We'll be honest, Amazon.com rocks. They're like the Wal-Mart of the internet, minus all the crushing of the little guys and poor labor practices. And now, the next time you jump over to Amazon.com to pick up that new book, a DVD, and a box of assorted bobbleheads, you can also grab a Palm Pre. The price isn't any different than you'll find via Sprint (except for that $50 lower off-contract price), but you do get the convenience of one-stop entertainment, clothing, and technology shopping. And free shipping.
[via: EverythingPre]
Amazon's not the only party getting in on the action. In recent days the Pre has popped up over at Wirefly for $169.99 on a new contract (and a staggering $799.99 off contract). The Pre has also appeared in Wal-Mart's wireless carriers section, with Sprint-standard on- and off-contract pricing, though there may or may not be additional Wal-Mart rebates (down to $99!) included depending on when you look.
Thanks to Siddharth and Manuel for the tips!
Comments
I'm curious what poor labor practices you are referring to. Is this post by a union ad agency or something?
BTW, you forgot to mention that if you get the phone at Amazon.com you may be able to avoid the pesky sales taxes...
Locking employees inside of stores, using illegals, sex discrimination, poor benefits, closing down American factories thanks to their deals with Communist China.
Commie china my ass. You gotta love how the liberals love to tear a hugely successful Amercian company down.
According to economic consulting firm Global Insight, the existence of Wal-Mart in the United States and its effect on consumer prices results in an annual cost savings of $263 billion, or roughly $895 per person. The study also concluded that Wal-Mart created 210,000 net new jobs last year and pays employees competitive wages. If Wal-Mart's store penetration rate as it's found in Dallas/Fort Worth was applied to markets such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, that annual savings per person would be $763, $1,000 and $1,307, respectively, according to the study.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FNP/is_22_44/ai_n15893514/
Ah yes, the murky waters of human-resource ethics.
I always say, if you think an employee isn't compensated fairly then open your wallet and throw a tip. The itch I feel is that I hear far more complaints about Walmart then I do see tips being granted to cashiers and greeters. It can feel confused.
Prosecuted for unpaid overtime, overscheduled minors and environmental violations for dumping photography chems into a groundwater system.
I'd venture to say Amazon has crushed just as many "little guys" as Wal-mart
I'm no liberal, but I used to work at a Walmart distribution center loading semis by hand in Indiana. Hand to God, I just got a letter today from some lawyer telling me I get $25 from Walmart for making us work during our breaks. He probably got $2 million. Just think the timing is funny after reading this.
So do you guys think the pre being sold at all these new online locations it will increase sales? And if so by a lot or a little? Not that sales are down. I really want this to be a hit because I want palm to feel its a success and worth working hard to improve.
personally i think they need to aim for a price point under $199. when the uninformed mainstream is considering a purchase & they look at the highend phones out there going for $200. i have a feeling many of them would play it safe & go with the "brand name" iPhone. i think Sprint should shoot for a $149 price tag, but dont go to low or people will see it as "cheap".
Great to see more online ordering options. FYI the Pre is $99 after rebate (available starting 8/5/09) at http://www.letstalk.com/cell-phones/productdetail.htm?prId=35030
The LetsTalk web site looks a bit shady. I clicked on the "Contact Us" button and a popup advertisement window appeared. If that wasn't creepy enough, the "Contact Us" page states that they have high call volume and thus the only way to reach them is their website contact form or an automated telephone system. So basically, you have no way to reach a customer support person on the phone.
I've learned that many times when the price is way too good to be true, it usually is. I'd stick with Amazon if you're going to be ordering the Pre online.
woohoo. amazon. :| not. though i have downloaded over 100 songs from its incredibly vast music store.
Maybe we can keep the anti WalMart crap off the site and focus on the phone k? Thanks. I don't come here for political commentary there G.
At least China forced walmar to give it's employees health insurance...and China is part socialistic....get the facts straight :)
Talk about getting the facts straight drone...
Wal-Mart's critics are often appalled by the company's health insurance coverage, but the facts don't always justify the rants directed against the company.
Detractors point out that Wal-Mart covers only 48 percent of its employees. But according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, in the retail sector overall only 45 percent of workers receive health coverage from their own employer. Still, why do more than half of Wal-Mart's employees opt out of the company's health insurance?
For one thing, part-time workers who make up 25 percent of Wal-Mart's workforce are not eligible until after two years. Then there is the cost. Wal-Mart pays 67 percent of the cost of health insurance for employees, about equal to the retail industry average of 68 percent for family coverage-but, for individual health insurance, far below the 77 percent that retailers contribute on average.
Many employees opt out because they are otherwise covered. The company says that two-thirds of its employees are second-income providers, college students, and senior citizens. Many of these have health insurance through their spouse's employer, parent's plan, or retirement and Medicare programs. Thus about 40 percent of the company's workers are covered apart from Wal-Mart's plan.
Hence the company asserts that close to 90 percent of its employees have health insurance by one means or another. Deductibles are $1,000 for a plan with a low premium, which does not include routine treatments such as flu shots and child vaccinations. Wal-Mart's health insurance emphasizes protection for catastrophic health expenses such as cancer treatment.
Health-care premiums for U.S. employer plans increased 11.2 percent in 2004, the fourth consecutive year of double-digit increases. Wal-Mart's coverage seems to reflect a company facing spiraling health-care costs for more than 1.5 million employees.
Nice cut/paste from their propaganda machine!
I can't stand when some liberal decides to make a political statement against one of their percieved enemies. I happen to love shopping at Wal-Mart. They do not "crush" the little man. In fact, they provide people who may not make very much money with a means to purchase quality products at a lower price. They also employ a lot more people than you do.
Keep you radical, leftist opinions to yourself. Nobody comes to this website to listen to your hate-filled rants.
JonR88 wrote "I happen to love shopping at Wal-Mart."
I guess that says it all :)
So the first post that was clearly from a right-wing nutjob is fine though? Thought so.
Amazon.com is an amazing operation. For items they sell and stock they normally process an order, pick, pack, and ship in under 4 hours.
Yes, HOURS. Not days but HOURS!
That is one impressive level of service given that their prices delivered are often the lowest or nearly the lowest of all on-line sellers. Plus, they have a very strong price adjustment policy and return policy on most goods.
Finally, the fact that they allow reviews that are un-edited and un-censored with the same product from competing merchants to list side by side shows their commitment to the consumer in addition to their bottom line.
Good price from Wal-mart! Wondering what's the policy/process for phones if you get a dud? Send it back in and be w/o a phone for a week or more? Is it then an insurance claim or warranty replacement?
I love it when somebody attempts to make a joke and shows they don't know what they're talking about (as Kessler did). Then all the crazy types who have never read the facts themselves just repeat the propoganda that the Unions have created over the years. Don't even get me started on how most stayed anonymous.
Kessler - if you want to publish an editorial article, go somewhere else. As Jack Webb used to say, just stick with the facts.
The Unions have dogged Walmart for years for one reason only -- money. They want the union dues of a couple million people. They won't actually do anything, they just want the dues.
I've never seen one armed guard in a Walmart facility who forces people to work there. With a couple million people employed, I have a hard time believing the garbage being written by Unions and Liberals who want to Socialize the USA.
I always feel so bad for all those employees that Walmart forces to work there. If it wasn't for that evil company these people could go out and get a well paying government job.
if you are a brand new sprint pre owner and bought from Sprint, call cust service and tell them about this pricing, you may just get a credit!
all the employees at walmart work there because there are no other alternatives in many cases. walmart comes in and shuts down all the mom and pop shops offering the same product but unable to compete with a huge corporations enormous volume.
add to that the health care thing, that all of you who are shopping there as well as I who doesn't, pay for their medicare, because they (walmart) strive to keep as many workers on part time as possible.
add to that your extra .02 cent saving that could've gone to the workers making your products you buy there to allow them to eat a decent meal and not live in an 8 family shack. wait but who cares about them??
but that's what the corps want. overseas jobs to get you to pay them for the goods instead of the small business owners because they(the corporations) have the low prices. and bye bye to the local jobs to produce those goods. hey they can all just go work for the corps they buy their stuff from anyways, and maybe even get an employee discount. so it all works out I guess huh. and f' the economy and environment because we gots LOW PRICES so we win!
its all a vicious cycle. oh well. if ya can't beat 'em join 'em right? F' that. some people are so unenlightened. I feel sorry for all the walmart shoopers though really. baa a a a aaa
You're an idiot. Get your facts straight.
wow, thank you for pointing out why my facts are wrong by producing so many truths to my obvious lies! I'm glad you cleared it all up for everyone. you are such a considerate loving human being. please keep shining your light. thank you again for showing me the falsehoods to my statements.
Letstalk.com is a pretty good place...
I purchaed a Verizon phone from them and the process was quick and painless...
Several things you should note abotu Letstalk.com...the money back refund period is only 7days(or 30 minutes of talk time, which ever occurs first), after that the period is 30 days(or 30 minutes of talk time, which ever comes first) and its only exchanges..
Second, if you cancel your service with the provider after 30 days but before 180days, you are subject to a subsidy recovery fee of $250 from them, in addition to the ETF from Sprint.
Just thought you all should know!
Stephen
i want the pre they have at walmart..acording to there specs..apparently it dosent have flash for the camera,but does have digital picture zoom,video support.with streming video..walmarts gonna have problems unless they get there facts straght
Money makes the world go round whether you believe it or not. If you don’t pay the electric bill guess what happens....think of everything/person/company that wants money for its service or product....money makes the world go round. So I would rather keep my money in my pocket rather than give it to any company...
So I want to know is when will Wal-Mart offer the phone for $99 bucks?
STFU about walmart this is a site about the pre not what walmart does Yes walmart does some bad but what comp. doesn't big or small? lets get back on topic already for Fracks sake...
Royce,
I decline to STFU about Wal-Mart. But thanks for your suggestion you dumb fuck face who does not know how to use punctuation. The article clearly talks about Wal-Mart you fuck face. The topic was the fact that Wal-Mart is offering the Palm Pre is available for sale…duhhhhhhhh.
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