Palm to close all retail locations but one, for real

If our solemn word wasn't enough to convince you of trouble in retail-ville for Palm, take this news as empirical. According to the smartphone-maker, it is officially shuttering all of its retail locations but one over the next five weeks. Originally, we thought that the airport locations would steer clear of the axe, but news today is that 34 stores total -- 26 airport-based and eight branded stores -- will be saying adios before long. Sure, this news doesn't sound real hot, but Palm claims they want to cut costs and focus on its next-gen phones, which is what we've been asking them to do all along... so maybe this is a blessing in disguise?

[nxtiak @ Jan 26th 2008 2:18AM]

I never even knew they had stores. Really what for? And Airport stores? I don't get it. Like don't they sell Palm stuff at Best Buy or whatever? Heck why is there even an Apple store.

[Carl Vitullo @ Jan 26th 2008 2:24AM]

cause apple doesn't like other people selling their stuff ;)
cutting out the middleman.

[biohazard1067 @ Jan 26th 2008 2:36AM]

Because, Apple stores make a heck of a lot of money, and their stores are ridiculously popular.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 26th 2008 3:37AM]

Why Apple stores? Because have you seen the condition 99% -- err 100% of the PC's on demo are in? Everyone doing the touchy touchy clickie clickie not knowing wtf they're doing 99% of the time - in turn rendering the product a piss poor demo... Apple needs their products to be in perfect shape at all times. :)

[Kamokazi @ Jan 26th 2008 3:49AM]

At many 3rd party retail locations that sell their products, Apple actually has their own, Apple employed, full-time salespeople, trained in Cupertino and everything...not some 3rd party marketing company. Apple sells marketing as much as they do computers, so their presentation is extremely important.

[Pavan @ Jan 26th 2008 2:32AM]

They have one at DCA (Reagan National in D.C.) and I hardly ever saw anyone there. There's a few problems with the idea: DCA isn't a connecting airport, plus the store is pre-security. Most people get to the airport, drop bags, and run the hell through security - especially your average DCA flier. When you're on an arriving flight, you get your bags, get your car, and leave. Another problem is that nothing they have is really an "impulse buy" which it would have to be to justify the insane markup vs. online stores. In the rare rare circumstance that a traveler forgets his charger, I don't really thing the first thought would be "Great thing there's a store in the airport dedicated to this stuff so I can pay $40 for one...I just hope they have KY to help with the price-raping." I did once buy a stylus with a pen built into it though because I was a spend-tard at that stage in life.

Next airport store that needs to go? Those stupid "Neat Receipts" $200 receipt scanners.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 26th 2008 2:39AM]

whoever made the shitty decision to open CORPORATE stores was and is a moron.

if you're a tech company, you should be concentrating on tech, not retail space, EXPENSIVE MONEY SUCKING RETAIL SPACE AT THAT.

where are all the NOKIA stores? There's only two flagship stores for the states, Chicago, IL & New York, NY. The first one was in Moscow.

I hope they would close all Palm stores, and anything related to commercial real estate, and just focus on their evolution, and please don't become patent trolls, innovate.

[Naveed @ Jan 26th 2008 1:41PM]

you dont know shit

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 27th 2008 2:04AM]

good for you Naveed - what the pricing on commercial retail space in airports?

I wonder how long their leases are, what sub-lease options will they have?

It's a multiplier on the burn-rate for tech companies.

Hell even SONY has closed offices and warehouses across the country.

When you catch up with the times Naveed, leave a message.

[BlissX @ Jan 26th 2008 3:46AM]

Does Engadget control the fate of dear ol' Palm?

First, suggested to kill of the Foleo; Done.
Next, focus on something new; killing retail stores to reserve revenue, etc; work in progress, nearly Done.

What's next, suggest they make an iPhone killer?

:)

[wifiguy @ Jan 26th 2008 7:45AM]

Is it just me or does the Macbook Air resemble a fancy Palm Foleo?

[tekdroid @ Jan 26th 2008 1:47PM]

Foleo far more desirable (and affordable). Foleo for the w1n.

[bartoron @ Jan 26th 2008 8:35AM]

KENT B!

[Jesse S @ Jan 26th 2008 8:56AM]

They HAD retail locations?

[Seung-Hwan @ Jan 26th 2008 10:47AM]

Does Palm not give Engadget freebies or something?
It seems that every post about Palm is a negative one.

I mean sure they haven't made good products in a while, but it's getting to the point where I'm starting to feel sorry for them.

[tiuk @ Jan 26th 2008 11:23AM]

I remember the first time I saw one of these, it was in the new Northwest terminal at DTW (Detroit Metro). It was quite the "wtf" moment, and I'm not at all surprised that they're closing them.

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 26th 2008 11:59AM]

really? im there like once a month and ive never seen it. what gate was it near?

[tiuk @ Jan 27th 2008 8:35PM]

When you go down the escalators just after security, it's on the left.

[willyboy @ Jan 26th 2008 12:39PM]

Nice photoshop! That's a RadioShack isn't it?

[elbow @ Jan 26th 2008 6:17PM]

nope, that's not a 'shop, it's a shop. It looks just like the one that's on their corporate campus in Sunnyvale (and I bet that's the one that's staying open).

[crescentdavid @ Jan 26th 2008 4:23PM]

The party's over.

[[e-mail] @ Jan 26th 2008 4:46PM]

Team,



As many of you may have heard in the last few days Palm has made some
announcements regarding their retail efforts. Please disregard any
statements that indicate their airport locations will be closing as they
have none. We are on the verge of a major announcement regarding our stores
that will be very exciting for all of us and will only fuel our continued
growth and success. Please watch your email for this announcement early
next week and I know you will all be very excited by these new developments.



All the Best,



Tom



Tom Dodson

VP Operations, Airport Wireless

[nmmalone @ Jan 26th 2008 5:47PM]

I have never even seen a Palm retail store

[Jarhead2012 @ Jan 27th 2008 11:30AM]

I've only ever seen one, and it was in Atlanta. Oddly enough I've never seen the one at Detroit Metro...oh well. It doesn't matter anyways, supposedly they're all closing.

[jcsohn2 @ Jan 31st 2008 4:11AM]

I went to the Palm store in the ATL airport, where 2 people were standing there, I guess, studying for their Med School finals on the computer with the gate half down at 7pm, informing me that yes, indeed, they had the part that I wanted, yet did not want to sell it to me (the game was half down afterall, and it would be way too much trouble for... them to watch me bend down slightly to walk under it).

So good riddance to at least those two lazy ass girls working the ATL Palm store.