When it was rumored that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) would carry the Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 3G last month, many of us wondered what pricing the world's largest retailer would give the benevolent wireless handset. It's here now, as Wal-Mart confirmed at the end of last week that it would indeed be carrying the iPhone 3G as of yesterday in 2,500 stores in the U.S.The price? Just a drop below normal $199 and $299 pricing. Wal-Mart is now selling the 8GB iPhone for $197 and the 16GB version for $297. For some reason, Wal-Mart whacks a few dollars off the price and thinks it has a pricing advantage. Not. Apple relented and allowed the retailer to take its usual "price ending in XX7" approach but apparently did not allow any discount on the iPhone beyond that. No lower priced handset, not a 4GB model for $99 that had been rumored. Nothing new really.
Except -- the iPhone will now be in front of the largest retailer audience in the U.S. That makes a huge difference for Apple. Pundits, myself included, have always thought brands cheapened themselves by selling in Wal-Mart. Does Apple cheapen itself by going into the largest discount retailer in the world? The iPhone and iPhone 3G have been around now for over 18 months and have sold in huge numbers, so I doubt it. The exclusivity factor of just being carried by AT&T has worn off, as has the novelty of the iPhone itself (it's no longer exclusive -- you see them everywhere). Assuming many Wal-Mart shoppers can pass credit checks, the iPhone 3G may find a whole new audience now.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-29-2008 @ 8:22PM
Beth said...
I love Wal Mart...great for so much. I bought a fleece jacket there that was adorable and it was only $10
I shop online to save money on gas, use less gas and not pay tax
most of the itme and use coupons. I shop at all my favorite stores
through an online website that gives me the unpublished codes at
about 300 stores (including Wal Mart Target, The Gap, Best Buy, Old Navy,
Drugstore.com, etc) as well as giving me between 5 and 50% back in
cash on my purchases. The site is http://www.fatcrumbs.com I am being
good to the environment and great to my wallet.
12-29-2008 @ 8:46PM
svrdhd said...
"Brands cheapen themselves by selling in Wal-Mart"........LOL.
Like Sony, Apple (millions of ipods sold at Wal-Mart), Browning, Remington, Coke, Nokia, HP, Vizio, ad nauseum.
12-29-2008 @ 10:31PM
Colette said...
Clueless reporter uninformed of how many "upper middleclass" Walmart patrons there are. We swing by the sparsely occupied Target to pick up our Starbucks and then go across the street to the busy Walmart to do our shopping. I guess we are "cheapening" ourselves - hah!
12-29-2008 @ 11:20PM
swim chick said...
Walmart is evil and is trying to take over the world. when ever they open a super store, other business die around it. I hate that store, and will never ever shop there. one time they used to boast everything they sold was made in America. but since the old man died, they open up shop in China and other poor countries and they pay those people PEANUTS. they suck and i will never shop there. and there stupid ass commercials are so corny. they are fakes, they put the good stuff like soaps etc in the middle of the store so shoppers have to pass through other departments to get to the good stuff. they are banking that shoppers will purchase other goods, not necessarily what what you intended to purchase, but can't resist because the price is cheap. watch those prices too, they aren't always cheapest.
12-30-2008 @ 12:20AM
Glenda said...
I don't like the comment at the end reffering to Walmart shoppers not being able to pass the credit check. This whole article is insulting to many people who have good jobs and credit, and do not feel "cheapened" by shopping at walmart. What type of people do they think shop at walmart? Get a clue dude.
12-30-2008 @ 12:25AM
tarheelcoin said...
"Assuming many Wal-Mart shoppers can pass credit checks,..."
That's an insulting comment. Wal-Mart shoppers are no more or no less likely to have bad credit than someone who shops at Nordstroms or some other upscale store.
12-30-2008 @ 1:03AM
mark boggs said...
walmart had a sale on lcd tvs and only had two in stock,that surely is low of them,they told me to be their at 12:01 sunday morning so i arrive at 11 and to stand there in the 5th spot to find out they had only 2.the sale is 3 days and still no tv in stock?i have been waiting for a descent price on this certain size32 inch that will fit perfectlyand the vizio is the only one i want! so disapointed!
12-30-2008 @ 3:21AM
Fred said...
Walmart is everything that is wrong with American business. Cheaper is fleeting and Americans are suckers for falling for it. The law used to clearly state (and still does) that monopoly in restraint of free trade is illegal. That means when Walmart continually threatens other stores business by price fixing and telling suppliers that the price Walmart gets must always be lower, constitutes a felony. The big problem is that the last Attorney General of the US that applied the law to big business was somehow killed by a bullet. Bobby Kennedy was a lesson in keeping your mouth shut. If we fail to support the laws dealing with these Godless demons called monopolies then we must eventually pay the high price of "One government Store".
12-30-2008 @ 4:00AM
Dudley Haas said...
I love Walmart. They'll take anything back if is doesn't fit. My wife bought me a toupee for Christmas and it was the wrong size. My head had gotten so big that it was too small. The spandex netting inside was not adjustable. It came with super glue and everything. She took the receipt back and the nice, colored girl gave her money back.
12-30-2008 @ 12:02PM
Gismo said...
Imagine the customer service conversation between a iPhone user and a Wal-Mart "customer service" rep:
12-31-2008 @ 3:17AM
Rachana said...
Hi, Walmart. I have some questions to ask you as the following:
1/. Could you please tell me the price for Apple iPhone 3G, 8GB, 16BG at your shop right now?
2/. How can i do if i want to buy this iPhone from your shop? (I am not in your country, I am in Cambodia)
3/. Do your shop shipping to Cambodia? How much for service? How could i contact your seller?