Wal-Mart lowers MP3 prices

Wal-Mart has aggressively lowered the price today of their MP3 music downloads available from the Wal-Mart Music Downloads Store.

The service will now offer tracks for as low as 74 cents, a steep discount against market leaders iTunes and Amazon which offer most tracks for 99 cents.

From what I can see from glancing at the store (Wal-Mart MP3), the top 30 most downloaded tracks are priced at 74 cents while all other tracks cost 94 cents, a 5 cent discount from iTunes.

The new version of the store will also be available to more platforms (it was previously Windows and Internet Explorer only) and will now work on Linux, Macs, and browsers such as Opera, Firefox and Safari.

The move should help Wal-Mart compete with iTunes and Amazon although the retail giant's catalog is lacking. iTunes currently has 8 million tracks available (with DRM however) and Amazon MP3 has 4.5 million while Wal-Mart only has 3 million.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Oct 2008 20:45

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11 comments

Pop_Smith

A discount is a discount and people will buy if they find something they like. If Wal*Mart grows its collection then maybe it will (eventually) force iTunes to lower their prices, however, I am not holding my breath.

Peace

28.10.2008 21:07 #1

Leningrad

I doubt that they will sale music the price of itune's.

28.10.2008 21:33 #2

ydkjman

Originally posted by Leningrad: I doubt that they will sale music the price of itune's.What did you meen by this ? From what it sounds like they are actually selling music cheaper than iTunes.

Don't forget Save money, Live Better & Rock Harder !!
Wal-Mart

28.10.2008 22:32 #3

emugamer

Well, they've priced out all the "mom and pop" shops. It's refreshing to see them tackle the major corporations.

29.10.2008 11:59 #4

ydkjman

Originally posted by emugamer: Well, they've priced out all the "mom and pop" shops. It's refreshing to see them tackle the major corporations.
I have always wondered when people say things like this does it meen that they have never shopped at wal-mart? Thus not contributing to the "pricing out the mom and pop stores"

29.10.2008 12:25 #5

ZippyDSM

drop it another 50 cents and it will be worthwhile....

29.10.2008 13:13 #6

emugamer

Quote:Originally posted by emugamer: Well, they've priced out all the "mom and pop" shops. It's refreshing to see them tackle the major corporations.
I have always wondered when people say things like this does it meen that they have never shopped at wal-mart? Thus not contributing to the "pricing out the mom and pop stores"Speaking from my own personal pov, I do not shop at Walmart. It's just one hot mess IMO. I hate the look and feel, the quality of goods and the customer service has been sub-par for me. I've ran through on necessity, but have always left with a bad taste in my mouth. I wouldn't choose Walmart just based on low prices. Bad economy or not, I can find sales other places. The "mom and pop shops" is a reference to a well known and documented fact regarding their history and their business practices. Not only have I done the research on their business practices, but I happen to know someone who does business with them and, being on the inside, has confirmed most of what I've read. I hope I've satisfied your curiosity.

29.10.2008 16:11 #7

FredBun

I agree with emugamer, they treat thier employess like crap, they buy most of thier products from from sub standard countries which hire kids and pay thier people pennies, damn near slave labor.

I live in the States, and if it will cost me a little more to keep my own country men and woman working than so be it, these giant corporations and thier out of control CEO's can stick it.

15.11.2008 19:12 #8

Ransack

In a time of 'Fallen sales', Walmart seems to have no other choice but compete with their compeditors on the sales level of selling music.

22.11.2008 02:51 #9

TXMarine

Quote: ... The "mom and pop shops" is a reference to a well known and documented fact regarding their history and their business practices. Not only have I done the research on their business practices, but I happen to know someone who does business with them and, being on the inside, has confirmed most of what I've read. I hope I've satisfied your curiosity.
You've done research on Walmart? Where? Show me the research. Oh yea the union's have websites like Walmart Watch just to trash WM. Is that your research?

Personally, I prefer research done by 3rd parties with no vested interest.

Oh here's some of that no vested interest research done that says otherwise.
http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv31n1/v31n1-1.pdf

Here's a snippet in case you don't feel like reading it all

"We find that Wal-Mart has no statistically significant impact on the overall size of the small business sector in the United States. When
all is said and done, there are just as many small businesses that
are just as profitable despite the presence of Wal-Mart."

25.11.2008 11:30 #10

FredBun

I'm sorry I really had a laugh at that, I myself never go by statistics, I go by what I see in the trenches.

At my older age I have lived in several nieghborhoods, and still visit some of my old one's, any where there are places like walmart the small shops are gone, and I do not begrudge progress, but not if it's really not progress, the big white collars keep major profits for themselves, thier workers are treated like crap, pay wise also.

I also remember the time the unions were strong even though they have gone significally weaker over the years, all the power has shifted to the ceo types etc. Never as far as I can remember has our economy been so ruined at these mogul's watch, we gave them the power and look what happened, no matter how you feel about unions at least they tried to give the middle class a little wealth.

I have seen abuse of power on the union level also, but nothing like these moguls have done, a union rep will get cought doing something small and he is buried, these other guys get nailed with billions in fraud and what happen's? right practically nothing. So lets not even go there blaming union's or such. This is greatest abuse in the highest level and nothing gets done.

I remember going shopping at small bussines stores, where everybody knew everybody by name, where your questions were answered without having to look in a manual or calling tech support which is a nightmare in itself, I would not mind places like walmart as long as they treated there work force properly and thier customers.

When was the last time anybody went to a store like Bestbuy or Circuitcity and got proper advise or answers, I would'nt have the balls to work at places like that if I could not answer peoples questions, and if I could not find an answer I would take the time even after going home to fine out, and if I could go to walmart and get every question answered about an mp3 player, I would probably buy one there.

28.11.2008 15:48 #11

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