Retailers to Miss Tablet Party
Chain stores will likely miss out on their usual share of “hot gadget” sales this holiday season as most consumers opt to buy top-selling tablets directly from Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. instead of from big retailers.
That is bad news for companies such as Best Buy Co., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Staples Inc., all of which are counting on tablets and e-readers to lure shoppers in to their brick-and-mortar stores.
Retailers see the devices as their best weapon against falling television prices and a lack of exciting new gadgets this Christmas season. They plan to offer a broad range of tablets and e-readers for consumers to comparison shop in stores.
