Apple Hiring for Future Retail Stores in Brazil and Turkey

[MacRumors]

Apple today posted a number of new job listings indicating that the company will be opening retail stores in various locations in Brazil and Turkey. The listings include full slates of retail positions in each country, including Managers, Geniuses, Creatives, Specialists, and business-focused staff.

Apple's job listing for positions at Brazilian retail stores

Apple has been pursuing an aggressive expansion of its international retail store footprint, with 75% of the planned 30-35 new stores for fiscal 2013 being located outside of the United States. Sweden was the most recent country to gain its first Apple retail store with the mid-September opening of a Stockholm-area store, making Sweden the 14th country or region to host at least one Apple retail store.

Manager job listing for Turkish retail stores

(Thanks, Alberto!)

Article Link: Apple Hiring for Future Retail Stores in Brazil and Turkey

[1member1]

(( Why those countries ?_? I have to pay double in my country and not great support either.

[ghost187]

It's about time, Istanbul deserves an Apple Store.

[ipedro]

Apple's legendary customer service is faltering. They're a victim of their own success, at least here in Toronto.

Last night my iPhone5's speaker stopped working and Apple Care over the phone determined it was hardware failure. I tried to make a Genius appointment and at first I thought I did something wrong, because the first available time slot was 5PM... Next Friday!

The Eaton Centre which is Apple's only downtown store is just a small store in a mall, even if it's Toronto's most popular mall. They badly need a downtown flagship store.

I've been with Apple for a decade, way before they were mainstream. Back then, if I had a problem, I got immediate service and really the legendary service that Apple is known for is what kept me around all this time. Problem with my PowerBook? They fixed it -- even out of warranty. Dead battery on my original generation iPod? Replaced, no questions asked.

Today: Problem with my iPhone 5 through no fault of my own? No Genius slots in the Apple store, and if I want an iPhone 5 replacement delivered through the mail, I have to pay $30. Really Apple? Your hardware fails and my only reasonable option to get it replaced quickly is to pay you? I'm disappointed. Good thing John Browett got canned but this seems like a larger problem.

[HMI]

Originally Posted by ipedro

Apple's legendary customer service is faltering. They're a victim of their own success, at least here in Toronto.

Last night my iPhone5's speaker stopped working and Apple Care over the phone determined it was hardware failure. I tried to make a Genius appointment and at first I thought I did something wrong, because the first available time slot was 5PM... Next Friday!

The Eaton Centre which is Apple's only downtown store is just a small store in a mall, even if it's Toronto's most popular mall. They badly need a downtown flagship store.

I've been with Apple for a decade, way before they were mainstream. Back then, if I had a problem, I got immediate service and really the legendary service that Apple is known for is what kept me around all this time. Problem with my PowerBook? They fixed it -- even out of warranty. Dead battery on my original generation iPod? Replaced, no questions asked.

Today: Problem with my iPhone 5 through no fault of my own? No Genius slots in the Apple store, and if I want an iPhone 5 replacement delivered through the mail, I have to pay $30. Really Apple? Your hardware fails and my only reasonable option to get it replaced quickly is to pay you? I'm disappointed. Good thing John Browett got canned but this seems like a larger problem.

I think they are trying to enjoy their recent success while trying to operate as they always have. Before iPhones they were probably happy living with their 5% pc market share, because they had less competition at their price points, healthy profit margins, great control over product development/release cycles, and could function more as a large-sized startup company, but now that they are mostly focused on iPhones and iPads, they have completely different market demands, greater competition at similar price points, relatively lower profit margins, and faster development/release cycles. They seem more controlled by market demands than they would probably like to be. They seem to want the convenience of using Startup-minded innovation and focus, while feeling the need to expand into a larger corporate-minded company that will support ongoing growth and success. They are probably deciding carefully how best to manage this needed growth, not just throwing money at a problem.

Tim Cook and his team are smart people, and I'm sure they will monitor customer satisfaction as they continue to expand.

The main difference is that 5% of customers is a lot more people now than it was in 2007.

That's my impression, anyway.

[Siq®]

I really don't understand the way some Brazilians here think, so I'll share my experience.

- I am a middle class Brazilian student and I've always studied in middle class schools (middle class goes to private schools) where nobody was rich (ok, maybe one or two) and the majority of my class had iDevices in general. I've noticed that since the 6th grade, mostly because my parents came from nothing, their families were really poor, so I was taught not to show off. I never had expensive stuff and I actually believed I was kinda poor when I was a child. Now that I am in university I am even more conscious of my environment.
As someone pointed out, it is VERY common to see people listening to their iPhones/Galaxy S3 in the subway. Also, I study in a public university (they are considered to be the best here) and, for my surprise, lots of classmates also have iDevices.
As a middle class person, I can surely say I can afford buying any iDevice I want. ( I just don't want it. I'm not that much of an Apple fan)

- The second topic I wanted to talk about is the local production of iPads/iPhones. Yes, they are produced here at a lower price due to governmental help (less taxes) but yes, Apple sells them at the regular brazilian price.

btw: I love my city much more than I love my country. ( it sounds weird, I know)

[jgabriel]

Originally Posted by HMI

I think they are trying to enjoy their recent success while trying to operate as they always have. Before iPhones they were probably happy living with their 5% pc market share, because they had less competition at their price points, healthy profit margins, great control over product development/release cycles, and could function more as a large-sized startup company, but now that they are mostly focused on iPhones and iPads, they have completely different market demands, greater competition at similar price points, relatively lower profit margins, and faster development/release cycles. They seem more controlled by market demands than they would probably like to be. They seem to want the convenience of using Startup-minded innovation and focus, while feeling the need to expand into a larger corporate-minded company that will support ongoing growth and success. They are probably deciding carefully how best to manage this needed growth, not just throwing money at a problem.

Tim Cook and his team are smart people, and I'm sure they will monitor customer satisfaction as they continue to expand.

The main difference is that 5% of customers is a lot more people now than it was in 2007.

That's my impression, anyway.

I totally agree! The lately claims from analysts that Apple has past its peak and that it can't go anywhere else but downhill is rubbish. They revamped its entire line of products at the same time, what other company is able to do that?! Apple is facing a whole new level of difficulty to meet everyone's demands. The thing is people got used to expect something revolutionary from Apple in every keynote. Come on guys, you know it is just not possible. I can only imagine the difficulties they face every day to deliver everything people tend to expect from Apple and that no other company in the present can do. I just hope they will keep trying to push and raise the bar as high as they possibly can as they have been doing for the last decade.

[cclloyd]

Originally Posted by ghost187

It's about time, Istanbul deserves an Apple Store.

So Ezio can climb all over it and kill the store manager?

[Akzel]

Maybe that's why they're charging US$5000 for a rMBP and US$3000 for an entry level iMac in Brazil, to finance the new stores…

The new Apple prices for Brazil (including the rumored US$1500 iPhone 5 to be released yet) will probably slow their efforts to open a retail store in Brazil once it diminishes their sales number.

[DTphonehome]

Originally Posted by Akzel

Maybe that's why they're charging US$5000 for a rMBP and US$3000 for an entry level iMac in Brazil, to finance the new stores…

The new Apple prices for Brazil (including the rumored US$1500 iPhone 5 to be released yet) will probably slow their efforts to open a retail store in Brazil once it diminishes their sales number.

Don't blame Apple, blame Brazil's incredibly high tax rates on imported electronics.

[Akzel]

Originally Posted by DTphonehome

Don't blame Apple, blame Brazil's incredibly high tax rates on imported electronics.

I don't buy that anymore. Why importing, legally, as an end consumer, a MBP is still cheaper than buying here? And that's considering the end price they charge at their stores, not the amount the spend making the laptops.

Also, why they jacked up 100% the iMac prices in the latest update considering the dollar/real exchange is roughly the same?

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Originally Posted by TouchMint.com

Is avg income higher there atleast?

lol, not at all…

[saotomefirst]

Originally Posted by DTphonehome

Don't blame Apple, blame Brazil's incredibly high tax rates on imported electronics.

"imported electronics"... Well, Foxxcon has an iDevices factory in Brazil (don't know if they actually make anything else in there), so how exactly does high import taxes affect this pricing?

When they moved in here, the propaganda was that prices should drop significantly since the 100% import tax rates wouldn't apply anymore, but prices remains the same - and now they've increased with the latest releases...

@1member1 - I agree with BRLawyer, except for the part where prices drop (I'm still to see this becoming true). Just to remember, back in the days of iPhone 2G, Apple noted that 1/3 of their devices were operating on a regular basis in Brazil, even though the only carrier authorized to sell the iPhone was AT&T, which doesn't operate in there.

At the very least this means brazillians were willing to pay for all the expenses that included buying an iPhone, importing it into Brazil, jailbreak it and unlock it to work with local carriers, for a total price of over US$ 1200.00 for the 16GB model - I know this because I was one of the guys that did this!

There is a HUGE market in here for Apple, if they make it through this taxes barrier without skyrocketing their prices

[DTphonehome]

Originally Posted by saotomefirst

"imported electronics"... Well, Foxxcon has an iDevices factory in Brazil (don't know if they actually make anything else in there), so how exactly does high import taxes affect this pricing?

They don't make computers in those factories. As far as we know, they just make one model of iPhone. I can see why they wouldn't price a single iPhone model at the lower, Brazilian-made price, and the rest at the standard imported price.

[TouchMint.com]

Originally Posted by Akzel

Maybe that's why they're charging US$5000 for a rMBP and US$3000 for an entry level iMac in Brazil, to finance the new stores…

The new Apple prices for Brazil (including the rumored US$1500 iPhone 5 to be released yet) will probably slow their efforts to open a retail store in Brazil once it diminishes their sales number.

Wow!!! I thought we were getting ripped in the US lol.

Is avg income higher there atleast?

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by TouchMint.com

Wow!!! I thought we were getting ripped in the US lol.

Is avg income higher there atleast?

No, it's not (although per capita GDP is growing fast in the country). However, the upper middle class and richer classes have a lot of money and ARE willing to spend whatever it takes to have an Apple device.

In any case, I must agree with Akzel on one point: it's not ONLY about taxes; it's also about higher logistical costs AND the magic component of WILLINGNESS to pay (also known as "welfare" in Economics).

Just like places such as Switzerland, richer Brazilians still lack the collective sensitivity or transparent information to demand lower prices when compared to other international markets.

This happens mostly because the complex taxation system allows companies to mask their profit margins behind the excuse that fiscality is the sole responsible for those ridiculous prices...

This happens a lot in the automotive market in Brazil as well (where even locally-produced cars are sold in neighboring countries for MUCH lower prices even when all taxes are taken out of MRSPs).

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Originally Posted by 1member1

No offence but brazil is also still developing country.

You mean like the US?

[1member1]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

[/COLOR]

You mean like the US?

nope .. US is developed country. I think you wish to have 1/1000 of what they have there..

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Originally Posted by winston1236

Seriously, google favelas.

lol I can see it ! apple store in favelas style.

[MN7119]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

No, it's not (although per capita GDP is growing fast in the country). However, the upper middle class and richer classes have a lot of money and ARE willing to spend whatever it takes to have an Apple device.

In any case, I must agree with Akzel on one point: it's not ONLY about taxes; it's also about higher logistical costs AND the magic component of WILLINGNESS to pay (also known as "welfare" in Economics).

Just like places such as Switzerland, richer Brazilians still lack the collective sensitivity or transparent information to demand lower prices when compared to other international markets.

This happens mostly because the complex taxation system allows companies to mask their profit margins behind the excuse that fiscality is the sole responsible for those ridiculous prices...

This happens a lot in the automotive market in Brazil as well (where even locally-produced cars are sold in neighboring countries for MUCH lower prices even when all taxes are taken out of MRSPs).

----------



You mean like the US?

Sorry but being from Brazil and living in the US for over 10 years it still drives me crazy that Brazilians HAVE to have whatever is sold in the US. If Americans are buying, that must be cool so we have to have it. Brazilians do not buy iPhones because they are great phones. They buy because they like to show off. I just came back from a business trip to Brazil and could not believe how many people I saw sitting in fancy restaurants with an iPad open sitting on the table just to show others they had it. Same in business meetings when people bring an iPad, open them and leave them on the table again just to show off. I agree that Sao Paulo should have an Apple Store but unfortunately that won’t bring prices down. It will probably be located at Iguatemi or JK Malls where only millionaires can afford and again they will buy devices to show off. Sad!!!!!

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by 1member1

(( Why those countries ?_? I have to pay double in my country and not great support either.

Because Brazil is the world's 4th largest IT market, with a gigantic middle/rich class willing to pay premium prices for Apple devices, even with all the tax imposition that exists there. In fact, a local retail Apple Store makes more than sense there, since local production has already started to lower the historically-high prices in the country

So the equation fits: local production + local logistics + local retail = lower prices and much higher sales numbers.

Is that reason enough for you?

[1member1]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Because Brazil is the world's 4th largest IT market, with a gigantic middle/rich class willing to pay premium prices for Apple devices, even with all the tax imposition that exists there. In fact, a local retail Apple Store makes more than sense there, since local production has already started to lower the historically-high prices in the country

So the equation fits: local production + local logistics + local retail = lower prices and much higher sales numbers.

Is that reason enough for you?

No offence but brazil is also still developing country.

[guzhogi]

Yay, Turkey! My mom's brother-in-law is from there. Beautiful country.

[Cali Fornia]

Vienna?

[winston1236]

Originally Posted by 1member1

No offence but brazil is also still developing country.

Seriously, google favelas.

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by winston1236

Seriously, google favelas.

While you are at it, feel free to google "New Orleans" or "Detroit" as well.

[orfeas0]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

Because Brazil is the world's 4th largest IT market, with a gigantic middle/rich class willing to pay premium prices for Apple devices, even with all the tax imposition that exists there. In fact, a local retail Apple Store makes more than sense there, since local production has already started to lower the historically-high prices in the country

So the equation fits: local production + local logistics + local retail = lower prices and much higher sales numbers.

Is that reason enough for you?

Same in Greece, but apple decided to make a store in Turkey before making one in Greece :S
Too bad they don't seem to care about their customers...

[bushido]

Originally Posted by orfeas0

Same in Greece, but apple decided to make a store in Turkey before making one in Greece :S
Too bad they don't seem to care about their customers...

Greece cant afford apple products right now

(... goes into hiding)