Apple Reopening Vienna, Austria Apple Store on May 5

[O.N.Y.X]

your country is reporting 2,000 deaths/day and you are already thinking about store's openings.
[automerge]1588631107[/automerge]


Austria Apple Store actually must sell pretty well, given it is a rich country.

Austria was among the first countries in Europe to introduce a harsh lockdown. The virus now seems to be under control for the most part and businesses are gradually reopening. Of course Apple is among those. Only limited numbers of persons may enter stores and they need to keep a minimum distance to other customers.

 

[TMax]

Their only brick and mortar store in Austria only opened last year - I guess they are already well aware of the fact that they don‘t need that. it‘s probably more of a PR-thing.

I bought my iPad in the Vienna store in 2018 so it is open more than a year, although everything looked new and fresh so it could have been recently opened at that stage. (my first and only time in Vienna so I have no idea how long exactly, but at least 2 years.). Cool store and very central location, not far from St. Stephen's Cathedral.

 

[UnusedLoginID]

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theres already a line present at Vienna’s store (10:30 AM)

All these people who can’t access their Yahoo!, Hotmail or Gmail email because they forgot their passwords… I hope they don’t let them in and ask them to call Verizon, Microsoft or Google for help! Let’s keep the few tech support and sales guys in the store for people who have REAL problems or want to BUY a product.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Brick & mortar Apple Stores aren't really necessary. I bet they're realizing that now

I would believe you if Apple Stores weren't the most profitable retails spaces in the world per square foot.

 

[UnusedLoginID]

I would believe you if Apple Stores weren't the most profitable retails spaces in the world per square foot.

Yes, but think different! Imagine if all these people who buy products in the store were buying them online! Online retail IS the most profitable retail space.
The question for Apple is “would these customers buy online anyway?” I’m sure they can get some data around this.
I also know that staying at home has made many of these customers aware that Apple ahas great service for online purchases and phone support too.
Finally, the new restrictions in place will be a huge deterrent for many people and they won’t want to stand in line outside an Apple Store. Less customers in the store means the stores become more costly to run.
So what is the tipping point where Apple says “enough is enough, let’s close some stores “?