Walmart to test iPhone sales with employees starting today
Engadget is featuring an image allegedly showing details of Walmart's "soft launch" for the iPhone, scheduled to go on sale at 9 a.m. on December 28.
The note indicates that 488 Walmart stores were chosen for a "pilot" exercise, whereby each store will be given five iPhones to sell to Walmart employees between now and the 28th.
Associates will be able to purchase the phones for "full contract price and a two-year service agreement," but they can take advantage of a 15 percent discount on the contract as employees.
The purpose of the pilot program is to sort out any issues with the sales or activation process prior to the public launch date. If anything, it will make for a happy holiday for 2,440 Walmart associates.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jack said 3:57PM on 12-17-2008
Apple and Walmart in bed together. After several decades as an Apple buyer and fan, this makes me weep. Tragic.
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required said 4:10PM on 12-17-2008
I agree. I wonder if it will be called the Walmart phone.
rTwelve said 4:08PM on 12-17-2008
wish they did this for Best Buy
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required said 4:13PM on 12-17-2008
I might be wrong but I think Best Buy offers their employees health coverage instead of mooching like Walmart does, therefor not worthy in Apples i's.
Carl said 4:19PM on 12-17-2008
Wow, you mean Wal-Mart employees get to enter their name in a raffle to possibly purchase an iPhone from their employer?
Can't they just go to their local AT&T, Apple Store or order one from AT&T's web site?
As pilot programs go, this is pretty damn stupid.
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Alex said 6:48PM on 12-17-2008
I can't wait to buy an iPhone at WalMart just to see the tears streaming down the Apple snobs' faces
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required said 6:57PM on 12-17-2008
You can't wait? For realzees?
Jorge said 1:49PM on 12-18-2008
You clearly don't understand what Walmart business practices bring to America and our workers. Live your life under a rock and be happy, so long as you don't suffer? Nice attitude shmuck.
Alex said 1:59PM on 12-18-2008
haha yeah, I buy one item at WalMart (over the last 10 years) and I ravage workers across the nation. Buying an iPhone from AT&T or the Apple Store saves humanity! You're brilliant!
I look forward to helping elitist snobs like yourself soil themselves over the loss of a status symbol.
Tim said 8:28PM on 12-17-2008
I wonder how long it'll take before WalMart screws over Apple like they screw over everybody else.
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Jason said 12:49AM on 12-18-2008
Well Tim, WalMart has been selling ipods for a while, and Apple doesn't seem to have been screwed by them. Yes, WalMart pressures (fairly or unfairly, I don't know) its suppliers to lower costs and therefore lower prices, but Apple has some clout here too. People want ipods and iphones; only apple makes them and in order to sell them, Walmart has to play nice.
tylerjamesmorgan said 12:19PM on 12-18-2008
Look at pricing on iPods - walmart is usually a whole dollar less than everyone else (e.g. $48.97 on a 1gb shuffle, as opposed to $49.99) - this shows exactly how much they were able to pressure Apple. Walmart does usually pressure their suppliers into major price decreases, but they know that buyers want Apple products.
YourAppleTrainer said 12:17PM on 12-19-2008
First this 15% AT&T discount is common. The 1st Gen iPhone Apple retail employees got 15% off their plans. When the 3G came out Apple got AT&T to give their employees 19% off.
Second their is a Wal-Mart in almost every town in America. That can not be said for Apple Stores, Corporate AT&T stores, and even Best Buy. So this really a great move to give easy access to the iPhone for everyone.
I'm glad they are trying to test the system out before going live. It sucks being in an Apple Store waiting for your iPhone to activate let alone being stuck in Wal-Mart.
My biggest fear. Is a Wal-Mart employee going to be able to answers questions and give simple support to these new users?
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Dantley said 7:35PM on 12-25-2008
Walmart is actually going to sell the iPhone...
employees are taking training courses...
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Super Associate said 10:24PM on 2-23-2009
Well I'm a college student who works at Wal-mart and the 15% off is going to help me so say what you must about Wal-Mart but its a solid business who is doing well in this economic crisis....Power Associates!!!
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