Megakazbek
May 3, 10:33 PM
You're getting negative votes on your post just because people here know that Apple will never do that
I don't really see why Apple will never do that. When Jobs said styluses are crap, obviously he didn't mean styluses as writing devices, he meant styluses as the way to interact with OS.
Education applications seem to be of some importance to Apple, and stylus support is pretty much required to make iPad useful for students, for example.
I don't really see why Apple will never do that. When Jobs said styluses are crap, obviously he didn't mean styluses as writing devices, he meant styluses as the way to interact with OS.
Education applications seem to be of some importance to Apple, and stylus support is pretty much required to make iPad useful for students, for example.
Christian247
Apr 15, 01:16 PM
I agree, these photos are not of the real product. although I have seen other photos of a similar iPhone design, but with a chromed bezel that wraps around the entire image, and makes it look much better. and a polished back casing; because Apple is; a well polished company...They arent going to have another unfinished backing.
FAKE, now it's on to the next one...
FAKE, now it's on to the next one...
OdduWon
Oct 10, 09:45 PM
has anyone seen this yet
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/jonathaniliff/k51.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/jonathaniliff/k52.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/jonathaniliff/k53.jpg
there is a very mac 84 like video on the samsung site. also they came out with a 10 megapxl phone too.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/jonathaniliff/k51.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/jonathaniliff/k52.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j248/jonathaniliff/k53.jpg
there is a very mac 84 like video on the samsung site. also they came out with a 10 megapxl phone too.
vendettabass
Oct 3, 01:37 PM
ipod hifi wireless you say :|.. that'd be cool, add a laptop battery to it too (rechargable) and it'd be a buy :-D
iVeBeenDrinkin'
Apr 7, 01:15 AM
About damn time too...
http://i54.tinypic.com/5n30z.jpg
Looking forward to shooting with this new gear...
Nice kit
http://i54.tinypic.com/5n30z.jpg
Looking forward to shooting with this new gear...
Nice kit
inkswamp
May 3, 05:43 PM
And why is this on mac rumors.
Does it really matter what the competition does.
Why is there always someone doing this? Does nobody go by the old netiquette rule of lurking on a site for a while to get a feel for things before posting?
I assume you haven't taken the time to fully absorb what this site is about. It goes beyond just Mac rumors. Go back through the archives of the site and you'll see. MR has always posted significant updates about direct competitors to Apple products as well as news concerning the tech industry that could impact Macs and iOS users. It's nothing new.
Oh, and welcome to the site. :)
Does it really matter what the competition does.
Why is there always someone doing this? Does nobody go by the old netiquette rule of lurking on a site for a while to get a feel for things before posting?
I assume you haven't taken the time to fully absorb what this site is about. It goes beyond just Mac rumors. Go back through the archives of the site and you'll see. MR has always posted significant updates about direct competitors to Apple products as well as news concerning the tech industry that could impact Macs and iOS users. It's nothing new.
Oh, and welcome to the site. :)
tempusfugit
Oct 6, 07:58 PM
ATT is unbelievably good in Minneapolis, but my long drives to and from chicago are marked by a whole lot of EDGE which sucks!
twoodcc
Apr 21, 05:58 AM
Ouch, I know how that is, I've had to replace things that I've broken trying to fix them; not that I would actually admit to breaking anything of course :p
It would drive me nuts being away from my computers knowing they need worked on. I guess I'm addicted - maybe... oh, I put -advmethods in the linux machines and they took off with new wu's so all is well for now. I did lose a bigadv unit on the 17th, or 14th I can't remember, when they had a glitch in one of the servers :(
oh yeah, it's driving me nuts being away. but at least i can go on the weekends.
yeah i lost a bigadv unit also. but hopefully things are good for now. this weekend i know i'll be working on this
It would drive me nuts being away from my computers knowing they need worked on. I guess I'm addicted - maybe... oh, I put -advmethods in the linux machines and they took off with new wu's so all is well for now. I did lose a bigadv unit on the 17th, or 14th I can't remember, when they had a glitch in one of the servers :(
oh yeah, it's driving me nuts being away. but at least i can go on the weekends.
yeah i lost a bigadv unit also. but hopefully things are good for now. this weekend i know i'll be working on this
Met
May 4, 12:16 AM
As Android has gained in popularity, however, things have begun to tighten up, with Google recently exerting control (http://www.macrumors.com/2011/03/31/google-tightening-control-over-android-as-fragmentation-increases/) in an attempt to reduce fragmentation in what has long been billed as an open system available for tweaking and customization by any and all who wish to deploy hardware utilizing the platform.
I wish people would stop making a big deal about this rule that has existed from the beginning of Android. It has ALWAYS been there; it's not something new! Google implemented this for OEM's that want EARLY access to the code and OEM's that want access to Google's closed sources apps, such as the Market and other Google apps for Android.
I wish people would stop making a big deal about this rule that has existed from the beginning of Android. It has ALWAYS been there; it's not something new! Google implemented this for OEM's that want EARLY access to the code and OEM's that want access to Google's closed sources apps, such as the Market and other Google apps for Android.
jamferma
Sep 12, 08:14 AM
3am :(
I was just getting ready to go to bed for a couple of hours before 3 but I'm a little hyped now.
Bloody Apple
mate im hyped as well might get some sleep, get up early...... i need a new ipod, im due for an update..... my 3g stuffed up today, earphone jack doesent work anymore:( it has had a great life:D
I was just getting ready to go to bed for a couple of hours before 3 but I'm a little hyped now.
Bloody Apple
mate im hyped as well might get some sleep, get up early...... i need a new ipod, im due for an update..... my 3g stuffed up today, earphone jack doesent work anymore:( it has had a great life:D
neutrino23
May 4, 12:01 AM
I love this commercial. It is beautiful on so many levels. The photography is beautiful. The pacing is calm. The ideas are high minded.
63dot
Mar 4, 06:26 PM
I'm not sure if this is true. According to investigative reporter Alexander Zaitchik's biography of Beck, he's not a very likable person. He went into the project thinking Beck would be sort of like Limbaugh, who even some liberals like when he's not doing his schtick.
In his early days, the guy could rant a long time, but in such a weird persuasive way as to not hit the audience with an obvious barrage of conservative garbage like older pundit Rush Limbaugh. This was however before Beck came crashing out of the conservative closet. Now he's all about being a conservative bully, but I don't know how many people remember when he was the likable type of guy who pretended to use reason in his arguments.
His star rose so fast that now he's bigger than the politicians he criticizes (or at least makes multitudes more) and he knows it.
I hate to think how many people who were on the fence got influenced by Beck, but I am sure it's far more than previous commentators were able to do. The guy is kind of like a cult leader and while some may listen to Limbaugh or Savage, they worship Beck and keep on asking him to run for president. Though he's certainly not qualified, he could move to some states, run for governor, and easily win. He's kind of like a movie star, and we all know how obviously unqualified movie stars have been able to run for governor in a state and win. I hope he stays out of politics but I have a feeling he has an ego, helped greatly by his mass fan base, which may convince him to go into politics:mad:
In his early days, the guy could rant a long time, but in such a weird persuasive way as to not hit the audience with an obvious barrage of conservative garbage like older pundit Rush Limbaugh. This was however before Beck came crashing out of the conservative closet. Now he's all about being a conservative bully, but I don't know how many people remember when he was the likable type of guy who pretended to use reason in his arguments.
His star rose so fast that now he's bigger than the politicians he criticizes (or at least makes multitudes more) and he knows it.
I hate to think how many people who were on the fence got influenced by Beck, but I am sure it's far more than previous commentators were able to do. The guy is kind of like a cult leader and while some may listen to Limbaugh or Savage, they worship Beck and keep on asking him to run for president. Though he's certainly not qualified, he could move to some states, run for governor, and easily win. He's kind of like a movie star, and we all know how obviously unqualified movie stars have been able to run for governor in a state and win. I hope he stays out of politics but I have a feeling he has an ego, helped greatly by his mass fan base, which may convince him to go into politics:mad:
redAPPLE
Sep 12, 08:01 AM
I was going to receive a (female) friend tonight, but she postponed for tomorrow...so this means I will have instead a big "yawning" session tonight at Apple news/rumor sites, with few things applicable to people outside of the US...move along, citizens... :(
why would a female friend postpone?
why would a female friend postpone?
Al Coholic
May 4, 09:02 AM
Anyone know what's the app being used in the "to a CEO" part?
It's called, "Calculate My Year End Bonus". (App Store - 99 cents)
And I'll buy one when it comes with...
I'll buy one when it does something useful - like run an unhindered version of OSX or it can recognize handwriting.
You're getting negative votes on your post just because people here know that Apple will never do that, but I think I have to agree with you. I mean I own the iPad 1 now and love it, but I'd love it even more if I could write on it with a pen.
And you're getting negative votes because you agree with somebody who is getting negative votes. :D The iDrones here are all of the same mind. They walk around with that glazed look in their eyes and just blink at you when somebody who has a need suggests it be incorporated into the function of the iPad. I've learned that most Apple lemmings here are predictable and boring.
The iPad needs handwriting tech. It's a logical and natural desire/wish. Why would anyone NOT want that? Especially if Apple insists on showing that stupid baby ultrasound over� and over� I don't know any medical staff that actually uses one on the job. You simply can't input information on the thing while on the go and holding it in your other hand. (I actually don't know anyone that uses the iPad except from a comfy chair or couch).
Apple is still waiting for the market to figure out where this thing belongs. So far it looks like it's ideal for toddlers, facebookers and tweeters. Wake me when it can actually do something to save me time so I can pass that along to my family, friends and other more important things.
It's called, "Calculate My Year End Bonus". (App Store - 99 cents)
And I'll buy one when it comes with...
I'll buy one when it does something useful - like run an unhindered version of OSX or it can recognize handwriting.
You're getting negative votes on your post just because people here know that Apple will never do that, but I think I have to agree with you. I mean I own the iPad 1 now and love it, but I'd love it even more if I could write on it with a pen.
And you're getting negative votes because you agree with somebody who is getting negative votes. :D The iDrones here are all of the same mind. They walk around with that glazed look in their eyes and just blink at you when somebody who has a need suggests it be incorporated into the function of the iPad. I've learned that most Apple lemmings here are predictable and boring.
The iPad needs handwriting tech. It's a logical and natural desire/wish. Why would anyone NOT want that? Especially if Apple insists on showing that stupid baby ultrasound over� and over� I don't know any medical staff that actually uses one on the job. You simply can't input information on the thing while on the go and holding it in your other hand. (I actually don't know anyone that uses the iPad except from a comfy chair or couch).
Apple is still waiting for the market to figure out where this thing belongs. So far it looks like it's ideal for toddlers, facebookers and tweeters. Wake me when it can actually do something to save me time so I can pass that along to my family, friends and other more important things.
kdarling
Oct 6, 08:22 PM
Isn't Verizon's 4G network going to be GSM?
Nope.
Verizon is overlaying their CDMA network with LTE, which is a totally new protocol that has to be backfitted to work with any older system.
Many GSM carriers had already chosen LTE as their 4G protocol. This is what confused casual observers. However, CDMA carriers are implementing it first and therefore defining many of the details.
Verizon will continue to use CDMA for voice, and for data for lesser powered devices, for many years to come.
LTE will mostly be used at first by Verizon as sort of a wireless FiOS. It's far more likely that we'll first see an LTE Apple tablet, than an LTE Apple phone. I'd love to see Apple come out with something that allows video calls. LTE would be perfect for that.
on another note if it is wouldn't their coverage also be spotty?
Verizon says they're moving up LTE deployment and want to hit all the major markets (100 million) almost all at once in 2010. So yes, it would be mostly cities until they finish up in late 2013.
But again, LTE probably wouldn't be wasted on voice or handhelds, not for a long while. Both CDMA and GSM carriers want to get their money's worth out of their original networks.
Nope.
Verizon is overlaying their CDMA network with LTE, which is a totally new protocol that has to be backfitted to work with any older system.
Many GSM carriers had already chosen LTE as their 4G protocol. This is what confused casual observers. However, CDMA carriers are implementing it first and therefore defining many of the details.
Verizon will continue to use CDMA for voice, and for data for lesser powered devices, for many years to come.
LTE will mostly be used at first by Verizon as sort of a wireless FiOS. It's far more likely that we'll first see an LTE Apple tablet, than an LTE Apple phone. I'd love to see Apple come out with something that allows video calls. LTE would be perfect for that.
on another note if it is wouldn't their coverage also be spotty?
Verizon says they're moving up LTE deployment and want to hit all the major markets (100 million) almost all at once in 2010. So yes, it would be mostly cities until they finish up in late 2013.
But again, LTE probably wouldn't be wasted on voice or handhelds, not for a long while. Both CDMA and GSM carriers want to get their money's worth out of their original networks.
Platform
Oct 3, 06:43 PM
What a surprise...hehe
No one else could really do it as well anyway ;)
Leopard needs more new features...Safari, OS general improvements etc...:D
No one else could really do it as well anyway ;)
Leopard needs more new features...Safari, OS general improvements etc...:D
emikshe
Jan 10, 05:20 PM
"In college, I built small TV jammers. I'd go to the one dorm that had a color TV, sit in the back, in the dark, and tune in my jammer. The screen got messed up, not totally but enough to bother everyone. Without any plan, a friend in the front row, who knew what was going on (I hope he did) whacked the TV. I instantly turned the jammer off and the TV worked fine."
TV Cell Phone China T808
Aiwa AW1000 PMP/CMMB Mobile TV
fhiphonedev
Apr 5, 10:49 PM
Really love the functionality. Way to go!
luismagda94
Aug 8, 01:00 AM
Just checked Dell's 30" and apart from the built-in card reader (woohoo) and a USB Upstream port and a slightly faster response time 11 ms vs. 14 ms, the two are nearly identical. Apple's has two firewire ports and looks a lot cleaner and more elegant and is $200 cheaper.
Now if Dell drops their price by $500, then the $300 price difference might make the Dell version tempting again.
Nah, I like beauty, even if it costs a little extra.
Now if Dell drops their price by $500, then the $300 price difference might make the Dell version tempting again.
Nah, I like beauty, even if it costs a little extra.
logandzwon
Apr 18, 02:00 PM
It looks like the only way M$ is "catching up" is by copying technologies with which we are already familiar. As Bertrand Serlet suggested, maybe M$ really DID start up their photocopiers :D
I saw a video on YouTube entitled "The Real Windows Vista (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QdGt3ix2CQ)", in which the audio from a (series of) M$ lecture(s) was combined with video showing a Mac user demonstrating the then-unreleased features of Vista on a Mac. It was originally in three parts, and at the end of each part the specific technologies mentioned were identified, as well as the year in which they were introduced. It appears also that, as Mr. Serlet also mentioned, "if you can't innovate, you must imitate, but it's never quite the same."
Heh, I've seen that video it's classic. However, if you were to say fair-is-fair, MS publicly announced their road map for what became Vista before XP even came out. Apple KNEW what MS was working on. No body knew what Apple was working on.
I saw a video on YouTube entitled "The Real Windows Vista (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QdGt3ix2CQ)", in which the audio from a (series of) M$ lecture(s) was combined with video showing a Mac user demonstrating the then-unreleased features of Vista on a Mac. It was originally in three parts, and at the end of each part the specific technologies mentioned were identified, as well as the year in which they were introduced. It appears also that, as Mr. Serlet also mentioned, "if you can't innovate, you must imitate, but it's never quite the same."
Heh, I've seen that video it's classic. However, if you were to say fair-is-fair, MS publicly announced their road map for what became Vista before XP even came out. Apple KNEW what MS was working on. No body knew what Apple was working on.
BBEmployee
Apr 8, 02:42 PM
I'm a current employee at Best Buy and thought I'd offer my two cents on a few issues.
First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.
That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.
In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.
I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:
1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.
Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.
Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.
Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...
2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.
So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.
All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.
Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.
As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.
Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.
But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.
At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.
Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.
I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.
First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.
That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.
In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.
I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:
1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.
Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.
Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.
Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...
2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.
So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.
All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.
Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.
As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.
Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.
But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.
At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.
Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.
I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.
mikelegacy
Dec 13, 12:23 PM
We can all dream right? I hope to god this is true. I need better service. To me, it'd be worth the $200 termination fee...
bpaluzzi
May 4, 09:14 AM
I'll buy one when it does something useful - like run an unhindered version of OSX
You're a few years late with that one. Even the Apple haters have given up on that useless meme. Didn't you get the memo at the latest club meeting?
You're a few years late with that one. Even the Apple haters have given up on that useless meme. Didn't you get the memo at the latest club meeting?
extraextra
Aug 7, 02:55 PM
I just saw a guy buy a 23" yesterday. Hope he got the new pricing for it!
No comments:
Post a Comment