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Mac resellers in Florida, Canada close for business

updated 07:20 pm EST, Wed March 2, 2005

Mac resellers close


Canadian reseller .

The company's website still appears to be open for business, although atleast one reader says that "repeated calls to the reseller location and visits confirm the process of closure has begun.... Orders are being cancelled and refunds credited to clients."



At least one other other US Mac reseller has also recently announced it is no longer serving the Mac community. In a posting on its website, Florida-based MacCenter said that it has ceased consumer sales, business sales and service for Apple products as of February 28, 2005.



"When we opened this store in 1996, Apple was thought to be failing, and we were thought to be the crazy ones... Apple is now thriving, and we’d like to think that you and MacCenter have been a part of that success. The entire MacCenter Team would like to Thank You for your continued patronage over the years."



Apple's agressive retail expansion has forced reseller closings and loss of business, according to one lawsuit filed by several resellers. San Francisco-based reseller MACadam, which closed its doors after 16 years of selling Macs, said that ongoing problems with Apple, including its lawsuit against Apple, and Apple's recent aggressive retail expansion were reasons for its closure.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. mike3k

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: May 1999

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    03/02, 09:32pm | report spam | Reply |

    Broward County

    Now that MacCenter is closed, Apple should open a store in Fort Lauderdale. The newly renovated Galleria would be a perfect location. There are several Apple stores in Miami-Date & Palm Beach counties but none in Broward county.

  1. hayesk

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Sep 1999

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    03/03, 08:35am | report spam | Reply |

    So what's the point...

    That the mere thought of Apple opening a store in Canada is scaring away customers and they'll decide to wait for the Toronto store (and drive 700km in the case of the Montreal customers)? ;-)

    Seriously, I don't know about 1st Ave (although the opening of Carbon Computing may have affected that), but I've heard that B.Mac (based in Montreal and had one Ottawa location) closed due to personal problems with the owners. I've shopped at the Ottawa store - while the service was ok, their stock got less and less over time. When they opened they had losts of software and peripherals on display. A few months before they closed, you were lucky if they even had a copy of Photoshop in stock.

  1. mmirage

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    03/03, 08:48am | report spam | Reply |

    *sniff*

    Wow. I'm floored. We've been dealing with First Avenue for over 10 years, and it scares me to think of the alternatives in the area. I don't think Carbon Computing had much to do with this... it's too far from Waterloo to be series competition. This is a shop that used to be the only place between London & Toronto to get Apple products and repairs... but I would have to guess that the fact that every Best Buy & Future Shop sells cheap macs, CDW is constantly undercutting prices, and Apple constantly delays shipments to resellers like First Avenue are all part of the problem.

    To the gang at First Ave... you will certainly be missed.

    I hate to think of the only other local alternative -- *cough* Computer Lynx *cough* -- but maybe someone there will be smart enough to take a few of you on and show them how to properly sell/service Apple.

  1. hayesk

    Professional Poster

    Joined: Sep 1999

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    03/03, 09:29am | report spam | Reply |

    Re: *sniff*

    My mistake, I thought 1st Ave was in Toronto.

    But the comment I don't think the comment "Apple constantly delays shipments to resellers like First Avenue are all part of the problem" is accurate. I could be wrong, but don't Macs come through a distributor like Ingram or EMJ? Wouldn't they be the reason for delay? Is this a matter of the distributor favouring some dealers over others?

  1. DarkVader

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    03/03, 09:39am | report spam | Reply |

    Re: *sniff*

    In response to the comment that Macs come through distributors, you are in many cases wrong.

    While the distributors do sell Macs to some dealers, Apple supplies many dealers directly. The directly supplied dealers don't have any better shot at getting product right now than the dealers who buy through distributors.

    And it's not the distributors' fault when Apple isn't sending them product either. I'm not sure Tech Data has seen a Mac mini at all yet.

  1. mmirage

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    03/03, 09:42am | report spam | Reply |

    Re: *sniff*

    First Avenue has been getting most of their machines direct from Apple for the past year or two, if I'm not mistaken.

    I know that my latest machine was held up at Apple for over 2 weeks, when the Canadian Apple Store was showing me a ship time of 3 days... Although, who knows, maybe they are still getting it from Apple through EMJ? Still a horrible way for Apple to treat their resellers, though...

  1. southtdi

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Aug 2003

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    03/03, 01:08pm | report spam | Reply |

    Galleria Mall in Broward

    While I was surprised at this decision MacCenter wasn't always the best solution out there.

    That being said the Galleria Mall is a place that could get a store but the lower level still isn't that busy. Also, I am not sure the mall is big enough (not a very big mall) or busy enough to support an Apple Store. I could see a standalone store along Los Olas right near Federal though. would be central to that area and close enough to downtown to get that easily as well.

    Also, if the Fashion Mall redo happens as planned converting it to high end condos, indoor-outdoor retail, and an entertainment district I could esily see a store ending up there. The two regional malls int eh area could easily support a mini store while the Sawgrass Mills mall could also support a full-size store. the only problem there is it being listed as an outlet mall. Seems alot of stores out there lately haven't been outlets, though.

  1. DaveyJJ

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    Joined: Nov 2004

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    04/11, 01:16pm | report spam | Reply |

    Four store in southern ON

    My guess is that First Avenue closed because they suspect or knew that Apple may be thinking about Waterloo as a possible third or fourth retail location. Two of the four are slated for Toronto (Yorkdale maybe as early as April 13th to coincide with 40 new stores opening that day and from what I saw there this weekend the store is finished except for stock) and Eaton Centre, but where put the other two stores? I'd put them in Waterloo and Ottawa as the Waterloo location will get traffic from Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, London and Milton (maybe even western Mississauga and Hamilton). The Ottawa location wilol get all of the eastern Ontarion and Montreal customers. So I suspect that First Avenue knew what was coming.

  1. carbonjohn

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    Joined: Apr 2005

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    04/15, 02:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    Followup to this story

    Just thought I'd post some information very relevant to this story.

    I worked for First Avenue when they closed down, and had worked there for 9 years prior. I now work for Toronto based Carbon Computing which will be opening an exciting new Authorized Apple Reseller in Kitchener:
    http://www.carbonation.com/promos/kw.html
    (This decision was made after the fact of First Avenue closing)

    While I won't speak of my previous employment, I will say that I'm extremely excited to have certain fundamentals in place that I think are essential to having a successful dealership. Those fundamentals being a central, visible, easy to find location. I'm also thrilled to help setup a store that will have *all* the latest Apple products on display to see, and have them in stock ready to purchase, even some popular CTO (Configued to order) models.

    I don't want to turn this post into a total Carbon ad, so if you have any more questions you can email me at john@carbonation.com.

    Just to say in general, I don't think Apple is making it as grave for Resellers to be in business as the story above seems to indicate. It's my personal opinion that a Reseller that offers great service and knowledge, with a good location, and stock to sell will be able to compete and do well. Especially if they focus on providing solutions to the Mac's vertical markets like Pro Audio and Video, Graphics and Print, Xserve and Xserve Storage solutions... plus other value-added items like training and selection of the many great 3rd party products and personal relationships with customers / sales people you may not find at a corporately owned store like the Apple Store.

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