Apple Retail Stores Revamp for Holidays

Associated Press via MyWay.com ^ | November 24, 2007 | May Wong

[RayChuang88]

LOS GATOS, Calif. (AP) - Not a cash register is in sight. The electronics on display are all powered up and ready for use. Personal trainers, specialists and newly minted concierges in aqua blue shirts make the Apple Store feel part salon, part Internet cafe - just without the espresso.

Over the past year, Apple Inc. (AAPL) has revamped its 201 stores, changing the layout, adding services and increasing its staffing. The "concierge" service that Apple launched last week is only the latest initiative designed to draw more visitors and bolster already record-breaking sales.

"Apple indeed does things differently from the rest of the retail gang," said Kurt Barnard, president of the Barnard Retail Consulting Group.

[BunnySlippers]

So, what OS are you shackled with?

[Blue Highway]

I’ve been Freeping on my Moto Q through Sprint since May. Great for a FReep fix during the day.

[RayChuang88]

Actually, the demographics for Apple users have become a lot more wider, especially since the LCD panel iMacs came out early this decade. Every political demographic nowadays wants the iMac, which is really easy to set up and use even for connecting to broadband Internet. I wouldn’t be surprised that we see large businesses buy Mac models in hugh quantities soon because they’re so easy to set up.

[BunnySlippers]

You sound like a Liberal railing against Starbucks or corporations!

In the meantime I’m enjoying a wonderful computer. Don’t knock it til you try it.

[Blue Highway]

XP Pro, and Vista Home Premium. I wouldn’t say I’ve been shackled with either. I agree Vista is a more dumbed down user interface and they crippled the Disk Defragmenter. XP Pro is my favorite.

[basil]

They do have a hidden cash drawer to handle cash purchases. They also have a person to whom you tell why you are there. That person points out the "Mac Genius" who deals with that particular thing. Then you take a number and browse the store, waiting for your number to be called.

At least that's how the Mac store in Austin TX was functioning the last time I visited.

And--as others have pointed out--the stores seem to always be very crowded.

[tips up]

You can always buy on line if you like their product but not the store experience.

[Blue Highway]

You sound like a Liberal railing against Starbucks or corporations!

That's an oxymoron if I ever heard it. Starbucks is the epitome of a liberal utopian society. Why would a liberal rail against a liberal haven like that?

[the invisib1e hand]

You sound like a Liberal railing against Starbucks or corporations!

yeah, starbucks, there's another business acting like a religion. Hey, you can now buy a BMW espresso machine there. That'd go good with your mac. You'd be so to die for with that ensemble.

Now, please, let me clarify by repetition (for those of you in Rio Linda): I love coffee. I love cars. I make a living with computers. It's the groupies that...well, imagine, trying to talk sense to algorians about climate change.

[thefactor]

can't compare the two, imho. the iPhone is an iPod, phone, browser, camera. there is a full keyboard, but only when you need it.

the text message and voicemail features are amazing. you can zoom-in on web pages.

believe me. i didn't want to love it. but after 10 minutes on it, i'm sold.

[Blue Highway]

You can always buy on line if you like their product but not the store experience.

If I get an Apple it will definately be used.

[Blue Highway]

It's the groupies that...well, imagine, trying to talk sense to algorians about climate change.

And you just know the Al Gorians all use Macs. I wonder how many of them buy into it because it gives them that special feeling of pseudo intelligence and elitism.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Two or three weeks ago, my husband went to look at getting me a new computer so we could give mine to the kiddos. He came home very enthusiastic about the imac which was a total surprise — like he’d gone over to the “dark side.” Lol!

Anyway, so here I was a week ago, looking for something to do with the children. We headed to the local mall and wound up stumbling upon an Apple store. We decided to go inside and have a look.

The kids found the kids area right away, and they became immediately engaged in some Star Wars game. Very friendly store workers came over to me and instinctively seemed to know that I was a new to the mac world. Within minutes, the apple workers were scrolling through files which was the coolest display I’ve ever seen, and explaining to me how the imac will open a file seamlessly, without having to wait for the program to open.

Then yesterday, my dh, one of my children and I went back to the Apple store via our concierge card. The place was a madhouse! You would think from the looks of it they were giving things away for free.

Anyway, we are nearly sold on the imac, but we have some questions.

Would any of you mac users be willing to answer a few of our questions? Thanks in advance!

[coconutt2000]

Ping.

[the invisib1e hand]

well, you know, excel only did for business what the automobile did for transportation. but Apple did for...well, the iPod did for music what...the walkman did a few years ago.

with a legacy like that, you’re bound to be a little heady.

[the invisib1e hand]

Actually, the demographics for Apple users have become a lot more wider, especially since the LCD panel iMacs came out early this decade. Every political demographic nowadays wants the iMac, which is really easy to set up and use even for connecting to broadband Internet. I wouldn’t be surprised that we see large businesses buy Mac models in hugh quantities soon because they’re so easy to set up.

they'd still be a toy for groupies if there weren't 3 pc's in every home in the world.

[CORedneck]

I looked at the iPhone last Summer but decided it was too much $$$. One thing I would like to see it do is hook into the Internet through the 2G phone network and setup the WiFi as an access point where I can hook my iBook into. That would take the cake in my opinion for me to get it.

I have been on T-Mobile for Cell Phone for several years. I recently dropped the T-Mobile WiFi Hotspots recently since I never use it. My parents in Indiana finally got high speed Internet with WiFi, therefore, I can use their connection to get online. Saves the drive to Borders/Starbucks like in past years when I needed to get online. When I traveled to places like CA, I stayed in Hostels and the most YHA Hostels now offer WiFi and I have gone to many Univiersity campuses where I hook in through Ethernet.

I remembered taking a trip to Prince Edward Island back in 2003 and I go into downtown Charlottetown to one cafe, use a "neighbors" WiFi to get online. I traveled down to Nova Scotia and then took a boat over to Maine. I drove to Dartmouth at Hanover, NH and I used their Internet connections to upload about 200 MB of pictures.

I also did a recent trip to New Zealand beginning of this year. Not too many places had WiFi but there were many cyber cafes where you hook in through ethernet but had to pay a fee. I have Vonage S/W phone which I used to make calls to the USA and I show up as a local call and it was a local call to me.

[BunnySlippers]

I go to every Starbucks opening I can because I love to make fun of the anti-globalization, anti-corporate, anti-capitalist freaks that show up.

I buy from corporations, American businesses. Only wusses and Dims don’t like capitalism and corporations.

[tips up]

They sell used hardware for a decent discount. Stuff someone bought and decided they didn’t want. Apple restores it to new condition and sells it at a discount as they can’t sell it as “new”.

[SamAdams76]

Last time I bought an iPod at an Apple store, I was amazingly trendy. I walked to the store by rail trail and stopped at the Starbucks before going into the Apple Store. I bought an iPod and a $50 iTunes gift certificate and then I walked back up the rail trail to the Trader Joe's where I got a few bags of nuts and some kind of cheese which I can't pronounce (but it was good). Then I jumped in my car and went to the Whole foods where I got some Stonyfield yogurt and a cake made entirely of figs.

That said, I wish George Bush could get a third term and that we could invade Iran and Syria - since we are over there anyway. Oh yeah, and topple the House of Saud while we are at it.