Gservo
31st January 2003, 03:55 AM
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dell Computer Corp. DELL.O has a deal with Sears, Roebuck & Co. S.N to sell its PCs in about 10 of the retailer's stores, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday.
Dell, known for selling its computers directly to consumers over the Internet or on the telephone, launched a trial on Wednesday with Sears, opening its first store-within-a-store in Austin, Texas, according to the report.
The computer maker is also making its mall-based sales kiosks permanent, the newspaper said. Dell started putting online kiosks in shopping malls a year ago letting customers see and try its computers before they bought.
Dell customers will be able to pick out their computers at the stores but will then either place their orders online at the kiosks or phone in their orders from home, the article said.
Best Buy Co. BBY.N and CompUSA, a unit of Grupo Sanborns GSANBORB1.MX , turned down Dell's offers to sell its computers in their stores, the Journal said.
Dell, Best Buy and CompUSA were not immediately available for comment early on Thursday morning.
Dell, known for selling its computers directly to consumers over the Internet or on the telephone, launched a trial on Wednesday with Sears, opening its first store-within-a-store in Austin, Texas, according to the report.
The computer maker is also making its mall-based sales kiosks permanent, the newspaper said. Dell started putting online kiosks in shopping malls a year ago letting customers see and try its computers before they bought.
Dell customers will be able to pick out their computers at the stores but will then either place their orders online at the kiosks or phone in their orders from home, the article said.
Best Buy Co. BBY.N and CompUSA, a unit of Grupo Sanborns GSANBORB1.MX , turned down Dell's offers to sell its computers in their stores, the Journal said.
Dell, Best Buy and CompUSA were not immediately available for comment early on Thursday morning.