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Apple Bans Online Sales In Japan

Posted by kdawson on from the bricks-are-our-friends-and-mortar-too dept.

siddesu writes "Large retail stores in Japan were ordered a week ago to stop selling Apple products online (Google translation; Japanese original). The comments in the Japanese business newspapers suggest that Apple believes online shopping confers an aura of 'cheapness' on its products; but surely killing the Apple store's competition must have entered into the calculation. As of today, most of the largest retailers have notices on their Apple catalog pages asking you to visit the shop if you want to acquire a piece of magic. It seems that for the moment the campaign is aimed at the big fish, as smaller shops still seem to be selling Apple products."

6 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Cheapness? by Freaky+Spook · · Score: 4, Funny
    newspapers suggest that Apple believes online shopping confers an aura of 'cheapness' on their products

    That certainly explains Apples App store.

    1. Re:Cheapness? by Trepidity · · Score: 2, Funny

      also, store.apple.com

      --
      10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  2. So tell me, by Cryacin · · Score: 3, Funny

    When, oh when, will we all wake up and give Jobs the title he so sorely deserves?

    Der Führer!

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  3. In the UK too please! by pklong · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh please Applie extend this to the UK too.

    My other half desperately wants a new expensive Macbook and I'd rather spend the money on beer. Do this and it would make it impossible for us to get one as there isn't an Apple store near here.

    Bottoms Up!

    Philip

    --

    Philip

    Signatures are broken

  4. Commodity vs unique product. by Charcharodon · · Score: 2, Funny
    Alot of industries do this. Especially so when their product is edging closer to becoming a commodity, ie something that can be supplied from just about any source and it will satisfy a need. It is a marketing strategy to maintain the "quality and uniqueness of their product. (AKA Bullshit)

    Apple fan boys a side, you, me, and just about anyone else these days can pretty much go out and buy a computer or hand held based purely on specs from just about any manufacturer and end up with a fairly satisfying device. This scares the pants of manufactures since the premium markup (100-1000%) they've enjoyed for years tanks and end up looking like grocery store mark ups on milk. (Less than 10%)

    In another 5-10 years when you can have an entire computer on a single chip, the transition to a commodity will be complete and companies like Apple, Dell, Asus, ATI, Nvidia etc that don't come up with some sort of niche service will die out and get swallowed up by the likes of Wal-Mart, Tesco, Coscos.

  5. Re:Yea this is why by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 2, Funny

    Apple needs some huggy love from Bubba the Big Goverment Bear.