Currys and PC World Gearing Up to Sell Apple Watch in UK

[Keirasplace]

LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-apple-watch-20150827-story.html

Not much there, except lying about the negative reviews (its the segment itself that gets a mixed review, not the watch whose reviews have been generally pretty positive), piling on more FUD on the numbers and then saying that's IDC equally unsubstantiated numbers somehow proves that Apple is not doing as bad as those fake rumors (hey, we've got the best fake numbers...). Oh, they threw in bone with his "meets expectations" quote and then let the IDC guy continue selling his crap.

The end is mildly positive to Apple, but the initial setup premise in the article garbage and shouldn't even have been reported; and that's coming from a major newspaper. No wonder trash heap reporting sites like The Verge broadcast FUD all day long.

 

[Azzin]

We had Best Buy a few years ago... Ironically in partnership with Carphone Warehouse...

And look how long they lasted...

 

[5590982]

Oh it's great that another UK retailer will be carrying this. That means customers will finally be able to get a better chance look at it because it's always so crowded at the Apple store...

Oh wait...

I took that photo a couple days ago at my local Apple store. Both those two tables in the middle are the Watch displays. It's like that every time I go past - no one looking at the watches. I watch people walk in and sort of pause while glancing at it, sometimes not even fully turning towards it, some will bend over and casually toy with it for maybe 15-25 seconds and then they walk over to the computers.

 

[Azzin]

But that's the thing, that's what they do at Apple Stores. That's what they've ALWAYS done at Apple Stores

Since the beginning I can remember a specialist (either shyly or way too confidently) bugging me about AppleCare and MobileMe and One to One...trying to convince me I run a business to sign up with their "business team" and it's all to make some kind of brainless retail number

Maybe the Apple Store kids have a little more tact and will back down easier, but that process you described just sounded so identical to an Apple Store I figured I'd chime in. The Apple Store is just as Best Buy as the rest of them...

They are nowhere near as driven as C/PCW staff to sell you a warranty.

Going back a few years, I think Dixons group made more profit from their warranties, than they did from the goods they sold.

They really are the pits when it comes to customer service.

I can see it now...

Customer walks in to C/PCW

* C/PCW staff member: "Good morning, how can I help you today?"

* Customer: "I'm interested in an Apple Watch"

* C/PCW staff member: "Oh....you'll need to go over there then" (pointing in the approximate direction of the Apple Watch stand/staff).

* C/PCW staff member: "Next customer please"

* Customer: "Hi, I'm interested in an Apple Watch too"

* C/PCW staff member: *Sigh*... "Just follow that man there" (pointing over his shoulder without even looking round).

Apple customers who are used to Apple customer service won't know what's hit them by the time they come out of C/PCW.

I think this is a really bad decision on Apple's part.

Did they learn nothing from their John Browett "experience"?

 

[StevieD100]

I seem to have deleted the bit where I said I got a refund in store yesterday, but customer support on the phone said I wouldn't because it did technically work.

Then Dixons-PCW Customer Support are breaking the law by telling you that. Complain to trading standards.

As for my local PCW store, even on a Saturday afternoon the place is like a Ghost Town. Finding anything is a PITA. The space given over to IT stuff has been reduced by 50% to make space for all the White Goods (Curry's). Then they made the space between the aisles wider thus reducing the number of products on display even further. Marketing Rules OK!
Just over the road is another RipOff store, Maplins. At least there you can find what you want and the staff (At least at my local one) will order in bits that they don't have in stock.
It is little wonder that more and more people just don't bother these days and just get everything from the likes of Amazon.

Personally, I use a local retailer quite a bit. The Guys at Novatech in Pompey are totally different to PC-W.

 

[5590982]

C/PCW staff member: "Oh, you'll need to go over there" (pointing in the approximate direction of the Apple Watch stand/staff).

Apple customers who are used to Apple customer service won't know what's hit them by the time they come out of C/PCW.

I think this is a really bad decision on Apple's part.

Eh? People who go into PC World know exactly what they're letting themselves in for. They swing by the place after getting what they need from Homebase.
If someone is cosseted enough that he expects to have the red carpet treatment at a store in a retail park just off the M20, then that's his problem - but y'know what? Those customers are very few in number.

Anyway - Apple products sell themselves. All you need is someone to tell you where they are. And you won't even need that because in every PC World I've been to - the Apple concession is right up the front.

 

[pjh]

It amazes me the PC world still exists. Poor prices, staff that don't know what they are selling and constantly trying to sell poor value warranties. Really, these stores have nothing going for them except convenience, even then they often fall down on that by not having what you want. PC world is a dying concept, whose only goal is suck whatever they can out of their customer base before they finally go belly up.

 

[Jsameds]

Imagine what will happen when Walmart starts selling it....

*Asda

 

[Azzin]

Eh? People who go into PC World know exactly what they're letting themselves in for. They swing by the place after getting what they need from Homebase.

They really don't know what they're letting themselves in for.

They see a huge store, with lots of products and expect top notch knowledge and service from such a "large" place. I am constantly speaking to people who went to C/PCW and regret it.

If someone is cosseted enough that he expects to have the red carpet treatment at a store in a retail park just off the M20, then that's his problem - but y'know what? Those custevery right to expect to omers are very few in number.

So you think Caveat Emptor should reign king when it comes to customer's choices? You sound like you work for Currys, PCWorld or Dixons group.

Customers have every right to expect decent service from C/PCW, unfortunately, they just don't offer it (they just pretend to).

Anyway - Apple products sell themselves. All you need is someone to tell you where they are. And you won't even need that because in every PC World I've been to - the Apple concession is right up the front.

The Watch won't sell itself, because there a lot of options to choose from.

C/PCW staff couldn't be trusted IMO to offer that level of personal service and the reason is that they won't be able to earn a huge commission out of it from flogging you a useless and overpriced warranty at the end of the sale.

 

[Azzin]

It amazes me the PC world still exists. Poor prices, staff that don't know what they are selling and constantly trying to sell poor value warranties. Really, these stores have nothing going for them except convenience, even then they often fall down on that by not having what you want. PC world is a dying concept, whose only goal is suck whatever they can out of their customer base before they finally go belly up.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[roadbloc]

Don't understand the hullabloo. Currys and PC World sell many Apple products. This was going to happen sooner or later.

 

[Azzin]

Don't understand the hullabloo. Currys and PC World sell many Apple products. This was going to happen sooner or later.

You would understand the hullabaloo if you'd ever tried to deal with C/PCW...

 

[roadbloc]

You would understand the hullabaloo if you'd ever tried to deal with C/PCW...

They're just tech stores. I've bought several products from both with little issue. I take it you had a bad experience?

 

[Azzin]

They're just tech stores. I've bought several products from both with little issue. I take it you had a bad experience?

The buying is not necessarily the issue.

It's the poor and biased advice, warranty hard sell and the complete reluctance/abilty to help in the event of a problem when you go back.

They're great at either taking your order because you know exactly what you want when you go in, or flogging you a warranty, but when it comes to helping you once you've left the store? Forget it.

I've never had a bad experience as I wouldn't shop there, but lots (and lots) of my clients have.

 

[roadbloc]

The buying is not necessarily the issue.

It's the poor and biased advice, warranty hard sell and the complete reluctance/abilty to help in the event of a problem when you go back.

Anybody who takes the advice of a sales worker representing any company is a fool. Of course it'll be biased. They have bills to pay and the only way that'll happen is if they reach their sales targets.

 

[cambox]

http://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...-Spot-Worldwide-Wearables-Market#.VeDFnSolepJ

Yep just a rumour! Wheres the figures from Apple?

 

[CFreymarc]

mmmm.... Watch and Curry.

Since you bring Frankie up, the 40th anniversary of Rocky is next month in New York. The movie actors for Colombia, Magenta and Brad will be there. Been told Tim Curry in poor health and may show unannounced considering how he is doing.

 

[cambox]

Other way round mate, at least in my local store. The Apple section is alive and kicking with the latest stuff.

EDIT: I should clarify, the PC World store not the Currys store.

You must be one of the last standing then as its company policy across the PCW/C stores

 

[CFreymarc]

If you think this is bad. I'm waiting for the announcement that Fry's Electronics in the States starts to sell the Apple Watch.

 

[The Game 161]

Yep just a rumour! Wheres the figures from Apple?

Bet you believed the rumours that said it wasn't selling well though, right?

 

[peterh988]

But that's the thing, that's what they do at Apple Stores. That's what they've ALWAYS done at Apple Stores

Since the beginning I can remember a specialist (either shyly or way too confidently) bugging me about AppleCare and MobileMe and One to One...trying to convince me I run a business to sign up with their "business team" and it's all to make some kind of brainless retail number

Maybe the Apple Store kids have a little more tact and will back down easier, but that process you described just sounded so identical to an Apple Store I figured I'd chime in. The Apple Store is just as Best Buy as the rest of them...

I've had people at the Apple Store ask me if I'd like Applecare, but they also accepted "no" was the answer the first time I said it. Whereas at PC World, after saying "no thanks, not interested" I was literally followed across the store by the girl, continually asking me to "just listen for a minute". She must have ignored my refusal 7-8 times, even when I literally gave her the hand and said "please stop, I'm really not interested", and after I said "once more, and i'm leaving" she carried on trying to sell me an extended warranty.

Same at the checkout, when I was informed "I had to" sign up as a business customer and said, "just put it through, I'm n to interested" she refused until I'd spoken to a business rep. Again, I left.

Shoddy service from a company who it seems would rather lose a sale than exhaust multiple opportunities to badger people into taking extended warranties. One attempt, if people say no, accept it. That's customer service.

 

[Rogifan]

Oh it's great that another UK retailer will be carrying this. That means customers will finally be able to get a better chance look at it because it's always so crowded at the Apple store...

Oh wait...

I took that photo a couple days ago at my local Apple store. Both those two tables in the middle are the Watch displays. It's like that every time I go past - no one looking at the watches. I watch people walk in and sort of pause while glancing at it, sometimes not even fully turning towards it, some will bend over and casually toy with it for maybe 15-25 seconds and then they walk over to the computers.

Got a love anecdotal evidence. In this photo it looks like the only thing people are looking at are iMacs. I guess Apple really is doomed then.

 

[Aniseedvan]

Got a love anecdotal evidence. In this photo it looks like the only thing people are looking at are iMacs. I guess Apple really is doomed then.

I watched the MK store when my kids did the apple summer camp a couple of weeks ago. Steady stream of interest in the watches and a good few sold in the 90 minutes each day we were there. I do wonder whether some of that is due to the fact that every member of staff was wearing one...

Another thing about PC World is their attitude to women; they assume that you're technologically illiterate and not able to make an informed choice on your own...

 

[FieldingMellish]

I know 2 people who have Apple watches and who are no longer interested in wearing them.

 

[b1wils1]

Just picked up watches for my wife and myself last night. Love em so far.