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Apple and Staples have agreed to a deal to sell various iPad and iPod models on the Staples online store in the U.S., reports 9to5Mac. The deal will potentially expand to Staples' retail stores as well if the company is able to sell a certain amount of iPads per week.
The source says that if each Staples store refers one iPad sale per week in October, two per week in November, and five per week in December, Apple will be willing to sell iPads in physical Staples locations.
If Staples is able to meet Apple's sales goals it could see its brick-and-mortar stores selling iPads and iPods by early 2014, according to 9to5Mac. It would also be the second successful Apple test for Staples, as it appears that Apple and Staples' deal to sell accessories was a "testbed" to see whether Staples' customer base and Apple's products were a good fit.
In March, MacRumors revealed screenshots of training materials for Staples' sales associates that educated them on Apple's various products, including Macs, Apple TV, iPhones, iPads and more.
Currently, Staples sells iPads on its online store in Canada. Expanding into Staples' 1,500 United States retail stores would be a significant expansion of Apple's distribution chain. Staples also offers an appealing channel for businesses that already have billing accounts and existing relationships with the retailer for office supply needs.
Top Rated Comments
:p
A good question would be who walks into Staples anymore :D
I've actually bought a Hard Drive there for my home server as well. Over the years, I think I've bought several there. The place is generally very busy when I'm there (which is usually early in morning).
I guess a good question would be what kind a person comes off as an elitist trying to act like he is too good to walk into staples? :D
Actually, I bought my AppleTV at a Staples, because I had some credit with them due to their business cashback program, and the best deal I've ever gotten on an iTunes card was through their website. (I'm positive it wasn't supposed to be that good, but I'm not complaining: Two $50 iTunes cards for $40 each, shipped; apply the $25 off $75 online coupon they sent me in the mail--which worked for some reason--and then added the store credit I got for buying some stuff for clients, and I ended up paying about $28 out of pocket for $100 worth of music. Still stoked.)
At about 15 miles away, they're about the closest store I can go to for anything electronics related; consequently, I'm there fairly often.