What Happened To The Microsoft Stores

[Surely]

If not next to each other, in the same strip mall with only a few stors in between. And yes, in some cases, next to each other. Don't believe me:

Building on left is Home Depot. Building on right is Lowes
Building on left is Wal-Mart. Building in between is a Dicks Sporting Goods. Building on right is Target. But they're walking distance from each other
Best Buy and Circuit City, street view link. Literally right next to each other
Another Target next to Wal-Mart. Not visible from Street View, but take my word for it, I only drive past this every day.

Fair enough, good examples.

Near each other yeah, but not in the same strip mall. These companies tend to negotiate non-compete agreements with the property owners.

I really have never seen these stores so close to each other before.

I'd agree with the Target\Walmart...but in my state is unusual not to see a Lowes on the opposite corner of a Home Depot

-J.-

But not on the same property.


Anyway, this is a bit off-topic...... aren't we supposed to be making fun of Microsoft or something?

 

[ArrowSmith]

Please look for these little know stores called the gap, replace their clothes with comuters, and put some dorks in colored T's and you have an apple store

Exactly and anyone who insists otherwise is a delusional Apple fanboi.

 

[flopticalcube]

Exactly and anyone who insists otherwise is a delusional Apple fanboi.

They do look very similar. Although The Gap always seems empty and the Apple stores almost always full.

 

[ArrowSmith]

They do look very similar. Although The Gap always seems empty and the Apple stores almost always full.

Abercrombie & Fitch are the Apple of clothing retail today. Apple stores are 15 years behind in retail design...

 

[flopticalcube]

Abercrombie & Fitch are the Apple of clothing retail today. Apple stores are 15 years behind in retail design...

I'm not an expert on retailing so I don't know about that but they do seem to draw a lot more business than any other technology store so they must be doing something right.

 

[jpyc7]

Abercrombie & Fitch are the Apple of clothing retail today. Apple stores are 15 years behind in retail design...

Unlike A&F, Apple does not seem to be semi-frequently accused of bias against non-white people in their hiring or advertising practices. So I sincerely hope that Apple doesn't try to mimic A&F.

 

[Consultant]

Good question. The original stories said they would open a few last fall and several in early 2010. To my knowledge, they have only one.

3 stores opened so far.

- First store was opened about 10 years old, and closed.
- The second MS store, opened last year, was called first, because they are microsoft and cannot even count.
- The third one was opened last year too.

Long article on it,
Google: microsoft tries apple store

Remember Gateway Country stores?

Difference is gateway stores did not keep any important items in stock.

 

[rhett7660]

Abercrombie & Fitch are the Apple of clothing retail today. Apple stores are 15 years behind in retail design...

According to who? Or is this just a personal opinion?

 

[*LTD*]

The proof is in the (Apple) pudding.

Apple Stores work. Microsoft stores, for the moment, don't seem to be causing any sort of "OMG WOW!!" reaction.

 

[gkarris]

They're opening one at Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL, and it's going to be much larger than the Apple Store in the same mall...

 

[ucfgrad93]

Meh, I have no desire to go to the Microsoft store regardless of how it looks.

 

[tablo13]

A heaven for XBOX fanboys who always beef about XBOX vs PS3

Unlike A&F, Apple does not seem to be semi-frequently accused of bias against non-white people in their hiring or advertising practices. So I sincerely hope that Apple doesn't try to mimic A&F.

And apple doesn't have overpriced grandma-style clothes.

 

[Les Kern]

They clearly copied Apple, just take out the "successfully" part.

MS is SO devoid of artistic talent, so absent any kind of vision that it's a wonder Office looks as good as it does. You'd think with several trillion dollars spent on R+D they could at least hire SOMEONE with a good eye.
Good Lord.

 

[Les Kern]

The proof is in the (Apple) pudding.

Apple Stores work. Microsoft stores, for the moment, don't seem to be causing any sort of "OMG WOW!!" reaction.

It will be functional. It's where people will go to get their death screens fixed and a new XBox game. A Zune table? Might as well be selling tomatoes like a roadside stand. Who the hell wants one of those?

 

[*LTD*]

Microsoft Stores are a great metaphor for the company itself: the signs are up but there's nothing interesting going on inside.

 

[yg17]

Microsoft Stores are a great metaphor for the company itself: the signs are up but there's nothing interesting going on inside.

Can you just make one single post on MR where you're not bashing some other company? This **** is getting old.

 

[maflynn]

For apple they needed a distribution channel, because apple authorized dealers were shrinking and stores like Best Buy just weren't cutting it.

It was a stroke of genius for apple and the timing was excellent, i.e., economy was booming.

Fast forward a few years and we see microsoft jumping on the bandwagon, the problem is that the retail sector (except for apple) is in the doldrums, MS products are already sold everywhere. There is absolutely no need to have a Microsoft store, plus MS needs to tread carefully, lest they upset their partners where their software is sold.

People get windows with their computers and while folks will upgrade the OS, they don't need an MS store for that. They're more resistant to buy office/app upgrades given the economy. Businesses don't need the store as they already get their software from other means.

 

[roadbloc]

Microsoft Stores are a great metaphor for the company itself: the signs are up but there's nothing interesting going on inside.

You've made your point.
And to be honest, I don't think Microsoft need a store. All I can vision is shelves packed with copies of Office 2011, Windows 7 and Xbox's. Hardly worth opening a shop for.

 

[Melrose]

Well, duh, they have stockrooms in the back for excess stock. But they generally have some stock out on the shelves so you could theoretically buy a computer without talking to a salesperson, if you can ninja your way through there and avoid the GeekSquad trying to sell you crap you don't need. Other than that, there's not much of a difference from the Apple Store. They have display models out, you play with them, and you buy them.

You don't seem to understand the difference between function and design. The function of the stores is identical, as you say - it's to sell merchandise. What company in it's right mind wouldn't? The design of the Microsoft store(s..?) is almost a direct copy of any Apple store. You can wish with all your heart and argue all you want that it's not, but it doesn't make it so.

A website that uses text links in it's navigation menu isn't "copying" another website that uses text links in it's navigation menu, but when they take the colours, the layout, the interaction, etc etc and duplicate it almost verbatim you can safely deem it a copy.

EDIT just realized that post is old. But the point stands.

 

[TSE]

In the Mall of America... literally RIGHT across the Apple Store there is a gigantic poster advertising a Microsoft Store with "Coming Soon" across it.

 

[Damnations!]

The proof is in the (Apple) pudding.

Apple Stores work. Microsoft stores, for the moment, don't seem to be causing any sort of "OMG WOW!!" reaction.

Uh, I've never seen a tech stores look like Apple's stores, except when Microsoft copied them years later.

Microsoft Stores are a great metaphor for the company itself: the signs are up but there's nothing interesting going on inside, sort of like my fanboy head. HERP DERP.

This forum is great, but it's being destroyed by fanboys. Yes, Apple is awesome. No Apple isn't flawless. Yes, Microsoft has made some Bullc**p, but it's also made some really great software and hardware. Just like Apple.

Stop bashing anyone who isn't Apple, especially when it's unfair, biased bullc**p.

 

[gkarris]

They're opening one at Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL, and it's going to be much larger than the Apple Store in the same mall...

In the Mall of America... literally RIGHT across the Apple Store there is a gigantic poster advertising a Microsoft Store with "Coming Soon" across it.

Seems like they're starting to pop up everywhere... anyone else?

For apple they needed a distribution channel, because apple authorized dealers were shrinking and stores like Best Buy just weren't cutting it.

It was a stroke of genius for apple and the timing was excellent, i.e., economy was booming.

Fast forward a few years and we see microsoft jumping on the bandwagon, the problem is that the retail sector (except for apple) is in the doldrums, MS products are already sold everywhere. There is absolutely no need to have a Microsoft store, plus MS needs to tread carefully, lest they upset their partners where their software is sold.

People get windows with their computers and while folks will upgrade the OS, they don't need an MS store for that. They're more resistant to buy office/app upgrades given the economy. Businesses don't need the store as they already get their software from other means.

For MS, it's more about presence rather than sales.

Hanging out at the XBox Lounge playing games sounds more fun than a looking at stuff at an Apple Store I now, because of my new low paying job, can't afford anyways...

 

[*LTD*]

This forum is great, but it's being destroyed by fanboys. Yes, Apple is awesome. No Apple isn't flawless. Yes, Microsoft has made some Bullc**p, but it's also made some really great software and hardware. Just like Apple.

Stop bashing anyone who isn't Apple, especially when it's unfair, biased bullc**p.

I think you meant to go here:

http://www.neowin.net

It's Dell paradise there!

You might not agree with the bulc**p I post, but you should be defending to the death my right to post it.

 

[roadbloc]

You might not agree with the bulc**p I post, but you should be defending to the death my right to post it.

Why?

 

[gkarris]

The wall board at Oakbrook Center has the Microsoft Store opening on November 4.

I'd apply as I am an Apple Store reject (made it all the way to the store interview).

I'd bet I'd get the job with my extensive experience and they'd LOVE to employ people who know MS products vs. Apple products.

But I already have a great retail job...

I'm hoping for some opening day XBOX souvenirs (for my videogame collection)...