Dealers Jealous Over the iPhone
07.02.07 - 04:27pm
Dealers of Apple products are not happy that they are not included in the iPhone mania craze by being excluded from selling the iPhone in their stores as reported by TWICE.
CE in particular is upset as they have built their reputations as dealers by being the first to stock and demonstrate new technology. They said they have called Apple repeatedly but have received no time frame for open distribution.
“We’re the guys that sell the 103-inch Plasma TV from Panasonic. (NYSE:MC) We were one of the first retailers to carry Sonos. We have the know-how and customer base to sell the iPhone,” said Tom Galanis, merchandising VP for 6th Avenue Electronics, Springfield, N.J. He added, “A cellphone store is a cellphone store. My feeling is they are shooting themselves in the foot … Apple would be better served by picking a few higher-end retailers that have a track record of selling high-end technology.”
