The next three months are going to be a period of enormous change for Apple’s retail stores as they tackle the rival Vista operating system, and begin selling the break-out Apple TV and iPhone products. The Think Secret Web site reports that Apple has formulated a sales campaign to counter Microsoft’s new Vista operating system by offering a comparison of features to store visitors. The upcoming Apple TV product will require the stores to move beyond computing by carving out space for a flat-screen TV, and learning to demonstrate the Apple TV device. The iPhone will offer additional challenges of customer sales, credit checking, phone registration and on-going support. And all of this at the same time Apple continues to open new stores in the U.S. and other countries, stretching the Retail segment’s administrative organization.
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New Apple Slogan is “Move Beyond Vista”. Starting this weekend store employees will have shirts that read “move Beyond Vista” on front, and a buy a mac slogan on the back. There will be several signs in the store as well trash talking Vista.
That is a lot of change from the original store model from years ago. Looks like the Apple Store is turning into Best Buy.
Ugh, bloody hell.
Apple Store employee
Glad I stopped working at the Apple Store! … skin of teeth… skin of teeth
You know, I thought we were honorable and showed respect towards our competitors. I believe it’s one of our credos.
So, now it appears that we’ve abandoned our principles and beliefs - everything we stood for, and have chosen to put into practice what ordinary competitive companies do. Ordinary.
I’ll wear the shirt, because my salary depends on it, but I refuse to follow the attitude. I represent only and all the positive that encompasses Apple.
I guess at the end of the day, it all really is about profit. The dream was to be extraordinary. To be different.
Disappointed,
Apple Store employee
The Vista campaign is not in place to “trash talk” Vista. There will be no signs “trash talking” anything. The campaign is simply to point out the benefits of buying a Mac, over a Windows PC, to point out the difference in features, cost and support, like every marketing sign, training tool has been for quite some time. It is about raising public awareness that the Mac OS is better.
As for employees of Apple saying that there is deliberate “trash talking” is entirely inaccurate, and these people frankly should not be employed by Apple.
In all fairness the best way to gain the public interest is through effective advertising, which the “Get a Mac ads” will do, It is the employees job to guide the customer in the correct direction when it comes to the truths of the statements made in those ads. That is also what this campaign is about, to truthfully explain the value and simplicity in the Mac and OS X as compared to the much more complicated option, a Windows PC with Vista, or a much more expensive option, i. e. an upgrade to Vista.
It is this type of employee that posts incorrect information on the internet, who also gives a customer wanting correct information the wrong information; thus creating problems for employees who are knowledgeable, and work for Apple for that reason. These employees should be employed somewhere else.
Anonym Ousticus, If you feel so strongly that I “should be employed somewhere else”. Why don’t you work for Apple? Why don’t you spead the Apple Love?
No where in the slogan “move beyond Vista” does it say Mac OS is better against virus’, or we give great customer service. Apple is making a dig or “trash talking” Microsoft. They have for years. I have no problem with it. The “Marketing” behind it is Microsoft says nothing and Apple is right. Microsft releases a statement or sues Apple, and they acknowledge Apple as a credible threat. It’s win/win for Apple.
I have been working with Apple for more than 4 years and have switched over 500 people from PC’s to Macs. So get off your high-hourse and make a difference instead of complaining on this forum.
It’s people like you that tarnish the Apple name. True Mac people stick together instead of ripping into each other on web forums.
@7
4 years and only 500 people?
You sell only 10 computers per month? That’s only 2.5 per week.
How many hours per week do you work? 40? I hope not, because that would make you pathetic.
You should not only work for another company, you should be fired
@6
Good one.
@JoeB
You and 7 are one and the same.
Hey, Noni Urebiznez. Maybe he isn’t in sales. Ever heard of a Mac Genius or a Creative?? Maybe he was a Specialist & got promoted. You just made yourself look stupid, so give up.
Anyways, I dont like the direction Apple is heading in their stores. It seems like now its now all about the “metrics” (Apple employees know what im talking about) & all about the numbers. And with this AppleTV & iPhone, its gonna get MUCH worse for they are heading down the road of the typical electronics store.
When they dropped the “computer” from their name, it meant they arent focusing on the Mac anymore. Its still important of course, but they are getting into soo many different areas that its gonna end up becoming like any other place & lose that special feeling it had.
And the iPhone is gonna straight up suck for employees. They already have to juggle tons of stuff while troubleshooting some retarded PC users iPod. Now, this iPhone is gonna be 10 times worse because there is a 3rd party (Cingular/AT&T) involved. That means credit checks, sim cards, contract signing, troubleshooting the network & all that other crap. The stores are gonna be filled with less Mac users & more retards than ever before.
Sell outs.
Anonym Ousticus: Where do you get off making suggestions about employment? Yet another sell-out drinking the Apple kool-aid.
Noni Urebiznez: Your ‘facts’ are laughable and you’re awfully rude. I highly encourage you to seek out employment at Apple. You’d be perfect. (If you’re aren’t already a devout Apple employee.)
OK, we’ve hashed this subject enough….