Selling 50% of iPhones through Apple's retail stores viewed as an unrealistic, lofty goal

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  • Reply 61 of 87
    pendergastpendergast Posts: 1,358member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by wakefinance View Post


    If only this data had been around for all the earlier shipped vs sold debates!  Apple's direct retail sales are around 15%.  I'm not sure if that includes online sales so let's assume another 10% of sales happen direct to consumers from Apple's online store.  That means Apple has definite sales information for 25% of all shipped iPhones. Conversely, 75% of reported sales are actually channel shipments.  I'm looking forward to the next debate!



     


    Except Apple reports channel inventory, and it's inventory turn. Besides, you know, reporting actual numbers, instead of vague $$$ amounts or leaving it to analyst estimates (which then get compared to Apple's actual numbers).

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  • Reply 62 of 87
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jragosta View Post



    More importantly, there's no evidence that Apple has EVER stated a goal of selling 50% of iPhones through its retail stores. This is just another example of someone making up some silly claim, pretending that it's Apple's goal, and then claiming it's unrealistic.


     


    The analysts didn't make it up on their own.


     


    The story apparently originated with 9to5mac in this article, which said:


     


    "Hints of the new iPhones sales push were described at a secretive summit at San Francisco’s Fort Mason for Apple Retail Store Leaders from across the globe, according to multiple people familiar with the internal event…


     


    "Cook reportedly spoke to Apple’s Retail Store Leaders for approximately three hours. During this time, Cook expressed satisfaction with the way Macs and iPads have been selling via Apple Stores, so he placed those two products on a figurative “back-burner” during his talk, according to two sources. "
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  • Reply 63 of 87
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,928member
    kdarling wrote: »
    The analysts didn't make it up on their own.

    Nope, Analysts never make up anything. Did you write that with a straight face?
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  • Reply 64 of 87
    kdarlingkdarling Posts: 1,640member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jungmark View Post



    Nope, Analysts never make up anything. Did you write that with a straight face?


     


    I didn't say that "analysts never make up anything".   You created that strawman.


     


    I said they didn't make up THIS story on their own, and then I gave a reference to back up that reasoning.

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  • Reply 65 of 87
    icoco3icoco3 Posts: 1,474member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jragosta View Post





    And, yet, not a single article provides a direct quote from Cook saying that 50% of iPhone sales should come through the Apple Stores.



    It's a made up claim that people keep repeating.


     


    And yet one of the articles says that the context of the conversation "implied" the 50%, thus my "partly" comment.  It wasn't direct, it was implied.

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  • Reply 66 of 87
    ankleskaterankleskater Posts: 1,287member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jungmark View Post





    Nope, Analysts never make up anything. Did you write that with a straight face?


    That's not what he wrote. Did you try to bait him with a straight face?

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  • Reply 67 of 87
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post



    To further its efforts to bring in more iPhone customers and sell them upgrades, Apple also plans to begin taking iPhone trade-ins at its retail stores.


     


    That would go a long way towards getting me to buy my phone at an Apple Store. I don't feel comfortable doing a trade-in by mail (plus I can do without the expense and hassle), but if I could just walk into an Apple Store and trade in my iP4 on the spot, I'd be inclined to do so.

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  • Reply 68 of 87
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by rhyde View Post


    I can drive two miles to my AT&T store and walk out with a working iPhone (and "trickle down" my phone through the other phones on my family plan). Or I can walk into Apple's store 35 miles away and be told I have to make an appt to come back three days later. FAIL!  I avoid Apple stores as much as I possibly can. If Tim really wants me to buy from an Apple store, we need more of them (closer to home like the AT&T stores) and I need to be able to walk in, get my device quickly, and walk out.



     


    What you said. It's bad enough when you lug in a warranty repair only to be sent away, but one doesn't expect to have to make an appointment to BUY something.


     


    My local lab books up to 50% capacity by appointment, the other half is first-come-first served. That way one at least has the OPTION of waiting around until someone is free. Might be a long wait, might be short, you never know. Those who don't want to deal with that uncertainty can make an appointment.


     


    I wonder if it would be possible to operate the Genius Bar in a similar fashion?

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  • Reply 69 of 87
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by captmark View Post



    The Apple Stores are the worst shopping experience in my life!! I absolutely hate having to go there and will never go to buy anything!! I can't be the only one who feels this way!!


     


    You might be. With the exception of buying and activating an iPhone, (which I've never done at an Apple store myself but I'm told is a nuisance) I've found the Apple Store to be the most amazing retail experience of my life. Lots of helpful staff, product samples to play with everywhere, and I can check out with virtually any staff person or even myself! I don't know how they could make it better.


     


    EDIT: To be clear, I'm talking about the purchasing side of things. The repairs side is a whole 'nuther matter.

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  • Reply 70 of 87
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jungmark View Post



    Maybe you should have called first. Lack of planning on your part shouldn't downgrade the experience.


     


    Seriously? Who would anticipate having to make an appointment to drop off a repair? I know to do that NOW, but only after being told to go away and not come back until I'd learned how to use their online appointment system.


     


    It's atypical so people don't expect it. It doesn't make Apple evil, but it's unfair to chastise the person getting that first time surprise.

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  • Reply 71 of 87
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,928member
    v5v wrote: »
    Seriously? Who would anticipate having to make an appointment to drop off a repair? I know to do that NOW, but only after being told to go away and not come back until I'd learned how to use their online appointment system.

    It's atypical so people don't expect it. It doesn't make Apple evil, but it's unfair to chastise the person getting that first time surprise.

    Do you make doctor appointments? Heck, I make appointments for oil changes. Time is money, I don't want to sit around and hope they fix my problem that day.
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  • Reply 72 of 87
    v5vv5v Posts: 1,357member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jungmark View Post



    Do you make doctor appointments? Heck, I make appointments for oil changes. Time is money, I don't want to sit around and hope they fix my problem that day.


     


    I didn't say it was wrong, I said people don't EXPECT to have to make an appointment to drop off a repair. It's swell that you came up with a completely irrelevant unrelated situation in which one must make an appointment. Shall I now come up with one that doesn't? Okay. Do you make an appointment to return that hair dryer to WalMart? Oops, sorry, I accidentally chose a relevant example. image


     


    Yes, you CAN make an appointment for your oil change, but you don't HAVE to. You also have the choice to drive up and take your chances on wait time, which in certain circumstance for certain people may be better.


     


    So anyway, to repeat the part of my post that you DIDN'T quote: It's atypical so people don't expect it. It doesn't make Apple evil, but it's unfair to chastise the person getting that first time surprise.

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  • Reply 73 of 87
    adamcadamc Posts: 583member
    kdarling wrote: »
    I didn't say that "analysts never make up anything".   You created that strawman.

    <span style="line-height:1.231;">I said they didn't make up THIS story on their own, and then I gave a reference to back up that reasoning.</span>

    So who made up the 50%, even 9to5mac didn't say so.
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  • Reply 74 of 87
    Is there a reference anywhere to Apple's actual claim about an announcement from Tim Cook or anyone else from Apple, or is this an analyst or someone on the web making another overblown assumption?
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  • Reply 75 of 87
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    If only this data had been around for all the earlier shipped vs sold debates!  Apple's direct retail sales are around 15%.  I'm not sure if that includes online sales so let's assume another 10% of sales happen direct to consumers from Apple's online store.  That means Apple has definite sales information for 25% of all shipped iPhones. Conversely, 75% of reported sales are actually channel shipments.  I'm looking forward to the next debate!

    The important factor is that Apple lists channel inventory in their quarterly reports so it's trivial to figure out how many were actually sold (shipments minus change in channel inventory). None of the other players do that.
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  • Reply 76 of 87

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post





    Walk in. Pick up what you want. Go to a blue shirt. Check out.



    Alternatively, iOS Apple Store app. Find what you want. Pay for it. Walk into the store. Take thing. Walk out. It's like stealing, but legal.



    People are going to have a very difficult time believing you.


     


    Having spent 30 minutes waiting to buy an iMac, only to never be served because there were people in front of us, it's hard to suggest you can just walk in and pick up what you want without having to interact with sales.  I challenge anyone to walk in, pick up an iMac, and then go to a blue shirt to buy it without having to do anything else.


     


    Oh, sure, it's nice when it's not busy, but too many people are wasting time there.  Maybe it's the particular stores I have near by, but the experience is generally awful.


     


    And, as fun as it sounds, buying from the Apple Store app is not always feasible.


     


    I've found that I can buy things faster, and generally cheaper, at Best Buy without having to go through the hassle of waiting at an Apple store. 

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  • Reply 77 of 87
    ankleskaterankleskater Posts: 1,287member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jragosta View Post





    The important factor is that Apple lists channel inventory in their quarterly reports so it's trivial to figure out how many were actually sold (shipments minus change in channel inventory). None of the other players do that.


     


     


    You read this in the quarterly report? I missed it when I read it. Can you point out what page this number is provided?

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  • Reply 78 of 87
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    [quote name="jasonlotito" url="/t/158522/selling-50-of-iphones-through-apples-retail-stores-viewed-as-an-unrealistic-lofty-goal/40#post_2363385"]Having spent 30 minutes waiting to buy an iMac, only to never be served because there were people in front of us, it's hard to suggest you can just walk in and pick up what you want without having to interact with sales.[/QUOTE]

    Not if you read my post.

    [QUOTE]I challenge anyone to walk in, pick up an iMac, and then go to a blue shirt to buy it without having to do anything else.[/QUOTE]

    To the guy standing by the door: "Hey, I'd like to buy an iMac."

    Guy: "Sure; I'll get [other associate] to get one from the back."

    Yeah, they'll be like "Do you want AppleCare?" Other than that, no.
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  • Reply 79 of 87
    ankleskaterankleskater Posts: 1,287member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post





    Not if you read my post.

    To the guy standing by the door: "Hey, I'd like to buy an iMac."



    Guy: "Sure; I'll get [other associate] to get one from the back."



    Yeah, they'll be like "Do you want AppleCare?" Other than that, no.


    They also ask, "Where are you parked? Do you need help carrying it to your car?"

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  • Reply 80 of 87
    chandra69 wrote: »
    You have to set unrealistic goals when networks are dumping iPhones. 

    I remember reading in the Steve bio book, he wanted to setup Apple's own wireless carrier network. Apple should do that (I am not telling seriously. But hoping seriously)
    Yes people hope for that with cable networks on television.

    jakeb wrote: »
    Poor Apple. So many customers in their stores already, they can't possibly fit any more in the door. Obviously they're doomed.
    I always find it funny that a single computer brand in a store is as popular as a full size walmart.

    Walk in. Pick up what you want. Go to a blue shirt. Check out.

    Alternatively, iOS Apple Store app. Find what you want. Pay for it. Walk into the store. Take thing. Walk out. It's like stealing, but legal.

    People are going to have a very difficult time believing you.
    Wow, This is the dream experience of shopping (besides apples online store) while saying that, I hope there not including online stores and just retail stores.

    Why?

    Also, is that legal? The differentiation, I mean.
    Why because it increases sales, from our family increase 15% sales, also the draw to a carrier store is needed in the case of buying 1 person iPhone, and 2 someone buying $20 cheap phone (for this being smartphone hater).
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