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Costco to Sell iPhones for $149 in January?
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This is going to make me want one even more, if only they were unlocked.
WOW, let's see how much this messes up iPod touch sales.
If this happens they better lower the 16GB to $200 and the 32GB to $300 while adding a 64GB at $400.
WOW, let's see how much this messes up iPod touch sales.
If this happens they better lower the 16GB to $200 and the 32GB to $300 while adding a 64GB at $400.
This is going to make me want one even more, if only they were unlocked.
WOW, let's see how much this messes up iPod touch sales.
If this happens they better lower the 16GB to $200 and the 32GB to $300 while adding a 64GB at $400.
It's not going to mess up touch sales. People don't buy a touch because the iphone is cheaper. Most people are smart enough to see that they have to pay a high monthly fee to keep the iphone. People buy a touch because the don't want AT&T or don't want a cell phone. Maybe some people just want a cool ipod.
I just don't see this happening.
What they gonna do....put an AT&T kiosk in every Costco?
Right now the one we have locally is Verizon I think, but for sure not AT&T.
I can believe the price reduction though as I was buying my 16GB the other day I thought about MW2009 and the probable intro of a 32GB at the same price
verizon, t-mobile and AT&T
Why in the world would someone think they would be unlocked?
Please see the part where ATT has an exclusive contract with Apple.
I'm not sure how it works in the States, but every Costco I've been to in Canada has a cell phone kiosk that offers plans from all the major providers. It wouldn't be that strange...in fact, they already sell the iPhone at my local Costco warehouse.
Uhh... duh.
Best Buy is also just about the only place they sell Macs.
Not much of a surprise.
Name an electronics store better than Best Buy, other than the Apple Store that is.
Costco sells older models
When I was looking for cheap LCD TV's for a museum, I wandered into Costco and checked them out. They sell previous models that are being blown out by companies.
If you see the Canon Rebel XSi Digital SLR, it's the older 10MP model, not the current 12MP model. THis is how they can sell them lower than other store, they're not the same models as the other stores (also some models are made specifically for Costco, but that's different).
So yeah, I could see the current iPhone being sold there if Apple releases a newer version soon.
Also, the kiosk at my Costco has 3 carriers, including AT&T i think.
When I was looking for cheap LCD TV's for a museum, I wandered into Costco and checked them out. They sell previous models that are being blown out by companies.
If you see the Canon Rebel XSi Digital SLR, it's the older 10MP model, not the current 12MP model. THis is how they can sell them lower than other store, they're not the same models as the other stores (also some models are made specifically for Costco, but that's different).
So yeah, I could see the current iPhone being sold there if Apple releases a newer version soon.
Also, the kiosk at my Costco has 3 carriers, including AT&T i think.
Highly unlikely! First of all, didn't we just read the other day that iPhone is officially number one in US consumer smartphone market right now. Secondly, these type of rumors are very bad for end of year sales (the largest retail season!). There is no way Apple would risk holiday sales by planning ahead something like this.
The article is pure speculation and one can only guess the motives behind it.
Uhh... duh.
Best Buy is also just about the only place they sell Macs.
Not much of a surprise.
Name an electronics store better than Best Buy, other than the Apple Store that is.
WRONG!
You do realize long before the "Apple Store" and the Internet, Apple sold its products all over the World through places called the "Authorized Apple Reseller". Even today some people still don't have an "Apple Store" within 800 miles of them but yet they have local shops/stores that you can go to and try out new Apple computers/hardware, get training/advice and even have warranty work done, yet for some reason Apple still will not let them sell the iPhone.
It is total BS! These people were the ones selling and servicing Apple Computers back when no one else would and Apple is just pissing all over them by letting companies like Best Buy and Cosco sell them.
EDIT: To answer your question about naming an electronics store better than Best Buy...
Thats simple... Any store that ISN'T a Best Buy.
Ummmm, no. I doubt we will move completely to that side of the coin. Although we are starting to pay a hell of a lot for some things: e.g., "3G" vs "EDGE" for texting? Ridiculous.
Ok, I meant an Apple reseller other than iPods. Obviously there are many stores that sell Apple products, the majority of them only sell iPods and no orther Apple products. For example, Wal Mart and Target.
And why do you dislike Best Buy so much?
Exclusive? It just passed the RAZR as the highest selling phone. Hard to claim exclusivity when you are number 1 in terms of sales.
Who cares?
They could sell it out of bins at KMart for $29.95, it makes no difference, you still need to qualify for a contract and shell out a minimum of $75 a month (average $80-$90 a month). Daunting monthly bill for anyone, even if you can afford the initial cost.
They could sell it out of bins at KMart for $29.95, it makes no difference, you still need to qualify for a contract and shell out a minimum of $75 a month (average $80-$90 a month). Daunting monthly bill for anyone, even if you can afford the initial cost.
Exactly. If Apple wanted to sell more iPhones they could do this pushing them through the existing channels, with an incentive such offering a $50 rebate or some other similar, common gimmick. But how many more iPhones would that sell? Not many, because the real cost of ownership is the contract. This analyst is simply guessing that because the iPhone is a very popular gadget, that Apple will be stuck with excess inventory during the economic slowdown and will need to dump product quickly. And where do excess inventory dumps often take place? Costco. That is the total substance of this prediction. IOW, no substance at all -- and little logic.
i would be very surprised to see them sell it for that price. anything is possible, and i hope that they do sell it for that. but i'll believe it when it happens
I just want an iPhone that I can use the internal BT to tether to my existing cell phone/cell plan. Use the iPhone as a wireless BT handset and connect to the internet using the existing phone as a modem. I pay $30 per month for all the minutes I need and unlimited data/texting. Why would I want an iPhone (which means spending 3x that amount monthly)?
Once someone figures out how to unlock the BT in the iPhone for that I'll go buy one (without a plan, of course). Until then, well, <shrug>.
Once someone figures out how to unlock the BT in the iPhone for that I'll go buy one (without a plan, of course). Until then, well, <shrug>.
They already do. Multiple carriers, actually.
And for all the naysayers basing commentary on their impression of Costco in relation to other retailers (as opposed to Apple's product plan), you apparently don't know much of how they do business. Their traditional model allows for a 12% or 18% markup from cost, depending on whether it's a house or name brand. That's it. Depending on the wholesale cost of an iPhone, that would dictate most pricing decisions, not Apple's decision. If Apple decided to use Costco as a channel, they already would know this, regardless of the MAP.
Not to prognosticate as to whether this is likely or even possible, but that's the way they work.