iPhone and iPad now on sale at Sam’s Club

Apple’s Tablet PC iPad enjoyed a huge success this year and Apple is now gearing up for a surge in these sales during the Holiday season.  The iPad tops the list of electronic gadgets people are expected to buy this Christmas.  The Apple iPad and iPhone are among the top three most desired items listed for buying this Holiday season.  So, there is no wonder that retailers are lining up to sell iPad at any cost.

Last month Sam’s Club announced that they would be selling the Apple’s revolutionary gadget starting from November.  Even Best Buy and Target did similar announcements related to retail selling of iPad.   Wal-Mart owned Sams Club has already started displaying iPad on their shelves.   Sam’s Club appears to be the first to offer iPad at their stores with discounts on standard pricing.  So you can now pick up your favorite iPad for this holiday at your nearest Sam’s Club at discounted prices.

Sams Club is offering the iPad at prices much lower than the competitors with the 3G version having a price tag of around $609 and the WiFi only version selling for just  around $488.

Based on the image of display at Sam’s club store and information leaked by Wal-Mart insider, the prices offered by Sam’s club are as follows:

For 5 units of iPad Wi-Fi 16 GB Sam’ club retail price $499
For 5 units of iPad Wi-Fi 32 GB Sam’ club retail price $599
For 5 units of iPad Wi-Fi 64 GB Sam’ club retail price $699
For 5 units of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G 16 GB Sam’ club retail price $629
For 5 units of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G 32 GB Sam’ club retail price $729
For 5 units of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G 64 GB Sam’ club retail price $829

All this prices appear pretty low, but the only problem is, as these are retail prices, you have to buy in bulk.  The expected retail prices of other Apple branded iPad accessories are as follows.

10 units of  wireless keyboard – $ 69
10 units of  iPad DOCK –ZML $29
10 units of  iPad 10W USB power $29
10 units of  iPad camera connect $29
10 units of  iPad case $39

There are over 2,800 Wal-Mart Super Stores in the United States together with almost 750 smaller stores.  You can find your favorite gadget in the electronics section by the end of this month.  iPad is available in nearly 1,800 Wal-Mart stores right now.

According to reports, people are watching more and more video content each day.
People connected online are watching 40% more web based content than they did last year.  All these trends in technology justify that that iPad and similar tablet PCs are not just a fad, but that they have indeed become a part of today’s lifestyle.

Making the iPad available at big retailers like Sam’s Club is a new marketing strategy by Apple for expanding their gadget sales during Holiday season.  You are bound to find iPad on the shelves everywhere you go for shopping this Christmas season, whether it is Best Buy, Target or … Sam’s Club.  So, if  you are planning to get iPad as a Christmas gift, you should shop at the Sam’s club to get the iPad At Discounted Prices.

We know everybody is waiting for the upcoming launch of iPad, and must be wondering where they can buy iPad and iPad accessories.  Well, as per a recent announcement from Apple, the iPad will follow sales model of iPhone during its launch period.  What that means is that iPad and Apple branded iPad accessories would be available for sale only through Apples direct sales channels and select retail locations which have Apple assistance.  And this comes with no bundling and zero discounting.

Recently, speaking at Goldman Sachs annual technology conference, San Francisco, Apples Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook announced that iPad would launch in online education, retail & other direct sales but might also include Apple assisted sales by partners such as Best Buy. So as per the Apple sales strategy, they want to restrict the sale of the Apple iPad to Apple’s online store during the short honeymoon period. After the honeymoon period is over, Best Buy will carry Apple iPad and accessories, just like other Apple products.

This left room for suggestion that iPad sales could be offered by AT&T stores too who are the wireless partner for Apple in United States.  The iPad will also be offered by Apple’s premium resellers.

Cook revealed that he had been personally using iPad for close to 6 months and felt that once consumers experience iPad for the first time they will find it hard to buy a Netbook. He denigrated the Netbook calling them merely cheap laptops.

He claims the experience of using an iPad to be absolutely incredible adding that Apple can’t wait to start shipping the device He also claims the browsing, photo and email display of the iPad are the best available today!

Cook is not too concerned that iPad sales would cannibalize sales of other products of Apple like Mac or iPod touch.

We wonder if this selling strategy will leave third party sellers like Amazon, Small Dog, Power Max and Mac Mall to sell only iPad accessories and the add-ons. Will Apple be able to mass market iPad without third party channels is a question on everybody’s mind.  Meanwhile, Cook believes that the $499 iPad is at an incredible value!