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Microsoft Stores Are Permanently Closing
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One of the best experiences of the Microsoft Store online or in-person is any PC you buy came with a clean install of Windows 10. No bloatware and additional junk that you'd get buying a computer direct from MSI or at a Best Buy.
Seemed simple but Microsoft put every PC through their store labs before it's sold by them, controlling the experience like Apple did in a sense.
The Microsoft stores in Seattle area generally have a lot of traffic, the last one I been to near UW last year that was across the Apple store was packed on a weekend.
Seemed simple but Microsoft put every PC through their store labs before it's sold by them, controlling the experience like Apple did in a sense.
The Microsoft stores in Seattle area generally have a lot of traffic, the last one I been to near UW last year that was across the Apple store was packed on a weekend.
I hope so. I feel it is just wasting resources. they should just put more into the cloud. that is where the money is.
This is a shame, I used it to check out Windows devices in person. I had mixed experiences, though - I generally knew more about the product lines and release dates than the employees.
Trust me, for women it's anything but easy.
And don't get me started on bra shopping.
Nope- the one near where I live (in a major metropolitan area) hardly ever had anyone in it... a total waste of space and money.
Hopefully by disappearing the stores, Microsoft will be able to cut overhead and charge less for some of their other offerings.
Microsoft food would more likely be something akin to over-priced jailhouse slop with a lot of fillers imo
LOL
It has never made sense for Microsoft to operate their own stores. They are a utility brand (you use windows and office because you have to and because that’s what everyone else uses, not because you want to), and it’s clear that the surface brand hasn’t really caught on with consumers in any meaningful way.
Contrast this with Apple, whose stores are integral to their branding and marketing strategy.
It was just a bad business decision through and through.
Contrast this with Apple, whose stores are integral to their branding and marketing strategy.
It was just a bad business decision through and through.
Slightly off-topic, but I still can’t get over losing Kaleidoscope from OS 9. The themes and level of UI customization were absolutely epic prior to OS X and Aqua.
(Stardock has apps that are the modern equivalent of the old Kaleidoscope, but they are for Windows only, of course. Even so nothing can beat those old Kaleidoscope themes.)
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There are no stores in my state and I own 0 microsoft products. I didn’t know they existed either. I get out plenty.
I still don’t get why Nadella has kept Surface around. Clearly Ballmer wanted Microsoft to be like Apple. When Nadella came in he said nope and one of the first things he did was get rid of Windows Phone. Heck he even admitted he was against Microsoft acquiring Nokia. I don’t get the point of Surface. There isn’t really anything unique about those devices. They don’t run software no one else can run. They appear to have all the same features any OEM is offering. If Microsoft cancelled the Surface line tomorrow wall street wouldn’t blink.
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Microsoft today announced that it is permanently closing its physical stores worldwide. The company's retail employees will continue to serve customers through Microsoft's corporate offices and remotely, providing sales, training, and support.
Microsoft will continue to operate its online storefront, and it also has plans for reimagined "Experience Centers" for customers in New York City, London, Sydney, and at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
"Our sales have grown online as our product portfolio has evolved to largely digital offerings, and our talented team has proven success serving customers beyond any physical location," said Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Porter. "We are grateful to our Microsoft Store customers and we look forward to continuing to serve them online and with our retail sales team at Microsoft corporate locations."
Microsoft opened its first store in Scottsdale, Arizona in October 2009, eight years after Apple's first stores opened in Glendale, California and the Washington, D.C. area.
Article Link: Microsoft Stores Are Permanently Closing
Not surprising. Microsoft is basically the definition of a B2B company. Whenever they make something focused towards consumers, it fails. Apple are basically the other way around. That’s probably why they have been getting along so well in recent times...
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100% agree. All they do is hurt Microsoft’s relationship with OEMs.
love to see how they do on a tailored suit. As a former fashion illustrator I can tell you tailoring men’s suits is very hard. Custom tailoring suits is an art form unto itself.
Wow, actually sad and surprised to see this go. I know a lot of people on Macrumors aren’t Microsoft fans, but I found this stores to be really cool and modern. I loved the Scottsdale location. I learned how to play Fortnite there got to see a lot of cool products, mostly PC gaming & Xbox related. I liked how they had the gaming out front, a lot of kids enjoyed that. The employees there were super cool, especially when they’d host their gaming events. Ah well, I guess really having these stores are a loss for the company, but was so nice while it lasted. Maybe I can visit one of the remaining stores in a big city one day.
I almost walked into a Microsoft store one time, but I realized it wasn’t the Apple store at the last second. Microsoft had copied the style and layout of the Apple store so thoroughly that it was an easy mistake to make. 😂
They actually had outstanding service. They would fix Windows problems free of charge just like the Genius Bar at Apple.
Microsoft realized they couldn't improve on Apple's stores so they copied it and it was a really good copy.
I recommended the Microsoft store to many people when they had problems with their Windows computers and all had good results.
Many people view Microsoft through the lens of the Steve Ballmer days which is unfortunate as they exemplified Microsoft's hubris culminating in Windows 8. The company has made a significant course change since Satya Nadella took the helm.
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Yes. This is exactly what they did and it was a really good copy. The service was outstanding.
It always seemed like whoever was in charge was on a mission to go head-to-head with Apple. It was a laudable goal, but they never seemed to capable. I worked with them for a short while, and there were a LOT of hard working people trying to make the concept work. But whoever was in charge just seemed to think they could mimic Apple and "be better". In the end, the stores were kinda pathetic. The screen that wrapped around the store was some nice tech, but that was about it.
Someone above mentioned they should have just been an xBox cafe. I think that would have been a great idea. They could have had a continuous LAN party going on letting people play various games. The stores did have xBoxes for people to use, but I think a whole store with 16 and 32 players games going on would have brought young people in.
I feel bad for the employees. As I said, the ones I knew were really smart and tried really hard to make it work. It's just that someone at the top didn't understand that Microsoft's market share didn't mean it had rabbit fans like Apple. It was easy to see, from the very beginning, that the whole effort was kind of embarrassing.
Someone above mentioned they should have just been an xBox cafe. I think that would have been a great idea. They could have had a continuous LAN party going on letting people play various games. The stores did have xBoxes for people to use, but I think a whole store with 16 and 32 players games going on would have brought young people in.
I feel bad for the employees. As I said, the ones I knew were really smart and tried really hard to make it work. It's just that someone at the top didn't understand that Microsoft's market share didn't mean it had rabbit fans like Apple. It was easy to see, from the very beginning, that the whole effort was kind of embarrassing.
Surface exists to provide a vision or direction to the O.E.M.'s and market for what they want Windows to be. Windows can test out items on Surface and if they are well received the O.E.M.'s can then refine them.
Took them long enough. I've wanted Microsoft to close their storefronts for the longest time considering how much money they weren't making from them.
same could be said about apple. After all “Apples entire product line fits on this table” said cool. And that’s literally what they’ve done in these big box stores. A single table or two.
I feel sorry if anyone loses their job but MS hardware aftercare is poor. I’ve been with Apple since 2002 and a few years ago I decided to also get a Surface Book. Like many other the trackpad connector snapped and it’s extremely difficult to get this fixed. I vowed never to buy an MS laptop/notebook again. The value of their stores for aftercare is nonexistent. I could always get my Mac’s fixed even out of warranty. My son had his old plastic white MacBook fixed out of warranty by Apple. i like MS only for Office.
Microsoft today announced that it is permanently closing its physical stores worldwide. The company's retail employees will continue to serve customers through Microsoft's corporate offices and remotely, providing sales, training, and support.
Microsoft will continue to operate its online storefront, and it also has plans for reimagined "Experience Centers" for customers in New York City, London, Sydney, and at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
"Our sales have grown online as our product portfolio has evolved to largely digital offerings, and our talented team has proven success serving customers beyond any physical location," said Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Porter. "We are grateful to our Microsoft Store customers and we look forward to continuing to serve them online and with our retail sales team at Microsoft corporate locations."
Microsoft opened its first store in Scottsdale, Arizona in October 2009, eight years after Apple's first stores opened in Glendale, California and the Washington, D.C. area.
Article Link: Microsoft Stores Are Permanently Closing
Yet another half-assed Microsoft consumer-oriented effort is ended.
This has been going on since the turn of the century. One would have thought Nadella could reign in this stupidity and focus Microsoft.
Right now, the only reason why Microsoft is taken seriously is because of the legacy and inertia of Windows. Without that, they're basically Oracle.
This has been going on since the turn of the century. One would have thought Nadella could reign in this stupidity and focus Microsoft.
Right now, the only reason why Microsoft is taken seriously is because of the legacy and inertia of Windows. Without that, they're basically Oracle.