Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Leaira — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:42:57 -0000

Well, I guess more marriages will be destroyed now. Iphones destroy marriages. Look at
http://www.askmehelpdesk.co...

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Freddy J. Nager — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:58:34 -0000

I wrote about this very topic on my blog ("A Mismatch Made In Heaven?"), in which I argued that the Wal-Mart deal would be detrimental to the Apple brand. Surprisingly, all of the responses I received were very much for the deal. Granted, most of the responses came from places like small towns in Texas, where Wal-Mart is the primary retail outlet.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Angela Hey — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:08:42 -0000

There is an overlap - I like Apple stores, I like Wal-Mart.

I canceled my Costco subscription as Wal-Mart had more selection, better prices and I don't have to store inventory. Wal-Mart is a great company and having worked in a cut-price supermarket in the UK, it was one of the best startup experiences I've had. Don't criticize the labor practices, don't believe all you read in the press until you've worked on a till, stacked shelves and smiled at customers all day. In every workplace there are bellyachers. Many, many people are better off with Wal-Mart than without it - buyers and employees.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Zubair — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:01:02 -0000

I know people discriminate against each other due to race, religion, and .... , however I got very disappoint after reading some of the comments (written by so called and self proclaimed intellectual or sophisticated Apple users) about "why Wal-Mart should not sell I phone". I think selling the product at Wal-Mart does not make any Apple Products UN classy or UN prestigious. The advance technology is just like highly cure able medicine which should have an access to everyone even an "average Joe". Selling I phone at Wal-Mart bring this device to the users who is not familiar to this technology and the backbone of our society.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Universal Indie Records — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:29:24 -0000

They've been selling ipods at Walmart forever now and there is no discount between purchasing it there or at an AT&T store or an Apple Store.

A $99 iPhone. I don't believe it. I believe it will be the same iPhone priced at $199.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

DJ — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:37:57 -0000

The days of Apple being a niche company for the enlightened few are just about over. Yes, Apple will continue to maintain an over priced model for those that need to be part of the exclusive crowd, but as a natural progression of a company that has come into the mainstream (weather it or it's followers wanted it to or not), it is going to go for the widest possible market (and follow the money). The public will demand it and the shareholders will demand it. Unfortunately it's a victim of it's own success (and brilliant marketing).

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Erin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:48:52 -0000

There's no problem in having the iPhone sold at Wal-Mart. Apple is a for-profit company and everyone should know that. Adding Wal-Mart as a distro. channel is a great business move.

Luxury or not, "nice" or not, Apple is in the business to make money. Heck, they sell iPods in mall vending machines to make a quick, "impulse" buck.

And, the prestige of Apple isn't about where the product is bought, but that they make quality products you're proud to own. Mostly because they have the capital to hire quality engineers, programmers, etc.

Any Apple owner offended by the presence of Apple at Wal-Mart might need a gut check as to whether or not they're an Apple snob or just a snob.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Nathan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:26:35 -0000

You fail to mention in your treatment of whether Wal-Mart will hurt the Apple brand, that the demographic of Wal-Mart is the very opposite of the desired influential clientelle of Apple. Apple's flagship store is on Fifth Avenue, and this is no accident. It's a statement of purpose: "we're a luxury brand"

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Shawn Farner — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:40:25 -0000

Wal-Mart has been selling iPods for awhile. I don't think that people have abandoned Apple or the iPod because of it. It's a smart move on Apples part - another giant distribution channel for one of their flagship products.

I'm not usually one to crap on an article, but this one is totally pointless.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Someone — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:31:55 -0000

Has the iPod brand been cheapened since you can buy it at Wal-Mart? No! SO why should the iPhone? It won't hurt it.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Fred — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:47:26 -0000

The idea that this will "lessen the brand" (whatever that means) is just stupid. Walmart already sells the $399 32 GB Touch, and it hasn't seemed to lessen demand. This isn't about selling cheap iPhones, no matter what the hipsters think of Walmart. It's about selling iPhones to the many, many people who live near a Walmart but aren't anywhere close to an Apple Store or a Best Buy. Judging from my experience, they're far more likely to get good service from Walmart than an AT&T store. Besides, anything that makes the "I'm better than you because I have an iPhone" crowd uncomfortable is a good thing (and I say that as an iPhone owner).

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Oday Nasser — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:16:51 -0000

That will be a big jump for Apple

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Michael — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:02:09 -0000

twitter-using, wal-mart hating, apple elitists are probably a small portion of the customer base. this is a non-story

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

johnny — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:42:40 -0000

i think it would be a good way for some who arent familiar with the products name and trend. Some would like it cause of its style and usefullnes. lol its just a device for talking and web use and other cool stuff.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Shiny — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:35:00 -0000

I, for one, feel that the marriage between Apple and AT&T holds far more of a decimating nature to this union between Apple and Wal*Mart.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Mark Donovan — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:29:53 -0000

Are you kidding? Apple products are sold in London Drugs - they've been going down the "let's whore out our brand for profits" road for a long time now. I don't think it's going to kill the Apple brand, but as it becomes more mainstream it could open up the niche Apple once filled - the prestige brand of the tech savvy snobbery.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Melissa — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:29:16 -0000

How is this any different than Wal-Mart already selling Apple products?

You can already buy an ipod, touch, shuffle, or nano at Wal-Mart; and online, it says you can even grab an AppleTV

http://www.walmart.com/cata...

Clearly Apple has already made the decision to "dampen the glow" by selling to Wal-Mart--heaven forbid they become even more mainstream and accessible. After-all, isn't that what business is all about?

They still remain quintessentially "Apple" by maintaining consistent price points-- this keeps Apple products in the hands (and ears) of those who can "afford" it as opposed to all the people that you all quickly discredit as bargain bin hunters. (And no, for the record, I'm not a Wal-Mart shopper, I just don't see what the big deal is if they've already made the decision to sell their products there).

For readers actually concerned with brand dilution, the bigger threat isn't selling Apple products at Wal-Mart, but instead, selling a $99 version of the iphone.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Chad — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:27:58 -0000

I fail to see how Apple is an "exclusive" brand... They position their product on every possible TV show and movie, are sold in mass retailers (Best Buy, CompUSA (before they folded), and can be easily purchased at Apple.com. If you can visit a website and buy it, how is it "exclusive"? The iPhone is already available at dozens of Apple stores, and thousands of AT&T stores. Is an AT&T store really more exclusive than WalMart? Where I live there's an AT&T store in the same strip mall that there's a Walmart.
Will the magic $99 price point actually appear? I doubt it. WalMart is probably already the largest retailer of iPods, on which their margin is small, but the cheap chinese accessories more than make up for it. Do you really think the iPhone is more exclusive than the iPod?

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

James Kiss — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:27:22 -0000

Stop the bitching. Some of us are locked in a contract with other providers and a cheaper iPhone will those of us who want to switch by making it even cheaper! I don't care about corporate "evilness". There is no such thing. It's all a bunch of bullshit. You're honestly going to sit there and tell me you don't like a store because it sells you cheap crap? Cheaper than other stores? The nightmare scenario of Walmart beginning to charge extra will be corrected by customers not shopping there anymore and flocking to another chain thus creating ANOTHER Walmart. It all has to balance out.

As for the exclusivity and cheapening of the brand.... um, malls are gross. The same place that emo kids hang out because they hate their life is the same place they sell iPhone's.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

zota — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:26:49 -0000

I think the premise is false in several ways.

First of alll, I don't uses Macs to be associated with the mystique of the Apple brand. If Dell made equally well-designed, well-built, well-equipped machines with an equally stable and secure operating system, all for a price equal to comparable Apple, then I'd buy Dell.

Also, one of the few companies that "left-leaning elitists" hate as much as WalMart is AT&T. How's that working out for the iPhone brand?

As far as distribution, can't the dirty proles already buy the mysterious iPhone on this new fangled thing we call "the web"? Or for that matter, in almost any mall in any city? Is WalMart really going to dirty things up more than the web or the mall?

Finally, the abstract dislike of Apple is so broad, did you really have to rely on random Twitter responses? That is some seriously lazy Apple bashing. Couldn't you at least find some Windows Mobile developers willing to go on record about how much they dislike the iPhone? Come on, now. Put some effort in to it next time.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Jason Kiesel — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:26:35 -0000

I think all you Apple snobs are just pissed that you bought an iPhone for $300 that a Wal-marter can now get for cheaper. Cry me a river.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Chris McCorkle — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:19:59 -0000

They already sell the iPods. Quit crying, fellow iPhone owners.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Christian — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:18:02 -0000

When I think of Walmart, I have an unpleasant association of rifling through bargain bins and using 30 cents off coupons. That and eating at a McDonalds "right der in da store". I think this move can do nothing but harm the prestige of the iPhone brand.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

chris — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:17:07 -0000

While lots of people give negative lip service to Wal-Mart, the company's sales figures indicate a tremendous amount of people who love them.

I think this is very smart on Apple's part, and should not hurt their brand to any significance.

What matters most is that Apple continues to produce superior products. A deal with Wal-Mart doesn't affect that at all.

Re: The iPhone at Wal-Mart: A Brand-Decimating Marriage?

Richard — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:13:22 -0000

As mentioned in the above posting, there are two separate issues at hand.

One of them is whether the brand will be cheapened by the move. Which may actually happen, but losing a few customers who feel betrayed because now the masses will be able to afford their toys as well, is something Apple will happily do, if it means adoption by the mainstream market.

The second issue addressed is the purported philosophical difference between Apple and WalMart. Using our favourite "don't be evil" search engine will show you, that Apple is not squeamish when it comes to employing Chinese manufacturers with a dubious labour history either.

So anyone who's disappointed by Apple for working with WalMart is blue-eyed and shouldn't have bought into the Apple hype in the first place.