Dell Closing Kiosks, Going to Big-Box

January 30th, 2008

In a brief press release, Dell announced that it will close all 140 of its kiosk retail locations in the United States, and instead adopt, “a retail strategy that enables Dell to connect with customers it has not necessarily reached in the past.” The company said it would focus on “where customers can purchase laptop and desktop computers in more than 10,000 retail outlets worldwide.” The statement mention specific retailers, but the company has reseller agreements with Best Buy and Wal-Mart in the United States, and Carrefour, Tesco, Bic Camera, Courts and DSG International in other countries. At least 56 Dell kiosks were located within malls where Apple had a retail store. The company briefly tested a full retail store strategy, but shut it down after opening just one store in Texas.


Also read...

  • No Title - Oct 13, 2004
  • Dell Plans Retail Stores - May 22, 2006
  • Dell Kiosk Takes Shot at Apple - Oct 31, 2007
  • Dell Cancels 2nd Retail Store - Apr 11, 2007
  • Dell CEO Claims Retail Plans - May 20, 2007
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    Why is it that sites like this and AppleInsider only ever post news about Apple’s competitors when it is bad news or something which can be painted as a negative for them?

    Neil January 30, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    I see doom, doom, doom!

    Might as well close those crummy Dell kiosks…I’ve never seen or heard tell of them selling a damn thing!

    Former MG January 30, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    Well Neil, old buddy, that’s the nature of the business.

    Get hip with it!

    Former MG January 30, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    I think that this is awesome. I love bad news about Dell. The reason why sites like this post the bad news is because Apple fanboys like me enjoy reading it :)

    Howie Isaacks - Former MG January 30, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    Howie, I love any bad news about Dell too! Least little thing…like a toilet overflowing in the Roundrock, TX HQ makes me happy! I’d like to sell T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: “Buy A Dell, Burn In Hell!” You really do get what you pay for. In Dell’s case, you get cheated no matter the price you pay for their junk!

    On a serious note, I do feel badly for those people who lost their jobs. However, they can always apply at the Apple Store or an Apple Reseller.

    Former MG January 31, 2008 at 7:56 am

    You know I have been talking to a lot of people and they are becoming wise to what pieces of crap Dell machines truly are. Some faster than others. A lot of folks, if they are wanting a Windows box, are opting for a HP or the like. But most people equate Dell with Acer, emachines and such, barely above in quality the stuff some jerk slaps together in the corner of a squalid bedroom.

    Yep, fellow Macheads, the demise of the Dell kiosks was a blessing to those to manned them. They looked as bored as a bunch neutered tomcats every time the wife and I walked past one of those sorry looking kiosks. At least the guy selling those toy helicopters seemed to enjoy his job more than those Dell Dudes!

    Question is what makes them think they can sell more of their junk in these other places? Best Buy has Apple products and tons of other computers already. So do Wal-Mart and those other places. Thing is that Dell is locked into a business model and a product line that is going nowhere fast. I say the smart thing to do is close the doors and give the money back to the share holders. Or shift production to something useful…like commodes.

    Former MG January 31, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    Funny FMG, taking what Dell said bout Apple and turning the tables. The Apple Best Buy strategy is done well this time around. Much like the Sore-within-a-store concept Apple pioneered with CompUSA, there’s a dedicated employee who doesn’t care about anything other than Macs. Someone even remotely interested in a Mac has someone knowledgeable, polite, and not gonna sell them that POC Dell on the shelf in the corner. Dell doesn’t have those employees in BB, so you’re exactly right about what would make a consumer want to buy a Dell over an HP or whatnot? The employees in BB are gonna sell whatever they get the most commission for, again something the Apple employee doesn’t have in mind, at least in the sense of the PCs (I don’t know if the BB Apple employees do get a commission, anyone know?).

    -Brian

    Brian Kaemepn February 1, 2008 at 11:34 am
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