So what would Apple gain by selling Macs at stores with poorly paid associates? Apple’s choices for retail locations has always been high-end Malls where people with money can walk into the store while shopping for other things.

There’s not much chance the typical Wal mart shopper is going to pay the premium to get better computers when cheaper is there. Not even Microsoft dares to take one of their “hunters” from their recent ads to Wal mart. There’s a stigma attached to the company that flies in the face of Apple’s image.

Not to mention Apple has standards for companies and how they treat their employee’s requires something better than average. Wal mart is not the first company that comes to mind when the issue of treating employees well comes up. I suspect Costco would be a MUCH better fit.

Not to rumor mongers: I don’t know about any deal between Costco and Apple.