Kevin Bostic
Following a move by big box retailer Best Buy, RadioShack and Walmart have announced they too will be slashing prices on Apple's mid-range iPhone, the iPhone 5c, putting the on-contract price for the device at or below $50.
The two retailers revealed their discount prices for the iPhone 5c on Friday, with RadioShack announcing that it will begin matching Best Buy's iPhone 5c deal on Saturday. In-store iPhone 5c purchasers will be able to get a $50 gift card applicable toward the purchase of their device. For an on-contract 5c, that will bring the cost to $50. RadioShack's promotion will run through November 2.
Meanwhile, Walmart has announced that its already discounted iPhone 5c will now sell for $45. In dropping the price to $45, Walmart has knocked nearly 50 percent off of an on-contract price that was already $20 lower than the cost to purchase the phone through Apple and most other outlets.
Friday's announcements mean the polycarbonate-backed iPhone 5c is now available for $50 or less at three retailers: Best Buy, RadioShack, and Walmart. Customers taking advantage of those deals are still eligible to participate in the iPhone trade-in programs available at all three chains, earning up to $300 in store credit for an older model iPhone. The trade-in initiative is only available in select locations.
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8 Comments
Upgrade your iPhone for -$250. Tough price to beat.
[quote name="jhart376" url="/t/159941/radioshack-and-walmart-match-best-buys-50-iphone-5c-discount#post_2411645"]Upgrade your iPhone for -$250. Tough price to beat.[/quote] Easy to beat. Sell your phone on eBay for $100 more than you'll get from trading it in.
Could this signal weak demand? Or simply tough competition between retailers?
[quote name="reydn" url="/t/159941/radioshack-and-walmart-match-best-buys-50-iphone-5c-discount#post_2411722"]Could this signal weak demand? Or simply tough competition between retailers?[/quote] They sold 9 M phones in the first weekend. The LOWEST estimate was that 2 M of them were iPhone 5Cs. I don't think demand is the problem. In fact, retailers often discount hot items in order to draw people into their stores.
"everyone" expected the 5C to be "cheap". apple doesn't do cheap.
But they did make a device they can manufacture for less, allowing the discounters to discount it some.