Not Much To Look At...
Well, all the foundation work isn't giving us much to look at, although the noises are quite a bit louder than what the images make it seem.
Anyway, I'll take this visual break to bring up a new topic of discussion: the Apple Store vs. your local Apple shop. As you see, the webcam is brought to you by the folks at Tech Superpowers, which conveniently enough, is located right across the back alley from the Apple Store. Traditionally, this has been very bad news for an "Apple Specialist" like us - the Apple Store produces a giant sucking sound as your customers go running over to the mothership.
We're hoping we're different - mainly because we're not a retail store. You can walk in and get a repair done (and you don't have to wait for a genius) and we have one of the country's only all-Mac Internet Cafés - but we don't sell iPods by the cartload. So we won't lose that business. But we still have a lot to lose - even our service business could suffer by the Apple Store being so close (even though most Apple Stores don't have the time to do in-house laptop repairs).
So the question for our readers: What do you prefer? Do you care where you buy your Mac from? Where you get it repaired? Do you feel better if the person that you're dealing with has an official Apple shirt vs. a Tech Superpowers shirt? Where have you gotten your best experiences?
All those questions... but we're curious to know what our future will hold.
Mike
Anyway, I'll take this visual break to bring up a new topic of discussion: the Apple Store vs. your local Apple shop. As you see, the webcam is brought to you by the folks at Tech Superpowers, which conveniently enough, is located right across the back alley from the Apple Store. Traditionally, this has been very bad news for an "Apple Specialist" like us - the Apple Store produces a giant sucking sound as your customers go running over to the mothership.
We're hoping we're different - mainly because we're not a retail store. You can walk in and get a repair done (and you don't have to wait for a genius) and we have one of the country's only all-Mac Internet Cafés - but we don't sell iPods by the cartload. So we won't lose that business. But we still have a lot to lose - even our service business could suffer by the Apple Store being so close (even though most Apple Stores don't have the time to do in-house laptop repairs).
So the question for our readers: What do you prefer? Do you care where you buy your Mac from? Where you get it repaired? Do you feel better if the person that you're dealing with has an official Apple shirt vs. a Tech Superpowers shirt? Where have you gotten your best experiences?
All those questions... but we're curious to know what our future will hold.
Mike
Labels: apple repair, apple store, ipod, tech superpowers
5 Comments:
Even as a Mac junkie, I would only consider an Apple Specialist like Tech Superpowers for my repairs. Not only does Apple send away for many repairs, but they charge way too much for even the most basic out of warranty needs (ie, hard drive replacement).
As exciting as it is to visit an Apple store, local businesses are important to the fabric of the community. For each dollar I spend on repairs or products at Tech Superpowers, I can rest assured the benefit will recirculate throughout the Boston area. The same dollar at the Apple Store will have most financial benefit in Cupertino.
I am not the worlds greatest mac "junkie", but I love my MAC's! I have been to the local Apple Store in Charlotte, NC and have had good experiences. Best part is...EVERYTHING IS MAC!!! However, the atmosphere is not any different than any other computer store and the sales people are not any more informed or eager to help than those that I find at "Comp USA" and others. When it comes to having my computers worked on, which fortunately happens rarely, I much prefer dealing with a local company that deals directly with me.
One draw back, at least in my area, is that there are very few people that will even consider working on a MAC. Those that are available, I SALUTE YOU! and will bring my business to you first.
I really like the idea of having a Mac fix it shop right around the corner from the Apple Store. I may be wrong, but I have the same impression as others that it would be hard to get a repair or upgrade on an older model from the Apple Store itself. I think of retail and service as separate.
Bruce,
You are correct - the Apple stores will generally only provide repairs and parts for machines that a only a couple generations old. They simply don't have the bandwidth to support the older stuff.
And as you guys know, Macs last forever... At least the reliable models (Powerbook 5xxx series not included). So maybe there's a lot of life for us yet.
Mike
I'd still prefer to buy from a smaller retailer. Repairs too.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Apple retail store experience, but I get the impression that Tech Superpowers appreciates my business in a way that Apple just can't. I feel taken care fo at TS.
Keep it up, Mike et al!
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