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Cheap iPhone 5C has not been sold yet, but Wal Mart's discount sales and bargaining power have been

When Apple began to test the low-end market and launch the cheap iPhone 5C, it seemed that it had been hit hard before it began to sell. At present, Wal Mart, a retailer, has made it clear that it will break the price of Apple's customized machine and sell it at a discount, which has greatly weakened Apple's bargaining power.

according to an online article in Friday's edition of the Wall Street Journal, before the iPhone 5C was launched, retailers began to break Apple's pricing and promote the model at a discount. Industry insiders believe that this is not a good thing for apple. It will not only damage the iPhone's reputation, but also weaken Apple's bargaining power. But at the same time, Apple's tolerance of price cuts also shows that the current competitive pressure is far greater than a few years ago.

Here is the outline of the article:

Apple's two-year iPhone 5C contract costs $99, while its bare metal version costs $549. However, Wal Mart, the retail giant, said it would offer discounts on the iPhone 5C, reducing the price of the contract machine to $79; T-Mobile, the mobile operator, also lowered the price of the model, and the price of the bare metal version to $528.

But carriers such as Verizon Wireless and at t may sell the iPhone 5C at Apple's regulated price.

Although it is not unprecedented that the new machine will be sold at a discount when it comes to the market, it will damage Apple's image as a high-end brand. Eli Portnoy, head of culture ranch, a brand strategy firm, said it was a huge mistake to discount the iPhone 5C in such an environment.

Portnoy said Apple's reputation for the iPhone has been damaged by competing with other handsets in a way that reduces prices rather than features. In addition, the iPhone's presence in other retail stores does not help Apple's high-quality image.

A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment.

Analysts say mobile phone manufacturers use a variety of ways to influence retailers' pricing, but it is unclear whether Apple has moved in this regard. No matter what, says Gartner van Baker, an analyst at the city Research Institute, Apple's tolerance for selling iPhones at a discount is significant. "Compared with just a few years ago, apple is facing a more severe competitive environment. '

Apple on Wednesday launched the mid tier iPhone 5C and the high-end iPhone 5S, two products will be officially launched on September 20.