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Subscribe to RSSCNBC’s Courtney Reagan reports on a published report that Apple would open up to 25 mini Apple Stores inside Targets around the country. One analyst specializing in the companies thinks it’s not only possible, but probable.
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"May" open mini stores in Target? I thought they already have.
Yawn...
The guts of any Apple product is just cheap Chinese junk made in factories where the working conditions are so bad that the factory managers had to put in shatterproof windows to keep employees from jumping to their deaths on purpose. I owned one (1) Apple iPhone and never again. They are overpriced, locked down, and insanely overhyped. The quality level is surprisingly low considering the very high price.
And yet the iDrones keep buying iProducts. Apple could come up with an iTurd, charge $299.99 and there would be lines around the block with iDrones waiting to shell out packages of excrement that come in little white boxes with the Apple logo.
I like "locked down". Way less malware than in the wide open Android model.
And while it may be overpriced for you, the market has voted by the tens of millions that it's not. Economics 101.
And guess what? Every other smartphone is made in a Chinese factory too.
You'd do better to follow international business media.
1. The guts of all tech devices are "cheap Chinese junk." LMAO.
2. You have no idea what you are talking about. Not only does Apple's supply chain include hundreds of manufacturers, *some* parts from the device you used to post your comment came from FoxConn, as do most accessories, cables and peripheral parts.
3. A factory unlocked iPhone is smarter and portable to any carrier; that's how it is done outside the U.S. However, anyone who wastes money by locking themselves into a telecom contract isn't the brightest bulb and deserves what they get, regardless of device.
4. Apple earned $15 billion in revenue in 2010; $28 billion in 2011 ... from international consumers, not from U.S. buyers - which is an aging market of increasingly poor and uneducated consumers.
5. Truly smart consumers buy the best device, treat it well and then, if desiring to replace, sell it on eBay for close to what they paid for it. The only products that currently fit that bill come from Apple. Check out the price of a 3-year-old iPod Nano video ... it sells used for more than it did new. Also reselling well: the iPhone, iPad, or even a 10-year-old Mac.
6. Anything else is just ... an outdated and disposable toy that no one wants used and relatively few wanted new.
My mom has a 15-year-old iSomething in her garage...covered with dust, no software, lost the plug a few years back, I'll bet I can walk to the Reston Town Center, park my booty in front of the iStore, and sell that thing for 1K.
Well said indigo halo.
You truly are an idiot.
The random, amusingly angry and nonsensical ravings of Apple haters have long ago taken the crown for Saddest Thing on the Internet. It's even worse than video game fanboys.
Apple fans will never admit how average apple items are. They are to into the culture of apple to ever peer out. Sheep.
Apple wants a monopoly. They are just not good enough to get it.
It's funny how the sheep beg to be slaughtered.
The Apple eco-system works because most people are simple-minded.
"I like 'Locked-down'" - Derek-317802
Just read Jobs biography. Nothing normal about Apple. This guy wanted it right inside and out, right down to the Gorilla glass used on the iphone. Zen.
As for Target, Jobs would have rather puked daily in the corner of his office then put a shop inside target; seems to cheapen the apple experience. Then again, seeing apple products in wal mart isn't too Jobs-like either.
Please, please, please don't do this Apple! I had the best shopping experience of my life the other day at the Apple store when I wanted to upgrade a wifi only iPad 2 to a 3G model. In and out in less than 10, that's right, 10 minutes with my new model.
Moving into Target will dilute the Apple brand and we will NOT get the same type of customer service in my opinion.
It depends how it's done. If it's done like Best Buy, I will agree with you. Letting the Target employees sell at a mini-Apple Store would be horrendous. But if the stores are staffed with one or two Apple Store employees who oversee the mini-store and train Target employees who work there, it could work.
As for diluting the Apple brand, I doubt it. It's still Apple. The problem is Apple Stores are too spread out for most of us.
Captiosus, you hit it on the nail head (your last sentence). I am 4 HOURS away by Interstate, to the nearest actual Apple Store but less than 40 minutes from a couple of Best Buys. To be honest, the Best Buys are not created equal though. One of them I can go to, has very few Apple products while the other has the entire lineup. I can't figure that one out as both stores are in the same basic population sized areas. At least the one with the full lineup has an Apple guy there at all times. That is the only one I go to and tell others to go visit because of this.
Nothing will beat the experience of a true Apple Store but I believe this will get more apples out to folks who just have no desire to drive a long way just to experience an apple product.
I just wish our Target would be one of these mini stores, but we live in BFE...ain't gonna happen.
Spread out too thin and too crowded. The amount of business the Apple stores do is just insane.
What Apple needs is a mid sized mid range desktop computer that isn't an all in one. I use Apple computers but I will never own an iMac. The $600 mini is a neutered laptop and the Mac Pro is overkill at $2500.
Amazing that after using Macs for 20 years Apple has nothing on the market for me. Might be time to switch.
They've never had the machine you're describing (unless you want to go back to the Apple II), and yet you claim to have used them for 20 years. I think they meet your needs just fine.
Dotcom bubble, the housing bubble, and now, the apple bubble. It seems that some sector of the economy gets to benefit for a while from the recurring human irrational exuberance phenomena...
I hooked up with a college girl selling fireworks as her summer job in 1992. That was the best shopping experience of my life. I wonder what the iRetail people did for Goto Afterburners.
OK.... No biggie. If Apple wants to open "mini-stores" in Target, all Microsoft needs to do in answer is open "Micro-stores" in Wal-Mart. Competition is good for us. The press can't see that though. They just gotta tear the businesses down every opportunity they can get. I am glad to get to go to several storesw and see what they have to offer.
I don't really have a problem with this idea. Full Apple Stores are great experiences, but it's not economical to open large numbers of them. So you're left with a situation such as where I currently live: The closest Apple Store is in Norfolk, VA, but I live north of that and getting to the store is a frustration as I have to drive 45 minutes to even get across the James River and then hope traffic isn't bad. The only place that sells a variety of Apple devices (not just iPods, iPhones, and iPads) is Best Buy - but they don't really care about the Apple display and they rotate the standard "Computer Department" employees to the kiosk.
I know quite a few people who have been interested in Apple but simply don't want to go to the Apple Store in Norfolk and don't feel they got their questions adequately answered at Best Buy. Opening mini-Stores in Target and outfitting them with one or two actual Apple Store employees (at least one being an Apple Genius, preferably) to oversee the mini-Store would solve geographical problems like this.
pretty soon theyll have the "iApple" [[it already did everything]]
i bet apple puts more into advertising than they do into their products
I'm surpised there wasn't one in a Target sooner
I own 2 iMacs, 2 iPhones, an iPad and multiple iPods. I didn't buy any of them because I wanted the latest and greatest fad. I bought them and continue to buy them because they work. Perfectly. All the time. Apple products are actually cheaper than other brands as they work better, longer. It's simply the best value for my dollar. My experience at the Apple Store was nothing short of amazing, and the few times I've needed Apple tech support, I was helped by an English speaking North American who truly wanted to help me. Until and unless something better comes along, I will buy nothing but Apple.
Yep, those who appreciate design, functionality, and reliability know what you talk about. The products are just thoughtful from end to end.
apple is just a hype. never used or will use their products.
Wow, you must be the expert then. Half-wit.
Yes since you (benoy) have NEVER EVEN USED one of Apples products your opinion is obviously well considered and from a high level of experience. I think I will trust you implicitly.
Or not.
MarcC Knows! <W>
How about "have used apple products, never seen their value"
Happy you two? Can't anyone not like your precious iFad products?
I believe that "Target" will come up with a Marketing/Sales Strategy that will as on reader noted train the employees and provide expertise to ensure a quick turn-around..get in/out in 10 minutes or so. You can't leave up to target employees to catch-on by themselves...you need knowledge in Apple Products and services as in the regular Apple Stores. It can work..and we certainly need more access to Apple Services/Products..and there's lots of Target Stores around. If this doesn't work..there will be lots of stores closing like Sears/K-Mart.
All you folks can say what garbage Apple products are BUT keep in mind your not million or billionaires so Steve was so much smarter than any of you. Go invent something and stop being a follower
ahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha
and whats he got now? ahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha
It appears uncany to me that this is happening after Steve Jobs passed away. I find it hard to believe this would have happened in his presence. It seems very much against what Apple stood for.
Let's hope they don't change their mind and move to Wal-Mart. That would cripple Target.
Gotta say apple makes a great portable device (iPod/Pad), but I wouldn't be caught dead with one of their computers.
Opening mini-stores is a great idea to expand their customer service support, as long as they keep the high standards that their high paying customers expect and deserve.
'Macs for White Trash'.... I Love my Mac.. I hate White Trash...
hey that's a good idea to have that in target stores allover USA only we did had those before but good idea so keep it up good work also try at wal-mart store too if it up to apple store will do i am hoping to have that there oh what about best buy store too so lots of people will buy any of those things there any where only when they have small apple store there if need so i will wait and see when they will do that but must have a good hidden cams and shoplifting protections too and one cop there if need?