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WalMart To Sell iPod Shuffle?
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narco said:
I agree.
This is way off-brand for Apple, and they should be much smarter than this.
When things become available in mass numbers, at the malls in Kansas, at Walmart, they are no longer cool and exclusive. Apple will no long be able to charge a premium for a product that everyone wants.
And when that happens, the cheaper, uglier music players with more features will take hold.
BWhaler said:
And if Apple doesn't sell at Wal-Mart, the uglier cheaper players will take hold because they are more readily available, and the iPod is in the same place as the Mac, using a different standard than everyone else as a niche product.
xsnightclub said:
Wow. A Walmart apologist. Here at Macrumors. Amazing.
Walmart sold Apple branded computers? No.
And the clones were one of the first things Jobs wisely killed.
There is a reason why you can't buy Ralph Lauren at Walmart. Not because it's a bad company, but because if RL did that, people would no longer see the point in paying $75 for a basic golf shirt which is the same 45 cents of fabric and materials that are in a $20 golf shirt.
This is how premium brands work. It's a tough science, probably more art, but people will pay more for goods regardless of substitute products in the marketplace or value. The iPod is in a place where despite the /. crowd hammering it, reviewers saying it's over-priced and under-featured, people have to have them. Apple is a premium brand. It's desirable. Exclusive.
And Walmart and being massively available will detract from the brand. It will put Apple on the same playing field as everyone else.
So relax, shop at Walmart. I do on the occassion. It's cool. It's just the wrong brand association for a company like Apple.
Brandon Sharitt said:
But this hasn't happened, has it?
Apple has 90% of the market. Walmart has had dirt cheap ugly music players for years. You make your comments in the future tense as if Walmart, Kmart, the local malls, haven't had these players readily available.
It boils down to this: The iPod has become a fashion accessory. Articles in the New York times fashion section. "Which color mini did you choose?" A sea of white ear plug cords.
And people who pay a premium for things don't buy their fashion at Walmart.
It really is that simple.
Walmart saved our town
I guess your opinion on Wal-Mart varies with where you live. In my town Walmart was a blessing. We had nothing here. No choice, except mail-order. Our community was dying. No jobs. Aging work force, young people leaving.
Walmart came in. Offered better wages and benefits. Stock options. Employed the elderly and handicapped. Sold cheap products that got the job done. Put people to work. Provided scholarship programs. Gave money to local charities, sports events, town clean-up operations. Started MS drives, 911 & tsunami donation events. Sent valued employees to Hawaii and such as rewards. Contributed money and computers to the local school. Attracted out of town business.
I'm sure Wal-mart can be evil in some areas but in our area they have been great. I may even get to see an iPod shuffle now before I buy and if it breaks I can return it for a new one the same day. Rather than waiting days and or weeks with mail order.
I guess your opinion on Wal-Mart varies with where you live. In my town Walmart was a blessing. We had nothing here. No choice, except mail-order. Our community was dying. No jobs. Aging work force, young people leaving.
Walmart came in. Offered better wages and benefits. Stock options. Employed the elderly and handicapped. Sold cheap products that got the job done. Put people to work. Provided scholarship programs. Gave money to local charities, sports events, town clean-up operations. Started MS drives, 911 & tsunami donation events. Sent valued employees to Hawaii and such as rewards. Contributed money and computers to the local school. Attracted out of town business.
I'm sure Wal-mart can be evil in some areas but in our area they have been great. I may even get to see an iPod shuffle now before I buy and if it breaks I can return it for a new one the same day. Rather than waiting days and or weeks with mail order.
One other thought: I think Apple is hedging it's bets here.
The volume numbers, 50 per store, is suspiciously low.
I think Apple is building a relationship with Walmart, trying it out, and carefully monitoring the impact to the brand. And if they want to turn on huge volumes are the holidays, they have the largest retail channel to do so.
With so few iPods per store, one will rarely see an iPod at Walmart. It won't be perfect since Walmart will still advertise the fact they have iPods, but it won't be massive displays of iPods for sale along side laundry detergent.
It could be a good hedge bet.
The volume numbers, 50 per store, is suspiciously low.
I think Apple is building a relationship with Walmart, trying it out, and carefully monitoring the impact to the brand. And if they want to turn on huge volumes are the holidays, they have the largest retail channel to do so.
With so few iPods per store, one will rarely see an iPod at Walmart. It won't be perfect since Walmart will still advertise the fact they have iPods, but it won't be massive displays of iPods for sale along side laundry detergent.
It could be a good hedge bet.
Bad Karma?
Whatever happened to Steve's guiding directive of karma? Seems like some of the moves Apple is making these days (Pepsi, Wal-Mart, lawsuits) is going directly against his mantra espousing good karma. Is it only important for us consumers to obey the principles of good karma?
I, for one, have completely abandoned the iTMS because the line about good karma, after a little research, failed to be more than a marketing ploy. Plus, I've had nothing but headaches with the DRM. The price isn't even good. You can buy almost any physical cd for cheaper at half.com or on Amazon.
Let's face it. Apple isn't hurting. They don't need to sell the shuffle at Wal-Mart. It's sold more units than they can manufacture as is. I think this move is a mistake because as these comments show, people want more from Apple besides the biggest bottom line. We want a company with a moral compass and we are willing to pay for it.
Whatever happened to Steve's guiding directive of karma? Seems like some of the moves Apple is making these days (Pepsi, Wal-Mart, lawsuits) is going directly against his mantra espousing good karma. Is it only important for us consumers to obey the principles of good karma?
I, for one, have completely abandoned the iTMS because the line about good karma, after a little research, failed to be more than a marketing ploy. Plus, I've had nothing but headaches with the DRM. The price isn't even good. You can buy almost any physical cd for cheaper at half.com or on Amazon.
Let's face it. Apple isn't hurting. They don't need to sell the shuffle at Wal-Mart. It's sold more units than they can manufacture as is. I think this move is a mistake because as these comments show, people want more from Apple besides the biggest bottom line. We want a company with a moral compass and we are willing to pay for it.
BWhaler said:
Apple wants to make money, not sell a niche fashion accessory. Steve Jobs said the purpose of the Shuffle was to take on the low end flash market, a large chuck of the low end market comes from Wal-Mart and company.. If the iPod stays a high end fashion accessory Apple will lose out as the MP3 player market continues to grow.
SiliconAddict said:
I agree. Although Apple will have huge ipod shuffle profits teaming up with evil corporations(walmart). Seems like Apple has been doing this more and more lately....IBM.....Microsoft...Walmart....They all seem to be friends now
Maybe Steve has an evil plan to buy them out and turn all the walmarts into giant Apple Stores who here has NOT bought something at WalMart?
liar
liar
its like saying you never used winblows...
pants on fire!
johnnowak said:
liar
LaMerVipere said:
liar
its like saying you never used winblows...
pants on fire!
I don't like Walmart much but I do think that if Apple wants to control the entire MP3 market this could be a very helpful step. Lots of people shop at walmart thinking they are getting the best price on everything. Lots of people think the iPod is the only way to go with MP3 players. Lots of people will buy an iPod at Walmart.
Wal-mart is a purveyor of cheap crap.
The shuffle was already risky enough, in that the concept of the ipod involves carrying the entire music collection, and involves high end style.
this is bad. Wal-mart is such ****.
The shuffle was already risky enough, in that the concept of the ipod involves carrying the entire music collection, and involves high end style.
this is bad. Wal-mart is such ****.
Wow. I know of some Mac diehards (actual Cult of Steve members) who are going to be pissed about this... these are the sort of people who equate owning a Windows PC with shopping at Wal-Mart, swilling Bud, and tooling around town in a beat-up Ford Pinto. And now Apple products will be sold through Wal-Mart... huh.
As a longtime PC user and only recent Mac owner (Mac mini, and do I like it a lot, but I will not be Switching), I think this is pretty funny... especially as I haven't been in a Wal-Mart in several years (and will NEVER go in one again), I don't drink Bud, and I only tool around town in German cars.
As a longtime PC user and only recent Mac owner (Mac mini, and do I like it a lot, but I will not be Switching), I think this is pretty funny... especially as I haven't been in a Wal-Mart in several years (and will NEVER go in one again), I don't drink Bud, and I only tool around town in German cars.
Some_Big_Spoon said:
Perhaps this is Wallymartz move to break away from the evil empire and see the light. In otherwords, maybe they'll start selling real MP3 music soon and offer Mac compatibility.
Luke, Luke, come back from the dark side!!!
pubwvj said:
I don't think compatibility with the Wal-Mart Music store is an issue since it's not just real big any way. People will buy their iPod Shuffle at Wal-Mart, install iTunes, and use it.
I always thought it was poor Cambodian orphans that met their demise with every Wal-mart purchase.tex210 said:
VicMacs said:
Sadly, I did shop there once or twice at one point. But that was before I was educated on their poor poor business practices. I haven't bought anything there in over 4 years, and I will NEVER EVER shop their again.
VicMacs said:
Why am I a liar? I've never been to or shopped at WalMart. Deal with it. I'm not the only one.
VicMacs said:
Why would you call them liars?
I've never been to a WalMart in my life, nor a Sears. While neither is a force in my market (NYC-LI), there are a few around.
[EDIT] WalMart is opening a store near my office. I can easily see me shopping there for household stuff on the way home one night instead of wasting my Saturday mornings doing that.