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
@ Mark and Cory
I feel the pain. Reading this makes me consider working for someone else. I like the iphone, and have had to come up with 150 different reasons why they should rock a blackberry or something else, the outcome being they all have returned it for the iphone. My managers hate hearing the “noty having an iphone affects our traffic” excuse, but it does hold weight. Okay rant over. I have a special on the BOLD $299.99 after $100.00 mail-in-rebate!
Its just a phone.. What difference does the store from where you bought it from make (apart from the price that is) ? For those of you who are resellers who are commenting out here : How well do you know the technology yourself ? and assuming that there is an issue how many times have you helped analyse it instead of just replacing the unit ?
Good for walmart, hope they make it available real cheap !
What, is the average age of this board 14 years old??
Apple went from not being in the handset business to being the number two sold device in less than 5 years.
That is unheard of. It is one of the most transformational products in the history of portable devices.
Meanwhile, a company like Motoroala, which you know KINDA INVENTED CELL PHONES, have had their asses handed to them by a company that didnt even make phones 3 years ago. We are not talking about a nickle and dime business here, we are talking a global billion dollar industry that has a player go from zero to market leader in a blink of an eye, bypassing companies with a decades long head start. It is beyond amazing.
Anyone who thinks the iphone is a fad, or a toy, or a gimmick is not very smart.
@TRV$
I absolutely agree. My store is also not allowed to sell the iphone but we get loads of people coming in with f*ked up bills in the thousands yelling and screaming. All I can tell them is go back to where they get the phone and try to sort it out there. Because frankly it’s not fair to us, we can’t sell the iphone, we didn’t get train on it or activating it with the correct plan let alone supporting it. God I hate this phone with a passion.
So Apple doesn’t want people with over 10 years of experience selling the iphones but let the chain store that is known for cheap underwears selling their iphones.
@Intenzity: “Anyone who thinks the iphone is a fad, or a toy, or a gimmick is not very smart.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
@J: “God I hate this phone with a passion.”
And you ask why Apple doesn’t want you to sell it??
This is precisely why Apple avoids indy cell phone stores: because they will always have a greater incentive to sell something else which comes with a bigger markup and will talk trash about the iPhone (just read this thread for examples.) So: no iPhone for you. Presumably the Wallmart sales droids get paid the same hourly rate no matter what they sell, so if a customer comes in and asks for an iPhone, the staff won’t attempt to sell them something else. Thus, Wallmart does get the iPhone.
@mak
Knowing the iphones tech. is key for a authorized retailer to bump them to a different device. It is OUR job and knowing this info puts food in my mouth and clothes on my back. So yes it makes a diference becaue it makes me passionate about my job.
Well, sure we do:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11957536/ (not sure how that store is doing still with the changes we have been under going in the economy)
And while not high end, http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9720598
A six thousand dollar ring is certainly more than an iphone.
We only hate it because we cannot sell it. Let those fucktards at Wally World mess with your bill.
@Ted T.
The reason Authorized Retailers arent authorized to sell the iPhone doesnt have anything to do with us not selling a customer on an iPhone to make better money on something else. It has to do with att dumping tons of cash into the network to make the network compatible with the iPhone, and not wanting third party dealers profiting on a phone that corportate spent a bunch of money on the network to be able to handle.
I’d love to sell the iPhone. I agree that it’s a truly unique and innovative device. It chaps my ass that we’re not given the opportunity to help att make more money off of a great product, which would also help my store make more money, which makes the company I work for make more money, which makes att more money. and we all know: money that makes money, makes more money.
Basically, it makes good business sense to allow all channels of distribution the ability to sell a certain product. But looking at the way apple holds back on certain things and slow plays the upgrades/updates, to sustain the hype of their product, tells me that at some point down the line, retailers will be selling the iphone.
sorry for the long windedness
@Ted T.
Why did you just quote a single line and based your opinion on that line? Did you even read my entire post?
I hate the iphone because I’m not allowed to sell it but I get loads of people screaming at me because of their f*kedup bills not to mention the random threats to fix their bills.
Apple’s decision to let the provider’s corporate stores to carry it doesn’t make any difference based on how much billing errors and overcharges I see daily!
you its a sad day when apple would rather sell a product at walmart than in their own online store
Seems like 2500 locations is a lot. Are you sure it’s not a much smaller number. Most WalMarts are in rural areas where AT&T 3G coverage is either weak or non-existent.
I would think that concentrating this channel in true AT&T 3G footprints would dwindle the WalMart locations considerably. Unless they’ll just sell them in territories where there is no 3G, and hope gullible customers don’t even know/care.
Apple really does not want the iPhone sold thru the carriers. Initially, Apple has put up with them to learn the processes. Cell stores will eventually dissappear and we will be buying our phones primarily at Walmart, Best Buy and Target. It will be a bumpy transition initially but we will all adjust, especially when we are getting much better pricing.
At last the Iphone is released into the general retail scene. I have ben using the Iphone 3G in my business for the last few months – I wrote a blogpost ( http://businessgrowthmastery.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/apple-iphone-3g-is-it-a-toy-or-a-real-business-asset/ ) about it a few months back – highlighting the benefits and downsides of doing so.
YEAH THEY SELL IPHONES…. ONLY LIKE WHAT OVER 10 MILLION in 2008 already… more total sals than the razr has EVER and the iphone did it in just a couple years.
I’m hearing people complaining that Apple’s in not running their business correctly? They appear to be doing just fine to me! The decision to push the iPhone through WalMart is just another ‘forward-thinking’ plan of a successful company… PERIOD! I say go for it guys!
In response to the comments about 3G network coverage in rural areas, I don’t see that stopping people from purchasing it. It automatically drops down to the EDGE network if 3G is not available so phone service is still there. Everything else just slows down a bit. Also, wireless (802.11b) Internet is rather common now.
In response to ‘kids’ and iPhones… yes they do! I recently put ‘3′ iPhones online (wife and two teenage daughters) and never was more satisfied. I use it as a motivational-tool to encourage my girls to STAY on the honor roll at school. No honor roll… no iPhone!!! So far it’s working GREAT!!! My contract on my AT&T Tilt expires today so I’m going to upgrade myself and make it ‘4′!!! The new Exchange support (even though limited) is why sold me. Even though the iPod is cool, the Internet is cool, and the games are cool, I mainly use my cell phone for business. Multiple email accounts, texting, and Exchange are the most important to me.
Go Apple!! You Rock!! Listen to President Obama all you Blackberry users… CHANGE IS GOOD!!!
To all of the dickheads on here that assume we Wal-Mart associates don’t know anything about cell phones or 3G or whatever: You’re wrong. I’ve worked in the Connection Center (Wal-Mart’s name for their wireless department) for nearly two years now, and have been a manager of the department for eight months going on nine. I know my stuff, and once I attend the scheduled training class with our district manager I will be well-informed as to what to do. I’ve had very few phones that I’ve sold returned, and the ones that have come back are from people who just don’t like the form factor or something to that effect. As an example, I recently had a lady purchase the Blackberry Pearl for $18.88 and exchange it for a Blackjack II because she didn’t care for the Pearl’s keypad. There was nothing at all wrong with her bill, and she even told me that the service she received was excellent. So please, come down off your not-so-high horses and get a clue. You likely don’t know any more than I do. After all, you care more about your commission than you do about satisfying the customer.
Oh, and it’s also worth mentioning that this Wal-Mart “sales droid” gets paid close to $12/hour to do an easy job he’s very good at. If I’m not mistaken, that’s more than some sales droids at AT&T core stores make. Only difference is I don’t get commission, so I don’t pitch a fit if a customer tells me they don’t want a particular feature or service.
Another Wal-mart associate here… How exactly does Wal-mart mess up your bill? We add the features asked for only. We tell you when a certain feature would save you money on your bill, but do not force it down your throat if you don’t want it. I can tell people over and over that $20 for unlimited text will be cheaper than pay per use in the long run, that with $5 insurance for most phones they’ll be out $110 on their phone as opposed to $250-300 if it breaks 1year in, but most of our customers are looking to get what everyone else has for a lower cost. We save people money, that’s our whole thing… If they don’t believe us that a feature won’t help them, they won’t get it. So when the bill comes in for $400 it’s not because we messed up the bill, the features and plan are clearly stated on the contract that is signed. A bill with a lot of per-use charges isn’t messed up, its just expensive…
well im in middle school and i have an iphone but i think that its stupid theyre goin to sell iphones at wal-mart because they dont even sell fuckin cases for it.
And when i walk into wal-mart with my phone out theyre goin to know i hacked it.
Well thank you sir. I am the department manager of a Walmart Connection Center and I will put up my staff against yours anyday. We are well educated and DO know WTF 3g is. So keep your uninformed opinions to yourself so you don’t appear to be as ignorant as you obviously are.
Apple bashers look like they just don’t know
about what they have not tried.
Make things easy fir yourself. Go into an Apple store or
AT&T retailer and actually use the phone.
Hold it in your hand and think about those 16 gigs of memory.
Think about and try using all the features and all those FREE apps
that enhance this usefull phone.
I am waiting for a better battery, eventhough there are battery pack available like the new Mophie for 3G.
The only other programs I want to be able to use is a top level Word and Excel type of program. There is just about everything else that I can do on the Apple.
Don’t like the iPhone? Actually go try it.
It’s like sex, once you have the actual experience, well you get the picture.
Big Daddy
Sent through my iPhone
It’s not the phone price, it’s the monthly fees ATT charges that are the killer.
Interesting to see the emotion that this has stirred up. I am about to buy an iPhone after testing the Bold, Samsung Epix, and LG Incite. I tested those at an AT&T reseller. While she didn’t have the iPhone, she said she would set up our service (getting a new BB for wife due to BB Enterprise Server requirements), sell us the BB and then send us over to Apple to get the iPhone.
Her associate kept trying to push these phones over the iPhone but she didn’t bash it at all. For that reason, I will go back there and at least give that store some of my business after getting some knowledgeable advice. I think using WalMart as a marketing channel makes business sense but I hate that place and would much rather give my business to a “locally” owned store.
Wal-Mart rocks!!