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Former angry Apple resellers launch new website

updated 07:35 am EST, Thu April 1, 2004

TellOnApple.org launches


Elite Computers & Software, MACadam Computers and MacTech Systems have launched . The group of former Apple Authorized Resellers launched the website as a means to "document and share any information concerning unethical or illegal business practices of Apple Computer, Inc." The three parties have previously filed lawsuits against Apple for fraud, breach of contract, unfair competition and false advertising. "It’s time that Apple’s conduct is made known," said Thomas Armes, President and CEO of Elite Computers & Software.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0
    04/01, 09:19am | report spam | Reply |

    unethical

    That company with three A's in its name has plenty of unethical dealings, such as giving iMac owners $100 for a computer that just needs a battery, then turn around and sell them a new computer.

    It's about time they get their own dose of bitter medicine.

  1. Kristoff

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Sep 2000

    0
    04/01, 09:21am | report spam | Reply |

    Whiners

    Is this an April Fools Joke?

    What a bunch of frigging whiners. Instead of standing there with your pud in your hand, why not spend some time changing your business model instead of having this socialist belief that you are entitled to something special that the rest of us hard working Americans have to bust our knuckles to get. Piss off.

  1. dennis

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    04/01, 09:30am | report spam | Reply |

    No longer angry?

    Unless the resellers are no longer angry, it would be better to call them "angry former resellers."

  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0
    04/01, 10:20am | report spam | Reply |

    customers--UNITE

    Who cares about their under-the-table dealings? Consumers need to have a site to air their bad experiences with these companies. They can just rot in h***.

  1. jpellino

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 1999

    0
    04/01, 10:20am | report spam | Reply |

    please...

    1. you're in court. let your lawyers do what they're paid for.

    2. this sort of thing can jeopardize your case if you forget to use the word "alleged" as you do in the front page...

    3. if true, then apple stores make more money per sale than you do. since all apple retail prices are within $5 of each other (outside of ed sales) this doesn't affect your ability to entice customers. it's what you do before and after that will make someone return

    truth is for most people I know, many independents were such small timers that they couldn't or wouldn't give the complete experience - right up to compusa - the apple stores are the whole solution and they're succeeding.

  1. z10n

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2003

    0
    04/01, 10:32am | report spam | Reply |

    Hold on a minute

    You can't "change your business model" if apple screws you by not providing you product! How the h*** are they supposed to to compete with apple if apple doesn't establish a level playing field? It's not like they can get mac product from somewhere else, apple holds all the cards.

    The reality is, there's blame on both sides here. The Apple Resellers suck for not promoting the apple name, for being obscure, and for overcharging (this based on history). Apple sucks for not working with resellers to promote the mac brand, giving up on them, and now trying to shove them out of business.

    Me personally, I think apple's strategy of building Apple Stores is not a good solution for solving the problem of getting the mac brand out there. (A) Apple won't skimp on their "style", so the Stores are expensive. Thus there are less of them then their could be. (B) Apple typically puts the Stores in "rich" locations, which incorrectly promotes the idea that macs are for elitist snobs, not average people (C) Apple's prices aren't any better then most Resellers, so there's not much advantage in buying from them (unless you get a warm and fuzzy from being able to talk directly to apple employees, or you like looking at how pretty the stores are layed out). (D) Most people buy computer stuff from "standard" computer stores like BestBuy, etc., and apple STILL has no presence in those stores.

    What apple SHOULD be doing is working with Resellers to beef up their stores to "Apple Store" quality, instead of undercutting them. And they should be getting product in standard computer stores.

  1. fashizzle

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2003

    0
    04/01, 10:51am | report spam | Reply |

    100% pure bs

    You guys with your "shut up whiners" and "change your business model" are just too damn ignorant here. unless you've been an apple dealer, You Just Don't Knowª what you're talking about. You're a consumer, and you're going to only see that side of the fence.

    Who the h*** do you think spent time, money, energy and sweat building up the Apple platform in their markets, only for Apple to come along, open their own stores, and tilt the distribution model their way (and slice MDF, BDF and other "funds")? Now that an Apple retail store exists, you've got this heavenly experience to compare aginst the independent dealers, and that's just pathetic. And FYI, MOST of the allegations are TRUE. Apple has/is preying on indies large customers by attempting to make them named Apple accounts (offering things ONLY Apple can), they're making it really hard to even get demo units of new products, they're strangling the distribution channel while their own stores are well stocked, etc etc etc. No one's whining and saying "boo f-in hoo, Apple is treating me bad. Life is just not fair". They've got a legitimate reason to fight this. Why don't you gather your information before you start enabling critical judgement.

  1. koolkid1976

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 2003

    0
    04/01, 11:16am | report spam | Reply |

    Biggest April1st Joke is.

    O.K. that story isn't an April fool joke. But I think the biggest joke that would get the most people would be: "Apple announces updated G5", cuz you know you ain't seeing those puppies till June. Ofcourse more people will fall for this joke in 2008 when April 1st falls on a tuesday.

  1. cebritt

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2000

    0
    04/01, 11:45am | report spam | Reply |

    It ended long before...

    the Apple stores. As a former Apple VAR, I knew my goose was cooked when the catalogers had plenty of 8600s in stock and I had a 90 day wait from Ingram. That was a long time ago!

    These stupid dealers should have seen the writing on the wall back then and reinvented themselves like smalldog.com. Do repairs, sell refurbs, sell on the Internet.

    I also used to be a Dell reseller. 2% profit on Dimensions, 4% on Optiplex. One day I called for a quote and they told me sorry, no discount at all.

    Sorry but there's no money left in hardware for dealers and consultants...

  1. acmdude

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2000

    0
    04/01, 12:00pm | report spam | Reply |

    It never worked for me

    We had a MacTech store here in Bend, OR and frankly I stopped using them since:
    1. They weren't open on Saturday
    2. They stocked next to nothing. I could get items faster online either from Apple or MacZone, etc.
    The Connecting Point store here is open 7 days a week, stocks a ton of Apple stuff and is doing well as far as I can see.
    To me, the way MacTech did business is what put them out of it.

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