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Apple and Dealer Relations

Re: Re: Re: Screw em!

Originally posted by xtekdiver
Then let them compete! The point is they can't! And they can't because they suck! Who thought of Apple stores? Steve Jobs. Anyone could have done it, but no one did until Steve Jobs took control. These people are just out to make a buck and don't give a rats ass about Apple's image. Jobs understand very well that if this company is to succeed and grow then they must market their products and deal with the problems of perception; which is to say that most people think Apple computers are over priced and can't run common everyday applications they use. Let's face it folks, Apple has 3% market share because most people have no clue what an Apple computer is or why they should even care. Apple stores are critical to getting that message to the masses of ignorant windows slaves. These resellers present Apple in a very bad light and that has to change. Now it will. Why? Because if you want to compete then you have to offer something better. That's competition!
Click to expand...

Good Lord, I just don't want Apple to be the only ones who sell Apple products. I am a consumer, I want a choice, I want variety!

You say:
"resellers present Apple in a very bad light."
This is extremely objective. Who says they do? Oftentimes, Apple resellers have a little more in depth, user knowledge of Apple products than the kids putting themselves through college in Apple Stores.

You say:
"These [Apple resellers] people are just out to make a buck and don't give a rats ass about Apple's image."
Um, why? They want buisness for their Apple products! Why would they ever make Apple have a "bad image" if they want to sell their (Apple's) products?

Get your facts straight! Don't you ever want to "shop around"?
 
Apple should make an offer to all existing independent dealers for an Apple store franchise. Using a subsidized franchise model could be a much more effective way to encourage growth than a combination of independent dealers and wholly owned stores. Existing dealers would be provided with extra financing for building a new store or improving their current one. Wholly owned stores should only be built where operating costs are especially high such as downtown locations or in areas that lack potential franchisees. Company owned stores should be made available for sale to franchisees at a reasonable price. Apple would retain the right to revoke or fail to renew a franchise under certain extreme circumstances.

Applicants for a franchise would have to have a location approved by Apple. The decision to approve or not would be based primarily upon the proximity of other Apple stores. Independent dealers then could either use their current location or move to a better one. The appearance of all stores should be made to be somewhat uniform by subsidy investments made by Apple. Apple should pay for all of the initial build out costs if an IAD decides to switch to a franchise, which provides an incentive for Apple to make a return on the investment. Franchisees would only be required to cover operating costs and pay a modest annual franchise fee.

Future store improvements would either be paid for by the franchisee or provided by Apple as a competitive reward for excellence in customer service, sales, profitability or other measure. Special promotional events would be granted on the basis of similar measures.

Product discounts should be provided evenly to all resellers including both franchisees and other retailers in the form of instant or mail-in rebates. Products should be made available to all stores in a timely manner through improved supply chain management. Franchisees would be given more control over their stores than current company owned Apple stores but less than they would have had as independent dealers. This would allow dealers the opportunity to make decisions about store layout and employee training.

Dealers should be allowed to provide custom build to order products using approved parts. The list of approved parts should be extensive and include many options not available online. Online customers should always be given the option of completing a purchase at a store. Hardware service and support should be provided at all franchise stores. Software and peripheral selections at each store should be plentiful.
 
Re: Re: Re: Re: Screw em!

Originally posted by sethypoo
Good Lord, I just don't want Apple to be the only ones who sell Apple products. I am a consumer, I want a choice, I want variety!

You say:
"resellers present Apple in a very bad light."
This is extremely objective. Who says they do? Oftentimes, Apple resellers have a little more in depth, user knowledge of Apple products than the kids putting themselves through college in Apple Stores.

You say:
"These [Apple resellers] people are just out to make a buck and don't give a rats ass about Apple's image."
Um, why? They want buisness for their Apple products! Why would they ever make Apple have a "bad image" if they want to sell their (Apple's) products?

Get your facts straight! Don't you ever want to "shop around"?
Click to expand...

From a West of England perspective, I would drop a bomb on all the resellers I contacted when looking for a Powerbook. I dont want choice if it means dealing over the phone to make an appointment just to go and see some polite but blundering hob knob working out the back of a secretarial services or printing business.

For the vast majority of Brits I would suggest that clicking onto the web site and buying direct from Apple Store is far and away the best way to buy. The reselling network is a shambles and god knows where they or Apple got the idea one man bands with no retail front could promote and sell Macs. They are the face of the diminishing market share. If they really believe in Apple´s future, which they should, give them the chance to upgrade to a totally appropriate standard shop. It wouldnt have to be massive, just something to reflect what Apple are doing with their store. If they bitch and moan, adios. This isnt 1993, change or die, like what Apple are having to do.

There is some glimmer of hope here in Bristol in that a couple of classy out of town department stores have a decent array of Macs, but even then if I was the person responsible for justifying returns per squre foot of rented floor space, Id get shot of every salesmen currently trying to promote and sell Apple in department stores. Then Id pay any money to headhunt lively and knowledgeable Apple users (the switched on types on this type of forum) and place them with a really switched on tech headhunted from a current Apple resellers. That way you keep an Apple presence, keep technical Mac knowledge on hand and the only losers are the reseller "entrepreneurs", who can just take the hint and concentrate on selling typing by the word or whatever they did before.

And Apple please put an Apple superstore in just half a dozen cities in the UK. At the moment its blind dinosaurs leading the blind.
 
I checked Apples Website and they only have 2 Apple Specialist in my state besides the CompUSA's.

I did however found out an Apple Store will open in new mall being built on the border but the problem with that is the coast is around 3hrs away from me. I want store that is built into the center of the state not over 3 hrs away.
Maybe since they are building a new entertainment center here they will build an Apple Store there. I can only hope. I'll drive 1-2hr drive but nothing over that unless I'm just going up that way.
 
Indies getting screwed

Altruism notwithstanding, what bothers me about Apple's behavior with their IADs is that, once they are effectively eliminated, we, the unsuspecting consumers, will have no other place to turn when Apple begins to screw with us. And, for those of us who love the platform, we will have as little option available to us as the current IADs have if they want to continue selling Apples.

Apple will have to make up their massive expenditures on their retail push somewhere--once their lackies are gone--and the next logical party is the end user--you and me.

The advertising industry is now virtually dependent upon Macs. Apple will not go out of business as long as it maintains this technological edge. No, it will be the individual consumers that will have to make up the difference once Apple can no longer rape their independent resellers.

Guess what? It is already happening. Hidden charges, .imac accounts being "automatically" renewed, fewer items being covered under Applecare--check it out and you will see.
 
APPLE screws indies today, us tomorrow

Day Tripper has it exactly right, Apple screws the Independent Apple Dealers (IADs) today, then us as consumers tomorrow.

It is shortsighted to think a cool :cool: new Apple Store in our neighborhood is a solution to Apple's retail problem and our desire for a good place to shop. Yes, I love our 2 pretty Apple Stores here in metro-Phoenix. Buy I've bought my last two Macs from other sources, iBook at Fry's because of their Apple Expert (who left because he wasn't appreciated by Fry's Management) and the other from an Online Warehouse I've been doing thousands of dollars of business with for over a decade. ;)

Now, I'm turning to a new local store - MacMedia (AirPort Extreme & software), and an older one called MacSales (repairs and lots of other stuff), which specializes in high-end commercial printers $5,000 and up and printing giant posters, banners, etc.

Until Apple changes the way it treats IADs, I'll visit the Apple Store to play with the new toys and absorb tons of visual overload and information, then I'll support my local IAD with the purchase, even over an Internet warehouse.

The good health of my favorite independent store keeps Apple in check, keeps my Macs running smoothly, and is a valuable a source of unbiased technical information. Often, the difference in price is less than the cost of a Happy Meal at McDonald's. :cool:

Plus, why would anyone buy a Canon or Nikon camera for regular retail at an Apple Store when we can save as much as fifth to a hundred dollars at Ultimate Electronics or some discount camera shop? :p And the IADs often have incredible deals on scanners and other peripherals that Apple never offers.
 
What irks me is that a guy like me who is very Mac knowledgable and has over 6 years of experience in the Mac retail sales and service market can't get hired by a local Apple Store and then what are my options....it's either a CompUSA who I know most you don't like or an IAD who I would rather support and work for. I chose an IAD despite the fact that a CompUSA was here in the Memphis area. I get started with an IAD and then Apple stabs us in the back constantly with unfair practices that give the Apple Store in Germantown all the advantages. What are guys like me who need to put food on the table supposed to do. I don't have the resources to compete against Apple. I ended up getting a part-time job at Cracker Barrel as a waiter because I ran out of resources to try to compete. I am frustrated because I love selling and supporting Macs. I am a faithful Mac user who has supported the Mac for over 10 years. I have put blood, sweat, and tears into making the Mac image look better. I have tiredlessly busted my rear and spent myself broke trying to make ads on my own, design web sites, travel as much as 3 hours from my company location, go to trade shows like MacWorld Expo, try to keep my equipment relatively up to date, try to obtain as much software as possible so as to be helpful to those who need help, and try show support to the Mac User Group. Over and over in the user group meetings, I have shown that often times I know more than the local Apple Store "Genius"......the guy didn't even know that DV Camcorders don't work with G3 based macs and iChatAV......I knew that and I don't even work for Apple! However, whenever the "Genius" wants to do the presentation for the meeeting.....oh he is welcome to do it at any time......how about a guy like me? The point is that sometimes the small guys want to help Apple, want to build up the Apple image, wants to support the local user group, wants to network with the best Mac users out their, wants to promote the Mac to the average computer user, and wants to make money; but we don't have nearly the same resources to work with nor do we get the special priviledges that employees of the Apple Store get.
 
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