Last month we reported that Best Buy stores will begin selling the iPhone 3G’s in September and boy does it look like they’re excited to see those things start flying off the shelves! Thanks to AppleInsider, Best Buy’s Sunday circular has made it’s way to the intergoogles a few days ahead of schedule (see image below). The “sprawling glamour shot” in Sunday’s flyer marks the iPhone 3G’s entrance in to the big-box retailer marketplace. More importantly, this placement is helping Apple to increase it’s sales reach from just 2,200 current store locations to now over 3,000.
According to the circular, it looks like Best Buy will be offering promotions to encourage sales of the phone in their stores and Mobile specialty outlets, including free phone and e-mail setup when you purchase the iPhone 3G and any featured accessory package. Although there is no indication of iPhone 3G sales slowing, they will no doubt see an incremental boost when the phone goes on sale this Sunday, September 7th.
Furthermore, analysts are still impressed with Apple’s ability to manage it’s supply and demand equilibrium and think that Apple will exceed it’s conservative estimate of 3.8 million iPhone sold in it’s fiscal fourth quarter.
I just wrote about this as well. I believe Best Buy is trying to tap into the market and try to offer something Apple isn’t offering and that is Geek Squad. Personally, I’ve never tried Geek Squad. However, for something as protocol as setting up the account and basic email functions as part of this “amazing package;” then it’s like saying car dealerships selling you a car, and they will register your car, and figure out payment options, as a gesture of their gratitude. Come on, What is Best Buy thinking? I’m more insulted in the fact that they are even sending out ads like this.