The store that doesn't sell anything
ungenius does a great job at pointing out the flaws of Dell's new retail strategy, (via daringfireball) but I'd like to add one more:
Apple stores are built from the ground up to reflect the Apple experience. You walk in, find what you need, get help when you need it, and walk out with your solution.
Dell won't be actually selling physical computers. You walk in, look around, place your order on the web, then...
Wait.
Wait for your computer to be delivered. This is what Dell wants to emphasize in their store, the amount of time it takes to actually get your new computer?
I give them 2 years, tops.
Dell, retail, Apple Store
Apple stores are built from the ground up to reflect the Apple experience. You walk in, find what you need, get help when you need it, and walk out with your solution.
Dell won't be actually selling physical computers. You walk in, look around, place your order on the web, then...
Wait.
Wait for your computer to be delivered. This is what Dell wants to emphasize in their store, the amount of time it takes to actually get your new computer?
I give them 2 years, tops.
Dell, retail, Apple Store
This entry was posted by Kevin Creighton, on
5.23.2006.
You can leave your response.
11:15 AM
When Gateway did their "Gateway Country" store I rolled my eyes. Doesn't buying direct presuppose that one bypass the retail channel? The fixed costs, inventory, headcount, etc. make retail an iffy business. See Kmart, Woolworths, and Montgomery Ward's for recent examples...
Dell is where they are now because they concentrated on business and government. Gateway thought they could continue selling systems to consumers and make a premium on them. Guess where each of them are today? Dell had it right and reaped the benefits, but now they wish to make Gateway's mistake. Is somebody smoking dope in Round Rock?
All of this ignores quality problems in their machines. I don't know what is causing this but Dell quality is even lower than normal these days. At least they used to have good service but I think that is changing too.
Guess this means I will keep building my own systems...
4:06 PM
In regards to Dell customer service, Google 'Dell Hell'. It ain't pretty...