My experience was that my local reseller got me to spend more on Apple products and peripherals than when the new local Apple Store made his business untenable. By then there was practically no margin on selling Apple hardware left to cover selling costs. The overall service was superb. The Apple Store in contrast reminds me of a supermarket with walking registers and limited brands — great at handling volume. I often walk buy and spy the ‘can’ in the remote, lonely corner connected to hardly anything. My reseller would have all sorts of stuff connected to its towers. And they would tell me straight if a product was not up to standards, or if I should hold off for an impending upgrade or an item would be discounted soon — ie., they served me.