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Resellers to picket at Apple shareholder meeting

updated 09:25 pm EDT, Wed April 21, 2004

Reseller to picket


Elite Computers & Software (Cupertino, CA), MACadam Computers (San Francisco, CA), and MacTech Systems (Bend, OR) will picket Apple at its annual meeting of shareholders this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at Apple's corporate headquarters in Cupertino, CA. The protest is connected to a Web site launched last month by former Apple Authorized Resellers called that claims to reveal "unethical or illegal business practices of Apple Computer." Thomas Armes, President and CEO of Elite Computers & Software said, "It's time that Apple's conduct is made known to Apple shareholders."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. slider

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Oct 1999

    0
    04/21, 09:51pm | report spam | Reply |

    I really don't get this

    I am sure there are things that Apple as done that is not totally up to par, but these shareholder, really, they decide to come forward b/c Apple is moving in on their business. I only see these companies as bitter. Personally, none of these companies have made an impact on the mass market, Apple has a national plan to increase it's base market by increasing it's presents by building these stores. None of these other companies had a national presence. Here in NE there was Computer Town, I think they have been gone for three years now. Just too tiny to make a difference and their draw was unappealing. I guess the point is that if Apple did not encroach on their turf, they would not be picketing or whatever they are up to. Apple needed these stores and I think we'll see the results in the long term.

  1. Nostromo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2001

    0
    04/21, 09:53pm | report spam | Reply |

    Zzzzzzzzzzz

    Who cares?

  1. Zaren

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    04/21, 10:01pm | report spam | Reply |

    Something from their site

    - 04/06/04 - Apple offers to match ANY authorized resellers lowest advertised price! Does this sound anti-competitive towards the independent resellers to you? Tell Us What YOU Think!

    Kinda goes along with what slider said. Anti-competitive? Not hardly.

  1. LouZer

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2000

    0
    04/21, 11:41pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: I really don't...

    Its easy. They want to complain because Apple moved in on their special turf. Some remember the good days when they could suck Apple and customer's dry on repairs and sells, and now don't like 'competition'. So they complain, hoping to get some sympathy for not doing their job in the first place.

  1. ima_pseudonym

    Junior Member

    Joined: Nov 2002

    0
    04/22, 12:07am | report spam | Reply |

    ummm

    do you idiots have any idea what you are commenting on? This is not just a matter of stores bitter over losing customers to a competitor who markets better, etc. The issue is that (if these allegations are true) apple has seriously misrepresented the profitability of the apple stores, misrepresented their intent to allow independent stores to compete on an equal footing, etc, etc, etc. Apple's practices are looking really bad here, they either need to seriously change the way they are doing business or demonstrate that the charges are unfounded.

  1. fashizzle

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2003

    0
    04/22, 12:08am | report spam | Reply |

    Dude, shaddap

    don't be retarded. if you sold Ford cards and if Ford opened up a company store in YOUR market, AFTER you had spent years building it up (and weathered the 68k->PPC trans., clonewars, etc), you'd be pissed off too, and ready to take action. this is what's happening - Apple has RELIED on the independent dealer channel since they started (no matter who's a good dealer and who isn't, that's subjective), and now that they've built up the demand, they come in, poach on accounts (attempting to "name" the best ones) and strangle distro levels on new/specific products. and go head to head with dealers - THEIR OWN DEALERS. the ONES they've RELIED on for YEARS. some may pout, some may take action, but it's a real problem that apple will have to address. you're Joe Consumer - and only half educated on what's going on here. keep readin the rumor and mac sites, that's where ALL the info is. *sigh*

  1. thekapper

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2004

    0
    04/22, 01:12am | report spam | Reply |

    MACadam needs to shut up

    I live in SF where MACadam is located and they are basically the worst customer service I have ever gotten. The best thing that happened is the opening of the Apple Store about a half mile from MACadam. I honestly hope MACadam shuts down because of the Apple store. It is the absolutely WORST customer service I have ever received at a computer store.

    In my experience, all of their sales staff is almost rude and disdainful towards the customer, as if we were privledged to even talk to them. I've been the only one in the entire store and been completely ignored. It's as if you should feel blessed that they would lower themselves to speak with a customer who just possibly might spend a couple grand at their store.

    Also, their contract with Apple states that they must take any warranty repair of Apple merchandise regardless of where it was purchased. They refused to take my repair because I purchased it elsewhere. Everyone I have spoken to has had the same negative experiences at MACadam.

    Again, I hope the Apple Store in SF puts these guys out of business because it's what they deserve for being some of the biggest d*cks I have ever had to deal with.

    If you don't believe me, look at the comments on this old Macnn article.

  1. Mr. Bob

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Dec 2003

    0
    04/22, 03:59am | report spam | Reply |

    welcome to the real world

    Its always better to buy from the source. What these stores need to do is take their assets, and make something else that has impact.

    I am sorry, but the world is not a nice place. You need to do something to make a living. Apple is making their own stores. There job is not needed. h***, I would love to see book sellers stop people from using the internet because their sales are slowing.

    These people need to get a job and shut up, they are just a drain in the world. When your job is no longer needed, its time to find a new one. That may suck, but if we did not follow this principal, we would be beating animals over the head with rocks for food this day.

  1. Paul Huang

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 1999

    0
    04/22, 04:03am | report spam | Reply |

    MAC Adam

    Mac Adam has scammed too many people. This is not a libelous remark. I have proof.

    MAC Adam misled its customers into believing that their computer's logic boards are dead, but in reality, only a $5 battery would revive it. Then they paid the customer $50 or $100 for the computer and then re-sold it for easily 4-8 times the "trade in" cost for profit. Of course, the "data tranfer" cost customer some $ also.

    They can just rot in h***. Good riddance. Picketing is an action taken by the powerless.

  1. Madison

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Nov 1999

    0
    04/22, 05:04am | report spam | Reply |

    No Guarantees

    I'm sure that somewhere in the reseller agreement that these people signed with Apple all those years ago is a clause that states something to the effect of "There is no guarantee from us that you can be a reseller of our products forever". Of course I'm paraphrasing, but that's it in a nutshell, life is not fair. You take risks, sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't. If it's proven Apple did something wrong, then these resellers will be compensated, but I'd be willing to bet they're just blowing smoke because they're upset.

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