In the UK, it’s sometimes difficult to tell what Apple thinks of the country. On one hand, you’ve got it building one of the finest Apple stores in the world on Regent Street. On the other, Apple didn’t show up to the MacLive Expo last year, which has resulted in a name and focus change to CreativePro Expo, leaving the UK without an Apple Expo of its own, and also disregarding consumers.
Professionals will either have to go to Paris or put up with a lot of Windows on display (during prior ‘joint’ shows of this kind in Britain, the balance was weighted at least two-to-one in favor of Windows), but at least consumers shouldn’t have too many problems accessing Macs, due to the British mainstream continuing to embrace Apple products.
Time was that Macs in the UK were some mysterious device that you could only sample by braving a typically snooty Mac reseller—and that’s if you could find one. Now, Apple has a bunch of its own stores, several branches of the John Lewis department store carry Macs, and upmarket high-street retailer Marks & Spencer also offers Apple products (including iMacs) in its larger stores.
However, the most telling example of the potential for Apple’s resurgence in the UK is found in the Argos catalog released this weekend. Argos is the largest retailer of general goods in the UK, with over 700 stores, which are basically fronts for warehouses. The idea is that you grab a cataglog, take it home, mull over purchases, and then select and pay for items in-store, where they’re picked up from the collection desk.
Although Argos has an online service, akin to the likes of Amazon, its high-street presence means it’s arguably just as important in the UK from a retailing perspective. And the point of this post? Argos now stocks Macs.
In the latest catalog, three flavors of MacBooks are on offer, along with the 20″ iMac. Although pricey compared to the PC junk Argos also carries, the Macs really look the part, shouting ‘buy me!’ from the page. So now, perhaps for the first time ever, Macs—rather than just iPods—are truly accessible to everyone in the UK.
Written by Craig Grannell on July 28th, 2008 with no comments.
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If you’re wondering whether it might be a good time to head to the nearest Apple Store to join the queue for a new iPhone, the folks at Top Muffin offer a comprehensive iPhone Availability Tracker.
The page is powered by data from Apple’s own availability widget and is updated every 15 minutes. The accuracy of Apple’s availability information has been questioned by some in the chaotic first two weeks since the 3G model launch, prompting Top Muffin to recommend calling stores first to confirm stock on-hand.
Written by Lonnie Lazar on July 24th, 2008 with no comments.
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AT&T has authorized stores in its Northern California region to begin taking iPhone pre-sale orders with a promise of 72hr availability, according to the manager of one of the region’s busiest stores. In an email sent to store managers this morning, the wireless carrier said stores could promise customers they would have a phone in 3 days if they sign up for new service or upgrade their eligible hardware in-store and pass the requisite credit checks to establish a new two year service contract. Customers get a call from the store in three days when their phone arrives and are required to return to the store to complete service activation and pick up the handset.
The store manager said all AT&T retail stores in his region have been out of stock since the first wave of phones sold out in the days after its initial release on July 11. “It’s a marketing ploy by Apple,” he said, responding to a question about the lack of inventory at AT&T stores. “They release one or two hundred thousand phones and spread them all over and then do it again once those are sold out.” Describing the scenes of chaos in his store in the days after the launch, he said, “We actually prefer direct-ship. It keeps the crowds down so we can service our other customers and we don’t have to call the police to help with crowd control.”
Long lines are still present at the few Apple Stores in the country with inventory today, as iPhone buyers remain wiling to stand in line for two to three hours to make purchases directly from Apple.
Earlier today AT&T said iPhone 3G sales during the first twelve days were nearly double that of last year, despite shortages that have seen backorders up to three weeks at some of its retail stores nationwide. A company spokesman confirmed the official policy indicating a 13 to 14 day wait on direct-ship orders this afternoon, but indicated some regions could have greater availability than others.
Written by Lonnie Lazar on July 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
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The very last iPhone 3G at the Stonestown store in south San Francisco was just sold to a guy in a Microsoft shirt!
I’m currently at the Apple store in the Stonestown mall, posting from an in-store computer.
I came down to pick up an iPhone 3G, but the last phone was just sold to this guy in a Microsoft shirt. WTF!
The guy, who is very nice, asked me not to use his name in case he gets into trouble at work. He is a trainer for Microsoft.
Staff here at the Apple store say they have no idea when — or even if — they will get new stock of the iPhone 3G.
The concierge is sending people upstairs to a new AT&T store that is apparently taking preorders. The concierge says there’s likely a 21 day wait however.
I phoned other nearby stores in Sand Francisco and Burlingame, but they are sold out also.
As Lonnie reports below, iPhones are available at only one in four stores, and Piper analyst Gene Munster thinks it will take Apple a month to restock.
Written by Leander Kahney on July 18th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Retail Stores and iPod and iphone 3g.
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