Dell has signed an exclusive agreement with JB Hi-Fi following its split with two major retail chains that signed on about two years ago as the US PC maker started its run in the Australian channel.
Remainder Dell stock was still on the shelves at the weekend in Officeworks shops such as Sydney's CBD but both the Wesfarmers' national chain of office super stores and the Good Guys have ended their agreements with Dell.
An Officeworks spokesman said it ended its Dell partnership in May: "Strategies were no longer aligned".
And the Good Guys confirmed it stopped stocking the brand at that time but declined further comment.
Woolworths subsidiary Dick Smith Electronics did not respond to CRN's calls.
Industry sources requesting anonymity who were familiar with the matter but not directly involved said that Dell.com's prices were a factor in the split.
Dell said it "does not comment on pricing or the pricing retail partners might set."
Dell started selling to retailers in May, 2008, through its partnership with Officeworks, positioning the chain as its premier partner that sold PCs, laptops, printers and LCDs in its 104 branches across Australia.
Dell said at the time that its Australian plan aimed at "customers who might like a more hands-on approach to their purchases".
Six months later, Dell signed the Good Guys; it added Dick Smith in May last year.
Last December, JB-Hi-Fi signed on to extend Dell's retail footprint rather than an exclusive arrangement.
A Dell spokesman said JB Hi-Fi sold its products off the shelf and through www.dell.com.
JB Hi-Fi chief executive officer Terry Smart said Dell approached the chain known for its cheap and cheerful shops "to become their exclusive channel".
JB Hi-Fi said in February that it had 134 shops in Australia and New Zealand, 122 bearing its marque.
Meanwhile, Harris Technology's partnership with Dell for the small and medium business market remained unchanged, Harris Technology said.
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