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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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/17/walmart-iphone-on-sale-th…

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Retail iPhone

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...

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Super Associate

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!!!

February 23 2009 at 10:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dantley

Walmart is actually going to sell the iPhone...
employees are taking training courses...

December 25 2008 at 6:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

YourAppleTrainer

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?

December 19 2008 at 12:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tim

I wonder how long it'll take before WalMart screws over Apple like they screw over everybody else.

December 17 2008 at 8:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Tim's comment

jason

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.

December 18 2008 at 12:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tyler

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.

December 18 2008 at 12:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Alex

I can't wait to buy an iPhone at WalMart just to see the tears streaming down the Apple snobs' faces

December 17 2008 at 6:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

3 replies to Alex's comment

Carl

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.

December 17 2008 at 4:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

rTwelve

wish they did this for Best Buy

December 17 2008 at 4:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to rTwelve's comment

required

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.

December 17 2008 at 4:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jack

Apple and Walmart in bed together. After several decades as an Apple buyer and fan, this makes me weep. Tragic.

December 17 2008 at 3:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Jack's comment

required

I agree. I wonder if it will be called the Walmart phone.

December 17 2008 at 4:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply