Apple Canada ‘up to its old tricks’
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Dec 8, 2007 at 1:37pm
Sources tell Macsimum News that Apple (and Apple Canada) are “up to their old tricks.” Almost everything is out of stock at my Apple Authorized Distributor, and 24-inchiMacs are rumored to be back-ordered until 2008, they say.
“My supplier has back-orders in the hundreds while Apple is supplying them in the 10’s,” one source told Macsimum News. “But if you order from the Apple Store they ship within 24 hours—or you can go into one of the four stores in Canada and just pick one up on the spot.”
dave Says:
Yes, just like in the states, Apple very much prefers you buy directly from them instead of third-party resellers. Of course, they just noticed there’s a big clump of us out west. Personally, I can’t see how any reseller of Apple hardware would not noticed this behaviour years ago. Apple wants ALL the profit of every Mac sale.
Posted on December 08, 2007
David Says:
I find it surprising that people still defend Apple practices when they are often as anti-competitive as those of Microsoft. It’s getting to the point where I’m tempted to build a Hackintosh (Asus motherboard, Core2Duo, etc.)
Hey Steve, there wouldn’t have been an Apple Computer Inc. for you to save in 1998 if it hadn’t been for the loyalists in your reseller network. How about cutting them some slack once in a while?
Posted on December 08, 2007
huxley Says:
To my frequent regret, most indie Mac resellers I’ve dealt with were incompetent, abusive rip-off joints (crowded and messy too) - Carbonation being an exception (but I didn’t get out to TO often enough to benefit). I stayed with Macs since 1986 in spite of the resellers, not because of them.
Lucky you, if your experience was positive.
Posted on December 10, 2007
Clovis Says:
“To my frequent regret, most indie Mac resellers I’ve dealt with were incompetent, abusive rip-off joints (crowded and messy too) … “
Gee, I’m glad you didn’t make a broad statement. Oh wait. You did.
I also note that the dealers you’ve visited were “crowded”. Ever wonder why they’re crowded? Probably because a lot of people LIKE the service and support they’re receiving.
Listen, until you know what it’s like to be on the bottom of Apple’s food chain, you’ll never understand how it REALLY is. Individually and collectively, we (Canadian dealers) sell TENS or HUNDREDS of MILLIONS for Apple and are often considered by Apple corporate to be little more than a speed bump or a minor nuisance to be dealt with dismissively for their “Wall Street” pursuit of every last penny from your pocket.
Product allocation has been a major problem for a long time with Apple corporate preferring their own direct channels over the longstanding dealer channel.
Love the products. Hate the company.
Dealers are a local business and an important part of local economies. Support a local business that supports your local economy.
Posted on December 10, 2007
Rouen Says:
“… most indie Mac resellers I’ve dealt with were incompetent, abusive rip-off joints … “
Perhaps they’re just responding to what you’re putting out there. Perhaps you’re one of those who believe that you have the right to go to the front of any line, any where at anytime.
Posted on December 10, 2007
huxley Says:
Gee, I’m glad you didn’t make a broad statement. Oh wait. You did.
What part of “I’ve dealt with” is the broad statement? Or is the only real experience the one that validates yours?
I also note that the dealers you’ve visited were “crowded”. Ever wonder why they’re crowded? Probably because a lot of people LIKE the service and support they’re receiving.
Maybe I should have been clearer. They weren’t crowded with people. They were crowded with boxes, old gear and crap. Back in the 90s there weren’t many indie shops crowded with people.
Are you an indie retailer? Do you treat anyone with a bad experience this way? Don’t be surprised if they never come back if they have a choice.
Perhaps you’re one of those who believe that you have the right to go to the front of any line, any where at anytime.
Perhaps you’re one of those people that believe that customers should be treated like crap? I don’t know you, don’t pretend you know me or my experience.
I had years of bad experiences in Mac shops before I stopped buying at them. I got to the point that it was better to deal with mail order because of the poor service I and my clients received. Most indie shops were monopolies and they acted that way.
Posted on December 10, 2007
Clovis Says:
“… most indie Mac resellers I’ve dealt with were incompetent, abusive rip-off joints …”
That IS a broad statement as is “Most indie shops were monopolies and they acted that way.”
“Perhaps you’re one of those people that believe that customers should be treated like crap? I don’t know you, don’t pretend you know me or my experience.”
No, I don’t know you but, after having been in customer service for 35 years, I know the type and the tone that you’re exuding. That’s why dealing with faceless and nameless entities like mailorder or online suits you. Your experiences are totally opposite to my experiences with independent, locally owned and operated dealers for more than two decades. Perhaps there’s a tone you bring to the proceedings that results in your experiences. Perhaps you’re projecting a little too much.
Just my opinion.
Posted on December 11, 2007
huxley Says:
And you’re free to disagree with me, heck you have a vested interest in people not associating you with that sort of image (it’s your livelihood after all). That’s cool ... but it doesn’t change that my feelings were developed after years of bad experiences. I’ve gone through the sort of stuff that makes people insane about telephone and cable companies.
And like I said in my first message lucky you if you had a good experience, because I didn’t.
Maybe those were broad statements, but I know many people that switched and bought Dells because they couldn’t stand working with the local reseller. I didn’t. I bought 10 Macs over 20 years and if I had a good relationship with my Mac reseller like I do with my mechanic and barber, I would have bought the last 10 from him rather than from mailorder or the Canadian Apple Store.
Do I have a bad attitude? Well, I didn’t start out that way ...
Posted on December 11, 2007
huxley Says:
“I would have bought the last 10 from him rather than from mailorder or the Canadian Apple Store.”
should read
“I would have bought the last 5 from him rather than from mailorder or the Canadian Apple Store.”
Posted on December 11, 2007
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
Wil Says:
Your title is incorrect, in terms of laying blame. Apple Canada would love the product to be shipped to the resellers. Unfortunately, it’s Apple USA that are calling the shots. Apple runs the Canadian online store and the Apple retail stores. As a person working at a reseller, I know for a fact Apple Canada is on our side. They prefer that customers don’t buy from the Canadian online store, because it doesn’t improve our numbers, Canada-side wise.
Posted on December 08, 2007