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Memo to Apple: Respect Your Resellers

Posted by pudge on from the find-out-what-it-means-to-me dept.

An anonymous reader writes "As Apple opens more and more stores across the country (they are going to hit 88 by the end of 2004, according to top Apple retail honcho Ron Johnson), small independent dealers claim to be taking it in the shorts: five are suing Apple for all sorts of nastiness. Here's an interesting prescription for how Apple can make things right with its resellers and still open lots of shiny stores for the masses."

6 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Have you been in a reseller's shop? by cbiagini · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, pal, I feel your pain.

    I worked at Circuit City last summer, and, as a switcher-in-the-making, I got all excited when I found out about the Apple reseller down the road. First time I ever tried to start a conversation, he made some stupid comment about my Circuit City shirt, then lectured me about how Apple would *never* release a computer with an IBM processor in it.

    Since he was the only game in town, I referred customers to his shop whenever we didn't carry a product they needed, but warned them that he was kind of a dick--without actually using that word, of course. It's funny, though, because people would come back and say, "Hey, you know that guy you sent me to? What a dick!"

    By the way, what ever happened to those rumors about IBM making the new processors for Macs? Those ever pan out?

  2. Re:Have you been in a reseller's shop? by ibullard · · Score: 2, Funny

    And interrupt their game of Burning Monkey Solitaire?!?! Who am I to interrupt their game time? I don't even have breasts!?! :D

  3. wait wait wait... by CoolMoDee · · Score: 2, Funny

    did you just say knowledgeable and CompUSA in the same sentance? Thanks! I needed a laugh today :-D

    --
    Jisho - A Japanese English German Russian French Dictionary for the rest of us.
    1. Re:wait wait wait... by djtripp · · Score: 3, Funny
      Yeah... I actually did. They have a manager that's a big Mac guy, he's trained his minions (well a good amount of them) and they have a good full time Apple rep there, whom used to be a retail rep at the store.

      The local Mac store, have a bunch of pretentious butt heads, with jacked up prices (except for the actual Apple stuff which they have to price at Apple's MSRP). And pretty much disseminate bad info and turn people away with their holier than thou attitude. Welcome to my Mac Store. Bow Down! Now I will tell you what you will buy today, and if you don't buy it, you are a friggin idiot. All Praise Me!

      --
      "This is you left and that's your left. This is your right and that's your right. You're gonna die!
    2. Re:wait wait wait... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Sounds like Jack Black of High Fidelity

      Barry's Customer: Hi, do you have the song "I Just Called To Say I Love You?" It's for my daughter's birthday.
      Barry: Yea we have it.
      Barry's Customer: Well, can I have it?
      Barry: No, actually, you can't.
      Barry's Customer: Why not?
      Barry: God. Do you even know your daughter? There's no way she likes that song. Oops, is she in a coma?

  4. Re:Have you been in a reseller's shop? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Just throw ... </sarcasm> tags around the text.

    I know it seems stupid and over-the-top, but as the other poster replied, without other cues it is the only way to be sure you aren't misunderstood.

    <joke>
    <redundant>
    <not very funny>
    Just remember not to go overboard on tags though. That's just annoying.
    </joke>
    </redundant>
    </not very funny>

    PS. It does mean you have to post with the Extrans option though.