U.S. Apple Retail Stores to Close From 4-5 PM Tomorrow in Advance of iPad 3G Launch

[bketchum]

Most websites don't have to go down just to be updated, nor do stores have to be closed just for stocking.

Apple's all about the publicity. Little childish if you ask me.

Yeah, close the doors for an hour and you'll build a lineup. Get passersby curious and excited. I'd do it if I was marketing a retail store.

 

[ctdonath]

The iPad WiFi was released on a Saturday.
Apple promised to deliver the 3G model by "late April".
April ends Friday, not Saturday.
To reconcile the practice with the promise, they release it at 5pm Friday.
Makes sense to me.

 

[Gadfly22]

Yes, childish.

Most websites don't have to go down just to be updated, nor do stores have to be closed just for stocking.

Apple's all about the publicity. Little childish if you ask me.

But if you want to understand the behavior of major corporations, just ask: "how would an infant behave?"

Self-centered protection of what it considers its belongings? Check.

Petulance? Check.

Greediness? Check.

Desire for constant attention? Check.

Whininess? Check.

Production of a lot of crap? Check.

If verbal, a string of constant excuses for misbehavior? Check.

Amorality leading to unrestrained lying? Check.

I find this view clears up a lot of the mystery about the workings of the Fortune 500 and others.

 

[dreamerof]

I have been in retail for 15 years(since I was 15YO). I know something of retail. I have been a store manager at two different chains. I'm sure every company out there would love to have publicity like Apple does, but it's wearing thin. Maybe you didn't notice, but Apple released the iPad several weeks ago. It's just a bunch of hype, i.e. "mommy, look at me, I have a new toy." Like I said, childish.

I am sure you excelled at retail, more so than Apple has and continues to do, so Apple should do things your way to get it right. You may have a different opinion or unique style, but Apple's method works and it is their store not yours.

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

have you ever seen them put out anything on display. I have. it takes more than 3-5 mins tops. And it seems like they don't like to do it with customers around because they have to turn off the security for a whole table at a time, which is asking for someone to yank and run

I have seen them do this too and it didn't take long. Also consider THIS product is already on display, it's not like rolling out a new product (which they did already with it). At the 3 Apple Stores near me, they already have the space plotted out for the 3G models using the WiFi models. You can't tell me that swapping 6-8 WiFi models for a 3G models and some price cards takes more than 5 minutes. Rope the area off, stage a few extra employees around it and swap them out, done.

Silly marketing hype that will help sell a buttload of ipads.

Agreed that they will sell a buttload, but shutting stores down for 1 hour will not change anything in iPad sales besides loosing regular sales during that time. The hype and demand are already there regardless of closing or remaining open. I'll say it again, we've done this already. This is not a launch of a new product rather the availability of an additional model. I wouldn't expect them to shut down the store for an hour if they ADDED an additional Macbook Pro stock model with a better graphics card.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a huge advocate for Mac & Apple product since the late 80's. I've attended almost every store event and admit being happily sucked in by the hype. I am a fanboy, but lately Apple marketing seems to be going too far. What worries me most (being in advertising and marketing myself) is that when a company focuses more on hype and marketing than the product, it usually means a loss in quality. I hope we are not entering that phase in Apple's business.

IMHO

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

Yeah, close the doors for an hour and you'll build a lineup. Get passersby curious and excited. I'd do it if I was marketing a retail store.

Then they should do that every week or even every day! $ $ $ $ $ $

Really, you're missing the point. The line would and will be there regardless, it's a given. Does closing a store for 1 hour to swap 6-8 models & price cards really effect the level of hype beyond those already in line pissing their pants to get in? Does it really entice your average mall shopper to say, "screw the family and dinner, I'm jumping in line because it's long and so I can wait for 2 hours to look at something I've been looking at for weeks."

 

[Tones2]

Are there lines former at any Apple stores yet? I'm wondering when a good time to get in line - at Chicago's Michigan Ave store.

Tony