Walmart -- Engadget

walmart posts

Birthday boy gets box of rocks instead of Nintendo DS

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 29th 2009 at 12:41PM

No, you're not being mercilessly attacked by an unyielding feeling of déjà vu for no good reason -- we really have seen something eerily similar to this happen before. This go 'round, we've got a totally innocent ten year old boy who was given Guitar Hero for DS prior to even owning a console; as the mother finally ended the tease, she handed him a shiny new DS handheld for him to unwrap. Unfortunately for everyone involved, all that was tucked inside was a couple of stones, a Chinese newspaper and boatloads of disappointment. After the Walmart store from which she purchased it referred her to the Big N, she furiously admitted the following: "They don't want to do nothing. They want me to keep the box of rocks. I'm not buying a box of rocks for $138." Thankfully, Wally World finally refunded her and threw in a $20 gift card for the trouble (after being hounded by a local news station, mind you), but the real damage -- losing all hope in humanity -- will never be undone. Ever.

[Via plugged in]

DXG's latest camcorders sport the Burberry and Chanel look, KIRF-style

by Tim Stevens, posted Apr 10th 2009 at 9:31AM

Unimpressed by DXG's lineup of value-priced but generally underwhelming video recording options? Maybe a few trendy pattern appliques will change your mind. The company's apparently gone down to Canal Street, grabbed a few "discount" handbags, and turned them into gaudy camcorders that promise 720p capture at 30fps. They're set to retail for a mere $129, and while the company's pledging they'll be available at stores like Radio Shack and Walmart later this summer, we're thinking there are probably a few trademark attorneys out there with a thing or two to say about that.

JAKKS Pacific, of all firms, nabs Walmart's Vendor of the Year

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 20th 2009 at 11:24AM

When VIZIO reeled in Walmart's Electronics Supplier of the Year around this time last year, we perfectly understood the logic. But this one... this one is a real head scratcher. Rather than selecting Winchester, Levi Strauss or Purina, Wally World has found favor with one of our favorite toy makers. The little known JAKKS Pacific just got a lot more popular after receiving Walmart's Vendor of the Year award for 2008, marking the second time in the company's history that said award was received. Too bad it's not giving away half price EyeClops projectors in order to celebrate, but at least you can rest assured that when buying one from Walmart, you're getting the lowest price, Always™.

ASUS's little netbooks go big-box; Eee PCs expected in Walmart by year's end

by Tim Stevens, posted Feb 9th 2009 at 7:57AM

ASUS's little netbooks go big-box; Eee PCs expected in Walmarts by year's end

Last year upstart Acer stole the netbook crown from ASUS, a sales stat that might have been helped by the ability to buy an Aspire One at your local neighborhood Walmart. While you can already pick up an Eee at places like Target and Best Buy, from what we hear at wholesale mixers you're nothing until you go Supercenter, and that's just where the company that started the netbook craze wants to go, said to be planning its own push into the biggest of big-box retailers. If this report is correct, expect to be able to pick up a little Eee with your groceries (and shame) sometime in the latter half of this year.

Another pair of infected digiframes promise to ruin the rest of your holiday break

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 29th 2008 at 4:01PM

Oh, geez. Not this again. Just months after everyone involved with that virus-ridden Insignia frame finally cleaned things up, here comes two new reports that select frames could indeed be shipping from the factory with malware pre-installed. For starters, the 1.5-inch Mercury Digital Photo Keychain -- which is sold at Walmart and other fine retailers -- seems to have some pretty nasty software loaded on, and Amazon has went so far as to issue an alert that some Samsung SPF-85H frames are leaving the dock with the 32.Sality.AE worm on the installation disc. Something tells us someone in quality control couldn't quite get in the holiday spirit.

[Via Slashdot]

Yes, the iPhone went on sale at Walmart today

by Nilay Patel, posted Dec 28th 2008 at 7:38PM

From the looks of our tip jar, the iPhone went on sale at Walmart today for $197 / $297, just as we expected. The plan is to attract consumers who don't shop at Best Buy, Apple, or AT&T stores, so basically Wally doesn't care about anyone reading this. We love you too, Wally. No crazy $99 4GB model or iPhone nano in sight, but maybe Phil's gonna blow us all away next week. (We doubt it.)

[Thanks to everyone -- seriously, it was like all of you -- who sent this in]

Read - iPhone on sale at Walmart
Read - Video of the display -- yes, someone actually sent in a video of the display

iriver's 8GB E100 PMP cleared out for $59

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 27th 2008 at 1:58PM

The E100 was a little weak for the iriver name, but at $59 for 8GB of PMP deliciousness, it's hard to resist. Walmart is clearing out the black iteration for $40 off the original price, and while we'd hate to presume and be wrong, we're hoping this is just a sign that iriver's gonna go all out at CES '09. Bring the heat, baby.

[Via DAPReview]

Walmart iPhone on sale the 28th for a lot more than $99

by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 17th 2008 at 3:53AM

At this point, it's clear that the $99 iPhone 3G rumor was just that: rumor. We have a letter that we believe to be authentic from a source within Walmart that says the iPhone will launch in the house that Sam built at 9am December 28th. At launch, only the 8GB ($197) and 16GB ($297) iPhone 3Gs will be available with a required signature on a 2-year AT&T contract. An internal pilot program kicks off today at 488 stores across the nation. The iPhone 3G and a sack of garden manure all under the same roof... heaven.

Walmart brags about its "tens of thousands" of Wiis for sale online

by Laura June, posted Dec 8th 2008 at 5:25PM

Walmart's reassuringly boasting that they've got plenty of the oft-out-of-stock Wiis on hand for your online holiday shopping needs today. There are a host of different Nintendo-related deals to go with it, too. The Wii itself is available for $249.24, there's a "Value Bundle" which includes the console, a game, an accessories pack and an extra set of controllers for $329 (or $20 off), and they have some games on sale, as well. What's next? Walmart mouthing off about the "millions of iPhones" they have available?

Update: Well, that didn't last very long! As some commenters have helpfully pointed out, it appears that those "tens of thousands" of Wiis have been reduced to "zero" -- they're already sold out.

[Via Game Daily]

Walmart iPhone probably happening, probably not for $99

by Laura June, posted Dec 8th 2008 at 9:27AM

We've been hearing rumors of an iPhone at Walmart for a while now, and the only thing that was even mildly interesting about the unlikely pairing was that there was supposedly going to be a $99 4GB model. Well, now we hear that they'll indeed be selling the phone, but (as the ad above would seem to indicate) it's going to be a $197 8GB model -- about 2 bucks cheaper than you can get them for at an Apple or AT&T store, with no mention of a 4GB version at all. So, you're telling us we're going to be able to get this phone for (almost) exactly the same price as before, but now we can buy it at a store where we can also pick up Slim-Fast in bulk and possibly die in a retail trampling? We'll pass.

[Thanks, Mike H., Via PC World]

Apple, Walmart to do $99 4GB iPhone?

by Paul Miller, posted Dec 4th 2008 at 9:22AM

Look, we know you've been holding out for the iPhone to hit Walmart before you pick it up, sandwiched between the fishing gear and row upon row of exercise videos -- and we don't blame you. You'll ride your shopping cart down the wide aisles like a chariot, and when you get home with the phone you'll dial up all your friends and let them know how much cheaper your iPhone was than theirs. What was that? Yeah, the new word on the street is that Walmart is getting a 4GB iPhone 3G for a mere $99, according to Boy Genius Report, and while BGR was previously reporting a November 15th launch date at Walmart, and can't vouch for the accuracy of this new report, Walmart training materials (pictured above) have been seen in the wild, so there's a grain of truth to this madness somewhere. Plus, a $99 iPhone just sounds so Walmart-ey, doesn't it?

[Via Mac Rumors]

Doorbusting at Long Island Walmart leads to worker's death

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 28th 2008 at 1:05PM

Remember that completely insane crime wave that hit when Sony's hotly anticipated PlayStation 3 finally rushed onto the scene in very limited numbers? Yeah, well that side of humanity is rearing its ugly head again, as an employee perished when legions of crazed Black Friday shoppers blazed through the doors of a Long Island Walmart. The worker was an overnight store clerk who was simply trying to hold back the crowds before the doors officially opened at 5:00AM. According to Jimmy Overby, another employee at the store: "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me." Words to the wise: either do your Black Friday shopping from the safety of your own home, or be careful, cool, calm and collected when you venture out.

Walmart Black Friday doorbuster deals leak out early, we'll sleep in

by Richard Lawler, posted Nov 14th 2008 at 9:47PM

If you skipped Walmart's pre-Black Friday festivities pat yourself on the back, as -- despite its lawyers hard work C&Ding unauthorized early ad postings into oblivion -- CNNMoney reveals the "doorbuster" highlights probably not worth getting trampled for this year. Between 5-10 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving the already-discounted Magnavox Blu-ray player drops from $198 to $128 (a BDP-S300 might still be a better value), 50-inch Samsung plasma of unspecified resolution is only $798 (720p, bet on it), and Xbox 360 + Guitar Hero III & wireless guitar pack (all the real plastic guitar aficionados have moved on to Rock Band 2) drops in for $199. Slightly lower profile are a $398 HP desktop PC and $175 gas grill but c'mon, we all know it's the high definition (it'll be a lonely holiday without the suddenly too-good for us Vizio) that will have you shivering outside your local retailer with the soccer moms and other deal hunters.

[Thanks, Jason]

Walmart, Kmart announce Black Friday-esque deals for days other than Black Friday

by Laura June, posted Nov 7th 2008 at 8:24PM

Want to get a jump on your holiday shopping or find a couple of insane bargains to keep for yourself? A few retailers are offering what they've dubbed "Black Friday-style" price cuts for tomorrow -- Saturday, November 8th. Walmart's got a sweet 15.4-inch Compaq CQ-139WM (with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive) laptop for $298, in addition to a PlayStation 2 bundled with a $30 WalMart gift card for $129, and a PlayStation 3 with a $100 gift card for $399. Over at Kmart they're offering up a rad 32-inch Sylvania LCD HDTV for $439.99 (they usually go for for $550). They also have several deals for Sunday, November 9th, including the Wii Fit for $89.99. Is it safe to assume that every Friday (not to mention Saturday and Sunday) until Christmas will be "black"? For the full, mind-blowing rundown, hit the read links.

[Via CNET, I4U News]

Read - Kmart
Read - Walmart Backs Main Street

Blackberry Bold shows up for free on contract at Walmart

by Nilay Patel, posted Nov 4th 2008 at 6:11PM

Well hell, that Blackberry Bold decision just got a lot easier if you're, uh, bold enough to sign a two-year contract with AT&T -- it's now free after rebate at Walmart. Yep, it's only been out for two days and Wally's already handing 'em for free -- somehow we don't think that's gonna happen with the Storm. Still, this is the one you want if you double-heart keyboards with itty-bitty keys -- just make sure you actually mail in the forms, okay?

Update: The deal is through LetsTalk, so if you and Sam aren't getting along you can order direct from them.

[Thanks, Barry and Jedidiah]