Apple to spend $4 million on Chicago subway station renovations

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  • Reply 21 of 123
    technotechno Posts: 737member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MacTripper View Post


    And why can't the Chicago subway system renovate it's own station?



    Why do socialists always capitalize on successful capitalists? Like leaches or something.



    Raise the subway fee's a little, renovate the station and rent out space. Be self sustaining or at least make a little profit on it's own merits, not on the backs of companies who will just pass those costs onto guess who?



    US. Yes US.



    I'm now paying for renovations to a Chicago subway station that I will never use.





    Chicago's failure isn't our problem and we shouldn't be paying for it through higher costs for our computers.





    And to boot Apple has to still pay for advertising which it should be getting for free for the 4 million.





    Well that's one less Apple product I will buy now to make up for it.



    What goes around comes around.







    Also flashy areas are just places people go to forget how bad the economy is and think they are wealthy. The Apple Stores are filled with lots of people looking, but not buying. That's why the prices have been lowered recently.



    The real wealthy types don't need or bother with computers (with their headaches and all) and there are not enough of them spending enough to make it worthwhile catering to their small market. If they use one it's only one computer just like most everyone else.







    "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - Margret Thatcher



    I hope that was all sarcasm. If so, it was very funny!
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  • Reply 22 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dualie View Post


    Why would they name a subway station anything other than the name of the street it intersects? Are they intentionally trying to confuse the passengers?



    Many great world cities go well beyond the rather prosaic convention of naming subway stops only for streets. In Paris for instance, subway stops are named for districts or key destinations such as Les Halles or Opera. Residents and visitors don't seem confused by this. I think it's kind of colorful and neat. If Apple will create the signature store for this district then why not an "Apple" stop?
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  • Reply 23 of 123
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,954member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MacTripper View Post


    And why can't the Chicago subway system renovate it's own station?



    Why do socialists always capitalize on successful capitalists? Like leaches or something.



    Raise the subway fee's a little, renovate the station and rent out space. Be self sustaining or at least make a little profit on it's own merits, not on the backs of companies who will just pass those costs onto guess who?



    US. Yes US.



    I'm now paying for renovations to a Chicago subway station that I will never use.



    It doesn't sound like Apple was required to pay, they chose to. I don't think it makes sense to defend capitalism, and then complain about how capitalists chose to spend their money.



    Lots of companies spend money on things that segments of their customer base will never use. For instance, when companies pay for stadium naming rights, how many of those customers will ever enter the stadium's doors? Along your line of thinking, how much "my" money did Apple spend on those flagship stores, stores which I might never enter? You don't see how it's flawed thinking - possibly a logical fallacy? Things like stores and preferential ad and naming treatment might be considered expenses, but I think it needs to be considered investments. Besides, a person's right to say how money is spent is usually given up up when it is spent, the money changed hands and control is usually lost. The money you spent to get a MacBook or whatever got you that computer, not a share in the company.



    Quote:

    And to boot Apple has to still pay for advertising which it should be getting for free for the 4 million.



    Sounds like they might getting some prime placement in the deal. They're getting "as well first offer on all advertising in the station", which is preferential treatment.
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  • Reply 24 of 123
    newbeenewbee Posts: 2,055member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teckstud View Post


    The intersection will from now on be call Noble Square with bronzed busts of Al Gore and Obama adorning the street level park aligned with apple trees.



    dude, that was hardly worth the effort ... you lowering your standards or something?
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  • Reply 25 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MacTripper View Post


    And why can't the Chicago subway system renovate it's own station?



    Why do socialists always capitalize on successful capitalists? Like leaches or something.



    Raise the subway fee's a little, renovate the station and rent out space. Be self sustaining or at least make a little profit on it's own merits, not on the backs of companies who will just pass those costs onto guess who?



    US. Yes US.



    I'm now paying for renovations to a Chicago subway station that I will never use.



    Chicago's failure isn't our problem and we shouldn't be paying for it through higher costs for our computers.



    And to boot Apple has to still pay for advertising which it should be getting for free for the 4 million.



    Well that's one less Apple product I will buy now to make up for it.



    What goes around comes around.



    Also flashy areas are just places people go to forget how bad the economy is and think they are wealthy. The Apple Stores are filled with lots of people looking, but not buying. That's why the prices have been lowered recently.



    The real wealthy types don't need or bother with computers (with their headaches and all) and there are not enough of them spending enough to make it worthwhile catering to their small market. If they use one it's only one computer just like most everyone else.



    "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - Margret Thatcher



    You have to be kidding, right?



    As an example, Apple paid $4 million for the space and you call it free advertising?



    You don't use Macs, you have stated that you hate them, and you continue to dis everything Apple related. So why the hell are you here?
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  • Reply 26 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MacTripper View Post




    Why do socialists always capitalize on successful capitalists? Like leaches or something.




    Funny, I don't hear the capitalist "victim" Apple in this case complaining. The only complainer is an ideologue, one who cites as an economics expert that old bulldog Margaret Thatcher of all people. Sheesh!
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  • Reply 27 of 123
    takeotakeo Posts: 449member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MacTripper View Post


    Why do socialists always capitalize on successful capitalists? Like leaches or something



    What in the world are you talking about? No one put a gun to Apple's head. Apple chose to do this on their own because they wanted to... because it will enhance the area for their store. I imagine if the CTA raised fares as you suggest... you would be railing against the "tax grabbing socialists".
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  • Reply 28 of 123
    takeotakeo Posts: 449member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Abster2core View Post


    You don't use Macs, you have stated that you hate them, and you continue to dis everything Apple related. So why the hell are you here?



    To stir the shit evidently. For his own amusement. Or perhaps it's simple a mental issue.
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  • Reply 29 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teckstud View Post


    I was talking to a friend from London and he said that kind of advertising is just not acceptable there- putting down your competition rather than talking up your own strengths.



    Wait, is this London a city on Mongolia or something? Weren't the British supposed to be fond of the darker kinds of humor?
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  • Reply 30 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by slowereastside View Post


    Considering that Chicago is a direct line to the White House, it wouldn't be surprising to find that Apple's investment here pays for more than just a subway stop.









    Quote:

    That's merely the latest thing, and as eye-popping as $4M seems to you, it's peanuts to Apple. Their flagship stores perform so well that they'll make it back in no time.



    Also, since Apple runs on cash, not credit, the odds are very good that you've already paid for it.





    Sounds like they are getting a good location with a lot of traffic. So the brand awareness will be up there and should pay off.



    Of course, Apple always depended upon Microsoft being so bad.



    With the success of Windows 7 and the economy not doing so well, upwardly mobile people will start choosing the same system they use at work again, just like before. (Like I said before, the real wealthy don't bother with computers, it's too much work for them.)



    These upwardly mobile people will avoid "other" operating systems, the higher price tags, limited hardware selection and flashy style associated with Apple gear.



    Apple might end up having a bunch of fancy locations, but no paying customers for computers.



    I've seen this happen many times before. Fancy locations just dying a hard and expensive death.



    Apple needs to keep it's prices down and the volume of Mac sales up if the computer section is going to have any chance of surviving what's coming.
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  • Reply 31 of 123
    It makes total sense for a corporation such as Apple to invest in the neighborhood where it has a store, in addition to whatever business licensing taxes it pays. Getting naming and advertising rights for the property is both a fair exchange and brilliant marketing and public relations strategy. Being right on a CTA route, with a presumably Apple-related name for the stop, provides both a very viable means for many city-dwelling Chicagoans to get to and from the store from every corner of the CTA system, and provides built-in Apple store advertising via published CTA route information.



    So what if CTA can't renovate this station! Apple's $4M investment is a mutual benefit to CTA, Apple, and ALL of the businesses nearby the new station. It's win-win-win for everyone concerned.



    In this case, it'd be good if MS copied Apple here, too, as, even if their stores eventually go bust, if Redmond poured a few mill, too, into such renovations, they'd at least have left behind a worthwhile contribution to the area.
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  • Reply 32 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teckstud View Post


    Why would Apple want to be connected with those losers?



    Last time I checked those people in the White House won. McCain and Palin were the losers. Elections have consequences. Run a candidate who wins next time and you can have bragging rights for at least four years. Until then, deal with it.
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  • Reply 33 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dualie View Post


    Why would they name a subway station anything other than the name of the street it intersects? Are they intentionally trying to confuse the passengers?



    maybe the same level of competence cannot be expected from americans, but in many other countries, subway stations are NOT named by nearby streets, and people code just fine. just a thought.
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  • Reply 34 of 123
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by newbee View Post


    dude, that was hardly worth the effort ... you lowering your standards or something?



    I'm just coming off of novocaine- was at the dentist this morning. PLease excuse me, your excellency.
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  • Reply 35 of 123
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Robin Huber View Post


    Last time I checked those people in the White House won. McCain and Palin were the losers. Elections have consequences. Run a candidate who wins next time and you can have bragging rights for at least four years. Until then, deal with it.



    Dude, that's last years losers. What's his popularity right now? Has he accomplished anything yet? Here's a refresher course for you:



    http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/o..._n_308979.html
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  • Reply 36 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lukeskymac View Post


    Wait, is this London a city on Mongolia or something? Weren't the British supposed to be fond of the darker kinds of humor?



    As much as a I hate to agree with Teckstud, he may be right that there was a case recently where Apple had to modify some advertising in the UK (or Common Market) for something like that reason.
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  • Reply 37 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by dualie View Post


    Why would they name a subway station anything other than the name of the street it intersects? Are they intentionally trying to confuse the passengers?



    Yeah, because the current situation of having seventeen different stops named the same thing. You realize Blue Line has THREE stops named Western, two named Cicero, two named Pulaski, and two named California, right? You realize that the Blue Line Clinton stop is nowhere near the Green/Pink Line Clinton stop? Naming a POINT after only the LINE it intersects in a euclidean grid system is a stupid idea.



    Renaming the stops is a good idea. Instead of Grand / Chicago / Clark&Division / North&Clybourn / Fullerton / Belmont / Addison / Sheridan they could be called Mag Mile South / Mag Mile North / Gold Coast / Lincoln Park / DePaul / Boystown / Wrigleyville / Buena Park.
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  • Reply 38 of 123
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teckstud View Post


    Why would Apple want to be connected with those losers? Well I suppose Apple needs to maintain is 10% marketshare and now with Windows 7 dominating the news and all the PC manufatcturers backing it enthusiastically, Apple needs to use everything availlable. And they do have a connection in Al Gore. They started with the most politcal PC bashing ad less than 24 hours after 7 was released. I was talking to a friend from London and he said that kind of advertising is just not acceptable there- putting down your competition rather than talking up your own strengths.



    SHUT UP.
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  • Reply 39 of 123
    benicebenice Posts: 382member
    Holy crap, is that like a photo from the 70s or something? Developing country? Everyone keeps telling me things there can look run down, but pretty startling to see the shot.



    Hats of to Apple for getting involved in a little bit of urban regeneration to enhance the area for everyone. It's a good thing.
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  • Reply 40 of 123
    teckstudteckstud Posts: 6,476member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post


    SHUT UP.



    oK -zipped it. :
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