Hey All -

Apple will definately *not* end the CompUSA store-within-a-store concept, and is in fact moving forward with the new Apple employee concept within these CompUSAs. I had actually thought that Apple was going to train and hire these people for CompUSA and then snag them for their own Apple stores, but I learned yesterday that this was not the case. Apple believes that the CompUSA stores will act to compliment the Apple stores, with increased sales being generatned at both places.

What ideas do we have for Apple, as far as improving relationships between Apple and CUSA customers? I went in to the local CUSA yesterday to look @ a G4PB, and was totally ignored. This is a $3599 laptop!

Do you think the CompUSA relationship will survive - or will Apple wait to be successful in their own retail venture, and then pull out of CompUSA?

I guess we'll wait and see...but big changes have to be made before CompUSA's rep gets out of the toilet...

The only real problem I have seen at CompUSA is that the clerks are morons. Sorry. "Not well informed." That's what I meant to say. They know very little about PCs or Macs. I recently went to get a PCI card modem. One clerk looked in the Mac section and found nothing. I suggested the PC section. She found a box there with the Mac OS logo and said only that one will work. I looked a little further - system requirements, you know - and found another. But then many non-Mac modems will work, even if the box doesn't say so. Then I wanted a crossover cable. I couldn't remember "crossover" so the next clerk pointed generally towards a wall of cables and said "We have USB, firewire, ethernet ... they're all the same for PCs and Macs." True enough, but he had no idea what I was actually looking for. And no intention of providing any kind of service. He probably had something more important to do than help a customer.

So, CompUSA might be OK if you know exactly what you need, they happen to have it, and you can find it on your own.

Does that do Apple any good?

The Closest CompUSA is 400 miles away, while the closest AppleStore will be 600 miles away. So both suck (until I get to go in them that is )

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Giantmike's Website - Where Macintosh is THE Rule.

What the Apple store will need is a steady supply of not only thier own "stuff" (Macs, Cubes, iMacs, Displays, Airport stations, etc., etc.) But also the 3rd party items that work with thier "stuff".

It should, no it must be a nice mix of Apple hardware/software, and 3rd party software/hardware that is Mac compatable.

But I gotta guess that's what they'll be doing. I mean after they sell me the new G4/733 with 22" cinema display, airport and the 500 MHz Powerbook (I only wish I could afford all that ) What more do I need to go to the Apple store for?

Gotta keep 'em coming back, that's the key to success

Mike

I think Apple will always have a presence in CompUSA. I agree that the staff are usually ill prepared to deal with Apple consumers who know more than they do. But what we forget is that Apple owns a piece of CompUSA. I believe it's around 12% of the company.

I was not aware that Apple owns part of CompUSA. I personally would like to keep Apple stuff at CompUSA, but my experiences to date indicate that you must be prepared because the store employees will not be able to give you much help.

In the CompUSA by me, they actually hired people who are knowledgeable about Macs. They aren't apple employees but they hang around the Mac section most of the time. I can't believe they ACTUALLY know what they are talking about .

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i hold compusa with nothing but contempt.....it makes me sick to go in there and have to beg for someone to help me, and then not having that person know a single thing about macs. i hate having to find the one small cormer of the entire store that is "devoted" to apple products. (total square footage is less than your average garage) compusa continues to make mac users feel like they are second class citizens and i personally hope that when the apple stores are up and running that apple pulls out of every compusa because it is what they deserve because of the way they treat apple products, and people that are enlightened enough to use apple systems. well...i think that about covers it...<gets off soap box>

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" I think,
therefore....IMAC

I wasn't even aware that there were Compusa reps (here in the Chicago store)in the Mac section. Everytime I go, depends on time and day, I never once seen a rep by the Mac section.

Anyway, with the Apple Store being rumored to be on Michigan Avenue, it's literally around the corner from CompUSA. The only HORRIBLE thing about shopping at Compusa and when the Apple Store opens on Michigan, is finding parking. Chicago is the worst city to find parking ANYWHERE.

Originally posted by Camali:
Chicago is the worst city to find parking ANYWHERE.

Amen to that .

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