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Apple Retail Stores to Gain Dedicated iPhone Activation Areas and Staff?

From reading through the posts it seems there are a couple reasons this can be happening now. To paraphrase:

It seems odd for Apple to be doing this, but not completely out of left field since there seems to be a need.

Apple is doing this now to get employees and customers oriented with the new "area" before a big rush, either next years iPhone release or the hoard of people getting an iPhone once AT&T's exclusive contract runs out.

Apple is doing this because they can. Simple as that.
 
KarlasKreations said:
That is really good with the exception that unless you have AT&T service, it doesn't matter.

I would love to have an iPhone but won't change services to get it. Isn't it time to let other cell phone carriers carry the iPhone?
Click to expand...

Don't hold your breath....recent rumors and online reports suggest that Apple is considering another extension. It's hard to ween yourself off of a high subsidy.
 
moracity said:
The Apple store is the worst place to go if you already know exactly what you want. The Apple "mini store" in Micro-Center stores are just as bad. Apple goods are best purchased online.
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The Apple Store for me is just to see if I want to buy the product then order online or getting something repaired when I can have an appointment
 
ltldrummerboy said:
I can't believe people actually go to a store to buy a phone anymore. I find it so much easier to order it online and activate it myself.
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I'd rather go to the store than order online! If I order online I'm always checking to see where my order has got to and wondering when it will come. If I go to the store at least I know when I'm going and quite enjoy it. It's about 20 miles away so near enough to be handy, but far enough I don't go that often. Plus there's a really good coffee shop nearby . . . :)
 
creator2456 said:
From reading through the posts it seems there are a couple reasons this can be happening now. To paraphrase:

It seems odd for Apple to be doing this, but not completely out of left field since there seems to be a need.

Apple is doing this now to get employees and customers oriented with the new "area" before a big rush, either next years iPhone release or the hoard of people getting an iPhone once AT&T's exclusive contract runs out.

Apple is doing this because they can. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

Apples should have done this all along. Every other retail store can activate on site, same day. Apple is late to the dance.
 
inkswamp said:
Silliest complaint I've ever heard.

All those phones did was plug into your wall and sit there. They didn't run apps, didn't provide simultaneous access to multiple network types, didn't allow you to read today's news, check email, record video, store and listen to 1000s of songs, etc. In fact, the "mobility" of that phone extended only as far as its cord would reach.

Those phones are still on the market (look in the Luddite section.) If you want a phone buying experience like that, you can still have it. Personally, I'm willing to jump through a few hoops for all the goodies a smart phone offers, but whatever.
Click to expand...

Ever heard of ANNY other phone than Iphone (ink smartphones)?
1) go to store
2) pick out phone
3) pay and sign paper
4) done
 
phillipjfry said:
This is EXACTLY what they are preparing for. The next mob of people clamoring to get the iPhone 4G coming July 2010. :D
I'm also willing to throw out my prediction of 512MB of memory and 1GHz processor or 800MHz dual core :p
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Not to mention the 54 inch HD LED screen that will scroll out from the iPhone 4G.
 
They will need this support come the holiday season. The iphone is rumored to be coming on other networks in Canada. So the demand will once spike again, so having iphone activation support at apple stores is a must.
 
intrepid00 said:
They are proably just getting ready for next summer. 3gs just wasn't worth the update but I bet the next will. Espically with mass of 3g users ready to get full upgrade price.
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That depends on what you think is important. After owning both I can't stand how slow and laggy the 3G is compared to the 3GS. My wife has my old 3G and we both reach for my 3GS whenever we want to browse the internet or use certain apps. To me, it was well worth the upgrade.
 
iWizzard said:
Buying an phone used to be so easy in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000. somewhere someone took a wrong turn.
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It was REALLY easy in 1960. You just called "the phone company" (there was only one) and got a phone (wall or desk the only choices).

Point being, sure, it was easier 20 years ago, but only a few companies made cell phones and they were very limited compared to the iPhone.
 
creator2456 said:
From reading through the posts it seems there are a couple reasons this can be happening now. To paraphrase:

It seems odd for Apple to be doing this, but not completely out of left field since there seems to be a need.

Apple is doing this now to get employees and customers oriented with the new "area" before a big rush, either next years iPhone release or the hoard of people getting an iPhone once AT&T's exclusive contract runs out.

Apple is doing this because they can. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

I don't know why Apple is doing this but I do know it is not for a new iPhone release, next summer or whenever. The whole store is an iPhone activation center on release day!! That's all the entire store does on release day, nothing else. If I remember right people were turned away if trying to bring a Mac in for service or trying to buy anything but an iPhone on any of the iPhone release days. Just my thoughts...
 
Am I the only one who thinks this may be a sign that Apple will eventually perform activations of all future iPhones, REGARDLESS OF CARRIER? If they're going all out to hire a specific staff for a very specific group, to me, it signals the end of exclusivity. Who knows? Tie it in to their huge NOC they just put up, and they could be becoming their own wireless carrier.
 
NightFox said:
I want to be an iPod Shuffle expert
Click to expand...

You'd be pretty bored most of the time and pissed off the rest of the time.

where are all the buttons?
this is weird, I want buttons?
why didn't they put buttons on this thing?

:)
 
philamac said:
Apple store at stoneridge mall is remodeling right now, maybe this is why?
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Burlington, too.

inkswamp said:
Silliest complaint I've ever heard.

All those phones did was plug into your wall and sit there. They didn't run apps, didn't provide simultaneous access to multiple network types, didn't allow you to read today's news, check email, record video, store and listen to 1000s of songs, etc. In fact, the "mobility" of that phone extended only as far as its cord would reach.

Those phones are still on the market (look in the Luddite section.) If you want a phone buying experience like that, you can still have it. Personally, I'm willing to jump through a few hoops for all the goodies a smart phone offers, but whatever.
Click to expand...

You do realize that mobile phones existed back in the 1980's, and that smart phones existed back in the 1990's, right?

phillipjfry said:
This is EXACTLY what they are preparing for. The next mob of people clamoring to get the iPhone 4G coming July 2010. :D
I'm also willing to throw out my prediction of 512MB of memory and 1GHz processor or 800MHz dual core :p
Click to expand...

Do you really need to gear up in September for something coming in July?
 
MikhailT said:
Experts are more specific then a genius, if you are looking for somebody is skilled and a genius at one specific product, that's an expert. If you are looking for a person that's just generally smart in everything, you are looking for a genius.

Since those guys are all about iPhone, they are called iPhone Experts. Genius is for everything else.

That's my opinion on why they did this.
Click to expand...

Iphone expert = sales person who sells iphones.
Genius = repair man.
 
Eidorian said:
They still sell computers, right?
Click to expand...

Just barely.

I needed to buy blank DVD's to do so additional back-up before turning in my MacBook Pro for repairs, but they didn't carry any blank media at all. In fact, the entire computer supplies and peripherals area fit into one tiny area in the back of the store.

What was upfront? That's where they had more than twice as much space dedicated to iPhone and iPod CASES.

Personally, I consider computers a legacy product at Apple.

After all, won't the proposed tablet just be an ipod Touch on steriods? Or maybe it will be a HumungoPod to fill out the NanoPod spectrum??
 
sishaw said:
It was REALLY easy in 1960. You just called "the phone company" (there was only one) and got a phone (wall or desk the only choices).

Point being, sure, it was easier 20 years ago, but only a few companies made cell phones and they were very limited compared to the iPhone.
Click to expand...

Are you saying that the only alternative to Iphone is Nokia 5110?

Ever heart of Palm pree, Nokia Smartphone SE smartphone etc?

It does not have to be hard to buy a phone. As i said above.

1) go to store
2) pick out phone
3) pay and sign paper
4) pop sim card into phone, done.

Sure it is not that hard to plug the phone into the computer and activate via Itunes. But it is an completely unnecessary step.
 
I wish ALL Apple stores also had a check-out area. A few of the malls in my area have smaller Apple stores that have no dedicated checkout area - the duty is shared between the genius bar (always busy) and employees with the handheld checkout machines.

Sometimes when the store is busy it takes forever to get someone to help you and you feel like an idiot wandering around with your purchase hoping one of the employees finishes talking to a customer soon and you can grab them before someone else does.

I think some of the smaller Apple stores' demand is outgrowing their physical size.
 
rwilliams said:
Apple could start printing their own money if they'd open up the iPhone to more than AT&T.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. The locked element to the iPhone i think is a big turn off for a hell of a lot of potential customers!
 
St. Louis (West County) been remodeling for a few weeks...

I guess now I know why the local Apple Store here in Saint Louis has been remodeling for the past couple of weeks--I'm surprised they were closed during the expo last week but I guess now I know why it was important to remodel during this time..

Very interesting...

Chris
 
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