Wal-Mart has started taking pre-orders for the Apple iPad via their website today, with the retailer having the tablet in stores starting on Friday.
The retailer is not allowing for home delivery of the device, however, meaning you will need to pick it up in-store.
Furthermore, Wal-Mart will reportedly sell the tablet through its gigantic Sam’s Club warehouses.
All six models of the device are listed up for pre-order, starting with the 16GB/Wi-Fi version at $500 all the way up to the 64GB/Wi-Fi/3G model at $830.
The iPad has quickly made its way into major retailers in the United States such as Best Buy, Target, Amazon and now Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the nation.
Estimates have placed overall iPad sales at 8.5 million to date.
Result for: tailers
Sony Japan has announced the launch of a white slim PlayStation 3 model for the nation, dubbed the “Classic White” colorway.
The console will have a 160GB HDD, but Sony has promised larger capacity models for the future.
“Charcoal Black” was the current only colorway available for the slimmer models. Sony had offered a “Ceramic White” version of the “fat” PS3 in 2008.
Furthermore, Sony has launched a 320GB capacity slim PS3, but only in black.
Additionally, starting tomorrow, the 120GB model will move to “open price,” meaning retailers can price it at whatever they want.
The new consoles go on sale on July 29th, priced at the equivalent of $340 for the smaller HDD model and $400 for the larger capacity model.
Result for: tailers
UK retailers GAME has announced that in the six months to July 31, it earned GBP £177.3 million in sales of pre-owned game titles, accounting for a quarter of all revenue during the period. “We achieved year on year growth in pre-owned sales, which increased 12.3 percent and now account for 25.7 per cent of total sales,” said chairman Peter Lewis.
“In our online business we increased revenues by 12.1 per cent. Our Reward Card membership has increased by over 1 million customers since the start of the year to more than 13.3m,” he added. Total sales for the 33 weeks to September 19 were down 8.8 percent, with like-for-likes down 16.6 percent in the period.
However, Lewis said the company is optimistic about the results that will come from the second half of 2009. “In the second half, the installed base of third generation consoles will continue to build. The recent manufacturer price reductions on the Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite and Sony’s new model PlayStation 3 are helping to stimulate the market for hardware.” he said.
“The retail environment continues to be tough. In uncertain times, our brand loyalty and our unique specialist proposition have never been more important. This, combined with our strict cost disciplines, the record console installed base and strong software line-up, means we remain optimistic for the key Christmas selling period,” he added.
