Apple Retail Stores in Australia?

[zulgand04]

we need a third on connecticut. im sick of going over the river. that 15 minute drive kills me. there's a ritzy outside mall 3 minutes away from me that would be PERFECT for a mini apple store.

im kidding about the 15 minute drive killing me, but im serious about the mini store. it would fit in nicely.

lol i would't mind a third in CT closer to New Haven 😉 , but i do enjoy haveing a reason to go to westfarms mall.

 

[~Shard~]

Great news for Australia! I think the most sensible locations would be Darwin, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy... 😛 😉 😎

 

[uncyherb]

I'd like to see the Melbourne one opened up in the new QV building off swanston street.

As for Sydney... like I care where it is... 8 hours drive beats that 15 minutes by a fair margin!

 

[feeze]

I'm guessing King's Cross in Sydney ...

Lol, buy an iMac and get a free iMassage 😉 😱

edit: typo

 

[feeze]

Actually I think the best location would be the approximately bathroom-sized Apple dealer on the Randwick UNSW campus. I don't think I've ever seen a smaller computer shop. 2 customers and it's full.

I've walked past that several times but never gone in. Is there actually much for sale in there? Might have to check it out.

 

[hmg]

where in Sydney? Well...

or one of the QVB ends, the whole end 3 floors tall! ooooohhhh yyeeaaahh..

Ive always said an Apple Store in the city would be awesome. I think the perfect location would be Victorias Galleries. It has that elegant Apple feel about it. If only Freedom where not there, that would be the perfect spot.

Otherwise Pitt Street Mall is definately the prime spot. I hear there will be alot of work going on there with the redevelopment of Centrepoint and some towers going up, so who knows.

All you Sydney siders, where do you think would be the perfect Apple Store location ??.

 

[walexx]

Oh Yes QVB. That would be absolutely perfect especially with all those levels. The place needs an injection of life and Apple would be the perfect tenant.

Well I think I need to go buy me a sleeping bag, its gonna be a long night waiting for the opening. I want one of those mystery bags they sell to the first 200 people.

 

[dnnx]

Nice!!!
Hopefully, it does get announced this week, I am currently holding a call contract expiring this month, this will be a icing on the cake 😀

 

[Bern]

I say Apple should take residence in the Broadway location and get rid of the nasty, arrogant people working there. They have to be the worst AppleCentre in Sydney.

Hopefully this all true and the fact the Paypal have just announced they now have Aussie Dollars available may mean ITMS Australia is just around the corner.

 

[Abstract]

Never thought of QVB as a contender. Wanna know why? It definitely has the looks, but not the "right" look. Also, there isn't enough space for Apple (when compared to some of the other behemoths), even if they took over two stores on each of the 3 floors and built stairs. Plus, glass stairs and aluminium won't match the look of the atrium at all.

 

[tizza]

.

 

[tizza]

So what happened to Brisbane hey?! 🙂 Anyway I can handle missing out on a local Apple store if we JUST GET iTMS!!! - What is going on Australia Music Execs???!!!

 

[starwxrwx]

imagine the apple store immediately opposite the entrance to the david jones elizabeth st cosmetic department... the only question would be where to go into first? *drool*

i really hope Apple stores will boost the standard of resellers around the country - or drive them out of business... no seriously, i'd rather heaps of decent apple stores than the bad service and crapply deals currently on offer. you just can't be complancent if you want to stay in the service industry; no excuses.

 

[risc]

A Mac store in Melbourne would be fantastic, no disrepsect to most of the resellers here but damn upgrade your stock and stop trying to sell the old iMac G4 for more than the price of the G5.

 

[cemil]

or one of the QVB ends, the whole end 3 floors tall! ooooohhhh yyeeaaahh..

I love it. Just imagine - forget the Christmas Tree, just a HUGE display. Now, back to reality - I think Pitt St would probably be the best place.

-Cemil

 

[oingoboingo]

I've walked past that several times but never gone in. Is there actually much for sale in there? Might have to check it out.

Yeah there is a little bit of stock. Mostly smallish accessories like iPod cases, notebook sleeves/bags, external FireWire drives...that sort of thing. They don't really seem to have any computers of any sort, except the ones which are awaiting pickup by the people who ordered them. I think that's their main business, ie: acting as a face-to-face place for UNSW staff and student to order Macs, rather than a full-on retail outlet.

Still...if you're on campus and you need some little Apple-related accessory, they might have it. Just don't expect to go in there an play with the new 30" cinema displays hooked up to a dual G5 or anything like that 🙂

 

[oingoboingo]

I say Apple should take residence in the Broadway location and get rid of the nasty, arrogant people working there. They have to be the worst AppleCentre in Sydney.

Yeah, not my favourite dealer in Sydney, although the past few times I have bought something from there (a car charger for my iPod and a copy of Call of Duty:United Offensive) one of the younger staff members have served me and they have been very pleasant and friendly (and even bothered to ask if I already owned the original Call of Duty just in case I didn't see the system requirements. Nice work).

I've bought things and had things repaired at various times from AppleCentre Broadway, Chatswood, Taylor Square and the NextByte CBD store. I can't honestly say that I have ever received a consistent level of service from any of them. Sometimes you get a really friendly helpful person, the next time they can barely be bothered to snarl at you and take you money. I don't know if Apple-owned stores will be any different though.

 

[dhaveconfig]

Westfield Parramatta! Macquarie Centre! Marrickville Metro!

Actually I think the best location would be the approximately bathroom-sized Apple dealer on the Randwick UNSW campus. I don't think I've ever seen a smaller computer shop. 2 customers and it's full.

And who exactly will get shafted by these proposed Apple Stores?

people like that self same Apple dealer.

That store has made Apple a fair bit of cash over the years... in the difficult times too.

I'm of two minds about these stores. Yes, it will be good to get rid of some of the terrible Apple dealers, however I'm not sure it will be wonderful for the long term health of the platform in a small market like Australia.

The other thing to note is that the profits from the Apple Stores go back to Apple US, not to Apple Australia. This could be bad.

The QVB is a bad idea I think. Apple need to shed their 'high end' image in a lot of ways. Westfield Parramatta could be an excellent idea.

 

[oingoboingo]

That store has made Apple a fair bit of cash over the years... in the difficult times too.

Yes, and I've helped them out by buying various bits and pieces from there since I've started working on the UNSW campus. In case you didn't notice, I was joking about unimac being a good location for a new Apple Store 😉

You are right though...based on what has happened to independent resellers in the U.S., the arrival of AppleStores in Australia will definitely cause a shakeup, and not everyone in dealer-land will be happy at the end of it all. It remains to be seen if Apple is looking at only a few stores in major cities, or more blanket coverage (or if this whole thing is nothing more than a rumour).

 

[dhaveconfig]

No, I realised you were joking.. 🙂

That must be one of the smallest Apple shops in the world I reckon.. 😀

We've got some bloody awful dealers around though.

Nothing I hate more than getting attitude from some goddamned whippersnapper at an Apple Store.

If my experience at the San Fran Apple Store is anything to go by, it will be a huge shakeup... but in general Americans seem to have a better handle on customer service than Aussies, so maybe not ...

 

[McMakMac]

open one in HONG KONG!!!

ditto to THAT!

 

[Graeme A]

good and bad news

To see proper Apple stores in either Melbourne or Sydney would be a great thing as I switched and did most of my shopping exclusively in Apple Stores in the US.

The only down side to having had this experience is, you expect a certain level of service which I have not yet seen in Australia. Not to mention the fact that the price difference between the US and Oz are SHOCKING!

Great news on the fact that we will get more choice than Flinders St store which was downright shocking... trying to sell OLD stuff and at such a high price.

Let's hope that they get a Genius Bar in there too as I need some more rubber feet for my PB 17" again.

 

[MyLeftNut]

About time

You know I was on the train the other day (In Melbourne) and I overheard some girl talking to her friend saying that she bought and iPod for her boyfriend but wanted to buy something else for it but didnt know what to get him...I was thinking, 'bugger, there's an iTunes store certificate sold right there, if only we had a store...'

We'll whaddya know! I reckon the building in the QV complex that currently houses the company known as Senseless ooops sorry, Sensis Would be perfect as a multistorey shopping experience. It would not be disimilar to Tokyo.

I hope this is true. Finally I can brag to my PC using idiot friends and they can see the true power of this fully operational battlesta....ahemmm...yeah.

 

[urbangrind]

The other thing to note is that the profits from the Apple Stores go back to Apple US, not to Apple Australia. This could be bad.

This is a good point. Apple Australia can have my money, but they need to pick up their act. I like someone else have had the experience of knowing a lot more than the sales person. A few of us (who are already in business of some sort) have been so disappointed that we have discussed the idea of setting up a new shop. It is like an insult to go into an Apple shop and find someone that doesn't seem to give a ****. If Apple US, weren't making enough money from Apple Australia it is simply a Human Relations problem.

 

[urbangrind]

I hope this is true. Finally I can brag to my PC using idiot friends and they can see the true power of this fully operational battlesta....ahemmm...yeah.

Very Funny! I hear ya buddy!