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HP Drops iPod Reselling
- Thread starter MacBytes
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dernhelm said:
Right you are, just look at the Saab 9-2X and the Subaru Impreza wagon.
In the end for HP, I think that they saw razor thin margins from Apple as a long term issue. Long term Apple needs to adjust their margins to the dealers in order to have viable channels open for consumers.
Lancetx said:
This is good news, even though HP is backing out of the iPod deal.
I feel that as long as HP continues to pre-load iTunes on their computers Apple will still benefit. I see iTunes as being a sort of "gateway" program for Apple. PC users will hopefully see how easy and intuitive iTunes is with the iPod, and spend more money on Apple products.
Too Bad Actually
Of all the PC manufacturers, I actually like HP. I think they're a good company with good products and great printers. If Apple ever gets back into cloning, I'd like them to partner with HP. Dell is the one to beat in the PC world and an Apple-HP alliance could give them a run.
Of all the PC manufacturers, I actually like HP. I think they're a good company with good products and great printers. If Apple ever gets back into cloning, I'd like them to partner with HP. Dell is the one to beat in the PC world and an Apple-HP alliance could give them a run.
adzoox said:
True, but most of those 7000 locations were RadioShacks and now Apple is dealing directly with them.
pdsi said:
Beat Dell?
How about Apple trying to beat eMachines first?
Baby Steps my friend. Baby Steps.
Hey anybody remember Michael Dell's "PC's Limited" days?
For those who feel that buyers of the hp iPod are fools, consider this. Even though the Apple iPod and the hp iPod cost the same, hp offered a 1 year warranty as opposed to Apple's 90-day one.
If you could get past the hp logo on the back, the extra 9 months of warranty is a bonus.
If you could get past the hp logo on the back, the extra 9 months of warranty is a bonus.
emw said:
Yup, I see a CROWD every time I go to the local Apple Store as well.It's full of people wandering around, and a huge line. A common sight those days.
I remember the days, just barely two years ago, when I virtually had the whole store to myself every time I visited. Times, they are a-changin'.
I like many others associate HP with poor quality -- excepting, of course, printers and calculators.
Therefore, people are more likely to buy an iPod that does not say "HP" on it -- Apple has a better brand and sells at the same price.
Also, there are the academic discounts that are so easy to get from Apple.
Therefore, people are more likely to buy an iPod that does not say "HP" on it -- Apple has a better brand and sells at the same price.
Also, there are the academic discounts that are so easy to get from Apple.
HP high-end great, rest suck
the Unix workstations great, the 4000/8000 lasers great- yet basically the rest take dollars for consumables and pretty poor kit (yet 500% better than M$ stuff)(last 20 years). Surely this company deserves harsh market forces capitulating it. Or at least some strategic focus worth more than a BBA student could muster....
the Unix workstations great, the 4000/8000 lasers great- yet basically the rest take dollars for consumables and pretty poor kit (yet 500% better than M$ stuff)(last 20 years). Surely this company deserves harsh market forces capitulating it. Or at least some strategic focus worth more than a BBA student could muster....
springdaddy said:
If you don't understand why Apple ever let HP do this, then why is your response "good?"
Apple partnered with HP because (as I have read--this may be wrong) HP had far more connections and closer relationships to more retail outlets than Apple did. In the pre-iPod days, this was obviously the case. So, instead of Apple fighting to get shelf space in retail outlets (and you do fight for shelf space in places like Target and Best Buy) they simply let HP brand their product and then HP gets the goods on the shelves. Smart moves by Apple and HP. Apple gets product on the shelves; HP gets an image boost by being part of something cool and, presumably, a cut of the profits.
However, now that Apple has such a runaway hot product on their hands, I bet retailers are probably knocking on Apple's door and begging to stock iPods. HP may have their own plans now that this market has proven to be much bigger than anyone ever foresaw (except Apple of course.) Therefore, the HP+Apple arrangement is probably serving nobody at this point.
Frankly, I'm surprised it went on as long as it did.
Postal said:
i want to create a poll and the question would be: how often do you look behind your iPod?
:always (i use it as a theft repellant system)
:sometimes (when i am on a date and there is no mirror on sight)
:never (because i use the iPod as a music player)
zap2 said:
If you're going to post please, at the very least, type correctly and use semi proper english so everyone can understand what the hell it is you're trying to say.
That is all
I think the reasoning behind the HP re-branded iPods was similar to the re-badged cars.
However, I think that the iPod = Apple connotation is too strong for consumers to ignore.
Unlike the re-badged cars, the HP iPod was certainly not visibly differentiable from the Apple iPod. I think that was a mistake.
Since the device remains exactly the same (aside from the HP logo), consumer would only buy the HP iPod if they like the HP branding so much better than the Apple brand.
This brings me to the conclusion that most people who buy iPods don't care that much for the HP branding, and say to themselves "Well, if I get an iPod it might as well be the original one."
However, I think that the iPod = Apple connotation is too strong for consumers to ignore.
Unlike the re-badged cars, the HP iPod was certainly not visibly differentiable from the Apple iPod. I think that was a mistake.
Since the device remains exactly the same (aside from the HP logo), consumer would only buy the HP iPod if they like the HP branding so much better than the Apple brand.
This brings me to the conclusion that most people who buy iPods don't care that much for the HP branding, and say to themselves "Well, if I get an iPod it might as well be the original one."
ebunton said:
Just wanted to add: I heard on the news this evening that HP accounted for 5% of iPod sales.
Which struck me as curious because I don't know any one who purchased on ... at all ... anywhere .... ever ......remingtonhill said:
[point made there I think]
walkingmac said:
Wow. Thanks for the insult. Apology not accepted.
Last year at Christmas, it was virtually impossible to find an Apple-branded iPod in St. Louis. Our two Apple stores were constantly running out of the 20 gigs, and most of the Minis. With a 20 gig on my wish list, my wife frantically searched around until hearing a commercial for an American TV store that pointed out that they had the hard-to-find iPods in stock.
So she immediately went to the closest one, and got one of the last 20 gigs they had. It was an HP.
I keep it in an Evo silicone skin, so the logo doesn't show anyway. And as someone else pointed out, it has a longer warranty. (edit: I stand corrected on the warranty - both are 1 year, I've been advised.)
I'll let her know how foolish she was when she gets off the treadmill.
I never understood the rebranding to begin with. HP does have reseller agreements which Apple doesn't, but overall I don't see any negative result coming from this. I hope HP keeps the iPod as an option for people to buy with their onlince computer ordering.