New iPad Online at Walmart.com

This past Friday, Apple launched their latest version of the iPad. The number of competitors offering this unit continues to grow as do the crowds who snatch up the latest must have tablets from Cupertino.

Walmart.com offered iPads on Launch Day

What was different for this launch were the number of outlets who offered the unit for sale online. Customers going to Bestbuy.com or Target.com were directed to go to the retail stores to make their purchase. From what I could see, outside of Apple and eBay the only other place one could buy a new iPad online on launch day was at Walmart.com.

Early on Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. eastern time, Walmart.com was offering three models of the new iPad

1. 16 GB White Wi-Fi 
2. 32 GB Black Wi-Fi
3. 16 GB Black Wi-Fi + 4G

Customers who ordered these units were not offered the typical array of accessories that one would expect as part of an online sale. What was offered is a 2 year Drop, Spill and Broken Screen Protection Plan for iPads for $79. Customers who choose not to add this coverage do have the ability to add this item up to 30 days after purchase. The service plan is provided by Asurion Service Plans out of Chicago.

As to delivery, units ordered on Friday the 16th may be available for pick up at the Walmart location the customer has chosen as part of the order process as early as Friday, March 23rd which is typical for orders using Site to Store.

Look for more updates as to how Walmart fulfills this order....

Sam's Self Checkout Review

Here one can see one of the new self checkout kiosks at Sam's Club in Washington, Pa. (One of 80 locations currently using this system)

Up to now, self checkout in a club setting has been found only at Costco.

At Costco when you  use their system, the process begins with an optical scan of the bar code on the back of your card. This can be problematic if your card has any wear on it.

Next, after scanning an item, Costco requires the member to place the item on a moving belt that weighs the item to ensure what the customer scans is what is actually being put on the belt. The problem with this system is that it is error prone when matching the weight to the bar code so one end up having to wait for a Costco team member to come over to your flashing light above the check stand to override the item.

In the end, it is easier to have a Costco employee ring up the sale at a full serve register.

The Sams's self checkout is a simpler, less problematic process.

First, the member slides their membership card through the same reader that does credit cards. This is a more reliable system than Costco's optical system.

Second, the member takes the wireless handheld scanner as seen in the picture and scans the items in their cart.  This is significantly faster than Costco as their is no requirement of placing the item on a moving belt.

Paying for the purchase is the same at both clubs. Like Costco, members who use self checkout receive a blue colored receipt. Wonder if this signals extra scrutiny at the door from the receipt checker?

Feedback from Sam's employees indicates this area is busiest on weekends with customers able to zip though checkout using this new system. Employees also volunteered that comments from customers were very positive..

What's the future of this system? According to Charles Holley of Walmart, (via Bank of America Merrill Lynch Consumer & Retail Conference) this system will be added to another 220 Sam's locations by the end of the year.

In Walmart US retail stores, self check out is going to be expanded in more stores by the end of the first quarter.

According to Charles  Holley, every second of average transaction time that Walmart saves translates to $12 million that can be passed back to customers in the form of savings (lower prices). While there is no number for the savings for Sam's it certainly is a time saver for customers.

What do you think?