Don't have to shop there.

 

The only thing that concerns me is that they will only sell the K3 3G, and K3SO - not the $139 wifi version. I know stores have limited shelf space, but I hope this doesn't mean that Amazon will discontinue the $139 kindle. There certainly are plenty of people who don't want the ads and don't need (or can't afford) the 3G.

I'm not a fan of Walmart, but you can't blame Amazon for wanting to sell in as many stores as possible.

 

Yeah. . . . .Walmart is just a retailer; the kindle is just a product. . . . I'm not a fan of Walmart; really I have no strong feelings one way or another. There isn't one convenient to me to shop at anyway. But there are stores I won't shop in for one reason or another. Still, I look at it this way: if I was unwilling to buy any product from any company that has it's products sold in <enter name of store> . . . well, I'd probably be hungry and cold.

It does let people get a look at it in person;they're trying to get the thing in the front of as many eyeballs as possible, after all. I, personally, would still recommend buying directly from Amazon, (which I've recommended from the first 'brick and mortar' outlet the Kindle showed up in) but for those who see it and want instant gratification, well, there it is!

I am mildly surprised only because it's already in Target, which is a pretty direct competitor to Walmart, and it's interesting that they aren't 'exclusive' to one or the other.

 

I know. Irrational hatreds are painful. When I visited the U.S. a few years ago most of my friends were hating WalMart. When I asked why they didn't pull out a list of talking points but they might was well have. So, I went to the nearest WalMart quite early one morning. I spent two hours visiting with employees and chatting.

I met two young men with Downs Syndrome. Both were delighted to be working and one commented that he'd tried to get jobs in other businesses but WalMart talked to him and hired him.

Then there follow a long line of women. Mostly middle-aged, high school graduates, and recently divorced. WalMart was their first foray into gainful employment. They all earned more than minimum wage--talking point one down--and most had health insurance--talking point two down--and none, not one, was planning a career as a sales person at WalMart. A couple had plans to move up within WalMart as friends of theirs had and even more planned on using the experience at WalMart to find other jobs as friends of theirs had. One woman launched into all the things she'd learned since she started working there and said she was writing it all down for her resume.

So, if you manage to shake free of the watchers, celebrate WalMart helping spread Kindles and giving poor people jobs. I'm just hoping the Kindles spread to Sam's Club in Mexico where I live.

 

Wow, there are a lot of products you should not buy, if this is how you honestly feel. And I wouldn't buy the Nook either, because I'm sure they will soon be sold in WalMarts too.

Having known several people who have worked for Wal Mart, I can tell you that they are no worse of a place to work than Best Buy, or Target, so if you shop there, you better think twice! Best Buy, as one example, recently fired it's entire IT department to outsource to a contract angency. Some of the department was offered jobs by the new agency, but for less pay and benefits. Work at a Best Buy store, and you'll make about as much as a Wal Mart employee (which where I live is about $9, which is competitive to not only Target, but two major grocery stores, that are union by the way).

Yes, I fully realize that Wal Mart has put local retailers out of business, much the same as Amazon has put local bookstores out of business. It sucks, but people demanded lower prices, and that can only be provided with the economics of scale.

 

As they say, be careful what you wish for.

Not that long ago, I remember seeing endless posts on this board (and at another discussion forum, y'know which one) begging for the Kindle to be sold in a brick & mortar store. I think the prevailing rationale was that people didn't want to plunk down a bunch of money to buy something they had never seen or handled.

There were also endless posts begging for the price to drop to something "reasonable." The definition of reasonable varied but it seemed to be quite a bit less than $399 (what I paid for my very first Kindle).

So know we have the Kindle for sale in Target and Staples. The price has dropped to $114 (for the version with ads). Is anyone *really* surprised about WalMart coming online as a sales outlet? I'm not.

Like I said, BCWYWF and as someone else said, if you don't like WalMart, don't shop there. (I'm also boycotting Target, but that's another story.)

L

 

And I wouldn't buy the Nook either, because I'm sure they will soon be sold in WalMarts too.

Too late...the nook was advertised in this Sunday's Walmart add...

 

Too late...the nook was advertised in this Sunday's Walmart add...

Using the rational originally provided, there isn't much that person CAN buy. Walmart sells EVERYTHING, and carries most major brands, if not all.

 

Using the rational originally provided, there isn't much that person CAN buy. Walmart sells EVERYTHING, and carries most major brands, if not all.

Completely agree with you. With gas prices as they are, Walmart is my one stop shop when I need a variety of things.

 

Boycotting a product because it's sold in Wal-Mart seems... really impractical. Do people really do that?

 

There are still a good many places in the US where the only big store is Walmart.  I live in one such area.  We have two little grocery stores and Walmart.  So, for places like where I live, I see this as awesome.  I don't understand the thought process behind keeping the kindle in a "Segregated" state.  Get them in stores and sell them.  More Kindles out there, more ebooks start showing up from back lists and unavailables, and soft ware updates continue to happen!  Its a good move.

Now, how do I feel about walmart?  I worked for a high end walmart (there are levels, depending on local demographic) and I hated every single minute of those two years.  They over work their employees and stretch their staff force as far as they can with out legal issues (and sometimes it was bordering badly).  Does the knowledge I received while working there keep me from walking in their doors?  No.  We all have to shop whats available.  And, for a good amount of Americans.. its Walmart.  

 

We're excited to announce that starting this week, Kindle will be available in over 3,200 Walmart stores nationwide. Most stores will have a Kindle on display so you can check out all the features before you buy. Walmart stores will be selling both Kindle 3G and Kindle with Special Offers.

Walmart is the latest in a growing list of retailers offering Kindle, including Target, Best Buy, and Staples, among others. Happy reading!

I saw this quote (above) on Facebook (from the Kindlepost).

I suspect that the Wifi-only Kindle is on a fast-track to being history. If you hate ads, you'll have to pay a premium for the 3G/Wifi model.

This is a moot point for me since I love the 3G convenience and paid for it on my Kindle and iPad. But that's me.

L

 

Boycotting a product because it's sold in Wal-Mart seems... really impractical. Do people really do that?

Good question. I'm boycotting Target because of some corporate donations and decision making during the last election which boils down to corporate policies that I disagree with. It has nothing to do with what they sell. It's hard for me because I actually used to like shopping in Target but I haven't set foot in the store since last Sept/Oct.

L

 

Actually I believe that Wal-Mart has been selling the Nook in their stores for some time now.  I agree with the other comments here, you don't have to buy from Wal-Mart if you don't want too, there are a lot of other places to purchase a Kindle, I personally have only bought them from Amazon but I do look at them in the stores when I see them.  I usually end up talking to a sales rep or two about them and giving them a few pointers that they don't know about. lol

 

I just don't like the other Wal-mart shoppers. Visit http://www..com to see what I mean. And yes, I know they're everywhere but it seems more concentrated in Wal-Mart. Plus Daddy worked for K-Mart for 25 years so Wal-Mart is the "enemy", but its OK for me to shop at Target. I don't get it...

Related more to the thread, I think its great that Kindle is being sold at more brick & mortar stores. I was a little hesitant to purchase electronics I'd never held or even seen in person, especially since I wasn't impressed with the e-reader our public library had gotten a few years before the Kindle. But the Kindle love here convinced me that it was worth it.

 

Good question. I'm boycotting Target because of some corporate donations and decision making during the last election which boils down to corporate policies that I disagree with. It has nothing to do with what they sell. It's hard for me because I actually used to like shopping in Target but I haven't set foot in the store since last Sept/Oct.

L

And that's a rational thing to do. I know many who are doing the same thing. Boycotting a store, merchant, etc because you don't like them hurts the store. Boycotting the product because you don't like the store just hurts yourself. If you don't buy a Kindle at WalMart, but instead buy it at Amazon, then Wal Mart doesn't make a dime. Alternatively, for many, Wal Mart is the only store they ever set foot into. Not having the Kindle in a Wal Mart is a lost sale for Amazon, and likely a sale to a competitor.

Good business move by Amazon.

 

I know. Irrational hatreds are painful. When I visited the U.S. a few years ago most of my friends were hating WalMart. When I asked why they didn't pull out a list of talking points but they might was well have. So, I went to the nearest WalMart quite early one morning. I spent two hours visiting with employees and chatting.

I met two young men with Downs Syndrome. Both were delighted to be working and one commented that he'd tried to get jobs in other businesses but WalMart talked to him and hired him.

Then there follow a long line of women. Mostly middle-aged, high school graduates, and recently divorced. WalMart was their first foray into gainful employment. They all earned more than minimum wage--talking point one down--and most had health insurance--talking point two down--and none, not one, was planning a career as a sales person at WalMart. A couple had plans to move up within WalMart as friends of theirs had and even more planned on using the experience at WalMart to find other jobs as friends of theirs had. One woman launched into all the things she'd learned since she started working there and said she was writing it all down for her resume.

So, if you manage to shake free of the watchers, celebrate WalMart helping spread Kindles and giving poor people jobs. I'm just hoping the Kindles spread to Sam's Club in Mexico where I live.

I have two more points in Wal-Mart's favor, at least our local Wal-Mart. First, our local Wal-Mart donates a lot of items to a Charity I have been involved with called Kids Yule Love, that gives underprivileged kids toys and clothes and second, we are a military family and Wal-Mart donates a great deal of phone cards to our overseas military members so they can keep in touch with family back home. Do I agree with everything they do? No, but I am happy to support them by shopping there.

 

Oh, I love Wal-Mart. It's my home away from home. The first thing I do when I visit a new town is check-out where their Wal-Mart is. I like how they're all arranged similarly so if you've been in one you've been in them all. Keeps me from getting homesick in unfamiliar towns.

At Wal-Mart I'm never a stranger. A nice, senior citizen "greeter" greets me at the door when I go in and gives my kids smiley face stickers. I can shop for my groceries, clothes, and prescription meds at the same time I'm buying gardening supplies. If I ask for help the employees drop whatever they're doing and practically lead me by the hand to wherever I need to go. The restrooms are clean and the check-outs fast. What's not to love? Other than all the shoppers who show up in their PJs and houseshoes I mean? 

I'm actually pleased to see Wal-Mart and similar stores selling e-readers. It can only mean they're increasing in popularity and for e-book authors that's a good thing, right?

 

I admit I don't like Walmart, and I find their history of discrimination in promotions very troubling, but a lot of people do shop there. I don't know that I exactly "boycott" them, but I choose to spend my money elsewhere. Here in Oregon they have a hard time with towns successfully keeping them out. They have a heck of a lot of stores though, so I don't know that it's hurting them much.

Kindle being sold in b&m stores so people can actually handle one and experience the screen and the print has to make a big difference in sales. Anyway from a purely selfish point of view, the more people who own ebook readers the better it is for me as a indie author. Obviously, it helps all authors to have a larger audience.

 

I'm for anything that gets this country to read more.  Think how excited a kid will be to see that Kindle at the Walmart and put it on his Christmas list!  I think the more places it is sold the better.  Read, America!!!

 

Definitely not a problem for me.. It would take more effort for me to brave a Wal*Mart Parking lot and find the section and check out than to just order on Amazon, and get on with my life.. Kindle probably arriving the next day.

 

Let me clarify...

My main problem with Walmart is that once they have a product in their stores, the quality of that product tends to plummet in order to keep up with Walmart's draconian pricing strategies.  I'd hate to see the Kindle go that route.

Some of you must have some nice Walmarts, because the ones here are awful.  Crappy products, unhappy employees, dirty stores, etc.  I avoid Walmart if at all possible.

The Kindle is already available in Target, Staples, and online.  I really don't see how putting it in Walmart is really all that great of an idea...

 

I definitely understand why people choose not to support certain stores for social or political reasons. But if that's your criteria for your ereader purchases, the Nook might not be the device for you either.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nook-with-WiFi-by-Barnes-Noble/15231527

 

Let me clarify...

My main problem with Walmart is that once they have a product in their stores, the quality of that product tends to plummet in order to keep up with Walmart's draconian pricing strategies. I'd hate to see the Kindle go that route.

Some of you must have some nice Walmarts, because the ones here are awful. Crappy products, unhappy employees, dirty stores, etc. I avoid Walmart if at all possible.

The Kindle is already available in Target, Staples, and online. I really don't see how putting it in Walmart is really all that great of an idea...

I'll give you that Walmart carries the lower end of different manufacturers' product ranges and that some manufacturers make lower end devices expressly for Walmart, but I've never seen an established product go down in quality because of Walmart.

Products such as the Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, iPod, and Nook are exactly the same as they've always been even though they are sold at Walmart.

 

This should be greeted as good news for all Kindle owners. The more of there are, the better...and the more likely we'll get a Kindle version of the many many books that still haven't been published in the format yet ("To Kill a Mockingbird", anyone?)

I think it would be impossible to boycott all products sold by Walmart, given the scope of their selection.