While Apple has taken many steps to make the iPhone
easier and
more available to purchase, Apple could take more steps to make the process easier and quicker.
MacRumors is reporting that Apple is about implement "iPhone Activation Zones" inside Apple Stores. They would included employees, which will be known as "iPhone Experts," who will be identified by unique clothing and name tags, and will be dedicated to activating and setting up iPhones for customers. Also, customers would be able to pre-authorize their purchase online and have their iPhone almost ready for them to purchase in-store. These optimizations could come as early as tomorrow, so keep your eye out for any changes.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brian said 5:16PM on 9-14-2009
Hell yes, about time.
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Jordan said 5:33PM on 9-14-2009
Not really, it's not hard to buy an iPhone. Many people have figured it out. They're everywhere.
Brian said 5:38PM on 9-14-2009
You don't live in Surrey then..... O2 seem to get stock on a Thursday and by the weekend it is gone. You cannot reserve one and your not given any help by anybody in the O2 shop so yes it really is quite hard.
Oh and as I want to add to an existing O2 account Carphone Warehouse is about as much use as a chocolate kettle.
Aztec said 5:58PM on 9-14-2009
Why do ideas like this NEVER seem occur at the AT&T store? Seriously, I dont get it. Is the idea coming from corporate that the 'car salesman' like approach is working for them?
BEN! said 7:38PM on 9-14-2009
I like chocolate kettles. They're delicious!
Paul said 8:17PM on 9-14-2009
I don't see how this will help the stock shortage at all...
Jordan said 11:52PM on 9-14-2009
Exactly, this isn't going to help stock shortage at all. If your issues with obtaining a phone are stock supplies then that is completely different. Any hot-item with stock shortages is hard to find. But my point is once you find one in stock, it's not hard to get one. Putting someone in a store specifically to sell iPhones isn't going to help at all when they don't have any in stock. Allowing people to reserve them isn't going to help at all. Once they're all reserved, those that actually go to the store first will be out of luck and those trying to reserve will be out of luck and the same issue still exists. Again, it's not hard to get an iPhone, maybe you're having trouble finding some in stock, but that's a different issue at hand.
Keith Sheehan said 5:36PM on 9-14-2009
They already exist at the Woodfield store in IL.
Reply
mr kitty said 6:36PM on 9-14-2009
It's pretty much been this way in all the NYC stores since before the 3GS launch.
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LGgeek said 5:52PM on 9-14-2009
I read this and turned red (also posted my comments on other forums) as this past weekend I went to my local Apple store to get Snow Leopard. Here is what I think of the Apple store (not just from this last visit).
I always hate it when I have to go to the Apple store, I am not going to drink the kool-aid, join the cult, become a fanboy or looking to hang out. I know what I want and would like to pick it off the shelf (usually software) and pay for it. Instead I have to try and get one of the orange/pink/blue whatever shirts (as I said I'm not a fan boy so no clue what the different colored shirts mean, hint to Apple what ever you are trying to convey you failed) to break out of the social discussion they are having so I can PAY and leave.
Whoever thought up the design (I'm talking about how customers are served) is the BIGGEST idiot on the planet. It's a business, you want to SELL stuff and get the MONEY. Divide the store into thirds, (1)social club (people that don't buy anything but hang out so they look cool), (2) a place for people that need help in a buying decision (important people they are going to spend $) and (3) last third for folks who have been Apple customers for a long time (ones that have kept the company in business all these years) and know what they want and would like to get it,pay and leave.
Apple take the Marketing idiot out of Sales, ads are where you do marketing, stores are were you sell stuff.
Reply
Odineye said 6:24PM on 9-14-2009
Thank goodness you are here to provide this feedback for them. I am sure they will now see the error of their ways and alter their approach. Finally, with your advice, Apple may be able to turn a profit. ..
Oh - and maybe they'll invent some sort of remote purchasing process that will allow you to purchase items from your home and have them delivered to your door, removing the need to interact with anyone.
Nah - that last part is really too far-fetched, isn't it.
Chroma said 6:27PM on 9-14-2009
I agree (and experienced) with your statement on how you have to physically hunt for employees to simply purchase something. I never go into any of my Apple stores with the intent of looking around, I know what I want and I want it now!
You know, now that I've read back my own paragraph, I'm going to march up to the next whatever-colored shirt employee and demand that I want X product and want to pay for it now and stop being a wimp.
puhsitch said 7:27PM on 9-14-2009
Fun fact: Apple's stores make more money per square foot than any other store in existence.
That's some lucky-ass idiocy right there, I'll tell you what.
Binja said 10:28PM on 9-14-2009
I agree with you but...
Step one: grab your item
Step two: go to the Person with the MBP at the back of the store.
Step three: pay
Erik said 8:47PM on 9-14-2009
Fun fact, Apple also employs more people per square foot than any other retail store.
I'm not gonna say you're complaints aren't valid, but at the same time, it could be a LOT worse. Imagine the Apple store as an Ikea. You'd absolutely never get any help.
I'm not sure how many other Apple stores work but the 5th Ave store always has people ready to check you out with their hand held POS, or you can wait in line. I've never had to wait THAT long to buy things.
LAGal said 11:31PM on 9-14-2009
in some respects that is what they are doing. many folks get pissed cause they want to buy something and all X folks on the floor are ringing up phones.
this way, the phone buyers will be in one area with a couple of dedicated sales people and the rest of the folks will be able to sell computers and the rest.
as for the bit about setting up online. that's been going on for ages. last spring i was switching from Sprint and went online to set up my ATT account, put in the porting info etc. Went into the store, told the guy which one I wanted, he rang it in, referenced my info (no having to punch all that info on those tiny ass keyboards on those goofy hand held things) and I was out in like 20 minutes. yeah I had to wait about 10 first while he finished something else but it was still rather painless
Jordan said 12:02AM on 9-15-2009
Fun Fact: When you charge insane amounts for your under-performing products, you're going to make more money per square foot
CaptCaveman said 12:04AM on 9-15-2009
I've honestly never had a problem with an Apple store. I kind of like the approach they take (at least at the Jordan Creek store in Iowa). There's a shirt parked at the front door. I can tell the shirt what I want and they will find someone for me.
Or I can just return the hello to the shirt and browse around the store. If I see something then pick it up and just motion to a shirt to ring me up.
And if I'm ever in the market for a computer from them I can just go on-line and setup an appointment to have them demo one for me. The same if I need service. Try to plan your calendar around any other store for sales or service. The only thing that is missing is buy on-line and pick up in store.
Slappy said 12:54AM on 9-15-2009
Try walking directly to the cash registers in back and having one of those folks go get whatever it is you are trying to buy. Obviously depends on having to wait in the queue but you'd have to do that anyway. They do the work, come back to you and ring you up.
Love it!
puhsitch said 8:07AM on 9-15-2009
Jordan, a company with that profile would quickly be making $0 per square foot.
Anyway, even if you cut all their prices in half, they'd still be on top. I think that the number is like $4000, versus an average of $500 or so.