Confirmed: iPhone 3G coming to Wal-Mart on December 28th, select Sam’s Club stores as well
Shortly after we posted about the iPhone coming to Wal-Mart this morning, it seemed like all of our ninjas came out of the woodwork to bombard us with info. Rather than post an update, we want to lay out what is now confirmed info. First and foremost, it looks like Wal-Mart will indeed begin selling the iPhone 3G on December 28th in select locations only. When all is said and done, about 2,500 locations will offer the iPhone 3G. Some stores will also be getting live demo units to display just like Best Buy Mobile. What’s more, we’re also now getting word that 69 Sam’s Club locations (locations that use the Wal-Mart ordering system, not the Radio Shack ordering system) will offer the handset as well – also beginning on the 28th. As Sam’s Club is a division of Wal-Mart, this certainly makes sense. Unfortunately it looks like everyone is still in the dark with regards to pricing and we expect it to stay that way to avoid slowing MSRP iPhone sales during the holidays. Won’t people be happy when they find out Apple’s handsets popped up at discount prices three short days after Christmas? Hit the jump for some internal Wal-Mart correspondence.
We are pleased to announce that Wal-Mart has reached agreement with Apple to offer iPhone 3G in Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart-managed Sam’s Club* Connection Centers nationwide beginning December 28, 2008. AT&T will support Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club with the activation process for iPhone 3G, and we need all National Retail employees engaged to ensure a successful launch.
*NOTE: This product launch DOES NOT apply to SC Kiosks within Sam’s Club managed by Radio Shack.
Wal-Mart has communicated the following launch plans and execution timeline to their employees:
- iPhone 3G will be available in-store only beginning 12/28/08
- New and existing customers in good standing can purchase iPhone 3G with a 2 year contract
- iPhone 3G transactions only will be processed through POS.com, not the kiosk
Execution Timeline:
- 12/2 – 12/5: AT&T / Wal-Mart MEM Classroom Training for Store Leads
- 12/3 – 12/19: AT&T In-Store Training
- 12/26 – 12/27: AT&T In-Store Refresher Training
- 12/28: Nationwide Launch
- 12/28 – 12/30: Wal-Mart and AT&T War Room Support
Bring it on WalMart!
I just want the devices or products cheaper, and would actually rather deal with a WalMart associate that doesn’t try to upsell me to death like most ATT folks do. ATT reps act like I’m disturbing them and like I don’t really know what I want.
I want it for less money and then I’ll manage my account online.. Thank you very much.
Wally’s price will allow me to get them for more family members, just like our flat panel TVs BlueRay players and our DVD and BR movies.
Long live WalMart!
I think it’s funny that people are complaining about Walmart employee’s not knowing about Iphones when i was in an AT&T (actual store not a reseller) and one of the salespeople told an Iphone customer who’s only question was “why can’t i download any music from the online store isn’t that what this phone is all about” she told him im sorry sir i don’t have one of those phones so i don’t know too much about them if you wait one of the other’s will be able to help you shortly” so yeah I guess AT&T Stores shouldn’t be allowed to sell Iphones either.
Heathen is so off base about Apple’s customer base and the iPhone user in particular. A good many of Apple’s customers are very informed about the products AND the “competition” before they enter the Apple Store. This is especially true of the iPhone users. They “swallow the marketing” because it’s true. While I think it would be hard to find an American living today that has not gone to WalMart at least once in their life to pick a necessity like soap, toothpaste or toilet paper, I can assure you that the majority of Apple’s customers are not frequent WalMart shoppers.
Take a look at the places where Apple has placed it’s stores. Most, if not all of Apples retail stores are in high traffic shopping districts located in or near high income communities. My local Apple Store has among it’s clientele many doctors, lawyers, college professors, authors, e-commerce entrepreneurs, national sports figures and rocket scientists. I think these folks, if they even care what you think, would take exception to being referred to as cattle. Of course they would realize that you are speaking out of your sphincter and would not waste time responding to your comment.
As to style over substance… see previous sentence about speaking from your rear.
And to the rumors of Apple letting WalMart get a piece of the pie… I doubt it. As others have stated, Apple is a premium brand and people don’t shop for premium brands at places like WalMart. That said, I know iPods are sold there, but just because the most popular MP3 player in the world is sold there doesn’t mean that the iPhone is a natural fit. If I’m wrong, I won’t eat my hat or anything, I’ll just enjoy watching the stock climb and be sad for all the AT&T CS people that will have to deal with the fall-out that selling this product through WalMart will cause.
Note to Scott: A great many more High School students than you would think have the iPhone 3G and MANY of those have the 16GB model. Take my word for it that a great many more of them will be getting them for Christmas.
Wow all you morons…before you comment go and use an apple iphone 3g…now comment..there is no phone or device for that matter on the market that even comes close to what is can do flawlessly 99.9% of the time…gps..flows perfectley.Full ipod!.real web…yes not sh*tty blackberry or sidekick web…real web browser..apps to blow your mind…when I read these comments it looks like you all are 80 yr old foogies…I would never put an mp3 player to my ear…wow get an education..grandpa
just because you idiots work at a store that has apple at the top dosen’t make you have rubber band banks in your pockets either. Tell me something how much do you make a year? You said it yourself…
“My local Apple Store has among it’s clientele many doctors, lawyers, college professors, authors, e-commerce entrepreneurs, national sports figures and rocket scientists.”
So please tell me what does that make you? Sounds to me your just a regular person working behind the counter a regular job trying to make a sell. Think more about what you say before you say it next time and maybe you won’t make yourself sound as uneducated as you probably are.
Here here , well said D9!
People shopping at Wal-Mart might not initially be interested in an iPhone but they are also the consumers looking for bargains and if its selling at a discounted price, why wouldnt they want to buy this “cool” device? And ya, it does make sense- Wal-Mart already sells iPods, it seems only natural for them to move into phone territory as the iPod market becomes saturated. At this point for Apple its all about getting the consumer to upgrade as demand is so down in our economy. Demand might be down but investors seem to still be feeling confident in Apple as sentiment was recently bearish but is beginning to become bullish. They’ve also been forecasted (http://www.predictwallstreet.com/stock/AAPL) to close up today and these forecasts have been beating the market by about 65% lately.
do you people really think apple doesnt want wal-mart to sell thier i-phones,that they think only doctors,lawyers,etc.,will buy them,how many hispanic people do you see driving around in a brand new expedition,or a chevy tahoe,do you think people like them cant afford an i-phone?-wrong some of these people may work in a field,or are not citizens,but they do have money,and they do shop at wal-mart-yes i am white,and just so you know ive been married to a hispanic for almost 15 years.
I can’t see WallyWorld selling to many of these iPhones. The way they staff their stores you will have a hard time finding any one that works there. I never see anyone working in the electronics department and if there just happens to be an employee behind the counter asking questions about phones is painful and they give off that leave me the hell alone attitude. Congrats Apple on having the most despised retail outlet selling your product lets hope the employees can tell the difference between the Touch and the iPhone. Hey Steve maybe you should think about putting the iPhone in gas stations.
Mooooo You. I’m going to buy one at Walmart today. Yeh, I’m pretty much cattle, a software developer, 30year professional pilot with a degree in physics….Now where is my baggy sweat suit?