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Macs at BestBuy

What's it gonna take?

I can't imagine people would buy an Apple system at a Best Buy or Future Shop (Canada) location. With so many other options around, how can Apple stand out?

Unless Apple's offerings are clearly beyond the capabilities of all the Windows-based systems throughout the store, what would give anyone the incentive to buy? Joe Schmoe cares about COST and COMPATIBILITY. Apple needs to really needs to blast through these hurdles.

IMHO, they'd do best by focusing on integrated creative media to show their strengths. Apple should flood the floor with screens of fast Apple systems running the iLife programs, Keynote, and Final Cut Pro, etc. Hook up some iPods and camcorders (keep that display uncluttered) and give people a taste of how efficient and easy working with media is with a Mac. Show some iDVD-made home movies on a television somewhere way-off in the store, for goodness sake! Be aggressive!

To show compatibility, I'd suggest they show off Microsoft's Mac software and Adobe Photoshop, and other programs familiar to Windows users. Promoting what's familiar will prevent switchers from feeling they'd isolate themselves with a Mac. Show that Apple computers can do what Windows computers can and more. It might be an illusion (esp. considering speed and game availability) but if the setting is distinct from the Windows clutter, it could work. Then again, being too distinct could alienate potential buyers. Apple's austere image and the inflated prices of their products can be taken as snobby.

The cost issue is up to Apple. Their hardware profit margins are far too high, regardless of how they are the sole-proprietor of thieir computers. They're selling in a computer market, not a Mac market.

(Whew. I've had this bottled up for too long. :) )

Honestly, I wish Apple all the success in the world. They'd better step up and promote themselves, or they'll waste this opportunity (among others, granted) to break out of obscurity and be a player in the mainstream again.
 
Even if not everyone does research like shadowfax, have you all forgotton already that THEY WILL HAVE APPLE EMPLOYEES THERE SELLING THE MACS? Can we all not see the incredible benefit there? An apple store in every best buy across the country! That will be quite a lot of staff. They probably won't have a lot of people in each one, and maybe not even at every location. But the more knowledgable people there are out there talking to consumers the better, and they need a place to do it.
 
Originally posted by medea
well I'm not interested in getting help nor advice, Mac products at Best Buy would be pure convience, there are currently have zero stores that carry mac products in my area right now.
And I think it's like that in a lot of places.
Click to expand...

So because Best buy isn't close to you and you don't want help or advice, Apple should not try and sell a substantial amount of products and possibly gain valuable market share by selling it's products at the HUNDREDS of Best Buy stores strategically located THROUGHOUT the US?

Ok. :rolleyes:
 
Re: What's it gonna take?

Originally posted by Phazer80s
I can't imagine people would buy an Apple system at a Best Buy or Future Shop (Canada) location. With so many other options around, how can Apple stand out?
Click to expand...

Apple would stand out. a lot. i see it at Fry's and CompUSA. the Apple section is the coolest place in the store. especially at Fry's, sheesh. I think that Apples would be just as successful at BB as CompUSA or what have you. they need to be disseminated and spread out. people don't see macs around nearly as much as they need to.

otherwise, your marketing ideas are good; i just don't see how they have anything to do with whether or not apple should sell stuff through best buy.
 
Bestbuy is a great plan to try to sell apple computers...Maybe if they're restricted to sell laptops nd iPods only, it might be considered a success...I have 2 best buys around me, both with a ten mile radius and they ALWAYS have a limited supply of pods, both windows and mac versions. If they will have an Apple reps. then its cool because they'll be informative (hopefully) and conviently to talk to, I mean not everyone has an Apple store to go to.
Apple needs to be more visible and this is just one more way of doing it. Don't worry about it being an expensive product surrounded by cheap hardware, best buy's carries expensive TVs and other home appliances too. Best buy sure isn't KMART or Walmart, those places really caters to "price minded" individuals. For me, I will buy an iPod at a Best Buy because they have that great service performance warranties on all they're computer and home appliances.
 
Originally posted by joelc
Even if not everyone does research like shadowfax, have you all forgotton already that THEY WILL HAVE APPLE EMPLOYEES THERE SELLING THE MACS? Can we all not see the incredible benefit there? An apple store in every best buy across the country! That will be quite a lot of staff. They probably won't have a lot of people in each one, and maybe not even at every location. But the more knowledgable people there are out there talking to consumers the better, and they need a place to do it.
Click to expand...
the way i have seen it at compUSA, they usually have 1 or 2 Apple-certified employees there (paid by apple too), and then there are other regular CompUSA employees as well; if you have a question they can't answer, they call in the apple employee. at least, that's been my experience.
 
Re: What's it gonna take?

Originally posted by Phazer80s
I can't imagine people would buy an Apple system at a Best Buy or Future Shop (Canada) location. With so many other options around, how can Apple stand out?

.....
Click to expand...

You are absolutely and completely missing the point.

1) Exposure. Apple will be sitting next to HP, Compaq, IBM, Sony, etc. "Wow, so Apple is a real computer like all these PCs?"

2) Apple specialist on hand: 'Hey, I thought Apple was just for graphics?" "So, I can use my mac to do everything that i do on my PC at work?"

3) They may actually sell one or 2 computers at one of there many stores.

I mean how can anyone honestly see this as negative? It's simply laughale that anyone would think that this is a negative venture fro Apple. Macs have and will be a niche for quite some time. BUT, they aren't a niche computer! Apple is quality and not a dime a dozen ceral box PC but that doesn't make them niche. Apple will always be concidered a niche UNTIL they get some mass appeal, and some market share.
 
Placement in the stores.

Apple needs to get over their "We want our own area of the store to sell our products" mentality and sell their computers right next to the PC's. For years before I switched to Mac I had no idea there was even an Apple section of the store at CompUSA and Microcenter. If you have no idea who Apple is or what a Mac is, why would you even FEEL like walking all the way across the store, unless you were bored and just browsing? And frankly I think the Apple sections of these stores are despicable. No organization, empty shelves, out of date software. I picked up a clipart package off the shelf at CompUSA and the box didn't even know what OS X was. Probably because the box was dated 1996 and it STILL listed for $200.

If an iMac is sitting right next to a PC, I'm much more likely to give the iMac a chance. Sprint doesn't have it's own section of the store. Its right in with the other mobile phones.
 
Originally posted by bretm
There should be quite a lengthy evaluation process before someone is permitted to purchase a macintosh. Possibly an essay question as well.
Click to expand...

I hope to God you're being facetious.
 
more...

Let me first say that I moved to Charleston, SC, from Lond Island, NY two years ago. In that time, whenever an apple product has been released, there is nowhere remotely close to this area to just go and see the product first hand. The closest place from here that sells apple products is over a 3 hour drive! With that being said, I believe that apple should try and reach us people who don't want to drive that far of a distance to reach apple! So if they plan to sell at Best Buy then I say great! (Yes I know the article only mentioned St. Louis and Philly)

Now this is coming from an apple user...think of all the other people in this area (and other areas that are not close to apple stores or apple resellers - compusa) who just go and buy some PC because they don't know that there are any other computers out there besides HP, Compaq, emachines, etc. They have never seen the amazing designs of apple computers.
 
Interestingly, Future Shop in Canada, which is owned by Best Buy and runs their CDN stores, has been carrying iMacs, eMacs, and iBooks off and on for the last couple years now. Usually bringing them in in limited quantities (ie 1 of each), selling them within a couple weeks, and then taking a couple months to get around to restocking.
 
Originally posted by JesseJames
I'm sorry but this is a bad idea. Most fools who shop at Worst Buy deserve to buy a crappy computer. Not a Mac.
Click to expand...


So then... Where do you buy your computer, Mr. I-Am-Superior? NASA? If apple thinks of its business like you do, Apple will never grow.
 
Originally posted by Kid Red
So because Best buy isn't close to you and you don't want help or advice, Apple should not try and sell a substantial amount of products and possibly gain valuable market share by selling it's products at the HUNDREDS of Best Buy stores strategically located THROUGHOUT the US?

Ok. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Don't be a moron and try reading my post again, I am clearly stating that it for me it doesn't matter if the Best Buy employees don't know squat about macs it is still a good thing to have Best Buy carrying mac products because of convience because I and many people don't have an Apple Store or even CompUSA around our town.....dumbass....
 
Ha ha! Look, Apple has been down this road before. What's to think that they won't get burned again? Ever talk to one of those Best Buy people? Most are just kids in high school and college who have other things on their minds besides showing a great computing experience. Most of the sales and techs in there are going to be PC biased anyway. I think Apple should maintain its beachhead at CompUSA. Keep on its current campaign of opening Apple Stores. And for God's sake hire people who are Macheads for the Apple store in a store at CompUSA.
Why do you think Apple spent all that money to open Apple Stores in the first place? Steve was sick to death of seeing Macs being shoved in the back corner of retailers stores. He railed about this at a news conference. Expletive after expletive. I don't blame him.
So he said f*ck it, we're going to open OUR OWN stores.
And here we are today!
 
Re: Re: What's it gonna take?

Originally posted by Kid Red
You are absolutely and completely missing the point.
Click to expand...

Not really, and I don't think you are either. It seems your reply (Shadowfax', too) and my post are totally in agreement with one another.

Apple should definitely sell their products at reputable, large-scale retailers. My post targets Apple's approach at these stores. They need to be careful and assertive, and use this opportunity to get themselves back in the minds and homes of computer buyers.

We know what's good; this could let The Rest know, too.
 
Originally posted by JesseJames
Most of the sales and techs in there are going to be PC biased anyway. I think Apple should maintain its beachhead at CompUSA. And for God's sake hire people who are Macheads for the Apple store in a store.
Click to expand...
yeah well what's the diff between fry's, compusa and best buy? the more computers apple sells the better! just imagine this: each best buy in the US sells one mac per week. how many macs is that in a month?! they add up!
besides, the apple store geniuses aren't real macheads either...:rolleyes:
they're just there to show off their limited abilities and to get money for doing it (well most of them...once in a while you get a cool genius who knows a lot)...
 
Their hardware profit margins are far too high, regardless of how they are the sole-proprietor of thieir computers.

Ummm...might want to compare Apple to other manufacturing segments. Their margins are pretty on par with other manufacturers.


Ha ha! Look, Apple has been down this road before. What's to think that they won't get burned again? Ever talk to one of those Best Buy people?

Ever READ what you're commenting on? Apple is putting their own people in the stores to sell the machines. If they fail, it won't be because they're being sabotaged by ignorant sales critters.

Apple should definitely sell their products at reputable, large-scale retailers. My post targets Apple's approach at these stores. They need to be careful and assertive, and use this opportunity to get themselves back in the minds and homes of computer buyers.

This is quite perceptive; not sure I'm completely in agreement with the exact approach you're advocating, but I'm not sure I completely disagree. You're on the right track.
 
Originally posted by JesseJames
Ha ha! Look, Apple has been down this road before. What's to think that they won't get burned again? Ever talk to one of those Best Buy people? Most are just kids in high school and college who have other things on their minds besides showing a great computing experience.
Click to expand...

Read the original post again! These people will be Apple Reps. With luck, Apple will hav (at least limited) input on their qualifications.

Regardless, the increased exposure will help. It never hurts to have someone see your product. And if whoever is hawking Macs at Best Buy can't answer a customer's question, at least they saw the darn thing and may go educate themselves. Computers don't tend to be impulse purchases. If you go to best buy to pick up a new PC, and you see this cool iMac next to it, you'll find out about that machine before you pull the trigger. If the Best Buy apple guy can't help you, you'll probably postpone the purchase until you find out more about the iMac.
 
i think products at best buy and places with the same consumer traffic end up looking trashed. busted keys, things like that. plus demo models never let you do anything but open a few apps that come with the systems. when people walk up to a mac in a store like this, apple cant really show off their product. especially to someone that doesnt know anything about computers. i think apple needs to stick to the idea of a show room floor. like when you go buy a car. they need to showcase these systems. i prefer the apple store, i think it would seal the deal a hell of a lot better.
 
I don't really care where Apple sells their products as long as they hurry up with those 970's.

I think Apple's biggest hurdle is their pricing structure. Personally, I don't mind paying extra for quality. But I don't think the current products have much to offer in that area. You can get all the same components on a PC for less money. Apple's strength is it's style and desgin. But style is not worth what Apple charges for it. If I compare three simular systems, say Dell, Sony, and Apple, I don't mind paying a $100 or so extra for a complete Apple system. But not $300 or $400.

If Apple wants to reach the masses, they will have to do it where people are most sensative, in their wallets. If Apple will get their pricing in line, people will buy.

My 2¢
 
Don't buy into BB's extended warranty!

Best Buy will try to push their extended warranty on you hard, so don't give in. I did when I bought my first PC (didn't know macs still existed at the time). They scared me into thinking it was sure to fail, not knowing that there was a manufacturer warranty included. Sure enough when I had a problem, they told me it was Microsoft or Compaq I needed to check with.
 
Reaching out...

From what I've seen in this thread are some people that do not want apple products at best buy for the simple fact that it will make apple look bad sitting next to a pc, having sales reps that aren't apple inclined...whatever the reason. What I'm getting at is that there are many people in the united states that do not know about apple products because they don't get to see them. So think of this...everyone in this forum board knows apple. So what does it matter if you, or I, go into a best buy and know more about an apple computer than the sales rep. We're all going to buy apple products anyway. Apple needs to REACH more people. More people need to just be able to see apple products. And to do this apple needs to market their products to a wider range and REACH more than avid apple users!
 
If Best Buy can sell $2,000+ Bose systems like candy, there is no reason they cannot sell a premium computer like a Mac. In our local Best Buy they actually have a little "store within a store" for Bose and it is really nice and people are always messing around with that expensive junk and a lot of people end up buying it. If they had a real nice Apple "store within a store" staffed by a few Mac people it would be successful. What you can't do is sit an iMac next to an eMachine and not offer any explanation to the customer. With any high end product, you need to showcase it.
 
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