Apple Orchard Road in Singapore Officially Opens to the Public

[Tomasulu]

Soft comfortable seats, internet and coffee were my reasons to work and meet at Starbucks.

With these wooden low boxes and without coffee, she's missing the point entirely.

Perhaps that's exactly why they've stools albeit Hermes ones and not comfy armchairs.

 

[Black Belt]

Calls it Apple Orchard, fails to plant Apple trees.

 

[Keirasplace]

I remember buying my iPod when they first came out at the Palo Alto store. The vibe within the store was amazing. Stores during the Ron Johnson era always were fresh and full of new and innovative products, nowadays, not so much.
Apple as a gathering place? Come on, Angela, where did you even come up with that concept?
Unfortunately, IMHO, that most of us here on MR, know what we want and will obtain the product through the best or reasonable channels that we can find and have no reason to set foot in an Apple 'store'.
Apple has gone to mass appeal hoping that the brand will sell product, which it has, and with the majority of the stores in malls, deal with the everyday people that just buy because of the name and not necessarily the quality of the product ( which we know in our own realm) has slipped greatly.
Cook & Co has not risen up to what Apple was and should be, just riding on the coattails of yesterday.
OK. I'm done now.....

Easy, the flagship stores are set in place people gather naturally; see, easy, doesn't take a genius to understand that huh. Apple has always sold "improving people's lives" as their real product, not tech so having Apple at heart of a social hub feeds naturally into that.

 

[Amcmo]

There were lots of people, lots of employees, yet few were buying something. I don't even know what these stores are for. The sad thing is that Apple products are not only overpriced, there is virtually 0 chance of getting a (meaningful) discount anywhere. It would make sense for people/tourists that can't buy directly online Apple products in their countries because there is no offline/online AppleStore there (and the corresponding retailers just suck) and/or want to take advantage of tax refund. And guess what, Apple doesn't build or sell the products these people want. Watch bands, smartphone covers, i5 laptops, 32GB iPad Pros, Beats headphones ? No thanks.

You are decidedly wrong there. Apple does make the products these people want. That's why 4 of the 5 best selling smartphones are made by Apple. Why Apple with a small range of PC's is 5th largest seller, beating Acer with God knows how many models; why Apple stores worldwide make more profit from sales per sq ft than any other company - by a wide margin.

 

[grad]

You are decidedly wrong there. Apple does make the products these people want.

People said the same for Microsoft Windows since the 90s ... and yes it was/is a terrible OS.

Some countries/cities (including Singapore) ARE shopping centers and attract tourists/foreigners who would like to take the opportunity of looking/asking/buying something not easily available at home.

We went to the store with a couple of friends. Spent an hour trying to figure out something that would make worth the visit. Everyone left empty handed. I was looking for an iPad Pro 12.9 256GB, can't seem to locate one for 6+ months. Won't buy the 32GB model, thanks. Another guy wanted to have a look at the Mac Pro and another wanted a Mac Mini (not just the base model). I was 2x/3x the age of everyone in the crowd and I am not that old. I doubt anyone was talking about computers/gadgets/Apple there.

 

[jonblatho]

There is a Union Square in NYC. There is also a Union Square in San Francisco. The Apple store you are referring to is the one in San Francisco (quite certain there is no Apple store in NY's Union Square, the closest is over on 14th st. and 9th Ave.).

Anyways, the Singapore store is welcomed with open arms. Never realized how inconsistent and messy it can be to purchase/repair products solely through third party outlets until I moved here.

The official name of the store is Apple Union Square.

 

[Larry-K]

There's quite a difference between meeting someone at Starbucks and spending $4 on a latte versus meeting at the Apple Store and dropping $1700 on a MacBook Pro, Angela.

I don't know, they're both fairly disappointing experiences.

 

[zzLZHzz]

Maybe now we can finally some AirPods in stock.

i heard they ran out of stock in the afternoon of the opening.

First in SE Asia? I thought they were already there being that it is such a great target market. What took so long?

that is something we wish to know too. especially given the fact that in the recent years, Singapore is always on the first batch of iPhone launch country.

 

[George Dawes]

The fact that you have to go online to get a customised mac rules them out for me , thx. Plus my online care experience has been miles better than the physical one. A recent iTunes software problem even had a guy from the USA ringing me up for my help , in the UK stores it's a miracle when they even acknowledge your existence

Box shifting store , that's all it seems to me.

Only been in a very few times in the last 10 years - it was a soulless experience and I was glad to get out of there , the staff knew nothing - the genius bar was everything but and the customers seemed to be wandering around in a haze , it was a truly odd experience. When I asked about speccing a mac mini for my little brother I was met with a blank expression by some hipster dork who was busy chatting on his iphone. I ended up having to give advice to two other purchasers as the 'staff' were totally out of their depth when it came to anything vaguely technical. They could help with the right watch band colour combo - anything else forget it.

 

[zzLZHzz]

The fact that you have to go online to get a customised mac rules them out for me , thx. Plus my online care experience has been miles better than the physical one. A recent iTunes software problem even had a guy from the USA ringing me up for my help , in the UK stores it's a miracle when they even acknowledge your existence

Box shifting store , that's all it seems to me.

Only been in a very few times in the last 10 years - it was a soulless experience and I was glad to get out of there , the staff knew nothing - the genius bar was everything but and the customers seemed to be wandering around in a haze , it was a truly odd experience. When I asked about speccing a mac mini for my little brother I was met with a blank expression by some hipster dork who was busy chatting on his iphone. I ended up having to give advice to two other purchasers as the 'staff' were totally out of their depth when it came to anything vaguely technical. They could help with the right watch band colour combo - anything else forget it.

a lot of things can be done and purchase online, and that is what i would do too.

however, the store is still good for a purpose. sometime you just want to get a physical feel of it before purchasing it online. that is something that online store can't provide.

 

[George Dawes]

Any idea why they don't allow customisation at the physical stores ??

It's not like adding a bit of ram is that difficult - is it ??

The wait time on the net deliveries can be a real pain when you need a bit of kit quickly

I'd love to just go into a store buy a tricked out mini ( 16/ 2tb FD ) and that's that..

 

[weckart]

I suppose that if my iPhone ever broke down again, I should get a faster response time than the 1 week for a replacement to get shipped to me via third party repair channels.

We will see.

With only one store serving the whole of Singapore/S. Malaysia plus assorted tourists, good luck in getting a Genius Bar appointment within a week.

Oh Merrcans and their generation thing. Never quite understood it.

1. Baby Boomers: born 1946 to 1964
2. Gen X: born 1965 to 1976
   
3. Gen Y (Millennials): born 1977 to 1995
   
4. Gen Z (Centennials): born 1996 to 2012

Dates may shift a bit depending who you ask but it's all just marketing speak at the end of the day.

She is to gready and to old. I dont think i like her.

Random reaction made me smile. Something like a 5 year old would say.

 

[Amcmo]

I remember buying my iPod when they first came out at the Palo Alto store. The vibe within the store was amazing. Stores during the Ron Johnson era always were fresh and full of new and innovative products, nowadays, not so much.
Apple as a gathering place? Come on, Angela, where did you even come up with that concept?
Unfortunately, IMHO, that most of us here on MR, know what we want and will obtain the product through the best or reasonable channels that we can find and have no reason to set foot in an Apple 'store'.
Apple has gone to mass appeal hoping that the brand will sell product, which it has, and with the majority of the stores in malls, deal with the everyday people that just buy because of the name and not necessarily the quality of the product ( which we know in our own realm) has slipped greatly.
Cook & Co has not risen up to what Apple was and should be, just riding on the coattails of yesterday.
OK. I'm done now.....

Sorry, but rubbish. Apple's quality is still right up there and their support continues to come first.

Apple under Cook c0ntinues to make great product. There is less opportunity for the amazing entry into a new market such as phone, pad, unltraslim notebook there was under Jobs, however each product is an enhancement. I don't know which store you visit, but the Aussie ones continue to be filled with people, often on their first introduction to Apple, and repeat customers enjoying the great genius service. Try getting any of that experience with Samsung, Google or Microsoft

 

[44267547]

Sorry, but rubbish. Apple's quality is still right up there and their support continues to come first.

Apple under Cook c0ntinues to make great product. There is less opportunity for the amazing entry into a new market such as phone, pad, unltraslim notebook there was under Jobs, however each product is an enhancement. I don't know which store you visit, but the Aussie ones continue to be filled with people, often on their first introduction to Apple, and repeat customers enjoying the great genius service. Try getting any of that experience with Samsung, Google or Microsoft

Perfectly executed comment, well balanced and fair.

 

[MH01]

Yeah, makes sense. Instead of "let's meet at a cafe where we can spend a couple of quid on coffee" people will say "lets meet a Apple where we can spend a couple of grand on a laptop". People think that way.

Have you heard of the 2013 Mac Pro / Mac mini appreciation society? We need Sundays at our local Apple Store ......and admire all the new stuff......
[doublepost=1495963236][/doublepost]

Sorry, but rubbish. Apple's quality is still right up there and their support continues to come first.

Apple under Cook c0ntinues to make great product. There is less opportunity for the amazing entry into a new market such as phone, pad, unltraslim notebook there was under Jobs, however each product is an enhancement. I don't know which store you visit, but the Aussie ones continue to be filled with people, often on their first introduction to Apple, and repeat customers enjoying the great genius service. Try getting any of that experience with Samsung, Google or Microsoft

Where are you in oz? Cause you can't speak for us all The Canberra store is seldom filled. Most people there are getting support. Apple support is world class, actually the best I've experienced .

Do you work for apple, that you can make an assessment on the customers coming in?

I'm not aware of Samsung, google or Microsoft having physical stores in Australia, two of those being software focused...and apple being a hardware company first. So Samsung v apple, apple clear winner .

 

[alleggerita]

I don't think I've ever seen a Starbucks this crowded before. Don't think I'll be going there anytime soon until the crowd dies down.

 

[slayerz96]

With only one store serving the whole of Singapore/S. Malaysia plus assorted tourists, good luck in getting a Genius Bar appointment within a week.

Doesn't solve the possible long wait for a Genius Bar appointment issue but this store is the first to have two Genius Bars/Groves.

Hope they will open more stores in the region soon!

 

[maceric]

"Starbucks figured it out, you know? Being a gathering place for - right? 'Meet me at Starbucks,'" Ahrendts said. "And you know, I've told the teams, 'I'll know we've done a really, really great job if the next generation, if Gen Z says, "Meet me at Apple. Did you see what's going on at Apple today?"'

Maybe they will starve coffee?

We meet at Starbucks because there's coffee and free internet/WiFi. We don't go to Starbucks wondering "Did you see what's going on there?" No, we go because it's a good place to meet for coffee.
[doublepost=1495969784][/doublepost]

"Starbucks figured it out, you know? Being a gathering place for - right? 'Meet me at Starbucks,'" Ahrendts said. "And you know, I've told the teams, 'I'll know we've done a really, really great job if the next generation, if Gen Z says, "Meet me at Apple. Did you see what's going on at Apple today?"'

Maybe they will starve coffee?

We meet at Starbucks because there's coffee and free internet/WiFi. We don't go to Starbucks wondering "Did you see what's going on there?" No, we go because it's a good place to meet for coffee.

 

[kdarling]

Maybe they will (serve) coffee?.

I was about to say, you can't try to copy another company's success without adding a bit of that other company.

So perhaps Apple should put a Starbucks in their store

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

This has little to do with that Angela lady. The two trademarks of Steve Jobs beliefs are in the new store design. Ecological balance with nature. Freedom of movement and association (Especially if you want to save your money in a tax haven so that Orangutan doesn't get it)

 

[dr34mc4st3r]

Just visited the store today. It's beautiful and worthy of the Apple name. I loved the curved staircase and huge screen on level 2. Also it was still pretty much crowded today.

 

[Bacillus]

I've been waiting, patiently, for this response. I knew there would be at least one.
"degrading". WTF?
There was a time when you could compliment a woman, or anyone, on their appearance or looks and it was taken with kindness which was all it was ever meant to be. A compliment.
We now live in a time when anything uttered is non-PC, sexist, demeaning etc etc.
A time when all positives must be twisted into negatives. When the chronically insecure rule the earth and airwaves.
Sad times....

Don't take it too hard, my friend.
I am not a sexist or anti-PC rapist and actually your comment made my day as both funny and illustrative.
Especially because the lady hired an army of PR specialists and spindoctors (at say 10 times your salary and mine together) in order to develop a formula for herself to look intelligent, powerful and successful.
For that purpose, she now resides behind the biggest spectacles on the planet - toilet seat sized - in order for her to look less blonde, more serious, more Burberry, at cost of the sheer attractiveness she undeniably has.
And then the only, biggest and most sincere compliment Mr Seoras can make is about .... her charming appearance, that she decidedly wanted to intellectually outgrow at any cost...
Whoopedy whoop !

 

[SeattleMoose]

We went to the store with a couple of friends. Spent an hour trying to figure out something that would make worth the visit. Everyone left empty handed. /QUOTE]

Your Android device awaits you. Good luck!!!

 

[Denmac1]

Sorry, but rubbish. Apple's quality is still right up there and their support continues to come first.

Apple under Cook c0ntinues to make great product. There is less opportunity for the amazing entry into a new market such as phone, pad, unltraslim notebook there was under Jobs, however each product is an enhancement. I don't know which store you visit, but the Aussie ones continue to be filled with people, often on their first introduction to Apple, and repeat customers enjoying the great genius service. Try getting any of that experience with Samsung, Google or Microsoft

I don't visit Apple stores anymore for the reasons I stated above.Apple customer service is very good, but their products have become dull, uninspired and lackluster in what they used to offer. Rubbish? Since I only have used Apple since 1984, the comparison to Samsung, et all...is moot. Each to their own......

 

[Glassed Silver]

There's quite a difference between meeting someone at Starbucks and spending $4 on a latte versus meeting at the Apple Store and dropping $1700 on a MacBook Pro, Angela.

Now now, let's not rush to conclusions.

We haven't seen most of her plan for the entire picture yet.

A little later down the road she will convince Cook to sell Macs at a massive loss so you can buy a new Mac everyday, just like your Latte at Starbucks.

"Can I invite you to enjoy some Macs together?", will be a common phrase.

Glassed Silver:ios