Oates sputters, “They were even more annoyed at DSGi’s claim that it has an exclusive deal to sell the devices in the UK. Independent resellers will get iPads to sell, but only if they obey Apple’s omertà.”
“An Apple dealer, speaking to us on condition of anonymity, said he was in the middle of re-merchandising his shop and training staff,” Oates blathers. “Once this is complete he must email photographs to Apple for approval by 8pm on Thursday night. All being well he can then get on with selling the gadgets on Friday morning.”
Full hit piece – Think Before You Click™ – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple Resellers, if you are so irritated and annoyed with Apple’s rules, you can always take down the Apple logo, stop carrying Apple products, and go with other companies who have less stringent standards.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lava_Head_UK” for the heads up.]
The problem with the MDN take is that DSGi run the shabbiest, crappest, cheapest looking computer stores on the British High Street (sort of like Main Street, but more likely to need an umbrella). So why are Apple forcing other resellers to conform to standards that preferred supplier DSGi are incapable of meeting?
MDN should change its strapline from Where Mac News Comes First to MDN – Specialist Subject: Absolutely Everything.
I deal with people who manage APR stores on a daily basis. They invest a lot of money making their stores look the way Apple want them to. Then they have to jump through hoops daily to keep Apple happy.
Then Apple spits in their face by giving DSG (a group that makes Best Buy look like Tiffanys and has no concept of the Apple culture or service) preferential allocation.
Try and stick to things you know about.
Whoever writes the MDN takes these days is a right tool…
It makes me cringe every time I read an article to see to the crap that comes out of your mouth!
And by tool… I mean prick!
Just for the regional variations of the word
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@Dave H and @MDN
Couldn’t agree with you more my friend. This is one of the FEW times that I’m gonna have to disagree with MDN’s Take.
MDN doesn’t have knowledge of the UK high street chains. DSGi own Currys, PC World and Dixons all of which are staffed by annoying salesmen devoid of any technical knowledge. They’re desperate for
commission and hassle you as soon as you enter the store. Quite simply they’re the OPPOSITE of Apple stores and Apple resellers (such as the aforementioned upmarket John Lewis and independent KRCS chain) in terms of customer service.
That’s why the independent resellers are so annoyed. Why has a chain of stores who’ve ignored Apple for so long and been obsessed with selling cheap ass PCs and laptops been rewarded with this exclusivity?
I recommend MDN amend their Take in this case to keep their journalistic integrity undamaged.
Regards.
“Once this is complete he must email photographs to Apple for approval”…photographs of what?
Unbelievable!!!!!
Both the MDN’s and the original article’s, “Apple’s iPad resellers are revolting,” headlines do not jive one iota to the original author’s article at all!
Nowhere in the linked article does it say, show or imply that, any never mind “…Some UK Apple Resellers reportedly [are] annoyed…” or “are revolting.”
The only thing this article supports is the shit that spews out of those who relish in the cesspools of yellow journalism.
Its easy to complain when you can’t see the link between execution of a practice and the differential results. A follow up should be done on these retailers to see if this requirement of extra effort on their part payed dividends. I suspect British retailers of the IPhone were initially taken aback when they were first required to jump through extraordinary imaginary hoop but were later pleasantly surprised by the results of the extra efforts. In the US I don’t believe any retailer outside of Apple has started selling the IPad. If you want one you either have to go to an Apple store and place an order or order from Apple on line.
UK Apple resellers: Welcome to the petty, double-standard hell Apple visited upon us US independent resellers in April. Look forward to people calling you constantly, asking if you have the iPad, and having to tell them no, being made to feel like an incompetent ass, and knowing Apple is the reason for it.
(Yes, I’m an independent Apple reseller in the US.)
Some of us envy those of you who have to go through the stringent requirements of sending photos, etc. At least you’ve been considered WORTHY of selling Apple products. (Funny, I thought being approved as a reseller in the FIRST place took care of that.)
And then here’s MDN’s take: “Apple Resellers, if you are so irritated and annoyed with Apple’s rules, you can always take down the Apple logo, stop carrying Apple products, and go with other companies who have less stringent standards.”
You know, this is the reason why I’ve gone from enjoying MDN to having gotten sick of its unquestioning Apple sycophancy. I’ve been a Mac head since the 1980s, and I usually enjoy MDN’s take on things. And It was one thing to read this in 2001 or so, but Apple’s a different company now, and MDN doesn’t seem to have noticed. Earlier posters have it right — MDN seems to want to comment on things it knows nothing about, as long as it allows them to mindlessly stand up for Apple. Enough already.
@MDmac
Say hello to your buddy Rupert he’s been doing it here for years.
Here is an idea. What would happen Apple if all the resellers treated Apple the way Apple is treating the resellers?
@ Macaday,
That’s okay, Z deserved it for that comment.
@ annoyed retailers,
If you don’t care how your shop looks, that’s okay. You can still sell Zunes. (and that Courier thing from Microsoft, coming any day now)
“…retailers are irritated at Apple’s insistence that they do not take pre-orders or publicise the launch on their websites or in store until Friday morning.”
Part of this situation is to avoid customer lash back and over-expectation regarding the limited number of iPad there are going to be for sale. No one could have predicted the device would be so wildly popular. My pals at the local Apple Store are bombarded constantly by people who Want One Now! when there aren’t any to be had.
The article was a hit piece against Apple and the Apple Resellers. MDN’s response was a hit piece against the Apple Resellers when it should be directed the Register author/editor who wrote the headline and seems to be exaggerating the situation. It’s a frustrating situation for Apple, Apple resellers and their customers since there are currently not enough iPads to go around.
As someone who works at an Apple reseller, I can tell you this is true in Canada as well. For my store, we had to set up a display facing the entrance to the computer department right at the front for iPads, and take photographs to send to Apple to prove it. Further, every staff member had to complete two Apple Sales Training Online (ASTO) regarding the iPad by May 26th or we would not receive iPads for launch day… the instructions for doing this were only provide a week or two in advance of the launch.
I know some of my co-workers were annoyed at having to jump through hoops, but personally I felt the chance to have iPads on launch day and not two weeks later was well worth it (management seemed to agree). And frankly… I finished the ASTO courses in about 5 minutes.
I can understand Apple wanting to exert greater control over resellers, especially those selling a mix of Apple and non-Apple products, given the abysmal product knowledge and presentation many Apple products have received in the past at said retailers (I’m looking at you, Best Buy). But I can also see why some resellers would chafe at this sort of thing.
@in reply to “Z”
I am living in the UK and I tell you, they haven’t learned how to mix water in this part of the UK – Cambridgshire…
Still two faucets everywhere….
Drives you nuts – and either burn or freeze your hands and whatever body part(s) you need to wash..
I’ve live in England & loved it, BUT when America we putting men on the moon the Brits were bringing their toilets in from out doors.
Why so hatred aimed at Briton? This problem is easily solved apple should open more stores over here.
Oh and I think you find it was german scientists that put you on the moon!
@ jocko
“I’ve live in England & loved it, BUT when America we putting men on the moon the Brits were bringing their toilets in from out doors.
“
impressive use of the english language
are you a retard ?
@flappo. “impressive use of the english language
are you a retard ?”
BTW – English has a capital letter at the beginning of the word, or in front of the the word, or preceding the ‘n’.
Who’s a retard?
Our local ‘Premium Reseller’ told our daughter her iBook was unrepairable and tried to get her to buy a new one. All it needed was a new power lead.
Gangsters.
I’d love to see the English ‘Wastebasket’ return to my desktop instead of that ghastly American ‘Trash’.
@ ron
i don’t bother using caps , it’s part of my interweb ‘schtick’
anyway doofus , it’s not how you type , it’s the content that matters , and my stuff rocks ;
the laughable assumption that us brits are somehow behind you americans is simply ridiculous , after all tim berners lee invented the web & jonny ive designs all your beloved macs ( both limeys if you bothered doing any research )
the only thing you americans surpass us at is profligate wastage of your natural resources and your colossal national debt , oh and your huge fat arses due to over consumption of crappy fast food