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Apple Dealers Slighted By Company Stores

Posted by pudge on from the they-are-so-mean-and-stuff dept.

rtphokie writes "Apple is doing something it swore it wouldn't do when it began opening its 28 retail stores according to a C|Net article: stocking its own shelves first. The author made random calls to Apple stores and Apple retailers to support the claim."

7 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. In some ways I support apples actions here by brodiedreamyou.ca · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I can understand that Apple needs to make sure it's stores are profitable in order rationalize opening more. In some ways it's the independant retailers that have failed the apple comunity by not properly pushing Mac's over Pc's. This is why apple thinks it's necessary to open their own stores! Apple really does need to increase their production capacity, this kinda back log happens after every major release, it's just been worse with the imac cause it's so DAMN cool :)

  2. Apple knows their place... by OneFix · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Mac has always been a niche market. Those that own a Mac have their reasons, and Apple realizes that Mac sales aren't going to suddenly be hoisted above PC sales.

    M$ knows this as well and this is the main reason they develop for the Mac.

    It looks to me as if Apple is trying to go the way Tandy/IBM did. Take em out of stores and sell direct.

    There are alot of advantages to selling only direct. For starters, it will mean less returns that were due to user error or negligence. Another thing is that they decide on how much customer service to give. Should we accept a return on this Mac if it only needs a new drive, or maybe we can give free OS X training to new users. It's worth noteing that the local CompUSA barely even acnowledges their Apple section (you get the idea you are on your own if you buy a Mac from them).

    I'm sure if it looks like they are "stiffing" retailers, it's probably for a pretty good reason.

    1. Re:Apple knows their place... by Graymalkin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I bought my Powerbook from a CompUSA and this is the EXACT feeling I got at the time. None of the sales people knew anything about it, the person who had to get the box from the back of the store didn't even know where the Macs were at. They tried to sell me a Sony VAIO because they got a higher commission on it.

      --
      I'm a loner Dottie, a Rebel.
  3. Apple's response by itwerx · · Score: 3, Funny

    "In an effort to provide the fairest and simplest possible allocation of available product among all of the retailers, including our own stores, we elected to perform our distributions in alphabetical order."

    Now we know why they named themselves "Apple"...
    :)

  4. Dubious article? I say yes... by Saint+Fnordius · · Score: 3, Insightful

    After reading the article, I noticed some subtle semantics that suggest that the author went out of his way to bash Apple.

    The stores are complaining that Apple isn't DELIVERING, and pointing to the number of Macs SOLD through te Apple stores. Nowhere did I see proof that Apple Stores were receiving more for their shelves. More likely computers were ordered and then shipped to the customer.

    If there is a problem, it's that Apple is working too hard to fill back orders, and not providing enough stock to the resellers. This is understandable, because the orders are paid for -- certain sale versus possible sale. But if they swing the other way, they get bashed for bad service.

    I suspect that the problem lies with the duhstributors. Apple stores are probably savvy to the whole order process in comparison, not intentionally preferred. After all, the big guys in the middle tend not to give a damn. Oh well...

  5. Has anybody noticed... by Warlock7 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The fact that there are NO verifiable sources offered. The whole situation has been getting blown out of proportion by CNET. Their articles lately have had a major MS lean to them. I want to know who these analysts are that are never reprimanded for misinterpreting the facts and tehn reporting their bad findings to the public. They "speculate" that there is an LCD shortage and that is why Apple isn't shipping as they were expected to ship. Didn't Apple buy an enormous number of LCDs near the end of last year? Why have these analysts forgotten that? I would like to see some hard numbers rather than all this wild speculation and rumor-mongering that CNET has been doing lately. Anybody else notice that they took all the QT related streams down? How about the complete dropping of Macintosh related software from their DOWNLOAD.com? CNET isn't worth getting worked up over anymore.

  6. When I shopped for my first Mac by colatek · · Score: 3, Informative

    there wasn't one person in CompUSA that could answer my questions. Lucky for me another customer was able to. I don't have a problem with Apple stocking thier stores first. Other retailers don't put enough effort into selling them anyway. btw I have been using 10.1 for 5 months now after only running Windows since I owned a computer and I love it. G3 600 mhz iMac 512 meg of ram. Not one problem. Next purchase will be a TiBook , well that is if the wife gives the ok. ;)