 percent retail vs 24 percent online. Of that 76% from retail stores, the breakdown showed that Best Buy was almost as big as Apple's own retail stores as a point of sale:

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Carrier stores are clearly the dominant point of sale for most consumers, but Best Buy's presence has also proven to be a significant location for iPhone sales.“Apple Stores and the Apple Web site are tremendously productive, but they are limited by their relatively small retail footprint,” CIRP’s Josh Lowitz told AllThingsD. “There are four times as many Best Buy stores, and probably 20 times as many AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint stores, so aggressive distribution through all these channels is critical to Apple’s U.S. strategy.”

Article Link: Best Buy Sells Almost as Many iPhones as Apple Retail

 

[ThemacNub]

Interesting

I agree its due to the scarcity of Apple Stores

 

[basesloaded190]

Best Buy is also way less busy and easier to get someone to help you. I've never been inside a BB that was so busy that everyone working was helping someone, especially in the mobile area

 

[faroZ06]

I wouldn't get my iPhone from AT&T, but I'd get their cell service.

 

[Bonte]

I wonder how iPad sales numbers in retail stores break down, Best Buy and Apple should be the dominant players.

 

[thelonelylimo]

*removed*

 

[basesloaded190]

I'd like to think there are more Wal-Marts than Best Buys. If Wal-Mart, Target, Radio Shack, etc. is "other". I'd like to see what they each contribute individually.

Wal-Mart doesn't screem tons of iPad sales to me. I could be wrong though

 

[cxny]

Best Buy is also way less busy and easier to get someone to help you. I've never been inside a BB that was so busy that everyone working was helping someone, especially in the mobile area

Not too busy, but getting a knowledgeable salesperson to help you is like rolling the dice.

 

[basesloaded190]

Not too busy, but getting a knowledgeable salesperson to help you is like rolling the dice.

Haha that's true. I go in there and never get help because I know I am more knowledgable than anyone else that could help me anyways. And I'm not that smart

 

[dendowling]

Best Buy make sense since they have the most choices of service providers and many phones. So, BB is the more likely place to go if people have not made up their minds about what to buy and are making a decision in-store. Where-as people going to Apple store, AT&T shop, or Verizon shop have already decided what to get or what provider to use.

 

[pjarvi]

AT&T and Verizon will always have more sales simply due to enterprise customers getting their phones in bulk from them. I'm surprised more people don't get their phones from Best Buy though, getting something direct from manufacturer you're not going to get any kind of discount or have room for negotiating a free accessory or such.

 

[Koodauw]

I much prefer the aple store to best buy, but I understand not everyonehas one in their area.

I try to avoid best buy like the plaque.

 

[Herdfan]

It is not surprising. Especially since BB has one of the only legit ways to get a discount. You can still use Reward Zone points as payment for iPhones, ergo if you have $50 in RZ certificates, you just got a $50 discount. No one else can match that.

 

[LaWally]

I'm surprised that online purchases were that small a percentage.

 

[bruinsrme]

of the 10 iphones i have purchased only 1 was purchased at an apple store, all others have been at best buy

 

[Drunken Master]

Makes sense; when I went to get my 4S, the Apple Store only had it in white, so the next place I tried was Best Buy (they were out of black too).

As long as you're not technologically illiterate and want help, Best Buy is OK for buying Apple products. Much less busier, my Apple Store is always packed to the gills with people. Granted, I've only ever bought accessories from them though, like the Magic Mouse, an extra power brick and the wireless Apple keyboard.

 

[AustinIllini]

Not too busy, but getting a knowledgeable salesperson to help you is like rolling the dice.

Yeah, because those Apple geniuses are so brilliant. But your point stands as there are definitely a lot more geniuses who don't know what's going on as oppose to geek squad folks trying to sell anti-virus to mac users.

 

[linux2mac]

Not only is Apple creating jobs, they might actually save struggling retailers from going under. Incredible!

 

[spiderman0616]

This just reminds me how much I hate shopping at Best Buy.

 

[coder12]

While I may not like best buy...

Their warranty program for phones kicks heavy ass. Seriously.

 

[MCIowaRulz]

I wish BestBuy would hurry the heck up and get an iPad3 Oh, Wait the NEW iPad in stock.
I have $600 in gift cards that will go for that. + another $50 for the iPhone 5 or, The NEW iPhone in Fall.

 

[DipDog3]

Wirelessly posted

Hate to admit it but I bought my last iPhone at Best Buy.

They had a $50 gift card for any phone upgrade & it could be used on the phone itself.

 

[hexonxonx]

I bought my 64GB 4S at BestBuy but it was extremely hard finding a BB that had a 64GB AT&T white iPhone in stock. It took me a week to find one back in January as every store was sold out. When I did find one in stock, I had to drive an hour from Denver to Fort Collins to get it on a Sunday night. Also, BBs online in stock system is frequently wrong showing stock when there is none. Phone calls are necessary to confirm.

All Apple stores were sold out as well.

 

[axonic labs]

I think the BestBuy stores are complementing Apple Retails stores. To put the numbers into perspective, BestBuy has 1,100 stores in the US while Apple has 300 and something stores worldwide.

 

[Macboy Pro]

Interesting who sells the most. All the AT&T haters love to speak up but don't put there money where their mouth is. With so much made of the faux AT&T drop calls and the great (and antiquated) Verizon network, you would have thought they would have the lead in new purchases. hmmm...