“Nearly six years have passed since Microsoft began opening retail outlets patterned after Apple’s blockbuster retail locations,” Daniel Eran Dilger reports for AppleInsider. “However, the now 116 Microsoft Stores are still a pale imitation to Apple’s own retail network of 460 locations, often featuring more employees than customers as the firm’s products have failed to excite and attract buyers.”
“Microsoft opened its first retail chain outlets about 8 years and six months after Apple introduced its first stores,” Dilger reports. “The first Apple Stores achieved profitability almost immediately, and subsequently played a major role in helping to launch new products ranging from iPods to iPhone and iPad over the next decade. Microsoft hoped to emulate Apple’s success with stores featuring virtually identical layouts, display furniture and features such as its own version of the ‘Apple Store Genius Bar,’ but has never really attracted the same kind of excitement.”
Dilger reports, “The San Francisco Microsoft Store is located in a high traffic mall near Apple’s own flagship Union Square store just across Market Street, but while the Apple Store is usually always packed with shoppers and customers seeking assistance with their products, Microsoft’s store typically has only a few shoppers at a time, and a significant proportion seem to only be there to play on a display Xbox.”
Read more, and see the rather funny (or sad from Microsoft’s POV) contrasting photos in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: And, yet, the never-ending sham continues.
SEE ALSO:
Microsoft to open five-level Fifth Avenue retail store next month – September 30, 2015
Microsoft retail store moving in one door over, Apple Retail Store moving on up – March 13, 2012
Microsoft retail store traffic pales in comparison to Apple’s – November 26, 2010
Microsoft retail fiasco to remodel? Apple files trademark for distinctive retail store layout – May 19, 2010
Microsoft Retail Stores have to resort to free concert tickets to generate opening day crowds – October 30, 2009
Notes from Microsoft’s first retail store: ‘Cheap, disorganized, and poorly-located’ (with photo) – October 23, 2009
Microsoft’s Windows 7 launch parties prove to be complete and utter failures – October 23, 2009
Microsoft’s Bizarro Universe: 8 years late; in garish color; featuring inferior products (w/ video) – October 22, 2009
Analyst expects Apple to have over 1,000 retail stores open worldwide within next few years – October 08, 2009
Microsoft attempting to poach Apple retail staff – September 22, 2009
Apple likely Fifth Avenue’s highest grossing retailer – August 24, 2009
Microsoft to open first two retail stores in Mission Viejo, California and Scottsdale, Arizona – July 29, 2009
Microsoft to mimic Apple (what else is new?) with ‘Guru Bars’ in retail stores – July 25, 2009
Ex-Apple VP a key figure in Microsoft’s retail initiative – July 20, 2009
Microsoft to have hard time matching the enthusiasm at Apple retail stores – July 18, 2009
Microsoft to open retail stores near Apple Retail Stores this fall – July 15, 2009
How Microsoft’s retail stores plan to compete with Apple’s – April 17, 2009
Microsoft Retail Stores: The dumbest idea ever – February 13, 2009
How Microsoft’s retail stores will differ from Apple’s – February 13, 2009
Microsoft’s new retail guru Porter has history of working against Apple – February 13, 2009
Microsoft’s last retail store attempt was a dismal failure – February 13, 2009
Microsoft hires Wal-Mart vet to oversee development of Microsoft Retail Stores – February 12, 2009