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Inside Apple's Retail Store Operation
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Frankly, whenever I hear people (particularly computer types) say that their experiences at any particular place are always negative or that everyone there is 'smug', I tend to look at the customer, not the store.
A game console?
That's a ridiculous understatement. The 360 is a massive success and massively profitable. They could easily separate the gaming division from corporate and it would exist quite comfortably on it's own given it's software and hardware output, sales, partnerships and advertising.
It's the equivalent of saying Nintendo don't do anything.
Uh, the Xbox hardware group has been a money loser. Why do you think they rolled the Mac Business Unit in with the Entertainment division? To make the Entertainment division appear to be profitable. The MBU was propping them up.
Now let's jump from 2008 to today. In 2010 (link), Apple's advertising budget jumped to $691 million (which probably translates to about $800 for this year). It's still lower than Microsoft but getting close. Which means that advertising/R&D ratio for Apple is 6...7 times higher than Microsoft's.
And as far as "nothing" is concerned... Let's take just one year: new mobile OS (Windows Phone 7), new (some would say "rrrevolutionary") game controller (Kinect), Windows Home Server 2011 (total redesign), Windows Azure Update (BTW, this is the platform that Apple is using for iCloud), Microsoft Office 365, Windows Intune (cloud management system), Internet Explorer 9, Visual Studio LightSwitch, Silverlight 5, Dynamics CRM 2011. And I am not mentioning minor things like SQL server update or SP1 for Windows 7.
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That's a nice way of saying, you didn't realize how brainwashed they are. With a super control freak like Jobs, I'm surprised to learn they are free to breathe at their normal interval.
I gave you a +1
The shipping schedules in the US suck compared to some other places (and I do live in the US.)
A friend of mine in Singapore had a delivery service actually *call* before they arrived, to make sure someone was home. I was amazed - I don't think any of them do that here...and if they do, you probably have to pay extra for it.
+1 for the emboldened part.
When my wife and I were looking for an AC, I looked around a couple of places and settled pretty quickly on what I wanted. The salesperson appreciated this and gave us some free stuff because we made his sale that much easier.
You sir, have a great attitude.
apple has really done great with their stores. i hope that continues, and they make more iconic stores
Massively profitable?? Are you kidding? For the first seven years of its existence the XBox division was in the red. Even though they have been in the black since 2008, I still have no idea if they have actually made any profit. The only reason the XBox still has a presence in the video game market at all is because MS didn't mind losing billions of dollars to force its way into the market. Any other company would have written the XBox off as a complete and total failure after a couple years.
Yet they didn't, and look where the console is today. The Xbox brand owes the games console arena.
You'd be a very very very stupid person and/or company to write off Microsoft in anything. Yeah they'll get things wrong.. even with good products (like Zune), but Microsoft have deeeeep pockets, and can afford to build the market around their products.
With the DoJ now leaving Microsoft's offices (yes, they had people working at Microsoft all these years to ensure the settlement was never breached), Microsoft, who have good products individually, can now start to UNIFY their very good product range across the board.
Windows 8, WP7, Xbox. 3 screens and a cloud (Skydrive rocks).
Microsoft have had a very hard decade, and it's a testament to them they are still so strong after being hampered for so long. Shackles are off now though...
I like the fact that Apple give training if employees are not meeting the target set. Not like those companies that just fire them.
Which was exactly my point. MS didn't enter the market by introducing revolutionary games or hardware... they simply spent and spent and spent until they forced their way in, just like they do in a lot of their markets. Sometimes it works for them, but a lot of times it doesn't.
The XBox division hasn't been financially successful in any way, shape or form for MS up to this point. For the last few years their financial quarters have been in the black, but are they even close to earning back the billions they've spent up to this point? Most other companies would have written the XBox off as a failure because it would have been the fiscally responsible, or only possible course of action, not because they lack the foresite MS has. I do not see this as a positive reflection of MS' business practices.
MS owns the games arena as long as you completely ignore Nintendo, in much the same way that MS dominates the cell phone arena as long as you completely ignore Google and Apple. Nintendo is by far more successful both in terms of console sales and profit. There is a reason for this... they release innovative hardware and continual rererereleases of well-cherished series. While hard-core gamers are polarized in their feelings towards Nintendo, most would acknowledge that Nintendo has earned the right to be the dominating video game company.
Apple Store Experience
The Apple store experience isnt suited to everyone. I took my teenage daughter to our local Apple Store when I bought my new MacBookPro. It just so happened that it was the day of the release of the iPad2. The OTT reaction of staff with every Ipad sold made her feel uncomfortable and she pleaded that we go somewhere else - we walked across the mall to a 3rd party retailer to buy the product from an equally well trained but far less OTT assistant.
Well done Apple you alienated the next gen of customer who are far more conservative than your genx staff!
The Apple store experience isnt suited to everyone. I took my teenage daughter to our local Apple Store when I bought my new MacBookPro. It just so happened that it was the day of the release of the iPad2. The OTT reaction of staff with every Ipad sold made her feel uncomfortable and she pleaded that we go somewhere else - we walked across the mall to a 3rd party retailer to buy the product from an equally well trained but far less OTT assistant.
Well done Apple you alienated the next gen of customer who are far more conservative than your genx staff!
because a person is spending a significant amount of their money to buy a product. this task should not come with a value judgement, hate, or the generalized apathy most clerks present in today's transactions.
oh my god, are you actually serious? you're saying that it's MY fault that i say "no" in the wrong way/tone?
that sounds familiar....to rape victims. "hey darlin', i know you said NO to the attacker, but, you know...you really said it in the wrong tone and it's your fault. please re-evaluate how you communicate next time you're attacked".
Aduntu.....no, means no. period.
This is overblown. Reread your screen name.
What are they going to steal in an Apple Store, considering almost EVERYTHING is chained to the tables? If you honestly need to stand at the door to see someone hauling a Mac Pro out the store you've got more problems to think about.
If I saw employees at the door greeting people like that I wouldn't go in. When I go shopping I want to be left to myself until I ask for help.
You've obviously missed the entire accessory and software walls when you've been into a store. None of that stuff is secured...
There's lots of little stuff that can be quickly pocketed (like iPod cases and software boxes), and could be hard to spot amongst the crowds in a typical Apple Store.
I've worked retail before and I too was trained to smile and greet every customer, even if it's just a "Hello" as you're walking by. I don't like it either when I'm constantly harassed with "Can I help you find something today sir?" but I have no problem being greeted with a smile and a nod.
In fact, most stores do have a salesperson standing near the door, especially in clothing stores, and you get around 2.25 seconds before getting asked if you want help. Choosing the right garment for my frame is stressful enough that I prefer to go when the store is full of people, or just plain leave the store.
They do. It's called Microsoft Azure.
Apple is using in it's new data center.
Magic.
yes, but.. who cares? If that's the approach they take, rather than introducing something that instantly catches on that is "magic", and it works then who cares??
At the end of the day, they earn their money. If they can afford to lose money up front (which they can) then they are obviously dedicated and committed to the cause. The original Xbox was a pariah for the games industry. Everyone wrote it off, but look at it now.
The fact that they haemorrhaged money for years is irrelevant now that they essentially own gaming in North America. They've got a unit that millions upon millions of people around the world have connected to their TVs, and the potential there is enormous.
"Up to this point" is incorrect. The division turned a profit in 2008 and has steadily been increasing
then:
http://www.gamefront.com/microsofts-entertainment-devices-division-now-with-actual-profit/
now:
http://au.xbox360.gamespy.com/articles/116/1164748p1.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/jan/28/microsoft-profits-xbox-kinect
The percentage growth there is phenomenal.
Nintendo have, for the past 11 months I believe, played second fiddle to Microsoft in North American sales.
I definitely agree that they are a giant though, along with MSFT. Nintendo have the sales from day one (which by the way has plateaued after a geometric launch), and MSFT, as always being the tortoise in the race has slowly but steadily increased their sales. Kinect has been a shot of speed into that Tortoise though.
My original point stands.. ANY company (google, Apple, Nintendo, Sony) would be absolutely stupid to discount Microsoft in any market. If they're late to the party, they're late to the party. But they'll buy their way in with a heck of a lot of money (see Nokia and Skype deals).