Apple 'Messed Up' with Retail Store Cutbacks, Denies Mass Layoffs

Any fool can save money short-term by cutting the labor. It is the easiest, most unimaginative move there is. The problem is, eventually you will have angry employees and no customers.

When Apple said they messed up, they did....by hiring this guy. Tim better not let this SOB F-up this company. To a lot of consumers, the Apple Store is Apple.
 
Defactomonkey said:
Funny how a lot of posters think attachments are something Browett will be introducing. AppleCare 60% One to One 40% are what apple salesmen need as a minimum to have a prayer of advancement. Go browse a computer at the apple store today if you don't believe me and see how much time the salesman spends talking up those programs.
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Yep. And if you are found to not even be trying to sell them then expect to be cut.
Oh and it's more like 80% when it's the mobile apple care plus

Also there is talk of cutting workshops. Given the noise in the stores and how there can be as many as 20 folks crammed in a corner with all levels of prior knowledge including the half deaf half blind granny that doesn't know what drag and drop means slowing things down, I say good. Open up more options with one to ones with things like letting folks buy a single lesson. Or a pack of ten they have a year to use. Let those be something you can buy anytime but keep the one year all you can get as a with computer buy only. And even charge for workshops with them held at a legit table etc holding say 6 folks tops. $5-10 isn't unreasonable or such a thing.
 
Apple Stores have been Gold Standard

Apple Retail Stores are the gold standard of retail shopping. If you want to be treated like crap go to Best Buy or Macy's. If this new VP screws up that Gold Standard experience Apple will suffer. Apple should get rid of him now. The last thing Apple needs is to have their retail stores turned into the CompUSA type of hell-holes.
 
Defactomonkey said:
Funny how a lot of posters think attachments are something Browett will be introducing.
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It's not that they're selling or offering attachments, it's the ultra high pressure sale of them (The Dixons/Browett way) that riles most people. What you buy or how suitable it is for your needs is of no concern to the Dixons group assistant, getting the customer to take an extended warranty is the priority. Something that Browett will introduce to Apple if given the chance.

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parish said:
You're more patient/tolerant than me. I had a similar experience - might have been PC World, can't remember - but when I realised the numpty didn't understand 'NO' I put the item I was buying in their hand and said, "There you go. Not only have you failed to sell me the warranty, you've just lost the sale of this" and walked out.
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I only use then as an emergency last resort. In fact the last time I was in there, again buying a small item, when I absent mindedly said it was a business purchase, they tried to get me to sit down with one of their business reps, wanting me to open an account, and get my details for spam, etc. It was only my threat to leave without purchase that persuaded the cashier to take my payment. Shoddy way to do business.
 
Something is not right here. This new Apple, sans Steve Jobs, seems to making a lot of stupid 'mistakes' like the EPAT. :mad:
 
I'm starting to feel like I can no longer give Apple my business. So much blatant dishonesty, and secrecy on so many levels... Ugh.
 
This whole story is pretty disturbing. Apple has always been top notch at retail, and now this new guy is coming in an screwing everything up. I hope Tim doesn't put up with it and can rage just as well as Steve could.
 
Technarchy said:
I have no confidence in John Browett

He strikes me as your typical MBA, middle manager, slash and burn, corporate scumbag.

He's exactly John Scully 2.

Everything you need to know is right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNcaMqiD64g

So when Apple employees start harassing you, remember, they've been told "Service is selling".

Remember they've been ordered to "overcome objections"

WTF! Overcome objections!? At Apple. No way in hell I will tolerate that. I'd rather get all my Apple stuff from Best Buy, Walmart and Target.

What on Earth is Tim Cook thinking with this guy?
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I watched that video before i read your post and ""Service is selling" made me do a double take. This guy is a clown. No, service is not selling. People who try to "sell" me, make me walk out the door.
 
CptnJustc said:
It's hard to imagine Apple stores being understaffed; it seems like they've quadrupled their staffing per square foot over the last few years. On my way to the Genius Bar, I have to tell half a dozen friendly blue-shirts that that's all I'm there for.
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Consider yourself fortunate then. Near my house, the Store has been pretty understaffed the past month or so. Genius Bar appointments are 10-25 minutes behind schedule. Picking up a Mac/iPad/iPhone takes about the same time, since the Specialists don't rush you (they'll spend an hour with you if you want, line of customers be darned).

Once you get helped though, it's a peerless experience.
 
JHankwitz said:
OMG! Apple made a mistake.
This certainly has to be the start of the end of Apple. :rolleyes:
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Yes, the mistake was hiring John Browett.
Apple is a brand, the easiest way to tarnish a brand is give customers a bad experience. Aggressive sales tactics and inexperience staff will do that quick as anything. I know that. You know that. Apple's retail VP does not know that.

I'm not saying their doomed, but you get to lose customer confidence once. You will never get it back.
 
peterh988 said:
My experience with this in PC World. I bought a small item, about £12, and was immediately offered an extended warranty. I declined before she got the first sentence out. Of course, that wasn't the end of it, "Just let me tell you about it"
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I stop "extended warranty" sales pitches with "is this product so badly built that a warranty is needed? maybe I won't buy it after all."
 
djdover said:
Why on earth would a smaller dock connector be a mistake?
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Depends.
From a consumer perspective, it could really suck.
- Apple charges $20 for a cable
- being proprietary, no one will have them for awhile
- They could break a lot easier (in the phone or even out of the phone)
- Many already have 5 or more of the current cables/connectors/chargers

From Apple's perspective, its a great silent money grab
- 10 cent cables is sold for $20
- 5 cent converters/connectors are sold for $10
- break it off in the phone, exchange phone for $99 or $199, etc

All in the name of "thin" which is Apple's word for innovation. Oh, and also in the name of "proprietary" which will be Apple downfall or at least why they will never own the market.

Why not a mini USB?
 
szalayfilm said:
Wonder if the previous raises were a "mess up" as well?
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Yes it is messed up. If you had holiday during July you were underpaid and then only paid at the pre-raise rate. A lot of us get paid less in July than in June.

There has been no apology from management and the missing payments are still outstanding, whilst Apple lawyers are deciding if they must pay us correctly or if they can just forget it.

In the mean time, I'm struggling to pay my bills.
 
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