Filed under: Hardware, Retail, iMac, Flickr Find
Flickr Find: Apple shop at Best Buy
We've heard about them, and now Ian sends us his Flickr tour of the "Apple shop" inside a Best Buy. It's a weird combination-- Apple's elegance with Best Buy's garish discount electronics warehouse look-- but from what we've heard, it works.Would you buy an Apple from Best Buy? Ian says the nearest Apple store is 15 miles away, so for actually buying and purchasing a Mac, I'd rather go to the Genius Bar. But of course this store isn't meant for me (even though I do buy games and electronics at Best Buy)-- it's meant for Windows folks coming in to get a new PC, and reconsidering for the purchase of an iMac.
The problem with that is that Apple doesn't compete on price, and Best Buy does (ironically enough, Ian points out that Best Buy's plans are actually more expensive than AppleCare). Apple competes on the pleasure of the UI and usability-- that's why Apple stores work so well, because the whole transaction is designed around using the item. Still, making their computers accessible and open like this even at Best Buy (as much as possible, anyway-- the place looks a little cramped) is a start at reaching the unwashed Windows masses and enticing them into a better world.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ralph said 4:05PM on 7-17-2007
Personally, I think this is a bad move on Apple's part. My experience with Best Buy has been less than stellar, and I can't imagine them giving any real boost to Apple. Of course, that could be limited to the stores I've been to in my travels.
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Fred said 4:17PM on 7-17-2007
Apple is fairly aggressive about the Applecare vs. other's protection plans. When I was the Apple guy at CompUSA you could not sell Comp's stupid "TAP" with a Mac (not that you'd want to) but some of the more shifty sales guys would try all the time. I'm sure Apple has secured the same type of deal with BB.
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Johnny Thrash said 4:15PM on 7-17-2007
If there is nowhere else in town to buy Apple products, then we welcome it however we can get it.
The web is good and all... but I like to buy it and take it home NOW. =)
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m@ said 4:20PM on 7-17-2007
Will the Apple guys steal porn from my Mac?
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Troy McClure SF said 4:33PM on 7-17-2007
Pshh. I stopped by the "Apple shop" at Best Buy a coupla weeks ago. The display of random wires and iPod accessories was the same size as the sign in the picture above.
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Gary Lee said 4:45PM on 7-17-2007
i hate this move and i hate best buy . . . yes, i know "hate" is a strong word, but trust me . . . i'm usually perfectly for this statement
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Nick said 4:54PM on 7-17-2007
What's Best Buy?
...sorry, there appears to be a pond in the way.
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Maytag said 5:08PM on 7-17-2007
Didn't they try this at CompUSA years and years ago (pre-iMac)?
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Jason said 5:09PM on 7-17-2007
Best Buy does suck.
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Karl Kategianes said 5:13PM on 7-17-2007
This won't do much for Apple. Best Buy dweebs will direct any curious Windows owners back to where they can buy back into another round of junk hardware and software.
Many I know like Apple machines, but they are so dependent on copying software from other Windows users, they can't imagine PAYING for software for a Mac.
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Skoalbandit said 5:19PM on 7-17-2007
The best buy by me sells macs but hardly any software. Office and a couple of apple things and that is it. What's the point?
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Nick Savage said 5:22PM on 7-17-2007
When I was in Best Buy up here in Canada on the weekend, I noticed that they did this there, too. Obviously the first place I check when I go to Best Buy is the Apple section! I bought my MacBook from a Staples in town, because the closest Apple Store was on the other end of town. I was just going on a trip, and didn't want to have to wait until I got home to buy it. It was getting late, so we just went to Staples (Best Buy was out). So yeah, people DO buy Macs at those non-Apple stores. I wasn't happy about it, but at least I got a MacBook.
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Fred said 6:09PM on 7-17-2007
@8 Comp launched their "store within a store" with the iMac, and it was a huge success. Then they neglected that part of the store, and it became this dark cave that they shuffled all the old crap in the store too. Apple finally, stepped in and started sending their own reps in, but by then it was pretty much too late, and while they still have reps, nobody ever goes there.
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YodaMac said 6:30PM on 7-17-2007
Pond or no, Best Buy has a website, of course, if you're curious about the big box electronics store.
After looking at all the pictures, am I shallow to be repulsed by the ugly yellow Best Buy price tags stuck on those beautifully packaged Apple products?
Fortunately we have 4 apple stores within reasonable distances of the Denver Metro area.
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Tristan said 6:36PM on 7-17-2007
I work at a Best Buy in Canada as sells person in the computers department (summer job). The mac section is terribly under-maintained and the selection of mac software is quite small. Plus, most of the staff doesn't know how they work. I'm the only one there that is able to sell any to mac neophytes.
The problem with Apple's products is that retail stores barely make a margin on them, so they have to make up with more expensive service plans. Apple's prices are also terribly non-competitive compared to HP's or Acer's products. For example: You can get a Quad-Core desktop with a 19 inch screen for the price of the 17 inch iMac. How can you justify that unless your a big Apple fan like me? Usability and design is a good point but features for the buck for most people is more important.
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Fred said 7:04PM on 7-17-2007
Tristan, you should know that there is zero margin in hardware anymore. The trick to sales is ink, and cables, and service plans.
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Chase said 8:30PM on 7-17-2007
I'm the "Apple Expert" at the Best Buy in Boca Raton, and despite the past Apple tries, we're doing really well. All the employees in PC-Home Office now want an Apple next, which says a lot because of the Anti-Apple Bandwagon.
All Best Buys with Apple Stores are also getting an "Apple Consultant" who is hired and payed by Apple to work in the Best Buy stores when the "Apple Expert" is not.
A couple days ago was an Intel-HP training down in Ft. Lauderdale, and at the training, our 3 tables of people were nothing about Apple comments against HP. Which lets me know I've done my job. And I don't plan on letting Best Buy's and Apple's partnership fail this time.
As far as our Performance Service Plans go, the iMac PSP's are overpriced considering we don't have the 24/7 Apple Support that AppleCare provides. But our Accidental Performance Service Plans are much better because cover EVERYTHING except lost, stolen or submerged (spill damage is covered) which I don't believe AppleCare supports.
Honestly, right now we don't sell as much as i'd like, because it's more word of the mouth at the moment. It still amazes me how many customers I get a day that have never seen Apple's, and how they want to go home and research them now that I've showed them all the benefits. As soon as Bootcamp is final, I expect no problems ever selling them to non-exporters.
And just so everyone knows, Retailers don't make money off Laptops or Desktops anymore, they lose money. Computer Departments are dying, and this partnership will keep them afloat because we at least make something now. Best Buy and Apple have failed in the past, but I can tell you a lot of thought, time and detail is going into the project and it's going to be a success.
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Chase said 8:38PM on 7-17-2007
whoops, *A couple days ago was an Intel-HP training down in Ft. Lauderdale, and at the training, our 3 tables of people were nothing BUT Apple comments against HP.
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boyjoshua said 8:53PM on 7-17-2007
At the Best Buy @ 119th and Metcalf in Kansas near the Sprint world headquarters, the Apple area just opened a week or so ago. This comes not long after the CompUSA across the street closed up and where a Apple area was located for this part of town. The Apple Expert from CompUSA is now the Apple Expert in the Best Buy as are many of the other sales people, many of which knew Apples quite well. Hopefully these employees will be able to accurately weigh the buyers choices and explain things better than your typical "PC Only" sales reps.
I will say the floor space for the Apple sections is much nicer than what was previously at the CompUSA. I have also seen quite a few people purchasing Mac Books, iMacs and such. With a town that only has one true Apple store, any other outlets for people to buy is a plus in my book.
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Mikey said 12:16AM on 7-18-2007
I work at a Best Buy in Texas and was able to make a copy of this promotional DVD that was played in a meeting at our store. Needless to say, I really want this position! Here is the video I posted on YouTube:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z7WVPnpfl9E
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