Radio Shack clerk says they'll have the iPhone

[ColsTiger]

Picked up a couple of flash drives today and asked the clerk if they were going to get any iPhones to sell when they're released. He said they would and that they expected to get quite a few because they sell so many Cingular phones and plans. This was a store right on the beach in Panama City and I can understand that they might do a tremendous Go Phone businesss, but I was surprised to hear that they sold a lot of Cingular plans.

I hadn't really thought of the agency stores selling the iPhone, but I guess Best Buy and Radio Shack would be good locations to check if this guy knows what he's talking about. Might be something to remember if your local Cingular or Apple store sells out of the iPhone before you can pick one up.

 

[lasquintanas]

I work at a Best Buy and have heard ZERO on plans to carry the iPhone at launch.

 

[Cantwait4iPhone]

Picked up a couple of flash drives today and asked the clerk if they were going to get any iPhones to sell when they're released. He said they would and that they expected to get quite a few because they sell so many Cingular phones and plans. This was a store right on the beach in Panama City and I can understand that they might do a tremendous Go Phone businesss, but I was surprised to hear that they sold a lot of Cingular plans.

I hadn't really thought of the agency stores selling the iPhone, but I guess Best Buy and Radio Shack would be good locations to check if this guy knows what he's talking about. Might be something to remember if your local Cingular or Apple store sells out of the iPhone before you can pick one up.

This is interesting. I thought they mentioned that the iPhone would be sold ONLY at Apple at Cingular stores and nowhere else, but I could be wrong. Anybody want to correct me?

 

[ColsTiger]

I work at a Best Buy and have heard ZERO on plans to carry the iPhone at launch.

Yeah. This guy even said that they always get new models before the Wal*Mart gets them. Maybe Best Buy is in that same category or maybe he was just full of s***.

 

[Cantwait4iPhone]

Yeah. This guy even said that they always get new models before the Wal*Mart gets them. Maybe Best Buy is in that same category or maybe he was just full of s***.

You sure stores other than Apple and Cingular stores will be getting them?

 

[Maxwell]

iPhones will be a hot item, sold everywhere!

Picked up a couple of flash drives today and asked the clerk if they were going to get any iPhones to sell when they're released. He said they would and that they expected to get quite a few because they sell so many Cingular phones and plans. This was a store right on the beach in Panama City and I can understand that they might do a tremendous Go Phone businesss, but I was surprised to hear that they sold a lot of Cingular plans.

I hadn't really thought of the agency stores selling the iPhone, but I guess Best Buy and Radio Shack would be good locations to check if this guy knows what he's talking about. Might be something to remember if your local Cingular or Apple store sells out of the iPhone before you can pick one up.

I'm not surprised to read that Radio Shack will be selling iPhones. Why not? In actuality, the iPhone is the razor - monthly phone service is the razor blade. All retailers will be offering iPhones and likely at highly competitive prices, Object: looking to sign up Cingular contracts.

 

[Cantwait4iPhone]

I'm not surprised to read that Radio Shack will be selling iPhones. Why not? In actuality, the iPhone is the razor - monthly phone service is the razor blade. All retailers will be offering iPhones and likely at highly competitive prices, Object: looking to sign up Cingular contracts.

Well, I guess I am wrong that it will only be sold at the official stores for the two companies working on the iPhone, Apple and Cingular. Maybe they will be the only ones to get it at first, but then it will be released to other stores, like Radio Shack.

As you can see, I don't know much on this topic

 

[ColsTiger]

You sure stores other than Apple and Cingular stores will be getting them?

Not anymore sure than anything else about this release. The only reason I asked the guy is because I saw all the Cingular point of sale advertising (not for iPHone mind you) as I was shopping for my flash drives. This guy said they would have them.

I know we've seen people post otherwise here, but we haven't seen any official word that they wouldn't be offered in Cingular Agency stores. Do you actually think that At&t is going to tell Wal*Mart to stuff it and not offer them the chance to sell the hottest item in cell phone history? No way! If they do that, Wal*Mart will be bouncing them (and Apple) right out of the store.

 

[Cantwait4iPhone]

Not anymore sure than anything else about this release. The only reason I asked the guy is because I saw all the Cingular point of sale advertising (not for iPHone mind you) as I was shopping for my flash drives. This guy said they would have them.

I know we've seen people post otherwise here, but we haven't seen any official word that they wouldn't be offered in Cingular Agency stores. Do you actually think that At&t is going to tell Wal*Mart to stuff it and not offer them the chance to sell the hottest item in cell phone history? No way! If they do that, Wal*Mart will be bouncing them (and Apple) right out of the store.

I see. It is all speculation at this point, though, as you noted. We shall have to wait and see. I did not know that Wal-Mart sells Cingular/AT&T items, though, because I have not spent much time in a Wal-Mart. Only when I needed some food, fast.

 

[ColsTiger]

I see. It is all speculation at this point, though, as you noted. We shall have to wait and see. I did not know that Wal-Mart sells Cingular/AT&T items, though, because I have not spent much time in a Wal-Mart. Only when I needed some food, fast.

I had forgotten that Wal*Mart was a Cingular Agency as well, but this Radio Shack guy reminded me of it while I was talking to him. I'm pretty sure Wal*Mart carries a lot more weight than Radio Shack.

 

[lasquintanas]

I had forgotten that Wal*Mart was a Cingular Agency as well, but this Radio Shack guy reminded me of it while I was talking to him. I'm pretty sure Wal*Mart carries a lot more weight than Radio Shack.

Wal-mart is a powerhouse, however they don't exactly cater to the typical iPhone customer.

 

[wot_fan]

I find it very hard to believe that Steve Jobs would allow the iPhone to be sold at Walmart or Radio Shack (at least initially). He seems to want as much control as possible over the iPhone's release which leads me to believe the rumors that only Cingular corporate stores and Apple stores will have the iPhone.

 

[mav]

Apple is controlling the retail distribution 100%. Radio Shack, Walmart, Fry's, etc will not be getting the iPhone. It will only be sold through Apple and AT&T.

 

[iphonenut]

i thought you guys were joking...

no way is radio shack or wal mart or best buy or any other place going to sell the iPhone.

if it doesn't have a partially eaten Apple or AT&T/Cingular logo on the outside of the building, you will NOT find the iPhone inside.

 

[ebrunn]

It has already been said that only brick and mortar At&t stores and Apple Stores(online and brick and mortar) will be able to sell them.

 

[ColsTiger]

It has already been said that only brick and mortar At&t stores and Apple Stores(online and brick and mortar) will be able to sell them.

So you don't think Cingular/At&t will be selling then online too?

 

[ebrunn]

So you don't think Cingular/At&t will be selling then online too?

Sorry, forgot to add that as well. You are correct.

 

[ColsTiger]

Sorry, forgot to add that as well. You are correct.

At least initially, it'll probably only be AT&T and Apple selling the iPhone, but sooner or later those other guys will get their shots in. Come to think of it, the clerk at Radio Shack may have been trying to tell me that they would have them before Wal*Mart and not saying that they would have them for the initial release.

 

[wot_fan]

At least initially, it'll probably only be AT&T and Apple selling the iPhone, but sooner or later those other guys will get their shots in. Come to think of it, the clerk at Radio Shack may have been trying to tell me that they would have them before Wal*Mart and not saying that they would have them for the initial release.

That is very possible. I think it is very important to Steve that the first iPhone owners have a very positive experience with the iPhone. That experience starts with dealing with a sales person who is knowledgeable about the iPhone. By limiting the sales channels, Apple has a much better chance of making that happen.

 

[ColsTiger]

That is very possible. I think it is very important to Steve that the first iPhone owners have a very positive experience with the iPhone. That experience starts with dealing with a sales person who is knowledgeable about the iPhone. By limiting the sales channels, Apple has a much better chance of making that happen.

Hence the reason for AT&T ramping up their system at all Apple stores and Apple providing huge display POS at all AT&T stores.