Apple Store - Chapelfield, Norwich, Norfolk, UK

[djpalmer93]

Brilliant News! Where do you think it'll be? I vote the old Pier store, USC, or they shut down House of Fraser, stick a huge Apple in the glass and occupy all the floors - that'd be great!

Haha! Great idea applemax!

Perhaps it will be where Logo was?

 

[radebe]

That's so awesome! I'll tell all my friends and they won't believe me at all, not on April 1st.

 

[batone]

Apple in Norfolk

Well who would have believed little old Norwich would warrant it's own Apple store.

Now I don't have to go to Cambridge or London - great.

Hang on - that press release was dated 31st March not 1st April I hope.

 

[djpalmer93]

Well who would have believed little old Norwich would warrant it's own Apple store.

Now I don't have to go to Cambridge or London - great.

Hang on - that press release was dated 31st March not 1st April I hope.

Yes, it was yesterday

 

[marcol]

Most excellent news!

Here's the EDP story:

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news...gory=News&itemid=NOED02 Apr 2009 08:20:05:630

 

[biteoftheapple]

Apple Store Already in Norwich

As many have already mentioned there is a store selling and displaying Apple products hardware and software in Norwich. Bite Systems Ltd. very helpful and knowledgeable. They even have guys there who specialise in Music side of things. Mountergate NR1 1PY. 01603 623623. They are Authorised Service Providers and Resellers.

 

[applemax]

As many have already mentioned there is a store selling and displaying Apple products hardware and software in Norwich. Bite Systems Ltd. very helpful and knowledgeable. They even have guys there who specialise in Music side of things. Mountergate NR1 1PY. 01603 623623. They are Authorised Service Providers and Resellers.

Bit of self-promotion?

Doesn't compare to an Apple Store though... They'll always get the new products first, great customer service, sales of iPhones, helpful staff, endless support and stock, new stock batches (important for iPhones!), etc...

It's a much needed addition for the city as the only place to buy Apple products with some peace in mind is from John Lewis and their lead time from release to sale is usually 1-2 months.

 

[Windfall]

I would have thought a two year no quibble warranty that John Lewis offer is worth the wait. As for the guys at Bite, well what can I say, I ordered a new Macbook Pro a few days before the new ones where announced and got the new model the same week. I decided to buy from them as they are local and offered impartial advice about Apple products. Its great news about the new store, but if it sees the end of the smaller independent stores then in the long run it will be a real disaster, not only for buyers, but for Apple too. I don't fancy struggling through Chaplefield car park with my macpro if it goes wrong!

 

[codo]

I would have thought a two year no quibble warranty that John Lewis offer is worth the wait. As for the guys at Bite, well what can I say, I ordered a new Macbook Pro a few days before the new ones where announced and got the new model the same week. I decided to buy from them as they are local and offered impartial advice about Apple products. Its great news about the new store, but if it sees the end of the smaller independent stores then in the long run it will be a real disaster, not only for buyers, but for Apple too. I don't fancy struggling through Chaplefield car park with my macpro if it goes wrong!

I have to say - I fully agree about Bite Systems. They are so helpful and friendly - it would be such a shame if they cannot remain in the city.

Having said that, Apple stores are simply awesome and I'm very excited. I think I would still take my Mac to Bite if I had a problem - there service is outstanding.

 

[Marble]

I found them helpful, too, but was disappointed that they couldn't compete with Apple when it came to student discounts, and deals when purchasing new computers. Additionally, I'm not sure what their warranty policy is for a vanilla system (without applecare, I mean).

 

[LJH68]

Norwich Store

Norwich has released they are opening a apple store
I see an advert in the paper looking for staff to start working in there
so good news for Norwich !!

 

[dubhe]

I just saw this on the apple website, new store opening soon, chapelfield norwich! Bring it on!

 

[Ibanez Strummer]

And the result is.....

USC! Went there today and was boarded up with work already on behind and a legal notice stating the client as apple, infinite loop, cupertino so no confusion!

 

[applemax]

USC! Went there today and was boarded up with work already on behind and a legal notice stating the client as apple, infinite loop, cupertino so no confusion!

Great! I thought it'd be there

I think that's gonna make it one of the largest stores in the country - the unit is HUGE!!!

 

[dubhe]

This is dangerous, I live 5 minutes walk from Chapelfield, this time next year I am going to be skint (but with a really nice home network and entertainment setup)...

 

[Windfall]

I just went to the Apple Store in Cambridge, and it will be the last time I go to one. Never been so patronized in my life. And as for advice, well I guess it was silly of me to think it would be impartial, lets hope the independent dealers can
exist side by side with Corporate America!!!

 

[neiltc13]

Another one in the South East. How very novel.

 

[orbital~debris]

Yeah, OK… so Norwich is usually lumped in with the 'South-East' - but really it's East Anglia (a region which is often conveniently forgotten about with other more important matters). It's actually quite isolated and transport links are bad (i mean come on, it takes longer to get to London from the coast than it does to get from London to Paris!).

 

[dubhe]

Norwich is actually further North than Birmingham...

I just went to the Apple Store in Cambridge, and it will be the last time I go to one. Never been so patronized in my life. And as for advice, well I guess it was silly of me to think it would be impartial, lets hope the independent dealers can
exist side by side with Corporate America!!!

I have been to the apple store in Southampton quite a few times (bought my last three Macs there) and had a good experience, when I took my MBA back because of the screen lines the genius was understanding and helpful.

My friend used to work for John Lewis at Norwich as the Apple expert, he has applied for a job at the apple store

 

[Flowerpot]

Apple service in Norwich

I have seen on this thread that people don't seem to know about Bite Systems in Norwich which is an Apple service provider and reseller! It amazes me that although it is on Apples website as a service provider and you can google it under "Apple in Norwich" that people don't see it!
Yes I will agree with the comments on this thread, they are a great little company, and although the Apple store will look fab I'm not so sure the service will match it?

 

[rspeters]

When?

So, does anyone know when it is going to open?
If they were advertising for Staff at the beginning of April it should be very soon shouldn't it?

 

[capoeirista]

I just heard about this yesterday.... hooray for a store within walking distance, sadly I try to avoid Chapelfield at the best of times though (especially Saturdays)

I know a rep from Apple was at UEA last week, and they're trying to set up a bit of a try-before-you-buy service for staff (presumably not students) in the near future.

 

[Ibanez Strummer]

So, does anyone know when it is going to open?
If they were advertising for Staff at the beginning of April it should be very soon shouldn't it?

Legal notice on the door said 16 weeks for work to finish and that went up on 10th June. Wouldn't be surprised if exaggerated though. Gives them flexibility to open exactly when like in their surprise sorta way.

 

[Josh Kahane]

I am so glad this is happening, I would usually drive an hour away to cambridge, but it was when I went to their store that a genius told me one would be coming to Norwich. Also in the Apple retailer Bite Systems in Norwich, they also saod that an Apple Store would be coming to Chaplefield.

I was recently in Chaplefield and I looked all around and the only place that strikes me where it could be is on the middle floor (the one with House of Fraiser). There is building work going on in a fairly big section. It is the one covered with huge black boarding so you won't miss it (that is where I think it will be). I peeked through a gap and all I saw were builders and dust. But it looks like the place it could be.

Also, it just seems like Apple would cover their builders up with a nice black wall, rather than crummy ones with building notices all over it. I know it sounds silly, but if someone were to get a picture of it and post it up here, you will know what i mean. I just get a feel for that being it.

 

[tiptopp]

October

According to the jobs pages on the Apple site a few weeks ago, it opens in October.

I have to say that I'm not entirely convinced by the independence of the new members all singing Bite's praises - I'm a bit cynical like that... BTW, I have no connection with them, but do work in an office 2 minutes walk away.

However, there's always room for a smaller company offering a more personal service in quieter surroundings, who can sell, presumably, more non-Apple peripherals and can be a bit more honest about what Apple's strengths and, more importantly, weaknesses are. I've only bought an iPhone case from them, but am constantly looking for excuses to pop in (although the permanently locked front door is a bit off-putting - it took me three attempts before I realised that there was a sign that said to ring the bell - I wonder how many customers are lost through this - why not get a sensor/camera so that an opening door triggers someone to go to the sales floor?). The chats I've had with people there have been informative - on my level - and I'm looking forward to them getting the music demo bench set up - I'm trying to convince myself to buy a keyboard...

I'm not saying that I won't be among the first people to go to the AppleStore when it opens, but I'll certainly be giving John Lewis a miss for Apple gadgets (they have a very small range, and very few knowledgable people, in my limited experience) in future, and will try to spend with Bite where I can.

Tiptopp