Where's our Apple Store - update - Apple Store Market Mall Opening Saturday!

[HotHotHeat]

This makes no sense to me. A market with a disposable income that is one of the highest anywhere in North America, with retail space popping up at an unprecedented rate, there is no Apple Store is even on the radar.

Edmonton has theirs coming to West Ed July 1, 2008...But Calgary is once again left out. I won't even get into the fascination with West Ed.

I'll also throw Vancouver into this mix, because Calgary and that city have mostly the same shopping opportunities. In every other aspect, Calgary and Vancouver take Edmonton to lunch...But for some reason a 30 year old box with dolphins inside attracts more retail.

I'd love five minutes with the corporate heads of companies like Apple, Hollister, Abercrombie, etc. to ask them to explain their rationale against full scale expansion.

Anyways, discuss.

Here's the link announcing Edmonton's store.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...4-4e9bc67951ea

[underGRADFlame]

I'll go to a Apple store if one opens, but i have no problem going to Westworld..... MyMacDealer sucks though!

[BlackArcher101]

I keep asking myself the same questions whenever I go to Edmonton to shop. I should be going to Calgary instead! The balzac mall had better have at least an Ambercombie or a Hollister.

Oh, and no more dolphins. It's a couple penguins and sea lions now. No submarines either.

[browna]

Apple Store is coming to Chinook when the new renos are done in a year or so, so it is on the radar.

Not sure why it really matters, been to many Apple Stores in the States, and there's nothing special about them. At all. All the products you can find at any number of places here already, and the places here have demos that you can play around with...and thats the non-Apple stores. Plus, all at the same prices you already pay.

One wonders how returns the WEM outlet will have with teeth marks in the various products.

[schnee]

Maybe off topic..

Not sure how this discount compares to bestbuy, futureshop, mac dealers/stores, etc...

But..if you are, or were recently, a student (believe this includes con-ed) at any post-secondary in Alberta... you probably can get an online discount with Apple.

http://www.apple.com/ca/higheredindividuals/

[llama64]

Yeah... I can test any Apple product out by popping into the nearest London Drugs.

Then I can order it online for the same price as it is instore (or with a discount) from apple.ca. Why do we need an Apple Store?

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by llama64

Yeah... I can test any Apple product out by popping into the nearest London Drugs.

Then I can order it online for the same price as it is instore (or with a discount) from apple.ca. Why do we need an Apple Store?

bragging rights?

no shipping though - thats kinda nice. especially if you're buying something small where they still charge you. plus not waiting is always cool.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Yeah, I've purchased both the MacBook Pro and the iMac online from Apple.ca -- all with free shipping. They've always arrived within days. Plus an iPod.

These Apple outlets are competing with their dealer network, which is a shame, really. These guys go under and where are you going to get all the various third-party peripherals, accessories and whatnot?

[krazycanuck]

I rememeber about a year ago they were hiring for an apple store in Calgary. Then suddenly they took the ad down online.

[wpgflamesfan]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

I keep asking myself the same questions whenever I go to Edmonton to shop. I should be going to Calgary instead! The balzac mall had better have at least an Ambercombie or a Hollister.

Oh, and no more dolphins. It's a couple penguins and sea lions now. No submarines either.

haha why would you even want an abercrombie and hollister?

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

haha why would you even want an abercrombie and hollister?

No reason... just a little shocked Edmonton has em before Calgary.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by browna

Not sure why it really matters, been to many Apple Stores in the States, and there's nothing special about them. At all. All the products you can find at any number of places here already, and the places here have demos that you can play around with...and thats the non-Apple stores. Plus, all at the same prices you already pay.

It's so you can bask in the smug that the entire company is driven off of. It's like getting to experience just a tiny bit of the ego that makes Steve Jobs so evil.

[Claeren]

Calgary is TOO hot/tight of a market - it is not that they do not want to be here, there is simply no space for new companies to affordably enter the market. West Ed had (has?) 2 and 3 of some identical stores, so the fact that they had surplus space to put in new stores/concepts has always been of benefit.

Those new options eventually come here of course though but it takes more time and planning.

When they first look a Canada they see Calgary as a strong entry point but when you access the market capacity v. risk v. the costs v. the alternatives lots of other Canadian Cities look pretty compelling.


The Chinook thing for example has gone back and forth. I am under the impression at this point that they are NOT going in though - due to some sort of squabble between the parties involved but that there IS space available if they can resolve their differences by the time construction on the expansion finished. (In other words once the money-issues have been sorted out). Originally i think they even were in negotiations for the old Caban space in the front central area of the mall.


But regardless, the business analysis is not as simple as "oh look at disposable income in Calgary - lets open 14 stores overnight in all of that empty retail space and staff them with all of that easy to find and retain excess premium staff that is unemployed instead of going into another market..."



Claeren.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by browna

Apple Store is coming to Chinook when the new renos are done in a year or so, so it is on the radar.

Not sure why it really matters, been to many Apple Stores in the States, and there's nothing special about them. At all. All the products you can find at any number of places here already, and the places here have demos that you can play around with...and thats the non-Apple stores. Plus, all at the same prices you already pay.

The Genius Bar is a compelling reason to want an Apple Store. Being able to get service and support directly from Apple in person would be a big advantage, especially when it comes to warranty claims on stuff like batteries.

It's also nice to have the entire Apple and third party eco-system in one spot. All the hardware and software in the store is Mac compatible, unlike buying a Mac at Futureshop, where you have Mac & PC compatible stuff mixed together (eg. when looking at printers)

For a "nothing special" store, they are always full of people, that's for sure

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

The Genius Bar is a compelling reason to want an Apple Store. Being able to get service and support directly from Apple in person would be a big advantage, especially when it comes to warranty claims on stuff like batteries.

I am not so sure the Genius Bar experience in Calgary would be quite the same as the Genius Bar experience in most other cities, unless they are going to pay people $20+/hour instead of the far-closer-to-minimum-wage amount they pay in other cities!

I guess there are some bright 14-16 year olds out there though that would rather make $14/hr at Apple than $14/hour at Tim Hortons or Mcdonalds?

lol



Claeren.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by wpgflamesfan

haha why would you even want an abercrombie and hollister?

ask Sunil. or was that FCUK?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

The Genius Bar is a compelling reason to want an Apple Store. Being able to get service and support directly from Apple in person would be a big advantage, especially when it comes to warranty claims on stuff like batteries.

The Genius Bar? This is what they call customer service?

Damn, that's pretty funny. This is why so many people love Mac -- it's the unpretentious, whimsical touches like "Genius Bar" and "Smugness Corner".

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

The Genius Bar? This is what they call customer service?

Damn, that's pretty funny. This is why so many people love Mac -- it's the unpretentious, whimsical touches like "Genius Bar" and "Smugness Corner".

Say what you want about the name, but the prospect of having a live direct company trained CSR at your disposal to answer questions and give advice is miles ahead of most other electronic companies out there.

From the Apple site...

The place to go for advice, insight, and hands-on technical support.
Wondering how to use a new program, import your music into iTunes, or go wireless? What if your Mac or iPod needs to be repaired? Look no further than the Apple Retail Store Genius Bar, where you can talk face-to-face with a highly trained Mac Genius. Our Geniuses will answer all your technical questions, troubleshoot problems, and explain it all in language that’s easy to understand.

It's similar to a place like Black's Photography that will show you how to use your camera when you buy one. It's an excellent selling point for people less knowledgeable about computers.

The store would be a great benefit to anyone with an Apple product in this city.

[Tyler]

I just hope it comes so that they can put MyMacDealer out of business.

Absolutely horrendous store and employees.

[Neeper]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

The Genius Bar? This is what they call customer service?

Damn, that's pretty funny. This is why so many people love Mac -- it's the unpretentious, whimsical touches like "Genius Bar" and "Smugness Corner".

You're just jealous

But seriously, mymacdealer does suck. The reason I would want an Apple store is for the support and warranty issues.