Futureshop and Apple

[notmatt]

Originally posted by Codemonkey
a) a site that sells mac products that I physically can't buy doesn't help anyone

b) if no-one tells them, then how will they know to fix it?

It's kind of like honking at a "student driver" that has just cut you off: if you don't honk, then they'll continue doing it.

c) safari is 1.0. it's about as good as it's going to get, as far as html rendering is concerned. It's not considered a beta anymore.

so no, no breaks should be given.

Regarding Safari being "as good as it's going to get" I refer you to Dave Hyatt's post on the subject. Despite being "out of beta" this could still be a Safari glitch (especially if the site works in Mozilla).

Sending them a note is good, though, 'cause they'd certainly like to know that Apple's browser doesn't work for their Apple store.

As for hopes that the future shop staff might be knowledgable about Apple products? Bwahahahaha! They'd have to learn how to find their butt with both hands first.

While there are exceptions, Future Shop staff have to be among the least knowledable I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. I'd be a little shocked to find out if they get any sort of product training at all, and aren't just winging it the whole time.

 

[Abstract]

Futureshop people aren't necessarily trained to sell what they sell. They have to know the products in their assigned section, but understanding what models they sell isn't the same thing as understanding the products themselves.

If you go into a Futureshop and ask about digital cameras, they'll tell you to buy Camera A instead of Camera B because Camera A has 3.2MegaPixels, while Camera B doesn't. But that doesn't mean that Camera B doesn't take better looking pictures!!! I wouldn't buy a 3.2MP HewlettPackard digital camera over a 2.0MP Canon A60. The CCD chip (or whatever its called) that's responsible for picking up the light isn't as good as the one in the Canon. I'm not saying that I'm a camera expert, but if you ask a Futureshop employee which camera is good, they'll always tell you to get the most expensive camera within your price range that also has the highest MegaPixels. 😱

 

[jcdenton]

Re: Buying at Future Shop online

The last time I was on the Future Shop site you could access those links in Safari by option-clicking and opening them in a new window. Not sure whose bug this is but I got around it that way.

Which is fine as long as you don't mind having a hell of a lot of browser windows open.

 

[Atradies]

Best Buy Website

Originally posted by SilentPanda
Also of note (maybe) is that Best Buy's online ordering has been down for a few days and when I checked their site a few minutes ago you can't do anything at all on their site. So maybe BestBuy.com is updating for Apple too?

Just so you know, there website being down has nothing to do with apple. They just happen to be updating to version 3.0 as they put it.

 

[QCassidy352]

anyone notice that futureshop is offering a 15" 800 mhz imac with superdrive? Seems to be the last generation model... I wonder why that is. 😕

 

[Dave K]

It's probably worth noting that, while they haven't been on the website, FutureShop has been stocking CRT iMacs, iBooks, and the new iMacs for at least the last two years off and on.

As well, when Best Buy picked up FutureShop, my understanding is that most of the FS management was left in place and maintained some autonomy. In fact, the handful of Best Buy branded stores in Canada are run out of the FutureShop offices in BC.

 

[Blaq]

Originally posted by Dave K
It's probably worth noting that, while they haven't been on the website, FutureShop has been stocking CRT iMacs, iBooks, and the new iMacs for at least the last two years off and on.

As well, when Best Buy picked up FutureShop, my understanding is that most of the FS management was left in place and maintained some autonomy. In fact, the handful of Best Buy branded stores in Canada are run out of the FutureShop offices in BC.

I'm in Ottawa, and Best Buy just recently opened their first store here in the city... right across the street from Future Shop. Talk about autonomy - I can't imagine many head offices would approve of that, unless they're planning on closing the Future Shop...

 

[Squire]

Lowest Prices?

Typically, FutureShop boasts that they'll beat the competition's price. I noticed that the 30 GB iPod is $50 MORE EXPENSIVE than the Apple Store. What's with that?

Squire

 

[Dave K]

Originally posted by Blaq
I'm in Ottawa, and Best Buy just recently opened their first store here in the city... right across the street from Future Shop. Talk about autonomy - I can't imagine many head offices would approve of that, unless they're planning on closing the Future Shop...

Is it a "hole in the wall" FutureShop, or a big Canadian Tire sized one? I know of at least one spot in the GTA where a HITW had a big box Best Buy show up in a new development across the road, and I highly suspect that if the new location outsells the old one they'll shut it down once the lease is up.

Of course, this type of thing is not exactly unheard of. I'm trying to remember which ones it is from when I did inventory, but there's one company that fronts at least three different sports apparel/running shoes stores and has no quams whatsoever if all three are in the same mall.

In general, FutureShop/Best Buy have stated in the press they want to keep the brands "separate" to prevent one from tarnishing the other. Especially since, at least so far, the Best Buy model hasn't been working as well as planned and, at least in Toronto, they've been "adjusting" staff levels to meet lower than expected sales.

 

[Blaq]

Originally posted by Dave K
Is it a "hole in the wall" FutureShop, or a big Canadian Tire sized one? I know of at least one spot in the GTA where a HITW had a big box Best Buy show up in a new development across the road, and I highly suspect that if the new location outsells the old one they'll shut it down once the lease is up.

Of course, this type of thing is not exactly unheard of. I'm trying to remember which ones it is from when I did inventory, but there's one company that fronts at least three different sports apparel/running shoes stores and has no quams whatsoever if all three are in the same mall.

In general, FutureShop/Best Buy have stated in the press they want to keep the brands "separate" to prevent one from tarnishing the other. Especially since, at least so far, the Best Buy model hasn't been working as well as planned and, at least in Toronto, they've been "adjusting" staff levels to meet lower than expected sales.

It isn't qutie as big as the one in Gloucester, but I'd definetly consider it to be a full-size "warehouse" type setup. The BB isn't that much bigger...

I'm surpised that the BB isn't doing as well as the FS - all they have to do is convince their employees that every customer they see ISN'T a target for a shake-down like they do at FS and people would flock to them!

 

[iEric]

I'm glad that Futureshop finally sells Apple products online at more in store.

However, with Futureshop, you can't really bargin. I like to go to MacStation and Simply Computing because I can get just a little bit of a discount. 😀 (and if you think i'm cheap, i'm not. its just that I'd rather spend the extra cash on something else. like software or a new printer, ect.)

 

[adamfilip]

I use to be a peripheral sales person at futureshop in burlington, Ontario

selling.. you know. cdroms, sound and video cards.. hard drives and such..

although i can say that many of the sales people there (especually ones who are over 30 , for some reason?) arent very interested in computers and dont have a passion to learn and be technically accurate in there information.

being as i sold perhipherals.. i had to keep very up to date and i also got lots of tech calls.. from customers.. i dont work there any more but i dont appreciate it when people judge all futureshop employes as morons.. its just not fair.. there might be a few.. but the majority of the people there know what there talking about.

but that only applies to PC's ofcourse 😀

 

[Squire]

Originally posted by adamfilip
I use to be a peripheral sales person at futureshop in burlington, Ontario

selling.. you know. cdroms, sound and video cards.. hard drives and such..

although i can say that many of the sales people there (especually ones who are over 30 , for some reason?) arent very interested in computers and dont have a passion to learn and be technically accurate in there information.

being as i sold perhipherals.. i had to keep very up to date and i also got lots of tech calls.. from customers.. i dont work there any more but i dont appreciate it when people judge all futureshop employes as morons.. its just not fair.. there might be a few.. but the majority of the people there know what there talking about.

but that only applies to PC's ofcourse 😀

In my limited dealings with FutureShop, I found the staff to be quite helpful. Do you have any idea, though, why there's a price discrepancy between the Apple Store and FutureShop? That seems odd to me.

Squire

 

[adamfilip]

futureshop adds there own margin to it.. and they prob wont pricematch a webstore so. they have almost nothing to loose by not having the same price.. its silly.. there are pretty slow at updating the system with new prices.

i really dont know

its been 3 years since i worked there

 

[SilvorX]

Compusmart (one of the only true canadian computer store chains) has been selling macs at their retailers for YEARS and only about a year ago started selling them on their website since Apple Canada didnt allow resellers to sell Apple products on their websites for some reason, but when i bought my iBook from Compusmart, i ordered it off the net (well the order was transfered to the local Compusmart location and they took care of it).
Compusmart's website now has a section just for Macs: http://www.compusmart.com/Default.asp?eSectionID=207

 

[superfunkomatic]

not sure if anyone was aware of this but futureshop used to sell macs up until about 4 years ago.

they were about 30% more, and they had monkeys (no not real monkeys, that would be fun...) working there. it's a good sign that there may be a rekindled interest in macs as a retail vehicle but the apple authorized dealers are the best bet - knowledge, price and experience - not sales based on commission. plus the demographic for the futureshop is bargain hunters for household electronics, never really apple's market.

 

[Styvas]

FS Salespeople

I've always found the staff at Futureshop to be very friendly and willing to help, but I'm astonished at how often I've dealt with pure ignorance, or been given completely incorrect information.

I went in recently to buy a laser printer. The printer was being advertised as Mac and PC compatible. I took their word for it and bought it. Needless to say, i was returning it that afternoon as it was not Mac compatible at all.

My sister went in with explicit instructions off of Compaq's website to purchase RAM for her notebook. They sold her desktop RAM (the fellow even claimed to know something about Compaqs and assured her he was selling her the correct RAM). To their credit, when I went back in to exchange it for the right stuff, they couriered it to England at their expense (that is where she is living).

My experience seems to be that Futureshop hires sales people. London Drugs would seem to hire computer techs to do their sales. They may not know anything more about Macs than the FS staff, but they seem far more capable of finding out the answers when they don't know off the top of their head. London Drugs will also order in and they seem to have some access to Educational discounts. Their prices also seem competitive.

MacStation and Simply Computing are definitely the Mac experts to talk to, but they don't buy in bulk like FS and London Drugs, so their prices always seem higher. From my location here, it's a bit of a drive to get to one, as well (a good hour or so).

Nevertheless, I'm pleased that FS is putting a greater focus on the Apple products. It will definitely give Macs more exposure in an environment that isn't dedicated to Apple (I think this gives more credibility with the PC crowd).

Steve