I do think Apple needs to do a new marketing campaign for the Apple TV now that it's Take Two. The first iteration was seen as not worthwhile enough, and I think that's why people are running into apathetic clerks in the stores- they don't know the new features. Apple should do a re-education class to their employees on the new software (including the Best Buy Apple specialists), and then should run some commercials showing what it can do now. This thing will take off if people know what's in there now, but it's still languishing because the word isn't out. Maybe Apple is delaying a bit, seeing how the first customers do and how much bandwidth it's using, before they make a huge push. Or, maybe Apple is content to just let it grow very very slowly, until everyone is ready for it.
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Apple store not enthusiastic in selling ATV?
- Thread starter MacBuzz
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Our apple store in Cleveland is always busy. The first time I bought my apple tv, a few days after Take 2, nobody there seemed to know anything about it, and the tv was playing the old demo. No customers I could see were paying it any attention either.
I was in last week because I had to return my defective octo-core mac pro and while I was there talking to the genius, 2 separate people joined our conversation about the apple tv. One guy was buying it for his brother, who was returning his vudu...the other couple were buying it for someone and were going to get their own in a month. He asked the staff if this box would have 2.0 on it or the old software and they didn't know anything about it. They also didn't even know where to look on the box to see if it was 40 gig or 60 gig. Apple is really doing a piss poor job of educating these salespeople when I know this stuff just from being slightly interested.
So, in my personal non scientific experience, more people were aware on my second visit, although the staff was still pretty clueless.
I was in last week because I had to return my defective octo-core mac pro and while I was there talking to the genius, 2 separate people joined our conversation about the apple tv. One guy was buying it for his brother, who was returning his vudu...the other couple were buying it for someone and were going to get their own in a month. He asked the staff if this box would have 2.0 on it or the old software and they didn't know anything about it. They also didn't even know where to look on the box to see if it was 40 gig or 60 gig. Apple is really doing a piss poor job of educating these salespeople when I know this stuff just from being slightly interested.
So, in my personal non scientific experience, more people were aware on my second visit, although the staff was still pretty clueless.
Welcome to corporate growth...
A salesperson has more of a chance of selling to a "walk-in" a computer, iPhone, or iPod, than an AppleTV...
Why spend time with someone who knows they want an AppleTV? That person can just go up to the counter and buy one.
That's the harsh reality...
A salesperson has more of a chance of selling to a "walk-in" a computer, iPhone, or iPod, than an AppleTV...
Why spend time with someone who knows they want an AppleTV? That person can just go up to the counter and buy one.
That's the harsh reality...
The store I Shop at frequently Cambridgeside in Massachusetts. Just upgraded there whole apple tv display.
Before the 2.0 Update they had it on a Sony Bravia LCD, now they have a Pioneer Plasma I believe with the 2.0 Update INSTALLED.
Everytime I'm in there usually twice a week, there's always someone checking it out.
I must say though that the displays are at the very front of the store, and the actual product is all the way in the back towards the Genius Bar.
I think they should make them more readily available So people don't say "hmmm I like that, let me walk all the way to end of the store to get one"
But Needless to say, It's good that Cambridge has it updated. I think they did it fairly quickly once the update was released.
No experience asking employees about it, but I'll attempt that tomrrow hoping to pick up a 160gb Version.
To end my post on a funny note: A dude was in looking for iPhone Cases, and the sales guy said "can I help you?" he said "sure I'm looking for an iPhone case" he said well lets move over to the next rack because your looking at the iPod Touch Cases, (where I was standing and basically didn't even say "excuse us" to me, and the dude had to correct the sales guy like 2 times saying we were in the right spot the first time. they were clearly marked "made for iphone"
i should be working at the store, I may not have any "retail" experience but I'm sure I could answer more specific mac questions then 3/4 of the ppl they are have working there now.
Before the 2.0 Update they had it on a Sony Bravia LCD, now they have a Pioneer Plasma I believe with the 2.0 Update INSTALLED.
Everytime I'm in there usually twice a week, there's always someone checking it out.
I must say though that the displays are at the very front of the store, and the actual product is all the way in the back towards the Genius Bar.
I think they should make them more readily available So people don't say "hmmm I like that, let me walk all the way to end of the store to get one"
But Needless to say, It's good that Cambridge has it updated. I think they did it fairly quickly once the update was released.
No experience asking employees about it, but I'll attempt that tomrrow hoping to pick up a 160gb Version.
To end my post on a funny note: A dude was in looking for iPhone Cases, and the sales guy said "can I help you?" he said "sure I'm looking for an iPhone case" he said well lets move over to the next rack because your looking at the iPod Touch Cases, (where I was standing and basically didn't even say "excuse us" to me, and the dude had to correct the sales guy like 2 times saying we were in the right spot the first time. they were clearly marked "made for iphone"
i should be working at the store, I may not have any "retail" experience but I'm sure I could answer more specific mac questions then 3/4 of the ppl they are have working there now.
I just got back from the Oak Brook store (Chicago Area). Same here, except that the display is in the back of the store, and no one is really looking at it.
I looks to me that the Pioneer Plasma is only 720p? Or the AppleTV was set only to 720p (I couldn't check the settings). My AppleTV outputting 1080i to my XGA projector looked better.
I talked to a salesperson and he said they have the newer AppleTV's with the new Take 2 software and newer boxes.