Apple Store in Southern Sweden Permanently Closing Later This Week

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced that its retail store at the Väla Centrum shopping mall near Helsingborg, Sweden will be permanently closed after July 13. The date was spotted by Michael Steeber, who writes a weekly newsletter about Apple retail.

Apple Väla Centrum​

Apple in January told Swedish publication Feber that it would not be renewing its lease at the mall, but it did not provide a reason for the decision. At the same time, Apple announced that it would be opening a new retail store at the Mall of Scandinavia near Stockholm this year, but it has yet to reveal a grand opening date for that location.

All in all, Apple will continue to operate three retail stores in Sweden by the end of 2024. However, customers in the Helsingborg area will now have to make around a one-hour commute to Malmö to visit Apple's nearest store in the country.

Article Link: Apple Store in Southern Sweden Permanently Closing Later This Week

 

[Velroy]

I'm not surprised. What's the point of a brick and mortar store selling electronics like this when Apple will ship anything for free within 24 hours to even rural Scandinavia? I understand clothing stores where you might want to test out the fit but an iPhone is an iPhone no matter if you buy it online or in the store. At least online you don't have to wait in a queue.

 

[chachawpi]

I'm not surprised. What's the point of a brick and mortar store selling electronics like this when Apple will ship anything for free within 24 hours to even rural Scandinavia? I understand clothing stores where you might want to test out the fit but an iPhone is an iPhone no matter if you buy it online or in the store. At least online you don't have to wait in a queue.

It's convenient for repairs. Tech illiterate people also appreciate the Genius Bar.

 

[Gathomblipoob]

I'm not surprised. What's the point of a brick and mortar store selling electronics like this when Apple will ship anything for free within 24 hours to even rural Scandinavia? I understand clothing stores where you might want to test out the fit but an iPhone is an iPhone no matter if you buy it online or in the store. At least online you don't have to wait in a queue.

I dunno. American Apple stores all seem to be crowded as hell when I visit them.

 

[foobarbaz]

I understand clothing stores where you might want to test out the fit but an iPhone is an iPhone no matter if you buy it online or in the store.

You might be buying a new iPhone on day 1 no matter what, but some people like to see electronics in person, before they buy them. There's different sizes, colors and antiglare options. I'm not saying that people will buy them offline, but I tend to think of Apple Stores as a showroom. And also the best place for warranty service.

 

[taliz]

Why pay full price in an Apple Store when you can get big discounts at other places...
"A fool and his money are easily parted" I guess...

 

[psxp]

I dunno. American Apple stores all seem to be crowded as hell when I visit them.

North American consumerism. We see this in Canada too. Must Buy Latest shiny gadget just like my influencer on the 'tok told me too.. as it will make me much smarter and prettier and keep ahead of everyone else
/s

 

[Velroy]

You might be buying a new iPhone on day 1 no matter what, but some people like to see electronics in person, before they buy them. There's different sizes, colors and antiglare options. I'm not saying that people will buy them offline, but I tend to think of Apple Stores as a showroom. And also the best place for warranty service.

Then I'll just go to a telephone operator's store, they also have them on show and will offer a better deal than Apple while also offering a three year warranty as opposed to Apple's one. On top of that there are operator stores every city no matter how small, while Apple stores are only in the biggest.

 

[ApostolisApo]

Then I'll just go to a telephone operator's store, they also have them on show and will offer a better deal than Apple while also offering a three year warranty as opposed to Apple's one. On top of that there are operator stores every city no matter how small, while Apple stores are only in the biggest.

No matter where you buy an electronic device from in Sweden you get a three-year warranty. What Apple advertises is the one-year "Apple" warranty which includes free calls, support etc. Otherwise all electronic devices have to be warrantied for 3 years in any EU country

I have had my AirPods - bought from Apple - replaced by Macforum after 2 years, because... EU warranty requirements

 

[Velroy]

No matter where you buy an electronic device from in Sweden you get a three-year warranty. What Apple advertises is the one-year "Apple" warranty which includes free calls, support etc. Otherwise all electronic devices have to be warrantied for 3 years in any EU country

They are obligated by the law but you always have to fight a bit about it, I'd rather go somewhere else where they don't question it at all and just take it in for service

 

[lkrupp]

I'm not surprised. What's the point of a brick and mortar store selling electronics like this when Apple will ship anything for free within 24 hours to even rural Scandinavia? I understand clothing stores where you might want to test out the fit but an iPhone is an iPhone no matter if you buy it online or in the store. At least online you don't have to wait in a queue.

I guess you missed the part of the article that said Apple is replacing this store with a new one in Stockholm

 

[StoneJack]

European economy is in dire straits

 

[BigTimEnergy]

Sad day whenever a lot of people lose their job like that. Glad I got out of retail in 2020.

 

[MilaM]

Do they still have this stupid system in Apple Stores, where you have to hunt for someone from the staff to check out with your purchase? Never understood why they can't just have regular cashiers.

 

[contacos]

No matter where you buy an electronic device from in Sweden you get a three-year warranty. What Apple advertises is the one-year "Apple" warranty which includes free calls, support etc. Otherwise all electronic devices have to be warrantied for 3 years in any EU country

I have had my AirPods - bought from Apple - replaced by Macforum after 2 years, because... EU warranty requirements

That is not the case here in Germany. It is only 2 years and after 6 months you have to proof, that the device was faulty from the beginning. It also needs to have been bought directly by Apple as the retailer. If you bought it at another store like Mediamarkt, Apple is going to send you away like "oh you did not by it here, you need to talk to XY about a replacement"

 

[tmg2010]

Stockholm is a 5 hour commute. Copenhagen is less than an hour away across the Øresund. Both are in the EU.

 

[jonnysods]

Brick and mortar Apple stores aren't ready to die just yet - there is one in our city and the thing gets pounded all the time, I'm sure the stores generate tons of revenue still.

 

[arkitect]

That is not the case here in Germany. It is only 2 years and after 6 months you have to proof, that the device was faulty from the beginning. It also needs to have been bought directly by Apple as the retailer. If you bought it at another store like Mediamarkt, Apple is going to send you away like "oh you did not by it here, you need to talk to XY about a replacement"

Here in the UK that has been my own experience as well.

How can anyone prove that it was faulty from the start? 🤷🏻‍♂️

I gave up on beating my head against a brick wall with an LED Display I bought from Apple…

This is nice in theory and I suspect for cheaper items like a kettle and so on it might work… but for expensive items it is a genuine struggle.

Of course someone will chime in soon to tell us they only have success with this. 🤣

 

[FineWoven]

I'm not surprised. What's the point of a brick and mortar store selling electronics like this when Apple will ship anything for free within 24 hours to even rural Scandinavia? I understand clothing stores where you might want to test out the fit but an iPhone is an iPhone no matter if you buy it online or in the store. At least online you don't have to wait in a queue.

You must be a Zoomer. Just because you can get literally almost anything online delivered to your front door doesn't mean you have to... The problem with society being entirely online now is the breakdown of social interaction and in-person communication. Standing in a queue to get your shiny toy won't kill you, and you might just strike up a conversation with the person in font of you. Scary I know, but it will be good for you in the long run. Not to mention the environmental toll of shipping all this cheap crap solely intended for short-term consumption around the world on diesel-guzzling monster container ships that get offloaded on to more diesel-guzzling trucks.

 

[Homy]

No matter where you buy an electronic device from in Sweden you get a three-year warranty. What Apple advertises is the one-year "Apple" warranty which includes free calls, support etc. Otherwise all electronic devices have to be warrantied for 3 years in any EU country

I have had my AirPods - bought from Apple - replaced by Macforum after 2 years, because... EU warranty requirements

That is not the case here in Germany. It is only 2 years and after 6 months you have to proof, that the device was faulty from the beginning. It also needs to have been bought directly by Apple as the retailer. If you bought it at another store like Mediamarkt, Apple is going to send you away like "oh you did not by it here, you need to talk to XY about a replacement"

That's not the case in Sweden either so I don't know what they're talking about. Here you also have a one-year warranty from the manufacturer but you don't have to buy it directly from Apple. EU requires at least two years of "right of complaint" and Swedish law gives three years of "right of complaint" where YOU have to prove that the product was faulty from the start.

 

[LagomLagom]

You have an Elgiganten Retail Store close by with an Apple Shop In Shop manned with Apple badged staff.

 

[MilaM]

That is not the case here in Germany. It is only 2 years and after 6 months you have to proof, that the device was faulty from the beginning. It also needs to have been bought directly by Apple as the retailer. If you bought it at another store like Mediamarkt, Apple is going to send you away like "oh you did not by it here, you need to talk to XY about a replacement"

The deadline for "proof" has been extended to 12 months.

 

[HDFan]

What's the point of a brick and mortar store

Many.

it's convenient for repairs.

but some people like to see electronics in person, before they buy them.

Then I'll just go to a telephone operator's store,

Generally in the U.S. a much worse experience than an Apple Store. Endless upsales, less knowledgeable.

Even if you order a product via the web it is often more convenient to pick it up at the store. No need to stay home for the delivery. In the U.S. for some reason Apple doesn't allow you to do a depot pickup which is useful when you are worried that the $$$ package might be snatched.

You can also do immediate trade-ins without having to go through the hassle of sending the replaced product in with the risk that they will say that it does not work, is damaged, etc.

 

[Velroy]

You must be a Zoomer. Just because you can get literally almost anything online delivered to your front door doesn't mean you have to... The problem with society being entirely online now is the breakdown of social interaction and in-person communication. Standing in a queue to get your shiny toy won't kill you, and you might just strike up a conversation with the person in font of you. Scary I know, but it will be good for you in the long run. Not to mention the environmental toll of shipping all this cheap crap solely intended for short-term consumption around the world on diesel-guzzling monster container ships that get offloaded on to more diesel-guzzling trucks.

As opposed to me driving to the store with my diesel guzzling car to pick up the phone that was delivered to the store with diesel guzzling monster container ships and diesel guzzling trucks?

 

[minik]

It's convenient for repairs. Tech illiterate people also appreciate the Genius Bar.

While I don't consider myself as a tech illiterate, the Genius Bar is pretty much my go-to for repairs.