Wal-Mart Deal to Carry iPad Confirmed

[SandynJosh]

Wow, marketed just like Target: behind glass with no demo model. Yeah, that'll get people to buy 'em...

To be fair, I'm sure Walmart knows -- all too well -- the amount of abuse demo models would take from their clientele. It could be that the replacement cost of demo units bolted to a display wouldn't be covered from any additional impulse sales...

Still, selling a touch computer behind glass where the customer can't actually touch one seems a bit like trying to sell a car that the customer can't test drive.

You can't read very well, can you?

 

[Pecator]

Getting Back to Rumours

So does this mean Apple is not planning to update the iPad before Christmas? That would anger the first customers of Walmart.

Or is this a way to get hype, exposure, and outlets for its Christmas season surprise?

 

[SandynJosh]

Great news for shareholders. Bad news for people who think owning their iPad is some new elite status symbol lol. Apple caters its product to the lowest common denominator, like any good tech company, besides these guys . But Apple is excellent at branding it in a way which convinces its users otherwise. That special Apple spark, which gets into some peoples heads

Time for Apple to introduce a 20th Anniversery Model for the elite. Maybe a brass and wood steam punk version.

 

[SandynJosh]

Yeah I am sure Wal-Mart will not sell any iPads. That is just foolish. It only hurts the branding to people with brain damage. Normal people don't care, and accessibility is more important. Apple went the exclusive route in the past and it left them with 3% of the PC market. They have gotten a lot brighter since then. What your product is, is much more important than where you sell it. You want to sell it everywhere, you want to be ubiquitous.

Apple never went the exclusive route. It was just that nobody wanted Macs cluttering up their computer displays. Now they have consumer products that people prefer over other brands. Stores WANT to carry the products. What a refreshing turn-around from the Scully days.

 

[alent1234]

stores don't make money on iPads, they make money on the accessories. they don't care what they sell as long as there are accessories to go with it or some kind of geek squad services they can sell

it's a totally different electronics market than in the 1990's

 

[HLdan]

Exactly why this type of product should not be sold mass-market. The people at Best Buy, Wal Mart, etc., are not trained in the product. They are just not able to tell you exactly what you can and can not do with an iPad. Go to the Apple Store, an Authorized Reseller, or call Apple and ask questions. I guess they can sell more this way, but it's a bad plan for their long-term credibility with people who have a few hundred dollars to blow, and think the iPad looks like a cool toy. I get very serious use out of mine, but then I new exactly what it was before I bought it.

You seem to assume that none of the Walmart employees working in the electronics department (where the iPad will be displayed) could possibly have an iPhone or an iPod Touch or even own iPad for that matter. Far be it for any Walmart employee to own anything of the sort to explain to a customer.

 

[MacGuffin]

Sell the kids and buy one!

Perfect. Now Wal-Mart shoppers can keep track of up-to-the-minute NASCAR results and all important Tea Party diddly-dee-do doings. You can reach out and touch your pure crap. Leave fingerprints on your glossy nightmare!

It could only be better if Apple would have these made overseas in vast, sprawling sweatshops where workers are so depressed they jump to their death. But that's probably asking too much. Apple, being a corporation, is only human.

 

[bretm]

stores don't make money on iPads, they make money on the accessories. they don't care what they sell as long as there are accessories to go with it or some kind of geek squad services they can sell

it's a totally different electronics market than in the 1990's

Really? You think they paid $499 for them? I don't think they make much money, but they do make something. And it works in Apple's favor just by sheer volume and user base as well. Since Apple gets a share of any money paid to AT&T.

WalMart is going to make money on Milk, Clothes, and Laundry detergent when people by an iPad. 90% of the retail battle is to just get people in your door. And even if it's just a silly little purchase on the way out the door, those are often the highest profit margin items.

 

[hodaka]

You seem to assume that none of the Walmart employees working in the electronics department (where the iPad will be displayed) could possibly have an iPhone or an iPod Touch or even own iPad for that matter. Far be it for any Walmart employee to own anything of the sort to explain to a customer.

I never said I assumed that. What I said was that they are not trained in the product. If you happen to find the odd employee that owns one and knows a lot about it, great. But, in general, they don't have much of a clue.

I knew what the iPad was when I bought it, too. It is very useful for internet browsing, email... but, in my opinion, in its current state of development, it cannot replace a laptop computer.

Exactly my point - you bought one in spite of knowing that. Many people just think it will replace a laptop - or even replace their computer altogether. Most people that I have talked to about the iPad are in the latter category.

 

[alent1234]

Really? You think they paid $499 for them? I don't think they make much money, but they do make something. And it works in Apple's favor just by sheer volume and user base as well. Since Apple gets a share of any money paid to AT&T.

WalMart is going to make money on Milk, Clothes, and Laundry detergent when people by an iPad. 90% of the retail battle is to just get people in your door. And even if it's just a silly little purchase on the way out the door, those are often the highest profit margin items.

they don't sell it at cost but you have to worry about a lot of selling expenses. the Bill of Materials for the iPad is $225 or so. figure apple sells it for $400 to a store. that's very little profit after selling expenses. the money is on the accessories where the markup is something like 1000%.

i've bought iphone charging cables on ebay for $2 each. apple sells them for $20 for crappier quality ones. same with all the other retailers.

when i went to buy a PS3 at best buy they tried to sell me a protection plan, $25 remote, HDMI cables and i forgot what else. good thing i bought HDMI cables for $5 on ebay. they don't make money on the console but the accessories and services. same with TV's and most of the other things they sell

in wal mart's case they probably have some big money makers and everything else is to get people into the store. like $4 generic prescriptions. i did a business case on wal mart one time in school and they have always been leaders in using technology to cut expenses and grow their business. they study customer baskets, or what people buy on an average trip. then advertise items to get them to buy the basket and make profits on something else. like a sale on chicken soup and make money on the vitamins.

 

[HLdan]

I never said I assumed that. What I said was that they are not trained in the product. If you happen to find the odd employee that owns one and knows a lot about it, great. But, in general, they don't have much of a clue.

My man, I can honestly tell you that you will get nearly the same experience at the Apple store. I remember when the Apple stores first opened it was flat out impossible to find an employee uneducated about the Macs and other various things on the store. Now when I go into the Apple store I'm lucky if the employees even know that they sell Macs. I've asked for help several times on the products in the store and the knowledge there is pretty limited. Apple quickly hires bodies to be put on the selling floor and that's it, "just bodies". I asked one of the sales people about the new Inertial Scrolling feature on the Macbook Pros and he said he never heard of it. The only full fledged computers they sell are Macs, you'd think they would at least know that, but no, they are not trained.
Don't make Walmart out to be the enemy just because they want to sell the iPad. The experience between between buying at the Apple store and buying at Walmart won't be much different.
Why does it matter anyway, once you get in your car and drive off your iPad is no better because it was bought at the Apple store vs. Walmart.

 

[jimglidewell]

I knew what the iPad was when I bought it, too. It is very useful for internet browsing, email... but, in my opinion, in its current state of development, it cannot replace a laptop computer.

Well, it certainly replaced a laptop for me.

It constantly amazes me how narrow some folks views are - some of us have a desktop system as our primary computer, and a laptop is just used as a poor substitute for that system (slower, less memory, smaller storage, smaller screen, etc.)

If you want to claim that an iPad isn't currently able to serve as anyone's primary computer, I would probably not disagree, but even then I believe there are folks for whom it is already most of the way there. Some people really do want nothing more from a computer (laptop or otherwise) than to check email and browse the web.

For those kind of folks (and there are a lot of them), an iPad can indeed serve as a laptop replacement for 50%, 75%, or 90% of their usage.

 

[thecartoonguy]

This is just ignorant. As mentioned Wal-Mart sells a ton of electronics. Many of them more expensive than an iPad. I don't know where people come up with these crazy notions about Wal-Mart, or the people who shop there. [/QUOTE]

Have you been to Wal-Mart? Actually come to Georgia, take a look around, head home, edit your comment, then proceed to maintain your fetal position as the fear of your discovery will induce this action.

 

[hodaka]

My man, I can honestly tell you that you will get nearly the same experience at the Apple store. I remember when the Apple stores first opened it was flat out impossible to find an employee uneducated about the Macs and other various things on the store. Now when I go into the Apple store I'm lucky if the employees even know that they sell Macs. I've asked for help several times on the products in the store and the knowledge there is pretty limited. Apple quickly hires bodies to be put on the selling floor and that's it, "just bodies". I asked one of the sales people about the new Inertial Scrolling feature on the Macbook Pros and he said he never heard of it. The only full fledged computers they sell are Macs, you'd think they would at least know that, but no, they are not trained.
Don't make Walmart out to be the enemy just because they want to sell the iPad. The experience between between buying at the Apple store and buying at Walmart won't be much different.
Why does it matter anyway, once you get in your car and drive off your iPad is no better because it was bought at the Apple store vs. Walmart.

Sounds like maybe the independent Resellers are where it's at. They pretty much have to fight to keep going when Apple openly competes with them. so they need to be on top of product knowledge - and usually are, in my experience.

 

[Antares]

Apple products being sold at WalMart just cheapens those products for me. It's almost appalling that something so wonderful is being sold at such a dredge of a retailer. It's like trying to sell a Rolls Royce at a garbage dump. If the price is going to be the same, wouldn't you rather go to an actual dealership? And I'm not necessarily talking about a Rolls Royce dealership...it could be Ed's Luxury Cars or the Auto Mall....

 

[marksman]

That snapper story is ridiculous.

People should be putting that guy down not praising him. It is the same nonsense where people blame Wal-Mart for the demise of Rubber Maid.

So this guy pulled snapper lawn mowers out of Wal-Mart because some day down the road he would be doing so much business with Wal-Mart that they would want him to provide cheaper equipment and he would be incapable of refusing such a request, so thus he just doesn't sell them there now.

That is really, really, really, dumb.

How about you have some balls and sell your product in Wal-Mart and if Wal-Mart asks you for a cheaper product then you just tell them no. Don't allow Wal-Mart to become your only retail outlet, and you will be fine.

That someone would praise a guy who is stupid enough to give up 10 years of sales in the largest retailer in the world because he knows he will not be able to say no to them in 10 years is just dummy dumb dumb.

I understand that he wants to provide a superior experience from end to end for their consumers. However, as Apple is showing here, you can have your cake and eat it too.

I don't understand how or why they sold their mowers to Wal-mart for no profit in the first place. That was the real issue, and nobody forced them into it. So instead of this being an issue with wal-mart, it should be with the people who ran snapper before he bought it and sold their soul to get into wal-mart no matter the cost.

This is where manufacturers get into trouble. They give away the farm to get into wal-mart. That is a dumb strategy. You can't sell something at a loss and make up for it on volume. Wal-Mart can not force anyone to sell them goods below their cost. Wal-Mart does and should ask to get the best possible deals on items they purchase so they can pass those deals on to their customers.

 

[HLdan]

Apple products being sold at WalMart just cheapens those products for me. It's almost appalling that something so wonderful is being sold at such a dredge of a retailer. It's like trying to sell a Rolls Royce at a garbage dump. If the price is going to be the same, wouldn't you rather go to an actual dealership? And I'm not necessarily talking about a Rolls Royce dealership...it could be Ed's Luxury Cars or the Auto Mall....

You haven't read any of this thread have you? It's been said several times, including my own posts. The Apple retail stores (the dealership) are overly crowded, people aren't much more knowledgeable than the 3rd party retailers and furthermore you'll probably have a better shopping experience at Walmart buying an iPad since you don't have to push through crowds of people like at the Apple store that use the place as an internet cafe. That might be the one time more people use Macs than PC's. Most people going in to buy an iPad don't need a lot instruction on it, they just want to get in and get out and it's not easy to do that at the Apple stores anymore.

 

[Fartypoo]

I don't care what Walmart sells. I'm not going in there.

(If I did - the next thing you know, I'd be the newest picture on peopleofwalmart.com)

(You know, with my blond wig with flowing locks, and my purple spandex pants and big old fu manchu moustache.)

Wow!! we could be twins, seriously

What color is your pickup truck?

 

[notjustjay]

Apple products being sold at WalMart just cheapens those products for me. It's almost appalling that something so wonderful is being sold at such a dredge of a retailer. It's like trying to sell a Rolls Royce at a garbage dump. If the price is going to be the same, wouldn't you rather go to an actual dealership? And I'm not necessarily talking about a Rolls Royce dealership...it could be Ed's Luxury Cars or the Auto Mall....

If the end result is that I'm driving the exact same Rolls Royce, and both places offer equal levels of service and support, then I'd pick whichever dealer was closest to my home. Simple as that.

 

[E.Lizardo]

I guess this qualifies as a Mac rumor. But I don't understand why anyone would be interested in this at all. Who cares?

Surprisingly,a lot more people than care to hear from people who waste their time telling everyone they don't care.

 

[E.Lizardo]

How many people will actually go to Wal Mart and casually buy an ipad? The vast majority of Wal Mart's clientele don't have an extra $500+ in their pockets to begin with. Given that the device doesn't have a display model that people can actually put their grubby hands on I don't see it being a huge seller for Wal Mart's clientele. Even among the portion of Wal Mart's clientele that can afford an ipad, most of them aren't going to buy it at Wal Mart. Wal Mart is where they go to buy toilet paper, cheap beer, and diapers.

Stereotype much?Alsofta)
"The iPad will also be featured in an "interactive display" alongside Apple's other products in Wal-Mart stores, serving to draw customers' attention to the device and demonstrate its capabilities."

Maybe not a display model.but more than just a stack of boxes.And besides,how many people preordered them without having "put their grubby hands"on them?

 

[E.Lizardo]

Apple's products are less appealing yet Apple has been selling iPod's and now iPhones at Wal-Mart for how many years.

Sounds like you are just making stuff up. Considering Apple isn't selling a less capable iPad at Wal-Mart I fail to see how selling the iPad lessens the brand.

Do you have any marketing studies to support your theory?

I'm pretty sure it only sullies the brand among shallow pompous superficial asses who are so pathetic that they need to derive what little self worth they have by possessing and flaunting things(clothes,cars,houses,phones,etc.)that they imagine have some sort of "status"or "exclusivity"and thus place them above "common folk".
Just a theory

 

[Rajani Isa]

HOLY CRAP. Why can't people read?! For the life of me, I can't figure it out.

You can't read very well, can you?

Have either of you paid attention to a "Wal-Mart Interactive Display" lately? Interactive means the guy behind the counter has the key for the glass. Can't recall the last time I saw a playable game system at my local walmarts.

That snapper story is ridiculous.

People should be putting that guy down not praising him. It is the same nonsense where people blame Wal-Mart for the demise of Rubber Maid.

So this guy pulled snapper lawn mowers out of Wal-Mart because some day down the road he would be doing so much business with Wal-Mart that they would want him to provide cheaper equipment and he would be incapable of refusing such a request, so thus he just doesn't sell them there now.

That is really, really, really, dumb.

How about you have some balls and sell your product in Wal-Mart and if Wal-Mart asks you for a cheaper product then you just tell them no. Don't allow Wal-Mart to become your only retail outlet, and you will be fine.

That someone would praise a guy who is stupid enough to give up 10 years of sales in the largest retailer in the world because he knows he will not be able to say no to them in 10 years is just dummy dumb dumb.

I understand that he wants to provide a superior experience from end to end for their consumers. However, as Apple is showing here, you can have your cake and eat it too.

I don't understand how or why they sold their mowers to Wal-mart for no profit in the first place. That was the real issue, and nobody forced them into it. So instead of this being an issue with wal-mart, it should be with the people who ran snapper before he bought it and sold their soul to get into wal-mart no matter the cost.

This is where manufacturers get into trouble. They give away the farm to get into wal-mart. That is a dumb strategy. You can't sell something at a loss and make up for it on volume. Wal-Mart can not force anyone to sell them goods below their cost. Wal-Mart does and should ask to get the best possible deals on items they purchase so they can pass those deals on to their customers.

You don't get it. It wasn't "They'd lose money in 10 years" it was "They would be losing money next year, and worse every year". Or, they would be alienating 80% of their retailers. They chose the majority of the business over Wal Mart.

Every year you sell the same product to wal mart, it wants to be able to buy it for less and less. It doesn't matter what you started at selling it to them, they will want to pull you down.

That's why Levi, among others, makes cheaper clothes - clothes that DIDN'T make their brand - then put their name on it. Coincidently, I don't buy much if any clothing from Wal Mart.

 

[E.Lizardo]

So does this mean Apple is not planning to update the iPad before Christmas? That would anger the first customers of Walmart.

Or is this a way to get hype, exposure, and outlets for its Christmas season surprise?

Of course there will be no update before Christmas.That was just an unbelievably stupid rumor to get the gullible stirred up.

 

[Bruce Oksol]

Wow, marketed just like Target: behind glass with no demo model. Yeah, that'll get people to buy 'em...

To be fair, I'm sure Walmart knows -- all too well -- the amount of abuse demo models would take from their clientele. It could be that the replacement cost of demo units bolted to a display wouldn't be covered from any additional impulse sales...

Still, selling a touch computer behind glass where the customer can't actually touch one seems a bit like trying to sell a car that the customer can't test drive.

I have been so impressed with my first two Chrysler minivans that I bought my third one without a test drive.

Likewise, most folks who buy an iPad already know what it can do.

This is not rocket science. Wal-Mart will sell all they get.