iMac sales reviving?

CompUSA says yes, but the market data's not so clear

CompUSA has claimed that a mix of bundled peripherals and a hire purchase plan have revived flagging Apple iMac sales. The US retailer, the largest in the States, reported that last weekend saw iMac sales shoot back to their highest level since the machine's launch in the second week of August. Sales remained high through September but then began to fall off, as the initial hype died down and the Apple faithful had all been catered for. According to ZD Market Intelligence, US iMac sales in September were 50 per cent down on those recorded in August. Last month sales slipped even further. The data was compiled from interviews with Apple resellers. And according to PC Data, the iMac slipped from the number two best-selling computer to the number three slot between August and September. Apple recently released a low-cost hire purchase scheme Apple targets low-income families as iMac sales decline was intended to attract a wider audience of users, specifically those who might consider a computer to expensive a purchase. Still, it's perhaps too early to suggest demand for the iMac is ramping up in any significant way. The sales CompUSA recorded were largely the result of a special weekend promotion bundling free Epson printers and Umax scanners with the machine in addition to the Apple $29.99 a month hire purchase scheme. ®