Kindle to be sold by STAPLES

[KasperKindler]

Interesting...
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2010/08/staples_will_ca.html?p1=Upbox_links

[fairy_dreams]

Thanks for sharing! That is interesting...

Hopefully Staples has a better display (maybe a working model?) than Target. I wonder why Amazon chose Staples, it seems like something like Best Buy would be a better bet (maybe it's a regional thing, I don't have a Staples nearby)...Or perhaps even Barnes and Nobles

[Ann in Arlington]

Seems like Staples will have the DX as well. . . .which has never been in Target.

Maybe Amazon has not been happy with the support -- or lack thereof -- in Target stores.  Staples is certainly likely to have more knowledgeable staff. . . . at least, I say so judging from the Target and Staples near me. . . . . .

[jd78]

"That was easy"

Couldn't resist. 

Staples is an interesting choice. I don't know if Best Buy would have worked since they already sell the nook and there maybe some sort of deal in place. However, I do agree that if possible Best Buy would be the more appropriate choice.

[chocochibi]

From the way the article reads, it looks like they're going to carry all the models, unlike Target who just carry the 6" screen kindle.
"Staples said it plans to carry several Kindle models, with prices ranging roughly from $139 to $379."

[NogDog]

Here's the Staples press release, for those who like original sources: http://investor.staples.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96244&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1464867&highlight=

Excerpt:

Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) announced today plans to offer customers Kindle, Amazon's #1 best-selling, most-wished-for and most-gifted product for two years running. Staples is the only office superstore to carry the wireless reading device in all of its stores nationwide beginning this fall. Interactive displays will allow customers to experience the product before they buy and to learn more about the new generation Kindle which recently launched to rave reviews from the New York Times, Wired, CNET, PC World, PC Magazine, and more.

"Staples is not just bringing this incredible product to our 1,550+ US stores, but we are offering customers a chance to discover first-hand Amazon's revolutionary reading device," said Jevin Eagle, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing at Staples. "As part of our efforts to offer customers a wide range of top technology products and services at amazing values, the new Kindle is a natural fit."

Kindle is Amazon.com's best-selling product, a reading device that wirelessly downloads books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution electronic paper display that looks and reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight. The all-new Kindle has a new electronic-ink screen with 50 percent better contrast, is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter, boasts 20 percent faster page turns, up to one month of battery life with wireless off, double the storage to 3,500 books, and more -- all for only $139.

Kindle offers the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read. The Kindle Store now has more than 670,000 books, including New Releases and 107 of 111 New York Times Best Sellers. Over 550,000 of these books are $9.99 or less, including 73 New York Times Best Sellers. Kindle lets you Buy Once, Read Everywhere -- on Kindle, Kindle 3G, Kindle DX, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry and Android-based devices. Amazon's Whispersync technology syncs your place across devices, so you can pick up where you left off.

Staples will carry the following new Kindle devices:

    * Kindle ($139.00) - 6" diagonal
    * Kindle 3G ($189.00) - 6" diagonal
    * Kindle DX ($379.00) - 9.7" diagonal (available at Staples late fall 2010)
...

[4Katie]

Interactive displays will allow customers to experience the product before they buy and to learn more about the new generation Kindle...

That's definitely better than what you get at Target.

[Betsy the Quilter]

Staples has had quite a good electronics department for some years now, at least the one near me.  I've bought several different electronic devices there, includiing my Palm devices, several printers, my routers and cable modems and a couple of point-and-shoot cameras.  I have to say, I prefer them to Best Buy for small electronics.  And they have a rewards program.

Betsy

[FSkornia]

Being a former Staples employee I find this interesting. I wonder whether they will continue to sell the Sony as well, or has Staples switched partnerships.

[jd78]

Being a former Staples employee I find this interesting. I wonder whether they will continue to sell the Sony as well, or has Staples switched partnerships.

Not sure why they can't sell both. Target sells both Kindle and Sony and Best Buy sells both Nook and Sony.

[T.L. Haddix]

This is really cool.  Now, I wonder when 'in the fall' means, exactly?

[Christine Merrill]

Finally, something that will be convenient for me!

I live in the sticks.  Staples is the nearest office store of any kind, and always the first place we check when it comes to electronics.  We are almost always disappointed.

but I have a rewards card and everything.  

[Jan Strnad]

I shop at Staples regularly, and even bought my latest computer from them. My local Staples has a nice ebook display that, unfortunately, convinced me not to buy a Sony reader, but it did the job of showcasing the product...unlike Target, whose display was so deeply pathetic it could hardly be called a "display" at all. I mean, shouldn't a display at least show the product and not just a row of brown boxes on the bottom shelf, behind glass, under lock and key?

This announcement really takes the wind out of the sails of B&N, whose main advantage with the Nook has been its 600+ stores. Staples has more than double that number.

As much as I love my Kobo and the somewhat-more-open epub format, I've gotta say that it looks more and more as if Kindle/Amazon is going to own this market in the US. Now they've opened an Amazon store in the UK, and it all looks like a game of Risk where one player is clearly outplaying everyone else. If everyone else doesn't get together and gang up on him, he'll sweep the board.

[J.R. Chase]

This is good news.  Amazon will sell more Kindles as people can touch and feel before they buy. 

[blefever]

I was in out local Target store yesterday. They had the K2 on display with a "sale price" of $189. Such a deal!!! The sign said they would be selling the K3 in early September. 

[BTackitt]

Well, I am about to be looking for a part-time job.. I wonder if my local Staples will hire me to sell Kindles.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

cool..Staples seems to be a more logical place to sell a Kindle vs Target which is pretty much as big of  a dump as Walmart..at least in the Chicago area..

[Sean Sweeney]

I think I know where I'm buying my Kindle.

[CaraMarsi27]

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting.

[mlewis78]

From Bloomberg Businessweek:

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HUF5O80.htm

[Morpheus Phreak]

This is a very poor choice of business partners from Amazon...

I worked for Staples & while their employees are ok at simple tasks, usually anything actually technical is not handled well.

This is more the fault of management than the actual employees, but still...


Then again there aren't many good choices in retail.