Sam's Club

Google's Nexus 7 tablet already out of stock at key retailers

Those of you looking to buy Google's new Nexus 7 tablet may have a wait on your hands.

Unveiled late last month, the tablet has slowly trickled into the retail market. Google was naturally first in line, offering the Nexus 7 as a preorder in advance of its official mid-July launch. Other retailers, such as GameStop, Staples, and Sam's Club, soon followed suit.

But a lot of eager customers apparently scooped up those pre-sales, since the tablet is playing hard to get at most outlets.

GameStop, which is selling the 16GB edition, is showing the tablet as back-ordered. … Read more

Would Target and Sam's Club be drag on Apple's upscale image?

Oh no, Apple. If you start to sell out of big-box stores again, you'll cheapen your brand. Don't let the iPad suffer the same fate as Calvin Klein jeans.

That was my first thought last month when I heard that Apple plans to create Apple boutiques within some Target stores and supply the merchant with even more gadgets and gear to sell. Then, last week, 9to5Mac reported that Apple was considering whether to do something similar in Sam's Club.

There's no mistaking what's going on. Apple continues to increase its presence in mass-market retailers after … Read more

Sam's Club next to get mini Apple stores?

Despite making a clean break with wholesale retailer Costco in late 2010, Apple could be looking to expand its footprint with one of its rivals, a new report suggests.

Citing anonymous sources, 9to5mac says Apple is in talks with Sam's Club, a membership-only chain operated by Wal-Mart Stores, to expand a current partnership. That could take the form of a store within a store at the wholesale retailer, similar to the deal announced last month between Apple and Target, according to the blog report.

Those store-within-stores would end up at 47 Sam's Club locations in the U.S., … Read more

'Brick' breaker: Lego bible too racy for Sam's Club

For more than 10 years, Brendan Smith has been telling the story of the Bible in a very unusual way: with Legos.

Through his hit Web site and three popular books, Smith has spread the gospel of "The Brick Testament." But now, because of what it says are concerns about "mature content," Sam's Club, one of the nation's largest retailers, has banned in-store sales of the fourth book in the series, "The Brick Bible."

On his Web site, Smith's Brick Testament contains a series of interpretations of sexually suggestive passages of … Read more

The 404 887: Where we're bleeding $99 HP TouchPads (podcast)

Guess who got a TouchPad for $99 this weekend? Everyone. If you weren't lucky enough to snag one early Saturday morning, don't lose hope yet--we expect some online distributors to continue dropping prices for existing stock, not to mention the white 64GB model that just dropped last Friday.

We got plenty of voicemails and video messages from listeners standing in line for the TouchPad, so tune in to hear a couple horror stories from the trenches.

We're also encouraging all 404 listeners to shoot us an e-mail at the404(at)cnet(dot)com with your suggestions, criticisms, and ideas for growing the show. We've always valued our listener input about where you think we should improve, so let us know and we'll try to make it happen.

The 404 Digest for Episode 887

HP's TouchPad fire sale: The fallout. Wilson's Best Buy investigation shows dismal turnout for competing tablets. Arturo gets a touchpad for $99.

Episode 887 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Wi-Fi Xoom to sell at Sam's Club for $539?

Consumers eager to pick up a version of Motorola's new Xoom tablet without the pricey data plan and two-year contract could get their wish courtesy of Sam's Club.

A series of photos and news reportedly coming from the retail chain's annual "Year Beginning" meeting this week point to the upcoming Wi-Fi-only Xoom popping up in its stores at a price tag of $539, according to DroidLife.

The photos offered up by DroidLife show a display filled with Xoom product vouchers and a sales sign above sporting the $539 price.

But zooming in on the sign … Read more

Sam's Club to sell iPhone and iPad

Warehouse chain Sam's Club will be selling Apple's iPad and iPhone.

The large members-only retail outlet confirmed the news at an investor meeting today. No date was given as to when the popular tablet and smartphone would be available. But the news follows yesterday's announcement by Sam's Club's parent Wal-Mart that it would start selling the iPad at some stores on Friday, and that the tablet would be available at all 2,300 stores by mid-November.

Wal-Mart and Sam's Club join Best Buy and Target on the growing list of retailers selling the iPad. … Read more

Sam's Club to offer Wi-Fi access, mobile app

Sam's Club is hoping that free Wi-Fi access will be one way to lure more buyers into its stores, especially those who are shopping for Wi-Fi TVs.

The warehouse membership club owned by Wal-Mart announced Tuesday that it plans to upgrade its more than 500 U.S. stores with Wi-Fi by November.

Provided by AT&T, the free Wi-Fi will enable shoppers to try out the full features of Wi-Fi-enabled TVs. Customers will be able to check out Facebook, Pandora, and other online services on TVs in the store to get a better sense of how they might … Read more

Sam's Club puts giant locust head up for auction

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for an Xbox 360 owner? When a signed copy of Gears of War 2 by creator Cliff Bleszinski isn't enough, Sam's Club has up for auction a 19-inch-tall replica head of a locust drone--you know, one of the several thousand or so that you must take out on your way to finishing the latest blockbuster title.

This svelte little number, sure to delight your significant other with its presence on the fireplace mantle or dining table, was designed and sculpted by Epic Games Art Director Chris Perma. If you're a … Read more