Josh Ong"A source with knowledge of corporate mobile device deployments" has told Forbes that one of the 10 largest retailers in the U.S. will soon distribute iPads to all its sales staff. The source noted that the retailer in question operates 1,100 U.S. stores, making Best Buy, which had 1093 U.S. stores as of September 2010, the most likely candidate.
The report also notes that Best Buy is a natural match because of its existing relationship with Apple. When the original iPad was released last year, Best Buy was one of Apple's few launch day retail partners. Best Buy has already begun advertising the recently announced iPad 2, which goes on sale on March 11.
Best Buy's rumored widespread rollout of the iPad to its employees could come as part of the company's Connected Store initiative. The retailer launched a pilot program in 27 stores last year that gave several mobile devices, such as iPads, iPod touches and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, to sales associates for the purpose of educating consumers and processing purchases. According to the report, Best Buy has acknowledged that the Connected Store pilot could be expanded in the future.
As of 2010, Best Buy had 180,000 employees, but it's not immediately clear what percentage of those serve as on-floor sales staff and would be eligible for an iPad.
One possible explanation for the rumor could be that Best Buy is preparing an iPad-based point-of-sale and inventory management system. Apple currently uses an iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout system in its retail stores. In December of last year, AppleInsider reported that other retailers have been looking into implementing POS systems on the iPad and iPod touch.
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28 Comments
Another possibility is they are clearing out their inventory of original iPads.
But they ran out of inventory before Apple's iPad 2 announcement and even removed the part number from their sales database a week before. Apple's resellers probably don't carry more than a 30-day supply meaning they probably received their last shipment about 45 days ago which would be in line with a 60-day manufacturing ramp for the iPad 2.
Most likely, Best Buy will deploy the Connected Store initiative on the iPad 2. After all, that's what they will be selling. Rather than reply to a curious customer who asks if they can buy one, "Well this is actually the old model..." it is preferable to say, "Sure. How many and what size?"
i "know somebody" that works in one of the connected store pilots. The ipads were not "given" to all sales associates-- about 15-20 ipads were available to be signed out by employees at the beginning of their shifts. The iPads had access to inventory lists to check availability as well as the bby.com website to check prices. Additionally, some associates used the iPads for logging calls throughout the day. Mostly they were used for facebook to make employees look busy.
Best Buy most definitely will not be giving iPads to all of their sales associates. In newer Best Buy stores--the ones that receive a full Connected Store layout--employee will most likely have access to a handful of iPads to distribute throughout the day. Sorry to any Best Buy employees reading this and hoping to receive a free iPad.. simply not the case.
A new report claims that big-box electronics retailer Best Buy may be preparing to hand out iPads to each of the on-floor sales associates in its 1,100 US stores.
This would be ironic - seeing as how every time I've gone into a Best Buy looking for Apple product or software I get the "we don't carry it, Macs are lame, you should get a PC with Windows 7" shtick.
Multiple states and cities - same attitude.
This would be ironic - seeing as how every time I've gone into a Best Buy looking for Apple product or software I get the "we don't carry it, Macs are lame, you should get a PC with Windows 7" shtick.
Multiple states and cities - same attitude.
This doesn't surprise me. The typical teenager who works in the computer department at Best Buy is an enthusiast gamer, living with his parents, who spends all his money on the latest insane glowy tower computer to heat his bedroom and play Crysis. He doesn't care for Apple products, nor can he afford one after buying his insane gaming rig.
Thankfully they tend recover from this illness given enough time.