“Apple’s move to make Best Buy an outlet for the iPhone back in 2008 is proving a wise one — lucrative, too,” John Paczkowski reports for AllThingsD.
“Over the past few years, the retail chain has become an increasingly important outlet for Apple, extending its reach and distribution via its 1,100 stores,” Paczkowski reports. “About 600 of them host an Apple Store-within-a-store, most of those in geographic locations that Cupertino feels are too small to support a dedicated Apple store. And they’re selling a lot of iPhones. Almost as many as Apple itself, according to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).”
Paczkowski reports, “According to CIRP’s data, Apple sold 15 percent of all iPhones purchased in the U.S. during the period of the survey (retail: 11 percent/online: 4 percent). Meanwhile, AT&T sold 32 percent via its online and retail stores; Verizon, 30 percent — again, online and off; and Sprint, 7 percent. And Best Buy? The big-box retailer sold 13 percent, just 2 percent shy of Apple itself.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Interestingly, Wal-Mart and Radio Shack are among the “other” category which totals a mere 3%.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Carl H.” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
This is all good news. The idea that Apple would be selling the lions share of iPhones wouldn’t be a good one after all this time. The fact that their partners are doing so well just encourages others to want to sell it too. The wider the distribution, the better the sales.
its a very good thing. It is just a shame best buy is essentially the only consumer electronics retail outlet still in business. No one thinks to go to sears, target, or staples for computers and phones (though they could). We need more companies like circuit city to enter the brick and mortar business again. It’s a shame the Internet era has run them all out of business.
Didnt circuit city come back as h.h. gregg?
I wish there was a Fry’s nearby. I was so jaded back in CA with three within 15 miles.
While Staples sell computer, phones, and tablets, none of them are made by Apples.
So why would I shop there?
The only thing I buy at Bogus Buy is discounted iTunes cards. They’re like discounted money. Losers.
That’s because the Wal-Mart customers can’t understand why anyone would pay more for a mobile phone than for a car — they’re waiting for Sansui to launch a smartphone.
ouch
Best Buy has 4 times as many locations as Apple does but they certainly can bring Apple product into smaller markets.
It would be interesting to see how well Best Buy/Future Shop do with iPhones in Canada – especially given that there are few Apple stores here.
I’m surprised to here Best Buy is selling so many iPhones. Almost every time I visit any of the four Best Buys near me, I always here the phone sales reps trying to talk people out of buying iPhones. They’re usually pushing the Android flavor of the week phone.
A couple of weeks ago, I actually heard a woman tell a Best Buy employee, “I came here to get an iPhone. Stop trying to convince me to buy something else. If you’re not going to sell me an iPhone, I’m leaving and going to the AT&T store across the street.”
My girlfriend wouldn’t let me stick around long enough to see if the women actually left.
Locked or REALLY UNLOCKED like you but at an Apple store??
I just bought one at a Best Buy in VA. It was probably the best buying experience I’ve ever had at any Best Buy — I usually dread going there. This transaction was smooth as silk, including transferring my number from my old carrier.
I am sure Best Buy employees are probably “motivated” or told to also push other brands with a higher profit margin. This kind of thinking though is counter-intuitive to giving the customer the best user experience who will surely end up frustrated and pissed off with a fake iPhone and end up the next time taking their business elsewhere. Make no mistake Best Buy is no “fan” of Apple but a necessary hugely popular “evil” in their eyes.
Apple makes a slightly higher profit on an iPhone that it sells directly, at an Apple Store or online. No “middleman.”