Target to no Longer Sell Amazon’s Kindle but Will Continue to Carry iPads
Last night, The Verge got word that Target is planning on phasing out all Kindle products over the next few months due to a “conflict of interest.”
This is a remarkably unusual move on Target’s part considering the Kindle Fire was the retailer’s best-selling tablet on Black Friday last year.
Luckily, you’ll still be able to find an iPad, as well as plenty of other tablets, on store shelves in the foreseeable future.
According to an internal memo sent to The Verge, Target is going to stop carrying Kindle products starting this month due to a conflict of interest. However, what that conflict is, is unknown.
This morning, The Verge reported receiving word from Target that the information is true. Their official statement reads:
Target continually evaluates its product assortment to deliver the best quality and prices for our guests. Target is phasing out Kindles and Amazon- and Kindle-branded products in the spring of 2012. We will continue to offer our guests a full assortment of eReaders and supporting accessories including the Nook.
While there is plenty of speculation as to why Target would consider this tactic as beneficial to sales, there is reason to believe it is due to the fact that Amazon regularly crushes its brick and mortar counterparts when it comes to sales figures. There is a chance that Target is tired of giving a piece of the pie to the company that constantly undercuts them on the price of goods (now they know how mom & pop shops feel).
Another possible reason for Targets unusual move may be because Apple has contracted with the company to open mini stores within the electronics department. It would make sense that Apple would require Target to nix the competition if it wants to house the store-within-a-store.
If you were thinking of getting a Kindle anytime soon, you may want to head over to Target before the end of this month. Shipments of Amazon’s tablet will cease as of Mother’s Day.
