Comments on: Sponsor post: Apple and Wal-Mart: Do Opposites Really Attract?

By: Roger S. Cohen

Roger S. Cohen — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:59:37 +0000

I visited our local Wal-Mart (Airmont, NY 10901) and looked at their electronics department. What a mess!

There are plenty of TVs, all dirty, some working, some inoperable. The display of Apple products is largely empty. Those Apple products that are there (behind a locked glass case — no iPhones) are hanging by a thread, dirty, inoperable and inaccessible. The display of accessories for iPods is properly organized — for all four items. There were no accessories for iPhone.

And… apparently no one works in the Wal-Mart electronics department.

It may be true that Apple wants to sell iPods and iPhones in geographic areas where there is no Apple Store. But they are not likely to sell many. There’s no way to buy Apple hardware in the local Wal-Mart.

By: Roger S. Cohen

Roger S. Cohen — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:59:12 +0000

I visited our local Wal-Mart (Airmont, NY 10901) and looked at their electronics department. What a mess!

There are plenty of TVs, all dirty, some working, some in operable. The display of Apple products is largely empty. Those Apple products that are there (behind a locked glass case — no iPhones) are hanging by a thread, dirty, inoperable and inaccessible. The display of accessories for iPods is properly organized — for all four items. There were no accessories for iPhone.

And… apparently no one works in the Wal-Mart electronics department.

By: Partners in Grime

Partners in Grime — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:38:35 +0000

Maybe I’ll finally have a reason to visit Wal-Mart. :)

By: Joseph Michael

Joseph Michael — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:51:59 +0000

I think in the long run it would hurt Apple, Wal-mart carrying apple helps to dilute a great product. Apple must avoid selling themselves to thin.

By: MattF

MattF — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:38:14 +0000

There's opportunities for both Apple and Wal-Mart, but they have to be careful. Apple would like to push a bit out of its premium niche, Wal-Mart envies Target's "quality for less money" vibe. I doubt that Circuit City is the model here, smart retailers like Apple and Wal-Mart understand that Circuit City deserved to die. It'll be interesting to see what happens.