MacNN readers have posted photos from the on Apple dealers in the area and other retailers, noting that "an announcement may made soon about an Apple store that will have a direct impact on his Evanston business." [updated]
Comments
CompUSA's support of Macs sucks. Are we really supposed to care if they lose sales to Apple?
The primary reason that Apple went into the retail store business was because Apple dealers were not doing enough to get the attention of consumers.
If the guy complaining has been running a good business for 23 years then he should have been able to establish a loyal customer base who will continue to go to him. However, if people have not been satisfied with his service and have only been using him because he is the only Apple retail/service center around then he can not blame Apple for providing Mac owners with a better option.
Every Mac owner in Evanston and the North Side of Chicago. knows the name of the Mac dealer who is complaining about the Apple Store. There is nothing particularly wrong with him, I guess, other than his store is very small, his stock is limited, and his sales people are a bit rude. Not the most exciting place to buy a computer. His service is slow, too. He had a captive audience for many years--now he has to compete. It's the American way.
Nabih Mangoubi is the dealer named in the Chicago Sun Times article and the guy is real a**. I considered bringing an iBook to him to fix, but the general atmosphere in his store is of mistrust of the customer and ALL of the sales people are rude, including his wife and daughter. The tech is an arrogant prick and as much as I like to support locally owned businesses the only reason he has been open for 23 years is because he has been the only game in town. He used to have another store in Arlington Heights, Il, but that one went under years ago, I would venture to guess that it is because of the way the store was run, not because of a lack of market. I live in Evanston and avoid going to his store. i would rather spend my money at CompUSA any day.
Oh yeah, the store opening he spoke of is most likely at Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Il.
I frequent Micro Center, and their Mac people are excellent. They offer a pretty wide range of products for Mac-and a ton more than ChumpUSA. I wonder how this Michigan Ave. Store will affect the Lincoln Park/Logan Square store. When Apple rolled out their plans for an Apple Store...didn't they talk about a store in the Lincoln Park area?
Micro Center is a great Mac store with a friendly knowledgable staff. I've been going there for about 3 years and I've always enjoyed the experience. I love the new Apple store was one of the people standing in line for the opening but I'd honestly rather go to the Micro Center simply because it's way more convient to get to and they've got a much wider variety of products and accessories. But the Apple store is...well...cooler. A lot cooler.
Microcenter might have a large selection of products, but lately (as in the past 8 months) Microcenter is just getting worse. Their prices are not competitive and actually cost more than buying online (I know they have to pay their rent, employees, etc) but I find myself going there less and less for the things I need. However, for actual Apple products, iMac, PowerMac, PowerBook, iPod, iSight, etc I'd rather get at the Apple store, despite it not being convenient find parking for, at least they'll have stuff in stock. Plus those presentations are going to be pretty cool, can't wait!
First of all, Evanston is simply the greatest little city in the US.
I haven't been in Nabih's apple computer in many, many years, but they sold me my Apple ||e back in 1983 and they were huge back then.
Now that I think about it, I do kind of avoid that shop now, as I do avoid most of the small individual shops where the owners are all over you when you step foot in the door. I'd rather just be anonymous and browse for a while.
http://homepage.mac.com/mag2/PhotoAlbum15.html
http://homepage.mac.com/akma/PhotoAlbum3.html
and two of my own:
http://homepage.mac.com/mstephens7/PhotoAlbum5.html
I waited in line less than three hours among over a thousand, I was #168. Apple was great, employees took to streets to pre-thank crowd and offer information, and address questions. Once inside Apple employees formed lines on both sides clapping and shaking everyone's hand. The event was something I had never experienced on the retail side, it made me feel that the economy was great seeing all these people. Other store owners drooled with all the people around. With all the companies restating earnings or facing ethics issues, one thing Apple can say is that it understands its customers and has integrity and innovation to build stores and experiences for them. I am glad I came back to Apple after 10 yr hiatus.
Frank - From Chicago
http://homepage.mac.com/fmeisterchicago/PhotoAlbum4.html
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2001
Awsome
I love Chicago! Great links...great images. Congrats IL on your new Apple store!