Apple Stores: Australia, Canada, UK

[MacRumors]

ThinkSecret had reported (http://www.thinksecret.com/news/appleretailint.html) that Apple is planning on opening retail stores in Australia and later Canada.

MacRumors sources confirm the plan, and suggest that some Nextbyte stores (http://www.nextbyte.com.au/) (an Australian retailer) may be acquired and converted for this plan. Further Apple Store expansion into the UK is also expected.

[ssamani]

About time for the UK. Some of their partners here are still displaying beige Macs in their displayes (e.g. Harrods). The brand needs firming up here.

As for Nextbyte acquisition. I was in Australia earlier this year and needed someone to look at my TiBook and they didn't really seem interested in providing support. An Apple take over would probably be a good thing.

Sanjay

[j763]

This is going to slaughter some of the better (smaller) resellers and line the pockets of big sucky resellers -- NextByte (http://www.nextbyte.com), MyMac (http://www.mymacaustralia.com) etc. No doubt Apple will pick up quite a few nextbyte stores, if not the whole chain.

Apple Australia resellers currently make under 6% margin on Apple Hardware -- this will definetly kill the smaller resellers :(

[edesignuk]

Woooohooooo! UK Store! About bloody time :p

[j763]

Originally posted by ssamani
I was in Australia earlier this year and needed someone to look at my TiBook and they didn't really seem interested in providing support.

Hardly surprising -- it's nextbyte, they shift boxes. That's what they do to stay afloat.

Other resellers like Metek (http://www.metek.com.au) in Melbourne who make tech support their business will help you out.

Also, NextByte don't have the proper accreditations to open up your laptop. They have to ship it to another dealer, pay for the service, whack a nice fat juicy nextbyte margin on top and give it to you. If you're wanting free warranty service on your 1 year international warranty, they will tell you to piss off (hopefully in nicer terms, but not necessarily -- service there also sucks).

Apple still doesn't allow non-educational purchasers to get 3 year international warranty (even if you've got your checkbook ready). For anyone who travels with your laptop, I'd really encourage you to write a letter to steve jobs, complaining about this out-dated policy.

-j

[j763]

Originally posted by edesignuk
Woooohooooo! UK Store! About bloody time :p

Australia and Canada, obviously, will have Apple stores way before the UK gets to it.

[Falleron]

Great news about the UK!!! I live in the second largest city in the UK + I dont know where to go to see Macs unless I go to PCWorld! Thats how bad it is! Even PCWorld does not show all products (they are better than they used to be).

[edesignuk]

Originally posted by j763

Australia and Canada, obviously, will have Apple stores way before the UK gets to it.
Thanks for raining on my parade :( j/k
I was just a little excited ;) :D

[sharvari]

I assume they mean more stores, not stores. There are apple stores in Australia, i was in one a few hours ago.

[ibjoshua]

Originally posted by sharvari
I assume they mean more stores, not stores. There are apple stores in Australia, i was in one a few hours ago.

'Apple Centres' are not technically 'Apple Stores'

I say: bring it on.

Apple could use some more exposure in Oz.
(Not to mention New Zealand, hell even Iceland has a 'Switch' ad!)

i_b_joshua

[748s]

Originally posted by j763
This is going to slaughter some of the better (smaller) resellers and line the pockets of big sucky resellers -- NextByte (http://www.nextbyte.com), MyMac (http://www.mymacaustralia.com) etc. No doubt Apple will pick up quite a few nextbyte stores, if not the whole chain.

Apple Australia resellers currently make under 6% margin on Apple Hardware -- this will definetly kill the smaller resellers :(

if apple also "aquire" the staff of nextbyte nothing will change. a lot of them are as thick as two planks. i'll be sticking with the single shop reseller i'm using now.

[gotohamish]

Originally posted by Falleron
Great news about the UK!!! I live in the second largest city in the UK + I dont know where to go to see Macs unless I go to PCWorld! Thats how bad it is! Even PCWorld does not show all products (they are better than they used to be).

Did you see the main section of the Sunday Telegraph? It had a full page PCWorld ad with the heading like "There's never been a better time to buy Apple" with a huge eMac pic, and iMac, FP iMac and iBook - I couldn't believe my eyes - they must have either seen the light or their margins have improved.

[barkmonster]

UK apple store, Woo Hoo! <<Homer voice>>

I bet it's in london though :mad:

Still to far to travel just to browse around, maybe they'll shock me and make on in Preston or Bolton or something later on.

[medea]

funny, but I had this posted on here on 11-15 five days before macrumors admin posted it.....heh :rolleyes: ..........it's all cool though..........
I say great, glad they are not completely ignoring the overseas market.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14396

[Falleron]

Originally posted by gotohamish


Did you see the main section of the Sunday Telegraph? It had a full page PCWorld ad with the heading like "There's never been a better time to buy Apple" with a huge eMac pic, and iMac, FP iMac and iBook - I couldn't believe my eyes - they must have either seen the light or their margins have improved.
I had not seen that Advert in the Telegraph. The problem with PCWorld now is that they dont have a clue really about Macs. They have them on display + people look at them, but they dont know what they are talking about most of the time.

[jMc]

Sort of good news - however London is already very well served by resellers (in the Tottenham Ct Road area at least).

On a similar note (or not) - you can't seem to go anywhere in London at the moment without a seeing an Apple Ad - I guess working at Angel helps (it being Macexpo the next few days), but they seem to be pushing iPod and the 'They Just Click' iMac & digi cam ad all over the place (Tube, Ad hoardings). There's even a giant iMac hoarding at the TCR end of Charing Cross Road on the scaffolding around some shop...

It's great to stand near a giant iPod whilst actually listening to one...;)

jx

[Timothy]

Apple is also opening a store in Bellevue, WA, about 5 miles from the Microsoft campus. It's about time! ;-)

[sjonni]

:) I say...it has been a Apple store in Iceland (287.000 population) for two years. :D

[crassusad44]

Originally posted by sjonni
:) I say...it has been a Apple store in Iceland (287.000 population) for two years. :D

And Iceland got their own switch ad as well :eek: :eek: :eek:

[biscuit]

This is good news for the UK, or more specifically for London and the South East. I'd say its a dead cert any UK Apple Store would be in London (OK for me). I'd imagine other UK stores being kinda slow in coming after that, if at all. Did anyone see the item on RI:SE about hardly any Americans even knowing where the UK was? Most questioned thought is was in the Middle East! London, however, came out much better with many more knowing where it is.

That Telegraph thing sounds interesting, but basically PC World don't know enough to convince first time buyers/switcers nor do they particularly want to. Still, much better than they used to be. TCR does have lots of Mac resellers who'd be somewhat affected by an Apple Store, but none are solely Apple AFAIK. It'd still be the centre for electronics in London so they'd keep afloat.

Anyway, lets hope its true...

biscuit

[Nebrie]

Originally posted by j763
This is going to slaughter some of the better (smaller) resellers and line the pockets of big sucky resellers -- NextByte (http://www.nextbyte.com), MyMac (http://www.mymacaustralia.com) etc. No doubt Apple will pick up quite a few nextbyte stores, if not the whole chain.

Apple Australia resellers currently make under 6% margin on Apple Hardware -- this will definetly kill the smaller resellers :(

Tough. I hope they all die. The more Apple sells direct, the cheaper Macs will be!

[Chryx]

Originally posted by Falleron
Great news about the UK!!! I live in the second largest city in the UK + I dont know where to go to see Macs unless I go to PCWorld! Thats how bad it is! Even PCWorld does not show all products (they are better than they used to be).

Well, there's the "Applecentre" in Nottingham Broadmarsh, and http://www.ghc.co.uk (
Gordon Harwoods are like 'local' to me 'n' stuff :)

Other than that, yeah.. things are kinda lacking....

[Tryme]

Originally posted by Nebrie


Tough. I hope they all die. The more Apple sells direct, the cheaper Macs will be!


Nebrie, you need to wake up - if you think Apple resellers disappearing & Apple selling direct will bring down prices, think again. Removal of competition will prove the opposite. At the moment the Australian Mac community get cheap prices because the resellers give unsustainable discounts to keep market share in an increasingly smaller market with margins that are continually being reduced by Apple - why do u think so many of them go bust?!

As for Apple acquiring Next Byte stores, this is one of the most insane things I've read in recent times, obviously put forward by someone that has absolutely no idea of the Australian Apple channel and how Next Byte operate - it will NEVER happen.

Apple stores will come to Australia one day - but they will not be Next Byte stores.

[8thDegreeSavage]

Sure enough the idiots are considering putting the Apple store out on the out skirts of Toronto in Markham!



WAKE UP APPLE YOU MINDLESS NINNIES! PUT THAT BADBOY DOWNTOWN ON QUEEENSTREET!

[sjonni]

Originally posted by crassusad44


And Iceland got their own switch ad as well :eek: :eek: :eek:

;) YES, a few of´em...not only Einars in sugercubes.:D :cool:

[Macette]

the staff at next byte couldn't find their own arses with a map. ditto my mac, although they're marginally less patronising. i sincerely hope that apple buy them out, sack everybody and start again (good locations! particurlarly mymac opposite the new federation square.)

i hate both of those places with such passion that i'm driven to heading many kilometres out of my comfort zone to talk mac and get good prices.

grrr. go apple.

[Beej]

Originally posted by Macette
the staff at next byte couldn't find their own arses with a map. ditto my mac, although they're marginally less patronising. i sincerely hope that apple buy them out, sack everybody and start again (good locations! particurlarly mymac opposite the new federation square.)

i hate both of those places with such passion that i'm driven to heading many kilometres out of my comfort zone to talk mac and get good prices.

grrr. go apple. Same. Except for the My Mac thing. They are by far the worst of the lot.

I aslo agree that Apple will not buy Next Byte.

Around a year ago I was working for My Mac (got out of there ASAP). I started when they had one store. It was a dump. Then they screwed Apple senseless and basically got Apple to pay for a lot more of their new store than they should have. I'm not going into details, but there was a lot of deception on My Mac's part.

Then the whole Buzzle thing collapsed. My Mac's new store was doing well, so Apple literally gave 4 or 5 new stores scattered across Melbourne to My Mac. Because Apple was giving all these stores away they wanted My Mac to spend a bit of their own cash to get into high-traffic areas such as Southland and Chadstone shopping centers. But My Mac refused. Why would they want to spend money when Apple was giving them stores?

Ahem... allegedly. Sorry, just thought I'd say that in case anyone was going to get upset.

Apple Aus has also been refitting stores left right and center to look more like the new Apple Stores in the US. Computers Now in Malvern is one example, it was pretty much gutted and completely re-done, with a good percentage of the whole thing paid for b Apple.

Apple has also been doing a bit of poster advertising for the new iMac lately, there are ads in bus stops everywhere, and a huge ad on the Nike store in the CBD.

IMHO, if Apple opens more of it's own stores it will be under their own steam, and it will be in places like Southland and Chadstone.

Oh, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Apple already own a couple of stores in Sydney?

And just once more: allegedly.

[Kenny123]

Having worked in the only Apple owned store currently in Oz (i.e. Apple.com/store) I can tell you Apple certainly has a lot of room to play with selling direct. Some of the previous posts have meant that prices will not come down if Apple takes a serious shot at going direct and this may be the case.
I would hope that a bigger share of direct revenue would then cause Apple to reconsider who the actual competition is (i.e. PC land), a conceptual leap Steve is alrady taking steps to accomplish. (platform switch campaigns etc.) As I now unfortunately work for a PC reseller I can tell you we normally trade @ 10% or less. If Apple were to go in at even double this they would pick up a whole lot more market share if coupled with the right marketing.
We haven't seen this kind of Dell-like marketing from Apple due to their sensitivity about their resellers.
I say go direct, get rid of any resellers who don't add any real value and start playing with the big boys.
Apple have the added advantage of an almost 100% margin business : Software. Imagine Apple on 'roids selling PC's as a loss leader to sell software a-la-consoles. It ain't going to happen but who else could even consider such an option ? (cough..IBM)

[MacNI]

But what if I told you guys that here in good old Northern Ireland we are about to get our own Apple store early in the new year and that Apple are aware of it even though they will not "own" it? Could it be that Belfast will be the guinnea pig for the UK and Europe to see if the concept works?

Good luck to the people behind this venture. A proper Apple like store based on the American model. Are you guys in Canada, Australia and UK/Ireland jealous??

:-)

[Macette]

Originally posted by MacNI
But what if I told you guys that here in good old Northern Ireland we are about to get our own Apple store early in the new year and that Apple are aware of it even though they will not "own" it? Could it be that Belfast will be the guinnea pig for the UK and Europe to see if the concept works?

Good luck to the people behind this venture. A proper Apple like store based on the American model. Are you guys in Canada, Australia and UK/Ireland jealous??

:-)

In Aus we've already got dozens of stores like that - Apple-only, fitted out in a way that Apple would be happy with etc - it's just that the staff are UTTER CRAP and tell you things that are BLATANTLY WRONG (such as, post the keynote announcing the 17-inch iMac, a conversation went like this:

ME: When will you have those 17-inch iMacs?
THEM: Oh, Apple aren't planning to make 17-inch iMacs
ME: But the keynote... Steve Jobs..
THEM: Oh, they're ONLY RELEASING THEM IN JAPAN. (Ehh????!!)

Next day I go in, and they've got the info sheets for the 17-inch iMacs sitting on the counter... so I guess I must have alerted them to their existence.

STUPID.

So what I'm saying is: If they open a shop in n. ireland, then make sure they don't employ MORONS.

Sigh.

[j763]

Originally posted by Nebrie


Tough. I hope they all die. The more Apple sells direct, the cheaper Macs will be!

I certainly hope the good ones, who specialize in tech support, such as metek (http://www.metek.com.au) don't. The ones who are just there to shift boxes, sure.

I also doubt that macs will become cheaper, considering that as soon as an apple reseller does a repair, they end up out-of-pocket from it. Also, that they make normally under 5% margin on apple hardware.

[w-h-t-y-c]

Where do I start?

A few years ago now I used to work for AppleCentre Next Byte CoastMac. A little shop on the Gold Coast that Next Byte had recently bought a 50% share in.
This was the first and last time Next Byte agreed to do anything 'by halves'.
Incidentally, Next Byte pulled out and returned full control to the original owner - who then sadly went bust, allowing Next Byte to purchase the business for much less than before. AppleCentre (Next Byte) Surfers Paradise is its name now.
The 2 years I spent with a quasi-Next Byte store gave me a chance to see how things work in their organisation.
Times have changed. Buzzle has collapsed (I worked for them, too, in Sydney). But the core ideals behind Next Byte do not appear to have changed.

Apple will not buy any stores from a reseller. It is simply inconceivable to suggest otherwise. Apple Australia simply don't have the money. Apple USA is not going to give it to them either.
Next Byte's directors love money. The only possible way that Apple could have AppleStores from Next Byte is if Next Byte allowed Apple to purchasing a controlling interest in their organisation.
Knowing the Next Byte directors as well as I do - that's not likely.

I had plans to make this a much longer tirade - but nevermind.

The quality of Next Byte staff has dropped significantly from back when I got to know them. The stories I hear with regards to staff are even worse.
Next Byte run a tight ship - but it's so incredibly tight that few people can tolerate working there.

Incidentally, I left to follow love, not to escape.

[748s]

Originally posted by Macette

i hate both of those places with such passion that i'm driven to heading many kilometres out of my comfort zone to talk mac and get good prices.


know what you mean. i have 3 apple resellers in walking distance from home. i go 15km to get informed advice and good service.

[awulf]

The Next Byte shop on Glenosmand RD in Adelaide is pretty good, they have good service and the technicians know what they talk about but the prices there are expensive although 1.5 months ago I bought a very cheap ex-demo PMG4 from them. :D

[Macette]

while we've got all you aussies on the line, where's the best place (melbourne, preferable) to get RAM? goddammit prices are high at the moment - mymac selling 256 for $200, and next byte trying to flog same for $240! crikey...

anywhere cheaper you'd recommend?

[Kenny123]

Yes, as we all know, the reseller market will take you to the cleaners on peripherals and components due to the shrinking margins on the box itself.

I'd suggest performance memory in Crows nest or you could drop me an email @ ken.rankins@ht.com.au and I'll find something for you. I'll let you know what you should pay anyway. There's a lot of merchants on Ebay who buy RAM from SE Asia in bulk and then auction it off until it's sold. I've found this quite good so long as you know EXACTLY what you need.
(Not an attempt to sell something, just helping a fellow mac user honest)

[w-h-t-y-c]

Good prices in Canberra.

Mac1 in Fyshwick (Australia's Porn Capital!) has 256MB RAM pretty cheap. I got pricing from them just the other day for some macs for my boss.

256MB RAM for a PowerBook is $164
256MB SDRAM (for eMacs or iMacs or whateveR) is $104.

Although - i think their DDR stuff is a bit more expensive.
Not as expensive as those prices you mentioned though!

If you like I can dig up their phone number.

[Macette]

i'd love a phone number for Mac1 - those prices are much better. God I hate Next Byte. Have I mentioned that? Sheeeeesh.

[w-h-t-y-c]

No worries.

Mac1's number is 02 6280 0808.
I managed to dig up the quote - I spoke to a guy named Greg Williams.

If you're wanting delivery to Melbourne though - they might charge an extra $10 or something to send it to you.

Enjoy!

[w-h-t-y-c]

I just found their website.
You could probably e-mail Greg : gwilliams@mac1.com.au

STD Charges nowadays are practically extortion.
(maybe Next Byte is running Telstra?)

[Macette]

Thanks!

[Beej]

Originally posted by Macette
while we've got all you aussies on the line, where's the best place (melbourne, preferable) to get RAM? goddammit prices are high at the moment - mymac selling 256 for $200, and next byte trying to flog same for $240! crikey...

anywhere cheaper you'd recommend? If you know what you're after, go to Computer World. They've got stores in the city, Glen Waverly and Dandynong. Their service is shocking (and when I say shocking I mean frequently downright rude) but the prices are below what most places can get their stuff for wholesale. Eg - 512MB Kingston PC 133 for $125. Damn cheap.

http://cworld.com.au/

But if you value customer service one little bit, don't even think about it.

[Macette]

okay, what i'm looking for is RAM for a 700mhz slot-loading snow imac.

can it take a 512 PC-133 Kingston? (i feel like a fraud... i don't know entirely what i'm talking about... blush).

i mean, when i went into Next Byte (hereafter to be known as Last Bite) they said it wasn't possible to buy RAM in other PC shops because PC RAM doesn't work on Macs... i was pretty sure they were at least partially wrong about this but couldn't start the argument... what can I use, and what can't i use?

thanks for all your help, btw.

[Kenny123]

KTA-IMAC100/512

This is the Kingston part number. Check out www.kingston.com

Select your model and you're away. Take this to the dealer and you can't go wrong.

[Kenny123]

sorry, forgot to mention. Your iMac was sold with 100Mhz memory. It can take PC133 RAM but it will only run at 100Mhz so take whichever is cheaper.

Ref: http://manuals.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/specs/imac/L14878A_EN.pdf

[Beej]

Originally posted by Macette
i mean, when i went into Next Byte (hereafter to be known as Last Bite) they said it wasn't possible to buy RAM in other PC shops because PC RAM doesn't work on Macs...That is an total load of crap. Even Apple's RAM is just PC stuff with an Apple sticker on it. Often the original manurfacturer's sticker is stilll on it.

I think all you need to do is make sure the RAM you buy is CAS3. Make sure you tell them that you will be bringing it back if it's not (don't worry about being polite to the people at computer world :)) But for sure, check out kingston's site and take in the exact number of what you need.

[Macette]

thanks dudes. I'm heading down to cworld right now.

and they're going to give me RAM for ONE QUARTER OF WHAT THE LAST BITE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME.

[Beej]

Originally posted by Macette
thanks dudes. I'm heading down to cworld right now.

and they're going to give me RAM for ONE QUARTER OF WHAT THE LAST BITE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME. Told ya they were cheap :)

I understand why Apple Stores are selling RAM at such steep prices, but they're really not doing themselves any favours. I tend to buy all my stuff at Apple Stores to support them, but when it comes to RAM, I'm simply not prepared to spend 3 or 4 times what other places are offering.

[Macette]

Now that my RAM prob is solved, we can close this discussion! I went into Computer World in Richmond, and they gave me the right RAM (512 MB of it!) for $112. That is, quite literally, one quarter of what Next Byte would have had me pay.

So: :p

[benixau]

Originally posted by Beej
Even Apple's RAM is just PC stuff with an Apple sticker on it. Often the original manurfacturer's sticker is stilll on it.


no it isnt. the RAM in my PM-DP-867-MDD doesnt even have an apple sticker on it. Actually there is no sign that apple had anything to do with it. I know cause i changed it for a PC2700 (came w/pc2100) chip and o/c my machine to 1083Mhz or 1Ghz.

[Chryx]

Originally posted by benixau
No it isnt. the RAM in my PM-DP-867-MDD doesnt even have an apple sticker on it. Actually there is no sign that apple had anything to do with it. I know cause i changed it for a PC2700 (came w/pc2100) chip and o/c my machine to 1083Mhz or 1Ghz.

You're just being pedantic in that instance, the point is that the ram in one of the MDD towers is the _EXACT SAME STUFF_ you'd stick in an Athlon or P4 system.

Hell, I could pull the gig of PC2700 from this Athlon and shove it in a Powermac, and it'd work, because Apple are using industry standard ram :)

same thing with the harddisks..

They don't _actually_ have apple stickers on them now, but they used to, I've seen EDO Dimms with Apple logo stickers on them (pulled from a PowerMac 9500 iirc)

[Phipple]

WAKE UP APPLE YOU MINDLESS NINNIES! PUT THAT BADBOY DOWNTOWN ON QUEEENSTREET!
***********

Not a chance. Downtown Sewercity hasn't had an upgrade since 1890. Parking lots, the largest of which can hold 20 cars, charge $10 for 30 seconds (flat rate). Who wants to, or could, schlep a computer home by streetcar, let alone a G4, monitor and all the trimmings? I bought a scanner at that computer store on College and Spadina. The store is terrific but the hassle was monumental.

To quote Jeremiah Cohick, I'll never go back.

Apple puts its stores in shopping centres for a reason. It's called parking.

[Luke]

I have been dealing with Designwyse in Dandenong (Victoria) for a few years now, another company put me on to them. They are fantastic, great prices. But it is there service that is excellent, they have technicians that actually know there stuff. Service in my books is more important than saving a couple of dollars anytime.

[Luke]

Chryx: Apple DO STILL put Apple stickers on there HDD and Ram. I have a new G4 infront of me that has the Apple Logo on the drive, and a sticker on the Ram.

[Kenny123]

your right, Apple still do put stickers on their DIMMs, however this is assuming it was installed in the factory. Apple's own tech support use third party RAM for parts upgrades/sales. Why ? They too, believe Apple RAM to be a little steep.

[Chryx]

Originally posted by Luke
Chryx: Apple DO STILL put Apple stickers on there HDD and Ram. I have a new G4 infront of me that has the Apple Logo on the drive, and a sticker on the Ram.

I had a MDD 867 open infront of me last week, the ram had a Micron sticker and the harddisk was a normally badged IBM Deskstar ?

[Luke]

Did you get a ram and HDD upgrade ?. If you look at the IBM drive there will be a little apple logo printed in black on the sticker. If not ! it is not the orig drive

[kansaigaijin]

not everybody has the new DDR machines, and some machines have issues with RAM,

you don't need Apple ram, just make sure it is quality

[mysticdp]

Originally posted by Beej
Same. Except for the My Mac thing. They are by far the worst of the lot.

I aslo agree that Apple will not buy Next Byte.

Around a year ago I was working for My Mac (got out of there ASAP). I started when they had one store. It was a dump. Then they screwed Apple senseless and basically got Apple to pay for a lot more of their new store than they should have. I'm not going into details, but there was a lot of deception on My Mac's part.

Then the whole Buzzle thing collapsed. My Mac's new store was doing well, so Apple literally gave 4 or 5 new stores scattered across Melbourne to My Mac. Because Apple was giving all these stores away they wanted My Mac to spend a bit of their own cash to get into high-traffic areas such as Southland and Chadstone shopping centers. But My Mac refused. Why would they want to spend money when Apple was giving them stores?

Ahem... allegedly. Sorry, just thought I'd say that in case anyone was going to get upset.

Apple Aus has also been refitting stores left right and center to look more like the new Apple Stores in the US. Computers Now in Malvern is one example, it was pretty much gutted and completely re-done, with a good percentage of the whole thing paid for b Apple.

Apple has also been doing a bit of poster advertising for the new iMac lately, there are ads in bus stops everywhere, and a huge ad on the Nike store in the CBD.

IMHO, if Apple opens more of it's own stores it will be under their own steam, and it will be in places like Southland and Chadstone.

Oh, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Apple already own a couple of stores in Sydney?

And just once more: allegedly.

Beej you are a liar. I also happen to be an ex-employee of My Mac and of various other resellers around Melbourne, and I would have to say they are by far the best of them all.

[Macette]

Originally posted by mysticdp


Beej you are a liar. I also happen to be an ex-employee of My Mac and of various other resellers around Melbourne, and I would have to say they are by far the best of them all.

The best of a bad bunch?

[ibjoshua]

Originally posted by Macette


The best of a bad bunch?

ha ha good point macette

all the following are true
by far the best of them all == The best of a bad bunch
by far the best of them all == The best of a good bunch
by far the best of them all == The best of a friendly bunch
by far the best of them all == The best of a small bunch

i_b_joshua

[Klaus1]

If Apple opens its own stores in the UK that will be good news, as there is currently only two workable methods of buying Macs in the UK: (a) by mail order - fine if you know what you want, (b) from department stores owned by the John Lewis Partnership, where you will see all models on display, talk to knowledgeable staff AND get their usual free 2 year guarantee.

PC World (part of Dixons) is utterly useless for any purpose whatsoever. Nuf said.

Apple will probably not open their "own" stores but start a franchise operation along the same lines as the HiFi makers Bang & Olufsen did, when they abandoned sales through ignorant and incompetent chain stores and bankrupt-ridden independent retailers, and insisted on manufacturer-trained staff, delivery to consumer and installation included in the price.

Now all we in the UK need is for British telecom to support OS 10 and we are away!

[Chryx]

Originally posted by Klaus1
If Apple opens its own stores in the UK that will be good news, as there is currently only two workable methods of buying Macs in the UK: (a) by mail order - fine if you know what you want, (b) from department stores owned by the John Lewis Partnership, where you will see all models on display, talk to knowledgeable staff AND get their usual free 2 year guarantee.


Or Gordon Harwoods (http://www.ghc.co.uk)
If you're sufficiently local.

Apple DEFINATELY needs more presence here...

[PPC_aCiD]

Canada needs an Apple store, and I am dumbfounded on why we dont have one or why we have never had one. Canada is just north of the U.S, and you would think that they would have put one in Canada in the first place. And having them put one in Canada in 2004, is really cheap. The cheapest part is that they are considering on just 1. 1!!!!!!!!!. ***** that noise. DO YOU KNOW HOW BIG CANADA IS!!!! 2nd largest land mass in the world, and putting it near Toronto. That is a 5 hour drive for me. Not to mention the traffic, the huge like 16 lane highways.

And no wunder, Apple is not a popular computer choice for most Canadians. Too damn ass expensive. To order a basic 700MHz, 15" flat screen iMac, that is not even a great computer to todays standards is still $1,849!! plus tax, and S&H it would cost $2,126 with the tax alone. So maybe Apple should not put an Apple store in Canada. They should lower their costs first. It would be cheaper to lower costs then put up an Apple Store in Canada, they need to establish a safe, dependable market in Canada before they venture out into the retail business in Canada. Hell, I don't even buy from the Apple store online anymore because it is too damn expensive. I found it cheaper to get a catalog online from Mac Zone, which I can buy on cheaper Amerikan prices, and I don't have to add the exchange rate, or PST tax.
All I pay is GST and shipping. So that $2,126 15"iMac only costs me $1069.97 plus shipping. So I just saved my self $1056.03 on the same computer.

[Beej]

Originally posted by mysticdp


Beej you are a liar. I also happen to be an ex-employee of My Mac and of various other resellers around Melbourne, and I would have to say they are by far the best of them all. OK then, go for it. If that's what you believe, fine. Just becuase you disagree, that doesn't make me a liar.

[BenderBot1138]

What about third world countries? Any Apple Stores there?

:cool: