Can't wait to see their ludicrous trade in options
"Bring in your MacBook for $300 credit twds you're next purchase"
"Bring in your MacBook for $300 credit twds you're next purchase"
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GameStop Expanding Beyond Video Games with Aggressive Growth Plans for 'Simply Mac' Stores
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Ever been to a pawn shop?
It's kind of like that, but the carrot isn't overdue rent it's "Call of Duty: Historical Warfare - The Killing Fields 2 (this time with ninjas!)"
But what about mac n cheese?!? I don't think that they could sue for using the word mac in the store name.
I don't know if that day will ever come. The consoles seem to have a pretty tight grasp on things still. I don't see that changing now that the next generation has arrived.
This is the more likely reason for this move. GameStop sees the writing on the wall, that the day will come where all games are downloaded within the console and buying/selling games second-hand will no longer be possible.
Also, have any of you who are complaining about the prices they offer actually gotten offers on Apple gear from them? Every time I've gone on their site to check trade-in prices on iPhones they routinely offer more than Gazelle does. Granted, I can get more money on CL or ebay, but that pretty much goes without saying.
Also, "MAC cosmetics" and the mildly-confusing-to-non-techies "MAC address".
Not to mention they obviously haven't filed the Mac trademark to apply video games yet...
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GameStop was offering pretty good deals on trade ins of iPads last year. If I remember right, the offers were right on par with what other trade in venues were offering plus if you took store credit, they were adding an extra % to that which most people turned around and bought amazon gift cards with.
I think it will be similar to Gazelle and other trade in venues where you can get more money by selling yourself on eBay but the prices offered for not having to deal with any of that are reasonable.
I think this is a very smart move for GameStop. I see the gaming industry turning more to downloads similar to how music has. It is important for them to expand their business if they want to stay relevant.
I think it will be similar to Gazelle and other trade in venues where you can get more money by selling yourself on eBay but the prices offered for not having to deal with any of that are reasonable.
I think this is a very smart move for GameStop. I see the gaming industry turning more to downloads similar to how music has. It is important for them to expand their business if they want to stay relevant.
You misinterpreted what I said. I said they wanted to give me 7 bucks for all 9 games, not 7 bucks for each game.
GameStop is still worse. <_<IDK, have you seen Pawn Stars?
As for Simply Mac, I would simply rather send my Mac to Apple for repairs.
Finally, a place I can go to buy MacKeeper and MacDefender! I don't want to buy these online and the Apple Store won't sell them. I'm sure they'll give me a flyer every time I come in.
I kid, I kid.
It used to be that anything that increased the visibility of the Apple brand was a good thing; putting more Macs in people's hands was a positive. That's not as much a problem now. If Gamestop/simply mac sells and supports Macs the way they've handles games and consoles, this will, unfortunately, only hurt the brand.
I kid, I kid.
It used to be that anything that increased the visibility of the Apple brand was a good thing; putting more Macs in people's hands was a positive. That's not as much a problem now. If Gamestop/simply mac sells and supports Macs the way they've handles games and consoles, this will, unfortunately, only hurt the brand.
Ahh, my bad. Yeah, I would've been tossing the store if they offered me that much for 9 games.
Though the really sad thing is that they do that because they know they can get away with it. Some people will take whatever they can get, even if it is a straight up rip-off.
Makes some sense
I think that, based on past experience, this makes some level of sense. I live north of Pittsburgh, where up until about 6 months ago there was an independent chain (two stores) called MacOutfitters that both sold Apple products and accessories and repaired them. They also held all sorts of classes on things like Aperture, etc. They were the goto place for many people long before Apple stores came along, and once the first ones did they were still something of a goto place for repairs, because the Apple store usually took longer due to crowds. Plus, hauling my 2007 iMac through the big mall to where the Apple store was located was always a PITA. I think they closed because their two locations were too close to real Apple stores. So, good luck to Gamestop...perhaps if this succeeds I might have a reason to visit one of their stores some day.
I think that, based on past experience, this makes some level of sense. I live north of Pittsburgh, where up until about 6 months ago there was an independent chain (two stores) called MacOutfitters that both sold Apple products and accessories and repaired them. They also held all sorts of classes on things like Aperture, etc. They were the goto place for many people long before Apple stores came along, and once the first ones did they were still something of a goto place for repairs, because the Apple store usually took longer due to crowds. Plus, hauling my 2007 iMac through the big mall to where the Apple store was located was always a PITA. I think they closed because their two locations were too close to real Apple stores. So, good luck to Gamestop...perhaps if this succeeds I might have a reason to visit one of their stores some day.
Not everyone can wait a minimum of three days (1 day to overnight it to Apple, 1 day to repair, 1 day to overnight it back to you) for repairs. There will always be cases where someone needs a repair very quickly and driving to an Apple store is not an option. Heck, even when driving to an Apple store is an option, the Genius Bar might be so booked that you can't get in to see them until the next day or even later. As Apple products, including Macs, become more and more popular, expecting Apple to fulfill all the support/repair needs of everyone out there becomes less and less realistic.
Sadly I was thinking the same thing. Getting sick of these business entities using the name "Mac" just to grab people in since it's iconic and synonymous with Apple, only to find out that Macs are barely a thought in their mind to sell but rather just iProducts. Case in point. Macworld. Since they became Macworld/iWorld 80% of their products shown at the show were for iOS. Bummer.
Never thought I'd see SimplyMac on the front of MacRumors. I used to work there in 2007. I worked in their "flagship" store (of only two at the time) as a salesman, a genius bar equivalent, and as a repair technician. I worked for about 6 months before quitting. They were stingy, and high high employee turn over. The big difference between these stores, and Apple stores was that they were commission based.
Apple store employees (as far as I know, at the time) did not receive any commission. This let them help the customer in a no pressure model.
At SimplyMac, We had to hit sales marks or else we would be fired. We made highest commission off of .Mac (or whatever it was called at the time) sales and Apple Care, so we were always trying to talk the customer into getting these products even though I personally didn't believe in either for many people. It made for some stressful times, especially when its a quiet day, and the employees out number the customers 3 to 1.
Its hard though being an Apple Authorized re-seller. As far as I know, they only made a few dollars off of computer sales, so it makes sense that they have to push add-ons to stay in business. Basically, even when I worked there, I would steer my friends to the Apple store which was 45 minutes away because the prices and service were just better.
Anyways. Sorry for rambling. Seeing that store just brought back lots of memories....
Apple store employees (as far as I know, at the time) did not receive any commission. This let them help the customer in a no pressure model.
At SimplyMac, We had to hit sales marks or else we would be fired. We made highest commission off of .Mac (or whatever it was called at the time) sales and Apple Care, so we were always trying to talk the customer into getting these products even though I personally didn't believe in either for many people. It made for some stressful times, especially when its a quiet day, and the employees out number the customers 3 to 1.
Its hard though being an Apple Authorized re-seller. As far as I know, they only made a few dollars off of computer sales, so it makes sense that they have to push add-ons to stay in business. Basically, even when I worked there, I would steer my friends to the Apple store which was 45 minutes away because the prices and service were just better.
Anyways. Sorry for rambling. Seeing that store just brought back lots of memories....
I think that's just following Apple's own lead, aka Apple doesn't seem all that interested in Macs since iOS devices have become such a huge business.
They really took advantage of me when I was a kid. I remember having to trade-in 3 gameboy advance games just get to a new $30 game and still having to pay a difference.
However, I was kid, so no eBay for me.
This explains why they'll do anything to pry your iPhone or iPad away from you. Traded in an iPhone 4s and PS3 for a PS4, and I was only out of pocket $12. Not too bad I guess.
Because it's stupid nowadays to pay $150-$300 for a mobile game console when you could get a nice tablet that will not only play games but also do other real things for the same price. You also get a better display and much more powerful device. Games on tablets and phones are no longer just simple and/or crappy games, they are starting to be as complex as any mobile console game, if not more so.
I think it will be a generation or two after the Xbox One/PS4 before we see CD drives being removed from consoles. The PC gaming industry has gone digital download, but the console realm not so much except for small indie titles.
Gamestop has never been about PC gaming anyway, their main thing is consoles.
Right now it's more an either/or situation. The box releases are still the most hyped, but just about every game that comes out these days has a digital download you can grab off the various console stores if you want opt for it instead.
They'll do it by having even fewer products in even fewer configurations in stock than the Apple stores.
Oh wait. Well maybe they'll be sited in places where there's parking, that would be a differentiator.