“Staples customers hunting for a new iPad Air or Mini can now find one on actual store shelves,” Lance Whitney reports for CNET.
“Calling your local Staples outlet now greets you with a recorded message telling you that you can buy a new iPad either online or in stores,” Whitney reports. “Previously, the devices were available through Staples just online.”
“Staples also sells the iPod and a wide range of Apple accessories, including cases, covers, and cables,” Whitney reports. “But the iPhone is still persona non grata. A Staples store rep told me that the company first wants to see how the iPad fares among retail buyers.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Now, if they could only get some MacBooks in there to put next to their line up of plastic Windows PC craptops, we can stop poking our heads into Staples and sarcastically asking them it they have any Parallel cables.
Fittingly, though, Staples still has to wait and see how this iPad whirligig does before they even start thinking about carrying that newfangled iPhone gizmo.
Related articles:
It’s official: Staples is now selling Apple products – February 26, 2013
Staples to begin selling Apple products in U.S. – February 15, 2013
Who really cares. Staples is not in the market to sell tech.
They are in Canada, most of what they sell it tech and they have been selling iPads for years. But they didn’t carry 128 GB model when I went on iPad Air launch day.
I live in Canada and haven’t been in a Staples for a few years. The staff are clueless high school kids who know nothing about Macs or Apple products (or anything for that matter) and Staples is not a go to place for tech.
Another useless store, right along with Worst buy
Old news they’ve been “selling” them here for years
Staples Canada has been selling them for years. I think this is Staples USA.
Good for Staples. Wise decision on their part. My respect meter for them just went up a notch.
“Fittingly, though, Staples still has to wait and see how this iPad whirligig does before they even start thinking about carrying that newfangled iPhone gizmo.”
In fairness, it’s not up to Staples if they can even carry the iPhone or iPad or any Apple device. That’s up to Apple.
well good that Staples is selling them
BUT
I wish Apple would work harder with their retailers to straighten out their acts.
Just went to my a Walmart ‘Super-center’: they sell Apple stuff but are near CLUELESS.
I got a new Mac Pro by mail order and wanted a get thunderbolt (or even mini display cable) to hook it to a ext. monitor. Walmart: “huh????” “What is thunderbolt?” No cable, no squat. But they also sell thunderbolt equipped macs.
If you ask them what Mavericks is they’ll say “Old cowboy show?” — (I don’t think they don’t sell ‘mavericks’ as you get the update online so they have no clue) ask them “what’s the difference between OS X and Windows” and they’ll say ” they are the same . Win 8 is NEWER and has more features, and runs on all kinds of PCs and tablets while OSX runs just on Macs which are more expensive”.
The Mac displays were great when JOBS was around but it’s years now and they look grungy, New Windows display are bright, the booth bright completely back lit with fluorescents and monitors running videos etc.
I cannot wait for Angela Ahrendts to come on board apple , maybe besides Apple stores she can straighten out apple marketing in general.
Apple Marketing Today SUCKS . (go ahead flame away but that’s what I believe).
No ads to run against the total fiasco Windows 8. Spend HUGE on R&D on super advance laminated glass tech, special moulding etc, Great new macs yet not one iMac, mac mini ad for YEARS to tout mac advantages (none since the mac pc guy 5 years or so ago). Macs were gaining marketshare vs PCs for years under Jobs, now with great new software and hardware vs dud Win 8, Mac sales is slowing vs its rivals. (note Msft etc STILL make tens of billions from PCs and its a great chance for Macs to gain market share)
Most people including the ‘Apple Expert Sales staff’ at big box retailers (because there’s no advertising or sales material to aid them) don’t know the advantages of OSX to Windows, have no clue about macs. Without ADS to help them , big box retailers are near HELPLESS trying to sell stuff. They NEED ads on TV etc to explain to the customer why they should buy a Mac before they can do anything.
Not just macs Heck they don’t even know what the advantages of the iPAD is… Great new 64 bit processor in the iPhone … NO ADS to tout it’s advantages, how fast the benchmarks are vs Samsung POS, giving rivals breathing room to catch up . Ask a big box retailer whats the advantage of iPhone vs Samsung the answer is “nothing”. Apple NEEDS ADS to explain stuff as these guys sell a ton of samsung, HP, Dell etc stuff they are NOT going to bad mouth them.
etc etc. etc.
YES yes I believe in “Apple should focus on making Products’ but I don’t believe that marketing is not important (as in “leave marketing to the idiot Pepsi Guy” ): JOBS was a MARKETING GENIUS, he was a marketing guru since he was kid hawking stuff at tech fairs etc. His ads were killer.
Apple sells a lot because of GREAT PRODUCTS but it’s marketing itself SUCKS. It can sell MORE. The BIG SLIDE of apple stock from 700 started when Apple missed analysts estimates twice: once if I’m not mistaken I believe by only $200m another time by $50m , so if apple had sold a bit more (like a few more Macs) perhaps the stock would still be at 700 or more and apple management would not need to waste time with Goldman Sachs stock conferences and dealing with people like Icahn.
typo: “I got a new Mac Pro” should be “Mac BOOK pro”, still using my old ‘cheese grater’ MP.
You make some valid points. It wouldn’t be the first time a company took too much for granted due to hubris. Yes, we know Apple products are the greatest, but not everyone knows that, and for a variety of reasons. Apple needs to show why their products are worth paying the premium. It will be interesting to see the strategies used under the new leadership.
Was in Staples the other day looking for a longer USB to USB cable. Not available. BUT what was available? A USB to SCSI cable… WTF? WHO is still using SCSI “scuzzy” devices in 2014?
Lame.
Bought my first Mac (an LC-III) at a Staples. They’re just coming back to where they were before Rott Mimney stepped in.
Staples sells to business. Do you suppose businesses started asking them; “where’s the iPad?” What does that say about iPad use in business?