Best Buy deal could add $400M to Apple's top line

coltssaturday · Jun 22, 2006

If Apple Computer's pilot program at Best Buy retail stores proves to be a success, a full expansion could generate as much as $400 million in additional Mac sales for the company each year, says one Wall Street analyst.

In a research note released to clients on Thursday, Morgan Stanley analyst Rebecca Runkle compared the Cupertino, Calif.-based company's US retail store coverage to that of Best Buy's. She found that at a bare minimum, a full distribution partnership with the electronics retailer would add 100,000 new Mac sales and $160 million in annual revenue for Apple.

Link to full story.

alucard · Jun 22, 2006

It would be interesting to see how that would work out. About a year ago our Best buy sold Mac minis but it was short lived.

Mattlike · Jun 22, 2006

They have been pimpin Mac/Bestbuy (performed by one of the disc jockeys)commercials on the local radio station I listen to here in LA.

coltssaturday · Jun 22, 2006

alucard said:
It would be interesting to see how that would work out. About a year ago our Best buy sold Mac minis but it was short lived.

I am glad that Jobs came up with the idea to open up Apple stores.

alucard · Jun 22, 2006

coltssaturday said:
I am glad that Jobs came up with the idea to open up Apple stores.

Yes. I think that is one reason why more people are switching to Macs. You have everything in one place. the one in ouor mall is always packed. I never see it slow. I bought my wife an iMac about 5 year ago (the one with the round base). She liked it but it was very hard for her to learn the new interface and not many programs were out for it that she wanted. Fast forward to now and when we bought her macbook at the Apple Store they emailed us a little getting started guide, we got the Pro Care and got some one on one training. I wish they had all this 5 years ago. We would have been experts by now

coltssaturday · Jun 22, 2006

alucard said:
.......I wish they had all this 5 years ago. We would have been experts by now

You will be in the next 5 years. LOL! :yinyang:

alucard · Jun 22, 2006

coltssaturday said:
You will be in the next 5 years. LOL! :yinyang:

HAHA! True

I keep trying to think of ways to make the company I work for switch to Macs. It'll never happen, but here's to dreamin'.

Although since I have switched, two other co workers have switched their home computers to Mac's. So you never know.

coltssaturday · Jun 22, 2006

alucard said:
HAHA! True

I keep trying to think of ways to make the company I work for switch to Macs. It'll never happen, but here's to dreamin'.

Although since I have switched, two other co workers have switched their home computers to Mac's. So you never know.

Thats ok that you haven't convinced the whole company but for a good start 2 is good. :spook:

mac57 · Jun 23, 2006

Note that CompUSA sells Macs in store as well. Certainly the local CompUSA closest to me seems to staff their Mac area (a very well defined, Mac dedicated corner of the store) with real Mac people - they seem VERY knowledgable to a switcher like myself, not the usual generalist sales person.

So, if Best Buy can do the same thing, and impress people with the quality of the showroom floor for Macs and the quality of the sales people, they could do quite well. I think they need to try to recreate something of the Apple Store experience in a small "store-let" within the store. This is what CompUSA seems to strive for, and I have been very happy with it.

Beemer · Jun 23, 2006

I think Mac's in Best Buy would be a great thing. Defintely would increase mac users and let them all know the greatness behind them. Gives the customer and best buy more variety also.

to_tough_to_die · Jun 23, 2006

mac57 said:
Note that CompUSA sells Macs in store as well. Certainly the local CompUSA closest to me seems to staff their Mac area (a very well defined, Mac dedicated corner of the store) with real Mac people - they seem VERY knowledgable to a switcher like myself, not the usual generalist sales person.

So, if Best Buy can do the same thing, and impress people with the quality of the showroom floor for Macs and the quality of the sales people, they could do quite well. I think they need to try to recreate something of the Apple Store experience in a small "store-let" within the store. This is what CompUSA seems to strive for, and I have been very happy with it.

*Rolls on floor laughing*

You've gotta be kidding me... CompUSA has the worst-staffed Mac sections in all of retail.

mac57 · Jun 23, 2006

Its probably a store-by-store thing, but our local CompUSA has a fellow there every weekend who is a Mac zealot. He gives Mac lectures at the store, is a tireless proponent of Macs, and will talk your ear off about how wonderful they are, with real facts to back it up, even if there is clearly no hope of a sale today. No, some CompUSAs are doing this VERY well.

alucard · Jun 23, 2006

to_tough_to_die said:
*Rolls on floor laughing*

You've gotta be kidding me... CompUSA has the worst-staffed Mac sections in all of retail.

I hate CompUSA. Bad experience as a kid with them. I wouldn't mind if they went out of business. I dont have experience with them in regards to Mac's but with PC stuff NONE of the people in ours seems to know anything. You ask them a question and they give you the "dear in the headlights look." I only go if i absolutely need something. And thats after i try Best Buy, Circuit City, Office Depot and Office Max.

MacMania55 · Jun 23, 2006

I dont know about selling macs at bestbuy. With all the apple stores opening up around the US I think they have been exposed enough. Bestbuy may not sell very well because they may not be able to offer free printers ipods or educational discounts. I dont think it is a good idea. Plus when my local bestbuy started to sell mac minis they were soon outdated, they were not even running tiger. Nobody was buying them

coltssaturday · Jun 23, 2006

mac57 i agree with you about compusa but i think wouldn't you also like it if there were all macs in a store if you wanted to buy so you would have choices.

I don't know about compusa's customer service but i like Apple's stores.

I would prefer Apple's store over any store like bestbuy or compusa because it is Apple's store where you buy Apple stuff.

geekboy2000 · Jun 23, 2006

Personally, I think offering Macs for sale at BestBuy does the brand image no good at all. It's like selling a _________ (insert nice new car brand/model) on a corner used car lot, just because they're on every corner. I have yet to encounter anyone with a brain at BestBuy. CompUSA is just a step up, but not much of one. Though there aren't a lot of MicroCenter stores around, I have found those folks to be the next best thing to an Apple store. There may be other outlets for Macs as well, but if you want to maintain a high-end image, I think you need to sell through what at least *looks* like a high-end outlet.

Mark

coltssaturday · Jun 23, 2006

geekboy2000 said:
Personally, I think offering Macs for sale at BestBuy does the brand image no good at all. It's like selling a _________ (insert nice new car brand/model) on a corner used car lot, just because they're on every corner. I have yet to encounter anyone with a brain at BestBuy. CompUSA is just a step up, but not much of one. Though there aren't a lot of MicroCenter stores around, I have found those folks to be the next best thing to an Apple store. There may be other outlets for Macs as well, but if you want to maintain a high-end image, I think you need to sell through what at least *looks* like a high-end outlet.

Mark

I don't think it hurts Apple's image if it sells at bestbuy and compusa but customer service probably isn't as good as offered by Apple stores.

I don't have MicroCenter stores around my area so i don't know about them.

coach_z · Jun 23, 2006

i just hope that the sales folks are held to the same standards as apple store employees, almost every one i have dealt with at an apple store are more than helpful, fun, and nice.

worst buy employees on the other hand have always been rude, unresponsive, unavailable and just dont care.

it would be cool if apple had its own genius's and employees working at the worst buys.
-chris

coltssaturday · Jun 23, 2006

coach_z said:
i just hope that the sales folks are held to the same standards as apple store employees, almost every one i have dealt with at an apple store are more than helpful, fun, and nice.

worst buy employees on the other hand have always been rude, unresponsive, unavailable and just dont care.

it would be cool if apple had its own genius's and employees working at the worst buys.
-chris

Agree, thats why i prefer to go to Apple stores to look at macs instead of worst buys. :yinyang:

Mattlike · Jun 23, 2006

coach_z said:
worst buy employees on the other hand have always been rude, unresponsive, unavailable and just dont care.

-chris

Sounds like the Fry's employees. Having family that work at Comp USA, I know that often times the people on the floor in the Apple section are reps from Apple and not Comp USA employees. That may just be here in California though.