• Search the Site
• 
  

• Categories

  • Apple (14)
  • Cell Phones (11)
  • Financial (4)
  • General Site News (3)
  • MP3 Players (11)
  • Networking (2)
  • PC's (2)
  • Renewable Energy Stuff (1)
  • Retail (11)
  • Satellite Radio (2)
  • Search (1)
  • Uncategorized (4)
  • Video Games (11)
  • WiMax (3)

• Archives

  • July 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • March 2007
  • January 2007
  • November 2006
  • October 2006

• Subscribe

  Entries RSS
  Comments RSS

Apple has done more things right than create new product categories and consumer friendly computers. We just completed a survey after Apple’s dissapointing financial forecast that pointed to lower earnings than Wall Street expected for the March quarter.We ran a quick survey check of prices on the Apple 80GB iPod. A simple search reveals that on the Apple.com web site that 80GB iPod’s sell for $349. This $349 price is fairly firm across most major U.S. retailers, at least on their web sites, including Best Buy ($349), Amazon ($339) and Target ($349.99). To us this pricing consistency is a key to Apple’s strong margins and profitability in its iPod line.

Our survey thoug revealed some cracks in this sea of retailing discipline for Apple. We found products listed as “New” 80GB Apple iPods for substantially less than $349 or even $339. Are these approved Apple re-sellers? The first source for cheap 80Gb iPods came from Google base, where $250 and $242 were the going rates for new Apple 80GB iPods. We also found discounted 80Gb iPods at Onsale.com for as low as $308.

We don’t think our web price searching says too much about Apple’s prospects but we do think it shows that pricing in the distribution channel is becoming somewhat disorderly which could lead to more dramatic price cuts in the future on iPod products from Apple.

Comments