I can only imagine that the irony oozing from this statement is intended.
Apple is losing market share because all of the above applies to it.
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Tim Cook's Plan to Sell More iPhones in Apple Stores Could Be Tough Task
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I can only imagine that the irony oozing from this statement is intended.
Apple is losing market share because all of the above applies to it.
Hate is irrelevant. The carriers need Apple because it's business and they need the traffic and sales the iPhone drives for them or else they wouldn't agree to sizable minimum purchases Apple demands. iPhone is very much a franchise and, as such, Apple can call a lot of the shots just like McDonalds or BMW or Hilton does with its franchisees.
Android, by design, can't do that because there are no rules to incorporating it in a product. And few people go to a provider and specifically ask for a specific Android phone (who could keep up with all of them). Much of the Android phone marketshare is from inexpensive prepaid one. Android is about as generic as a "brand" can get.
Forgive me, but wouldn't it make more sense for you to drive up to Delaware and buy your Apple products tax free?
You wouldn't have to go to an Apple store, you'd just have to drive across the Maryland/Delaware state line and find the first carrier store.
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I have never thought about it this way. This is one more big reason to buy an Apple iPhone over an Android phone.
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Not really a truthful statement. Marketshare has been flip-flopping all over the place. Depends on what time of the month and what markets are measured and what is being measured. For every report that says iOS is slipping I can find one that is ominous for Android. Ultimately neither of these platforms are going to die out until a 3rd unknown player trumps them much like iOS did to BB and Palm.
In general right now 2013, and I noted a WSJ article from today in an earlier post here, smartphone growth for both Android and iOS is stalling because of hardware. The 4S's disappointing sales caused Samsung stock to plunge much as iPhone 5 lagging had done for Apple.
No one I have ever met (I am not saying this as a rule) that went into ATT or Sprint or Verizon and wasn't sure what phone they wanted was ever pushed into any specific phone. I guess it's easy to believe this fairy tale.
And the carriers must be in a difficult position. On one hand - they have a contract with Apple to sell X units or they eat the cost. On the other hand - they make more profit from other Manufacturers. So do you go for profits and pay off the Apple "debt" for not making #s or do you sell Apple iPhones and make little profit?
I think it's almost a stale mate there. Which is why I defer to my earlier comment which I understand is not ubiquitous - but no one I have met has ever been pushed into a specific phone - Android or iPhone. They were all sold on phones based on what they wanted. Some wound up with iPhones and others with Android.
ETA: Also - Unless Apple really works on their server load - it spells more of a headache for customers who already had lots of issues the last few upgrades with getting their phone a) ordered b) activated.
That's fine if you don't care what you're buying.
I bought my iPhone online on release day, and it was very simple and easy. I activated it myself, there were no issues.
I agree. I've bought two phones and two iPads from the local Apple store and find the whole experience underwhelming.
Go into a store that's packed like a flea market and play 'Where's Waldo' finding the blue shirted employee who is the 'gatekeeper' for what you need. (The rest of non-gatekeeper employees are too busy to be bothered with you.) Watch the gatekeeper make a serious face while furiously tapping their iPad before banishing you off to a random part of the store to wait. You have no idea if your next or fifth....or who the hipster doofus is that's even going to help you.
Eventually the employee finds you...wanders off to the back for what seems like an eternity...then comes back with a proud smirk like they pooped out a Faberge egg for you.
Apple is great for service. And they are great for support, especially for new Apple users. But outside of launch day, it seems like the purchase part could be expedited...especially for customers who know exactly what they want.
So.. Simply send your butler to stand in line for you,.... since you find it so degrading to be in a line with other customers.
Really it's the other way around. If you go to a store and don't have an inkling about what to buy and are relying on sales people's advice it's a form of Russian Roulette. Rarely do salespeople have any in depth knowledge about products they are selling. This goes for TVs, phones, cars, you name it.
Smart consumers educate themselves first then go to buy. Then where you buy comes down to convenience and value.
Most Apple stores are too small and cramped with tables to deal effectively with crowds (many of which are just window shoppers). Not the best option if you know what you want and want to be out the door with your Apple product in a reasonably short period of time. One solution could be to move some Apple stores into larger spaces and having a "store inside a store", only for iPhone purchases with its own entrance.
As a British iPhone user with a historic O2 platinum contract (£70 monthly tariff for unlimited everything including data and a 6mth upgrade cycle, any phone - nil cost) I would never dream of using an apple store as they wouldn't honour my existing agreement and I would be stuck on a crappy 24mth contract term, and I would sooner have no phone than be stuck on a 24mth deal ...
So, therefore until Apple get the ability to deal as the networks can to actually honour existing terms and not just apply current new terms there is no chance of me buying anywhere else other than O2 direct or CPW who have this ability also.
So, therefore until Apple get the ability to deal as the networks can to actually honour existing terms and not just apply current new terms there is no chance of me buying anywhere else other than O2 direct or CPW who have this ability also.
Can't. Such contracts are not public. But absolutely exist. Apple feels differently, that their products will sell without bribing sales guys to sell them. Seems to be working so far....
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Ok, TL: DR thread, so maybe someone else said this.
But, using these numbers, Apple Stores are 2% of all stores that sell the iPhone. Meanwhile, 10% of first time buyers, and 15-20% of all iPhones in the last year were bought at Apple. (my question is where does online fit into the chart, Apple or otherwise)
That's pretty good numbers, actually. As CEO, Cook should certainly strive to improve them. But they are not doom-inspiring.
Please respect local differences, you claim to live in a communist state (Soviet Union) queueing there is the norm, and that does not bother me in the slightest. Queue for as long as you wish. I live in a democratic country where queuing is not the norm, and even my butler would not want to be seen dead waiting outside a shop, he would rather enjoy a refreshing Pimm's with all the trimmings and a cucumber sandwich.
I thought Apple did it for the love of the product not the amount of sales!
Don't get me wrong I understand Apple is a business and need to earn money as with every other but they shouldn't forget their roots...this in itself has made Apple what it is today.
Don't get me wrong I understand Apple is a business and need to earn money as with every other but they shouldn't forget their roots...this in itself has made Apple what it is today.
Bribing? A bit extreme. No "worse" than Apple's quota or pay anyway contract.
BTW - I would be very pissed if I was a carrier who (in "good faith") signed a contract to sell X iPhones a year and then after the ink was dry, Apple ramped up their own sales efforts driving business away from the carriers.
You know - either way - Apple gets paid for those phones (I'm assuming carriers don't foot the entire bill of what's left for missing their quota)
Sure. But that's hardly a direct correlation. I suppose if we see a bunch of "Apple Store" ads that could be considered to be happening. I doubt they could ramp up their in-store efforts very much, pretty well hyped already.
I won't bother to argue over what obnoxious sales tactics are worse.
Yep
Apple stores suck for buying stuff
They are like a snobby circuit city or one of the old catalog stores with everything in the back
Apple stores suck for buying stuff
They are like a snobby circuit city or one of the old catalog stores with everything in the back
It's been nearly a year since the last time I went to an Apple store, but I found that since they went with the push to rid almost all standard cashiers and have randoms walking around swiping sales, response time has decreased. I really was not a fan of the experience.
I've purchased iPhones from both Apple Stores and AT&T stores. My experience has been faster and more enjoyable at the Apple Store. I may be unique, but I will always try to buy and iPhone from Apple first. If they are sold out/unavailable I might look elsewhere. But the Apple buying experience far exceeded the AT&T experience.
This isn't about market share its about increasing the percentage of sales that happen in Apple stores.
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That new AT&T offer is a joke. They screw you over while making you think you're getting a deal.
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One of the reasons I own iPhones. Don't want the carrier bloatware and don't want them dictating when I get a software update.
Plus since form follows function in good design all phone should be looking almost about the same,
which they do except for sizes..
Kiosks
Apple should consider iPhone corporate kiosks in shopping malls just as wireless carriers have. Many people find entering an Apple Store intimidating. I can't relate to that but I have heard it so many times from people I know. They are not tech savvy but they own smart phones. They do not own iPhones.
May be worth a thought.
Apple should consider iPhone corporate kiosks in shopping malls just as wireless carriers have. Many people find entering an Apple Store intimidating. I can't relate to that but I have heard it so many times from people I know. They are not tech savvy but they own smart phones. They do not own iPhones.
May be worth a thought.
TMobile passed Sprint????
Not sure where the data for the 6/30 quarter comes from ... probably analyst checks. Did anyone notice that TMobile has a higher share than Sprint?
This could mean two things ... assuming the data is accurate.
1. Sprint sold much much much fewer iPhones than in any other previous quarter.
2. TMobile had a blowout quarter for iPhone sales.
The fewest iPhones that Sprint activated in a quarter is 1.5 million. TMobile was projected to activate about 500K to 750K iPhones this quarter.
Either Sprint is in huge trouble or TMobile doubled Wall Street's expectations.
NOTE - I realize that the data is for iPhones sold at a particular store ... I'm assuming that TMobile and Sprint iPhones are sold at a similar rate at BestBuy/AppleStore/Others.
NOTE 2 - I realize that all analyst info needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Not sure where the data for the 6/30 quarter comes from ... probably analyst checks. Did anyone notice that TMobile has a higher share than Sprint?
This could mean two things ... assuming the data is accurate.
1. Sprint sold much much much fewer iPhones than in any other previous quarter.
2. TMobile had a blowout quarter for iPhone sales.
The fewest iPhones that Sprint activated in a quarter is 1.5 million. TMobile was projected to activate about 500K to 750K iPhones this quarter.
Either Sprint is in huge trouble or TMobile doubled Wall Street's expectations.
NOTE - I realize that the data is for iPhones sold at a particular store ... I'm assuming that TMobile and Sprint iPhones are sold at a similar rate at BestBuy/AppleStore/Others.
NOTE 2 - I realize that all analyst info needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
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