Filed under: Hardware, Retail, Rumors
Macs making a comeback at Circuit City?
A stealthy tipster has clued us in to the possibility that Macs - including MacBooks, MBPs, iMacs and Mac minis - might be making a belated encore appearance at a Circuit City near you. This observant reader caught these products listed on a few internal documents, but we don't have any ETA for now (though our money is on 'just in time for the fall/winter holiday shopping season'). This could be great news for US customers (and potential Mac owners) who might be in the market for a new Mac, but are nowhere near a bright, shiny Apple Store.I call this an encore because I used to work for Circuit City, right around the time Circuit and Apple parted ways - just before the introduction of Mac OS X; in fact I even (regrettably) had to help tear down the display from the store shelves. While part of me wishes I was still there (a small part, indeed) so I could gloat over this good news to all those who laughed and pointed at my Mac, I'm more hopeful that this turns out to be true for all those who could benefit from Circuit signing on (again) as an Apple reseller.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pat said 12:22PM on 9-04-2006
This would be nice, but I already have a COMPUSA close by. Hooray for Apple going to the big chains!
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Dave Barnes said 12:36PM on 9-04-2006
I am really torn by this.
My local CompUSA has an Apple section. The overall store is dingy and the Apple section is shoved into the back corner. The ONLY thing that makes this work for Apple is the Apple employee who works this section 6 days a week. Without him, CompUSA would sell zero Macs.
Now, the nearby Best Buy store (within 150 meters of the CompUSA) is rumored to be carrying Macs. Who will SELL them?
And now, this rumor about Circuit City (with 500 meters of the CompUSA). Again, who is going the SELL Macs?
,dave
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GC said 12:44PM on 9-04-2006
I'm always a bit wary about these arrangements. Every Mac user has a CompUSA horror story, every Mac user has learned that CompUSA doesn't give a flying fig about them, but every CompUSA has Macs and Apple products stacked high in their display windows to draw people in...before the pimply teen in the polo shirt who doesn't know anything proclaims that "teh MAC suxors," and steers potential buyers to the Windows PCs.
In my cynical little heart, I think that stores like Circuit City and Best Buy have had people come in and say, "I want to buy an iMac," only to have them turn around and walk out when told that the stores don't sell iMacs. By stocking Apple products, the stores can lead potential customers to that aisle and say, "Here you go, here's an iMac," before whispering in their ears, "But teh MAC suxors," and steering them to the Windows PCs.
But maybe this time it will be different (thinks Charlie Brown as he runs towards Lucy and the football).
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Silver said 12:47PM on 9-04-2006
Is getting Macs back into the big box stores really good for Apple? I doubt it. The employees don't know anything about them, are typically anti-Apple anyway, and the computers usually sit gathering dust. I remember the horror of the old days where I'd see neglected Macs at my local Sears store, just begging people to buy a PC instead.
I say forget the lame big box retailers and get more Apple Stores into more cities. Better salespeople, a better buying experience for the consumer, and higher margins for Apple.
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bt said 12:54PM on 9-04-2006
The Macs are crammed to a dirty dimly lit corner and left to sell themselves at my local CompUSA, too. As well as at Fry's, and Best Buy when they had the Mac mini. I remember Circuit City having the original iMacs. I would always play with the text to speech stuff and make them talk.
Good times.
My local CC now has all computers crammed in a corner. I bet the Macs will be in the cornerest corner they can find.
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Apple Guy said 12:59PM on 9-04-2006
not for nothing, but all of you dissing the CompUSA apple stores are wrong. Well obviously the "pimply" teen JO's dont care about anything but gaming. I work at CompUSA, and when there is an apple customer, I am called to the apple section to help and show the amazing machines. They refer to me as the "apple guy", well of course besides our store rep (who is a very knowledgeable guy).
Just because some kids dont care and just want to get by and make their "spiffs" (which CompUSA sucks at anyway) doesn't mean there is no knowledgeable people in there who know what they are talking about.
Our CompUSA is always sold out of Mac products, it really does depend on the service, CompUSA should support apple and little more and hire people for "Apple Section" rather than "hardware salesman" "networking" etc.
Just my 2 cents, you probably don't care and I know all of us reading TUAW love macs, and all that jazz. Sorry I took a little offense to that, I work at CompUSA and know more than anybody in the building except for our Apple Sales Rep.
I work hard for Apples little store (maybe one day they will notice)
but on a happier note, I think its awesome they are moving into Circuit City. I think I read above that someone said CompUSA is dingy. AGREED they all need to be re-modeled.
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Eric said 1:10PM on 9-04-2006
Third hand stuff, so take what you want from it. A friend of the family works at Circuit City and is being trained by Apple to run the Mac section at his store. Apparently, they're starting with something like a dozen stores.
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Halhiker said 1:46PM on 9-04-2006
I, for one, hope the rumor is true. I live near Palm Springs, CA and we have to travel an hour and a half to the nearest Apple Store. There are two Best Buys in town (none carry Macs) and two Circuit City stores. The area is ripe for an Apple store (a MUCH better location than the Rancho Cucamongo site) because in addition to local residents we have MILLIONS of annual visitors and if they don't like golf then their main recreational opportuny is shopping (OK, there's also hiking but don't tell; I don't want too big of crowds on MY trails ;-)). If done right they could sell a TON of Macs here. Because in addition to all the tourists we have a lot of very active seniors with a lot of disposible income. I personally know three or four looking for new computers to do pictures and e-mail their families. If they could just see a Mac, I'm sure they'd be hooked. Hell, I have a full-time job (and a family) but I would even consider working there PT just for fun (and an employee discount, of couse!). So bring it on. The more Macs in this world, the better!!
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narco said 1:46PM on 9-04-2006
The Best Buy here in L.A. has an Apple section. There are always people looking at the computers and never any salesmen there. In fact, I've answered a few questions when I go there. I don't understand either -- I mean, if employees get commission based on the price, and if Macs are supposedly more expensive, then why don't sales people give a shit about them? All you hear is the same shit you've heard for years and salespeople telling potential buyers that PCs are the way to go.
CompUSA and Fry's have the same problem. I think it's fine that there are Apple corners of these stores, but Apple should really ensure that they are all staffed properly.
Fishes,
narco.
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SB said 1:50PM on 9-04-2006
Problem is there's a steep learning curve to "switching". It's not as simple as plug and play. You need to have Mac software, including a word processor, spreadsheet, money manager, etc. When people buy PCs, a lot of this stuff is either already installed (MS Works), they already owned it from before (so they just have to reinstall it), or it'll be really easy to find (since most software is PC-compatible).
With Macs, you take home the computer only to find out none of the freeware, shareware, and trialware that comes with PCs just isn't there with Macs. And a trial for Pages just doesn't cut it. So the new Mac user has to go back to the store to get all the basic software necessary, which means they need to spend more money, learn more new software, and take time to "switch".
It's really easy for us diehard Mac users to say, "Yeah, Macs are so much simpler" because we deal with them everyday. For switchers at Circuit City, Best Buy, or CompUSA, REAL, INTELLIGENT Mac professionals need to be able to help people understand the Mac world. And in my experience, that never works at big retailers like these. I hope it works for Circuit City and Apple, but I don't think it will.
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David Chartier said 2:03PM on 9-04-2006
#8: On the contrary, Circuit City and Best Buy aren't on commission. CompUSA still is, or at least was when a friend of mine used to be the lead of a Denver, CO-based CompUSA Apple dept. So at CC and BB, the salesmen don't have any extra motivation to learn or care about selling Macs.
CompUSA, from the explanation of my friend, is in an even worse situation because not only are their salesmen on commission, but the store actually makes less selling Macs (Apple keeps their reseller prices rigid; ever wonder why most stores rarely take more than $5 off the price of a new Mac?) than PC hardware - and this probably holds true for Best Buy and Circuit City. This means the salesmen at Comp also make less when selling a Mac - it's a horrible situation, and I sincerely hope someone figures this out and offers a solution before these new experiments go down the toilet.
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Thorn said 2:55PM on 9-04-2006
Hey Apple Guy --
Before you call everyone here wrong about the way that they feel about their local CompUSA, might might want to consider that their CompUSA probably isn't anywhere near as great as your posts makes you and your store sound.
It's cool that you know enough about Macs to be able to back up your stores official Mac guy, but at the two stores by me, you literally have to have someone overhead page a minimum of two times before someone will begrudgingly come over to the Apple area when you have a question. It's like they leave you standing there at least 10 minutes hoping that you'll go away.
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Dan said 10:17PM on 9-04-2006
I'm not sure why, but the Oklahoma City CompUSA has a large, nicely maintained Apple section in its Northeast corner.
It's clean, well-lit, and the computers seem to be chugging along fine. They have a nice selection of Apple software as well. Nothing wrong with CompUSA's merchandizing here.
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Steve said 4:41PM on 9-04-2006
Dave (#2)--
Where are you located? Sounds just like my area!
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Apple Guy said 1:26AM on 9-05-2006
I completley agree with you, CompUSA needs more people staffed FOR apple, not just "hardware sales"
and another thing. Our store isnt great in my opinion it needs to be gutted and redone on the inside. Im just saying there are people that care about the Macs just like I do im sure! its a pride thing I guess (no hard feelings guys!)
As for commision we make something called "spiff" you only make 1$ on applecare...and you only get spiffed for "services" and the spiffs are low and the services are the hardest thing to sell someone who doesnt care what you have to say. Even though sometimes honestly they are worth the money. I always get the applecare on apples, but the laptop kits and most of the desktop plans people dont care aboutl. And honestly I dont either, I hang out in the apple section I dont even venture out of it unless a customer drags me out. sad, but true.
CompUSA should add some motivation to their tactics. like 5 bucks for a 5 item sale, and 10 for 10, they did that for a week i pulled in an extra 20 a day...
that makes working for them a little more worth it, other than that I just sell apple because I know the products and they are just better. I cant "demo" anything on a PC like I can on a Mac PC's are all the same, boring, and so old looking. All the pcs do the same thing (nothing).
anyhoo, just want to make sure you dont think I was mad at anyone, or dissing any of your comments! im a good guy just giving my 2 cents!
thanks guys!
sorry if my spelling is bad!
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Zaren said 8:49AM on 9-06-2006
I was in a Circuit City once the last time they had Macs there. A teacher came in, ad in hand, looking for a Mac that was in the ad. The sales goon said to her "Why do you want a Mac? They don't have any software, they're slow... here, let me show a nice Windows computer..." and started to steer her and her husband away from the Macs.
I'd been working retail for several years at that point, and a Mac user for even longer. I snapped. I very clearly and LOUDLY said "Excuse me, but what are you doing? Your CUSTOMER came to YOUR STORE looking to buy a Mac. Obviously, she knows what she wants to buy - she even has it circled in her ad! Why are you trying to sell her something he doesn't want?"
Deer. Headlights. A thing of beauty.
I then proceeded to give a two minute lesson on the values of Macs vs Windows to the stunned goon (and all his fellow goons, and I believe to a floor manager who was in earshot), apologized to the teacher for making a scene, and made my exit, dropping whatever I was going to buy.
With any luck, the sales stuff will have a better incentive THIS time around to sell the customers what the customers want, and not what will score the staff the best commission.
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Eric said 5:37PM on 9-05-2006
I think there's a point some here are missing (by an inch or so). Yes, the Apple brick-and-mortar stores are really cool and hip. Well lit, clean layouts, plenty of 'toys' to play with, plenty of salespeople willing to help or answer questions. But it is the 'cool and hip' that the PC masses have heard about, and I believe, are scared of.
By getting Macs into the places where potential new computer buyers tend to go: big, 'safe' Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc., they can get those shy folks to take a second look. These people would normally feel 'safe' buying the same ol' PC, but when they see that GORGEOUS 30 inch display hooked up to that new Mac Pro, oh my! What is THAT computer? Then (and this is where good salespeople will be paramount to success), the salesperson will clue them into BOOT CAMP! Now they don't have to totally cut the umbilical from Windows all at once! They can 'wean' themselves bit by bit. Pure genius!
I tell you, Boot Camp matched with Intel hardware is by far the smartest thing to date Apple has done for their computers. It's got me, a Windows systems integrator (OMG!), on the verge of buying a Mac Book Pro or a Mac Pro. Thanks Apple! Keep up the smart market strategy!
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Mike said 8:26PM on 9-05-2006
Hmm...I know this sounds wierd...but in Chicago, my nearest Apple store is about 14 miles away...I wouldn't mind Circuit City doing this.
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Joe said 12:27AM on 9-06-2006
I think one of the primary reasons the big chain stores often neglect Apple is because of the services they can sell with it. I don't know if circuit city can sell their own protection plan and such apple hardware, but with most of their other products you can just about go in and ask for an item at cost as long as you buy the protection plan and extended warranty and all of the other stuff they beg you to get.
I know at best buy a lot of the sales reps make most of their money off of the extras and will allow the actual price of the item to be knocked down considerably. With apple being very firm on its pricing I don't know if the stores will be as inclined to push the product.
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Yakov Chodosh said 6:35PM on 9-07-2006
Yes, I'm sure she's very happy now with her narcoleptic macbook. Good job showing mac fans to be obnoxious shmucks
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