Dell Goes Direct To Wal-Mart

[herb]

Dell -- which rose to the top in the computer business by hawking its wares directly to its customers will start selling desktop computers through 3,000 Wal-Mart outlets starting June 10.

For Dell's competitors, there's nothing but downside. Almost every dollar in new sales for Dell will come at the expense of a competitor. That means trouble for HP, whose newly successful PC business had just stolen the sales crown from Dell.

Forbes [forbes.com]

Got a craving for a late night computer. Wal-Mart is open 24x7

[mole]

Dell started out as a direct sales company (correct me if I'm wrong). Now they also sell through (that I now know about):
(1) QVC
(2) Wal-Mart

To anyone at Dell who may be listening - why don't you guys start a proper VAR chanel?

[phranque]

a faustian deal.
as soon as you start selling through walmart you stop controlling your business.
say goodbye to dell's north american manufacturing plants for one...

[vincevincevince]

This is as good for Wal-Mart as it is for Dell. The low margin high throughput model at Wal-Mart makes it an ideal retail outlet for Dell's products, and Dell's reputation and market position make it a great line for Wal-Mart

[King_Fisher]

HP has a hot hand right now. I dont think Dell will put much of a dent in
them. Also what does Best Buy and the other big box computer retailers think
about this? Bound to be some back lash!... And the wheel keeps turning. KF