HAHA good one you think a multi-billion dollar company like apple worries about rent? They need as many stores as they can fit into one city/state. The whole point of apple stores is the experience.
When I was in new york 2 weeks ago I went to the apple stores heaps of times to look up directions or to check my email or to just play with a ipad and relax for 30 minutes. Same thing in London, my parents went shopping for themselves which I found boring so I stayed in the apple store playing on the all new ipad (ipad 2). People will wonder into the apple store on their way to work and they sell so much that the rent will not be a problem
Today I went to pick up my Macbook Pro in my local store and the store was buzzing with people.
The apple store is meant to be an experience
I agree it will put some small business out of business and they unfortunately can't do can do **** all about it, however they tend to be a bit cheaper then apple official retail stores so they should be OK.
I know, the apple store is meant to be an experience. I love to shop at Apple store in my local mall because I like Apple plastic bag which is much more beautiful than super market plastic bag.
I also know there are a lot of Hong Kong people like you, going to Apple store to kill time but buy nothing.
I know Apple is very rich, it can buy or rent all the business properties in Hong Kong downtown financial district. But wasting money is not a good business practice.
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apple has become the epitome of boredom, it does one bulding housing one thin aluminum and glass encased device pretty much. An iphone looking like a thin ipad, looking like a thin imac, looking like a thin macbook.
Steve's once visionary and justified insistence on uniformity and clean lines has become dullness personified. That's what happens when the shopkeeper instead of the visionary takes up the company, they don't know when or how to shift gears. Apple is in dire need of a gear shift and the driver is asleep on the wheel.
Well said.
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That is one bizarre argument.. Do you know Hong Kong at all? The store is not only for Hong Kong citizen, it is also for mainland Chinese citizen who want to buy Apple stuff in Hong Kong instead of buying it in China. China has 17% VAT tax and most folks close to the boarder would rather take a day trip to Hong Kong and buy their stuff instead of paying the tax. Did you see any pictures of Apple store during any of the Apple product launch?
I don't know Chinese mentality. I don't know Hong Kong. You are right.
Do you think Chinese customers are loyal Apple fanboys? When everyone wears a Rolex, do you still want to buy a Rolex for yourself?