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Microsoft To Open Retail Stores
chaz373 writes "CNET reports that Microsoft is going retail. In the 'Beyond Binary' blog Ina Fried reports, 'After years of brushing off the notion, Microsoft said on Thursday that it will open up its own line of retail stores. Without detailing the plans, Microsoft said it has hired David Porter, a 25-year Wal-Mart veteran, to lead the effort. Sources say that Porter's mission will be to develop the company's retail plans and that the effort is likely to start small with just a few locations.'"
This should be entertaining...
Yes... Apple has had lot of success with its retail stores, but it already had the reputation and recognition to drive people to the stores.
For Microsoft, I fear that they are going to be just like the Sony stores.... Better Location than the Apple store, but considerable less people in the store.
I get Mac stores since they sell their image...oh, and proprietary hardware. But a specialized Microsoft store, even though I like some of their products, doesn't make sense to me. I can pick up Microsoft software at nearly anywhere already, and some of it that I don't even want comes on my computer every time I buy a new one.
It must be another example of "Microsoft Innovation"
I mean no other member of the computer industry has EVER tried opening brick and mortar retail spaces... oh, wait
See all the great products that already come by default on your PC.
If you have an Old version buy a new one... See that it doesn't work on your old PC and buy a New One with all the products you just bought is pre-installed!
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
The only company they appear to be competeing against here is Apple. But MS already has much more retail space through 3rd parties than Apple does, so why do they think this will help them?
Clippy will man the Super Genius Bar. And they will have Karaoke using that new tech of theirs. Don't forget the $10,000 coffee tables.
To the first person who obtains, and releases into the Microsoft retail store, a dog bearing an uncanny resemblance to the horrible Windows search dog.
I bought the protection agreement!
she was the daughter of a wealthy florentine pogen read em and weep was her adjustable slogan
The article does touch on PC makers showcasing wares in the store. The idea of a MS store creates some questions in my mind.
First, what PC's will be showcased? I would think the high-end systems mentioned would be a great idea. There are plenty of mid and low end systems at current electronic retailers.
Secondly, can someone walk out with a PC? And if so, is MS going to do any service at the store? This is what the Apple store has going for it; a full service shop.
A few people have tried with only limited success (anyone remember the Gateway stores?).
I love the sound of distortion in the morning -- webcommando
Let's face it, they'd have been mad to open shops and show people Vista. Now they have something apparantly rather better, they want to show it off to the world.
As others have said though, I can't imagine much real reason unless they have a whole raft of new titles coming out that no-one knows about. A few years ago when they had all those multimedia titles for movies, art, musical intsruments and so on, I'd have appreciated the chance ot get hands on with a few titles but now I can't see much in their lineup that is a try-before-you-buy sort of title. It's either something you need or you don't.
I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
With the economic downturn and stockholders angry for MS spending 'too much' on R&D, this is the *perfect* time to acquire a bunch of retail space and hire new employees!
If your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.
Summary is misleading. Microsoft has tried retail before. (before apple and dell, even.)
No way are these stores going to be less than 75% Xbox/GFW.
--- Do you believe in the day?
iPod is to Zune as Apple Store is to Microsoft Store. I predict it'll be an embarrassing rip off of the Apple Store that will cause no more than snickering from most people. And their customers will be nothing but MCSEs looking for a place to hang out. Should be amusing.
The best part is that Microsoft is dumb enough to keep pouring money into a losing venture for decades...
Do you have ESP?
Wow! This really takes me back! Who here over the age of 25 never pulled this one at their local 80's retailer (I was always partial to Sears, myself...):
10 PRINT "SEARS SUCKS!"
20 GOTO 10
Looks like I finally have a reason to learn javascript...
I'm guessing that they've done a little bit of research before going down this road.
What's the point though? Their software, Zunes, Xbox(360)s are already sold by dozens upon dozens of other retailers. This whole venture just seems pointless.
My guess is to provide a showcase, that they control, for their products. They can do events, conduct training, etc, much like Apple but won't need to use their store to sell product as much as Apple does.
Given the closure of major electronic/computer retailers that used to provide the venue where customers could see MS products in action MS probably wants to ensure it keeps a presence in front of consumers.
In addition, the closure of stores gives the remaining ones more clout and this gives MS a counter to that.
Finally, retail space is pretty cheap right now - if this works MS can get some good locations on the cheap; if it fails they just fold shop and write it off.
I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
How is this store going to work. Most customer service is done by third parties, so where will be the help desk? Computers are sold by third parties, so where will be computers? How will it be decided which brands to stock? How will the store not look like Comp USA.
OTOH, I disagree that this is a bad time to start this. The economy is down, but MS has money. Strip center space is going to be cheap. Consumers will be looking for low prices with a big name to back the sales up. The problem is MS is not going to be abe to offer low prices without annoying it's retail partners. And consumers are not going to make a special trip just to experience the MS Store.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
...Microsoft does offer an excellent line of keyboards and mice, but keyboards, mice, operating systems, and office suites are simply not enough to create a viable retail chain in my opinion, particularly not at the start of a looming depression.
I can see it now: you walk into the store (by accident) and an assistant dressed as a paper clip appears beside you saying
"You look like you're trying to buy a PC. Shall I ..
* ignore all your needs and suggest one now
* spew FUD about anything not owned by Microsoft
* help myself to your wallet now
* do a weird little spin and bugger off!"
Please god let them have a coffee shop with wireless!
The next time your favorite release comes out it will be a great place to gather and do installs -
Retail Experience Center
I especially like the photo with the shopping cart ...
Dear Microsoft,
This is a great idea! I am so sure it will be successful that you should get started on the second phase right away. Everybody will want to come to your stores so you need to stop diluting your brand by selling it via other distribution methods. You should immediately stop bundling your software with prebuilt computers from manufacturers like Dell. Also immediately remove your product from online stores. Having people come into your stores will form a strong community.
I was just talking to some IT Admins yesterday and they were complaining how the 1000 licenses of Windows they just bought were just an electric piece of paper. They really wanted to go to a physical store with physical shopping cards and put a 1000 boxes in that cart. They thought that would be much more satisfying that just a number on a piece of paper.
Your profits are falling, you need to implement this strategy to maximize profits in these tough economic time. It's time to make this change. Do it now. Please!
Hobby Robotics
I think this could do a lot for Microsoft. One thing is for sure they will need better techs than what you can find at say a Best Buy. If you have people there that actually know the products it could do a lot for people getting what they need not what the high school senior at best buy tells them will do what they need. Also there is a good chance this will be a place to get Xboxs and some of Microsoft's other hardware out there. I am willing to bet there are a lot of retailers who have never heard of some of the hardware MS puts out and it will be nice to see a lot of it and play with it.
by people coming in for tech. support.
Perhaps thats what their store will be, not selling product but support services.
The year of Microsoft on the high street!
To be honest I'm surprised they aren't setting up shop as an online retailer. I would have thought that would give them a wider reach for less outlay, but I guess they want people to play with their products. In store surfaces and all that.
The other thing is the main impression that I came away with from the images of the concept store was, well, how dull and boring it looked. Not the sort of place I would enjoy shopping.
Knowing Microsoft it will put its corporate salespeople on the shop floor to be all 'customer facing' who will scare away most customers by the time they have stalked their prey (they'll call that 'proactive') and introduced themselves with, "Hi! Can I help you?" (They think they are doing you a favor but it's rare I will stay long if I sense any potential for being hounded into a purchase.)
Maybe I'm just being cynical?
"Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
When Apple went into retail, they got a guy from the nice Gap stores to set it up. When Microsoft does the same thing, they get a guy from WalMart. That pretty much sums up the difference between Apple and Microsoft.
You should hold out for Microsoft Store 7. I hear many of these problems have been addressed for the best ever customer experience.
"Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
At that time the Sony metro-center was trying to be a high tech playground. It had innovative video games, a new movie theater, a theme restaurant, action figure store, and the MicroSoft software store. I stopped by there to get free email updates. I store was in the center of "Dot com land" or SoMa lofts for high tech work and living. Lots of people from Stanford and Silicon valley lived there because it was just a train ride up the pennisula, with a urban ambience. That area faded a bit after the dot.com crash.
I don't think the 4 year old will be all that happy doing demos of sending pics to her family 8 hours a day.
So does that mean the store will close down right in the middle of you trying to make a serious purchase decision?
They should sell drinks and people can test out their great software like Songsmith! It would be the most popular store in the mall.
It's April Fool's Day already?
Like all things Microsoft I'm going to recommend that everyone wait till version 3.0 comes out. Their microsoftSF store was opened at the height of the dot-com days in 1999 and was closed in 2001. This is version 2.0. I would at least wait until the 2nd store opens. But be warned that might be 2.1 and not 3.0. :P
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
with the cow pattern boxes?
gateway was once dell's main competitor in the 1990s
one of the things that did them in was their foray into retail business. colossal failure
now they don't even sell direct anymore, no internet or phone sales. all of their retail stores are closed. and i believe they were bought by another company recently
so if you cheer microsoft's downfall, cheer their foray into retail sales: its a boondoggle
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
I'm fairly realistic about Microsoft usually, but it's hard to escape the impression lately that they are rudderless, drifting, and desperately trying to copy Apply who are sailing far ahead into profitable new markets with seeming ease.
They've always had a tendency to copy the best of other people's ideas, but in the past that worked better for them, and was useful to customers because the rough edges were smooth off.
Now Apple and Google seem to be executing well, shuffling Microsoft off to IBM-style irrelevancy.
OK, there is still those Office and Windows cash-cows, but obviously OSX, Linux and OO are nipping at their heels; they are having to reduce prices (Windows CE is extremely cheap, they seem to lose a lot of money on it) and do new unpleasant things for them (like XP for Netbooks).
For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Arthur C. Clarke
I would have to agree. It looks entertaining.
After deciding they did not want to be kicked to the curb any longer by the "Im a Mac" ads. Microsoft made it very well known that they had a 300 million dollar ad campaign to counter that image. After 2 commercials with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates that were essentially WTF moments. Those were pulled. "Are the luminaries at Microsoft working on a computer that is moist and chewy". Give me a break.
Then it morphed into the "I'm a PC" adds. Which were totally forgettable. The Mac ads were still kicking them in the nards. The Zune is not doing so hot against the iPod.
Microsoft's next area of failure? "Let's open a store like Apple has." This should be entertaining....
vi +
The number of people who have a positive view of Microsoft vastly outnumbers the installed user base of Apple. Most people like Microsoft, warts and all, because they can afford a PC and it has everything they need. The fact that Apple is shinier is not lost on them, it just doesn't outweigh all of the fun and power owning a modern PC connected to the internet brings. Only Apple zealots think that PC users are jealous of them. Only Linux zealots think of thrown chairs when someone mentions windows. It might be cool if the software section has 3 surface stations where multiple people can try out demos or see videos of products. It actually seems more like a PR stunt. Open a few stores in major cities and every time a new Halo or Gears of War game comes out, they'll have lines around the block.
The Metreon was never much of a mall. I'm not even sure it was meant to be given its proximity to Market Street, the real mall at the base of Powell, Union Square etc. Other than the Playstation store, there was really no reason to go there unless you were on your way to the Cinema upstairs.
It seemed more like a mini-expo center -- a place to put product in front of people who were looking to kill time before their movie started.
Mu biggest fear is them stuffing some poor clerk in a 8ft tall Clippy suit and turning him loose in the mall. My worst desktop support nightmare come to life..
On the other hand I'll finally have the chance to beat that stupid paperclip senseless..
If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur. --Red Adair
the pull down blue shades when they are closed.
Tell me that wouldn't earn them some cred?
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
It'll be a great place to hand out OpenOffice CD's on a Sunday afternoon. I love living in Seattle.
Is there anything better than clicking through Microsoft ads on Slashdot?
Well shit, does this mean that I will need to pay state sales tax when I purchase Microsoft products online?
How is this going to affect Microsofts' current retail channels, like Dixons or PC World ..
I don't recall Commodore BASIC requiring the closing semicolon. :)
I wasn't as anti-retail as that, of course... I just liked to make the screen cycle through the pretty colors (all 16 of 'em) while the computer made siren sounds.
Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.