Apple could improve sales *update*
Awhile ago I e-mailed Apple regarding becoming a reseller.
Wow. I was told Apple does NO online distributing. All resellers must have physical place of business with a customer service center, sell at least $100,000 worth of merchandise, etc.
I think this not a good idea. I recently started an online retail business (starting actually) for computer accessories, consumer electronics, etc., and I would love to carry Macs. Though I will be stockless with the rest of my business, I would be willing to carry inventory for Apple's gear. I am a legal business, (Sole Propietorship) with a sales tax ID. I am registered with the state, etc.
In this economy, with sales flagging, Apple should consider virtual retailers, with pre-paid inventory. They could sell thousands of units more. I know I could unload at least 10-20 PowerMacs a month, perhaps many more. While I understand that they want to keep the Apple Experience in their sales, they ought to face reality. They need to sell as many machines as possible. They could even charge people like me a little more, or better yet, do drop shipping like the distributors I will be dealing with.
What do you think?
(BTW, if you want information on the products I will be carrying, let me know via email or PM. I am considering a discount for AI members, depending on the pricing I get from my distributor. I should start operations within a few weeks. I plan to carry all sorts of accessories, from printers to graphics cards to digital cameras.)
[ 02-18-2003: Message edited by: SDW2001 ]</p>
Wow. I was told Apple does NO online distributing. All resellers must have physical place of business with a customer service center, sell at least $100,000 worth of merchandise, etc.
I think this not a good idea. I recently started an online retail business (starting actually) for computer accessories, consumer electronics, etc., and I would love to carry Macs. Though I will be stockless with the rest of my business, I would be willing to carry inventory for Apple's gear. I am a legal business, (Sole Propietorship) with a sales tax ID. I am registered with the state, etc.
In this economy, with sales flagging, Apple should consider virtual retailers, with pre-paid inventory. They could sell thousands of units more. I know I could unload at least 10-20 PowerMacs a month, perhaps many more. While I understand that they want to keep the Apple Experience in their sales, they ought to face reality. They need to sell as many machines as possible. They could even charge people like me a little more, or better yet, do drop shipping like the distributors I will be dealing with.
What do you think?
(BTW, if you want information on the products I will be carrying, let me know via email or PM. I am considering a discount for AI members, depending on the pricing I get from my distributor. I should start operations within a few weeks. I plan to carry all sorts of accessories, from printers to graphics cards to digital cameras.)
[ 02-18-2003: Message edited by: SDW2001 ]</p>
Comments
<strong>Why would I want to buy from you?</strong><hr></blockquote>
haha, with that kind of attitude ur not getting a discount!
hey glad to see ur trying something...though i'm not sure how much sales you will get for a while since u are not...um whats the word, reputable. 10-20PM's a month, that is pretty good, u'll have to give a link to ur website when its done
<strong>Awhile ago I e-mailed Apple regarding becoming a reseller.
Wow. I was told Apple does NO online distributing. All resellers must have physical place of business with a customer service center, sell at least $100,000 worth of merchandise, etc. </strong><hr></blockquote>
Shouldn't you start by contacting Ingram Micro instead?
No dicounts for you, my Cosmo.
JLL: As far as Ingram Micro goes...I'll give it shot...thanks!
[ 02-09-2003: Message edited by: SDW2001 ]</p>
I am now a registered reseller with Ingram Micro. I am just beginning business operations (focusing, in particular on monitors, high end equipment). BUT:
As I sort of presumed, I cannot order any Apple products without a special reseller authorization (but I can with almost any other manufacturer) . So, I decided to apply to Apple directly. After e-mailing and getting instructions, I finally had to call them and get a user ID and Password for their online app. I was on hold for about an hour (sound familiar, Fran?).
They ended up denying my application. I'm not bitter. I'm not mad. I just don't get it. Let me tell you about my company:
I am a new sole proprietorship organization. I am doing business and will do business primarily through eCommerce, with a focus on computer accessories and digital hub devices. I have contacts in education. I am legal. I am a registered business with a substantial credit rating. I am able to buy from other vendors.
Now, here is my problem. Apple is stupid. Really. While I understand their need to control their inventory chain (which they would still be doing since I would buying from a main distribution channel), I simply do not understand how a company with a 4% market share and a declining education share would be denying reseller rights to businesses interesed in selling their products. In this economy, with this competition level from wintel...it just doesn't make sense. This is exactly what is wrong with Apple's thinking. This is exactly what has ALWAYS been wrong with their thinking. In my mind, Apple should be doing everything it can to sell more product....just like OTHER companies are doing.
I love Apple's products and I thought offering Apple hardware would be a nice supplement to my business. No problem, I can always sell a variety of wintel comps. Perhaps that is why Apple is in the position that it is.
Thoughts?
I never purchased my computers directly from Apple for 16 years and all of a sudden they are my only option?
I wish Apple would let the smaller retailers sell their merchandise. It's fairly anti-competitive otherwise.
I can see why they want to control the retail experience somewhat, but it would be nice to go online and actually be able to order a computer without having to wait for it to be assembled for days or weeks when another retailer has it in stock to be shipped that day. Even the Mac catalog places like MacConnection (which is right down the street from me, btw) generally doesn't have the stock right away which is annoying.
Apple seems to treat it's other retailers fairly poorly too. They can't get them the new computers everyone wants in a good time frame (while Apple Stores have tons of the machines ready to be sold) and then stick them with inventory that people won't buy because new machines are due or are released.
Good luck with the business SDW. The fact that you don't get the 'honor' of selling Apple's stuff definitely confuses me. If you want to take the risk of selling their products (and it is a risk), they should not only let you, but they should be glad to have you out there trying to sell their products instead of a PC.
On the other hand, if you had to be able to service the Macs you sell and that means dealing with AppleCare for any length of time, you're better off not selling them at all.
Sad, but true. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
<strong>It looks like Apple wants to keep the market exclusively to themselves, retail and online.
I never purchased my computers directly from Apple for 16 years and all of a sudden they are my only option?
I wish Apple would let the smaller retailers sell their merchandise. It's fairly anti-competitive otherwise.
I can see why they want to control the retail experience somewhat, but it would be nice to go online and actually be able to order a computer without having to wait for it to be assembled for days or weeks when another retailer has it in stock to be shipped that day. Even the Mac catalog places like MacConnection (which is right down the street from me, btw) generally doesn't have the stock right away which is annoying.
Apple seems to treat it's other retailers fairly poorly too. They can't get them the new computers everyone wants in a good time frame (while Apple Stores have tons of the machines ready to be sold) and then stick them with inventory that people won't buy because new machines are due or are released.
Good luck with the business SDW. The fact that you don't get the 'honor' of selling Apple's stuff definitely confuses me. If you want to take the risk of selling their products (and it is a risk), they should not only let you, but they should be glad to have you out there trying to sell their products instead of a PC.
On the other hand, if you had to be able to service the Macs you sell and that means dealing with AppleCare for any length of time, you're better off not selling them at all.
Sad, but true. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> I agree. I just don't get it. Apple has always been, and always will be an arrogant company. They still act like it is 1985 and they are selling Macs like they are "Big Macs".
What is really dumb: Other manufacturers and distributors do DROP SHIPPING for their customers, so small businesses don't have to carry inventory. For Apple, I would even be willing to CARRY inventory to sell their stuff. That's how much I like their products and have confidence in those products ability to sell BIG.
It's OK anyway. Apparently Apple isn't giving its distributors much of a break on the price either (I can't go into specifics). I'm not sure I would even make $25.00 on each Mac sold. Perhaps that is why every Mac retailer in the world sells product for prices within $5.00 of each other.
[ 02-20-2003: Message edited by: SDW2001 ]</p>
<strong>
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It's OK anyway. Apparently Apple isn't giving its distributors much of a break on the price either (I can't go into specifics). I'm not sure I would even make $25.00 on each Mac sold. Perhaps that is why every Mac retailer in the world sells product for prices within $5.00 of each other.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Now you are getting it....
plus as Fran mentioned, you would have to hire (or become) an Apple Authorized Service Tech and have a storefront for repairs including AppleCare (warranty) repairs.
I'd say, sell the third-party stuff you can get from Ingram, and charge clients for setup, customization, configuration, installation, etc. etc.
Get paid for your TIME and your EXPERTISE. Retailing is for the chumps at Best Buy.