Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#51

Post by busyant » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:40 PM UTC

sys_64738 wrote: post #35

Octoth0rpe wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their reasons for existing were the same as the ones you listed for Apple stores: Brand, hands on, direct sale. I'd also add that they serve as a place where buyers believe that they can get support on product, thus increasing their trust in the product. That's an incredibly valuable thing IMO.

What products did Microsoft support there? I only have Microsoft OS and none of their devices so maybe I'm missing their value. FWIW, if I have Windows issues on a Dell laptop then I call Dell for vendor support.

I had a surface book2. I bought the accidental damage protection. A year after I bought it, I cracked the screen. Took me all of 60 min to get the problem fixed: 20 min to drive to the store. 20 min to get a replacement. 20 min to drive home. The store was remarkably convenient for me (for this and just for seeing the sb2 in action). Not sure if I would have purchased it without the store.

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#52

Post by Dork_Sider » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:41 PM UTC

Fiveplus wrote: post #46

AlphaWeaver wrote: post #21

This is a real shame. We have (had?) a Microsoft Store in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), and my visits to that store were always really enjoyable. I made several warranty claims in-store, and they went above and beyond to help me out, even when my grounds for a claim were kinda shaky. Microsoft did a really good job of hiring diverse talent, and every store-clerk I ever interacted with was smart, nice, and seemed to…

I never realized that. As a matter of fact, is there one in CLT?

It's in Southpark

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#53

Post by ogre_codes » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:42 PM UTC

chadcmulligan wrote: post #30

geerlingguy wrote: post #20

A lot of people mention that the MS stores were a 'brand image' or 'marketing' front, but if that's the case, I can see why they closed. The three or four I visited were very near an Apple Store, and while the Apple Store across the way was always bustling and had people standing around with their Apple devices even outside the store front (I guess waiting for Genius appointments)... the Microsoft stores were always…

> I guess waiting for Genius appointments I'm convinced this is deliberate - the apple store is full of blue shirts and people waiting for their appointments / devices to be fixed. It makes the shops look like they're busy, most shops would not make people wait around like that for things to be fixed, but apple gets away with it somehow. It's all very clever - I call it apple theatre, and yes I participate myself. I'…

> people waiting for their appointments

Most Apple stores are located in malls and adjacent to other retail outlets. If you have to wait for an appointment, they take your number and give you a five minute notification when your Genius is going to be ready. Every time I've done it, they've encouraged me to go shop the rest of the mall (not linger).

> It makes the shops look like they're busy, most shops would not make people wait around like that for things to be fixed, but apple gets away with it somehow.

Apple used to get a lot bit of flack for struggling to keep up with Genius appointment loads. I'm not sure if their service has improved or people just accept that wait times are a thing. The few times I've dealt with them it's been reasonable considering the store was basically packed and all 4 Geniuses at the desk working with someone constantly.

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#54

Post by baybal2 » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:42 PM UTC

mytherin wrote: post #49

softwaredoug wrote: post #11

How much is this MS deciding they’re really not a consumer brand - but rather one focused on cloud and enterprises?

Looks more to me like they are giving up on their Surface line-up specifically, rather than all their consumer focused products. The Microsoft stores & Surface line was Microsoft's attempt at copying Apple with expensive devices with solid build quality and good support. It saw some success but apparently not enough.

> expensive devices with solid build quality and good support.

The part in the middle was definitely missing

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#55

Post by 0x8BADF00D » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:42 PM UTC

jsnell wrote: post #28

softwaredoug wrote: post #11

How much is this MS deciding they’re really not a consumer brand - but rather one focused on cloud and enterprises?

Huh. I was going to say that it was absurd to suggest they were giving up on consumers, given just how heavy they've been investing in gaming for the last year. But writing that out made me realize they unceremoniously killed Mixer just three days ago.

It’s better to dump dead weight early than have it eat into your profits long term.

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#56

Post by muststopmyths » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

AlphaWeaver wrote: post #21

This is a real shame. We have (had?) a Microsoft Store in the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham), and my visits to that store were always really enjoyable. I made several warranty claims in-store, and they went above and beyond to help me out, even when my grounds for a claim were kinda shaky. Microsoft did a really good job of hiring diverse talent, and every store-clerk I ever interacted with was smart, nice, and seemed to…

Same with the SF Westfield Center store. Great staff. It was a good place to check out various Surfaces in person as well.

I will say, the surfaces/laptops side of the store was usually empty. Some kids playing with the Xbox or people at the counter getting help seemed to be the extent of traffic the past couple of years.

They seem to be aggressively destroying any paltry remaining goodwill with consumer enthusiasts. I'm sure it's great for the bottom line, but is the ultimate goal to only be competing with Google and AWS on who can run the cheapest Linux VMs in the cloud ?

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#57

Post by wronglebowski » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:44 PM UTC

Wonder what will happen to the products at these locations. As someone who lives very close to one (King of Prussia), I'd love to see a chance to pick up some display models on the cheap.

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#58

Post by cycrutchfield » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:44 PM UTC

fortran77 wrote: post #43

ethagknight wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know there is no point responding to such comments, but I was curious myself: iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, AirPods, MacBook, iMac, Pencil, AppleTV, HomePod, the monitor, software products, cloud services, plus accessories to support the ecosystem. plus selling high margin extended warranties and financing. Most of those items are categories of products, not specific products themselves. Many of those products a…

They're not the #1 phone, they're not the #1 computer platform, they're not the #1 smart speaker, they're not the #1 monitor vendor, they're not the #1 streaming television dongle. I don't know how you can say "most are industry leaders in their respective segments."

Do you consider Old Navy to be an industry leader for apparel just because they pump out huge volumes of crappy clothes?

The fact of the matter is that Apple is the biggest manufacturer of smartphones in terms of net profit, by far. It’s not even remotely close. That sounds like an industry leader to me.

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#59

Post by sylens » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:44 PM UTC

sushshshsh wrote: post #25

nerdjon wrote: post #2

While I am not surprised, I am disappointed by this. Only because of the state of tech stores in Boston, if I needed something that wasn't Apple (gaming mostly) they were the only other tech store I could reasonably walk or take the train too. Microcenter isn't super close to a train station.

I always remembered walking along the Charles, really far west of the Mass Ave bridge and asking myself "why is there a Microcenter here?"

Same, it's a huge hike from the center of Boston

Re: Microsoft to permanently close its retail stores

#60

Post by dangus » Fri, Jun 26, 2020, 2:45 PM UTC

Octoth0rpe wrote: post #31

sys_64738 wrote: post #23

Apple stores had specific function and well-defined goals. Brand, hands on, direct sale, all spring to mind. Microsoft stores seemed to have a motto of "Copy Apple stores". I didn't get their reason for existing.

Their reasons for existing were the same as the ones you listed for Apple stores: Brand, hands on, direct sale. I'd also add that they serve as a place where buyers believe that they can get support on product, thus increasing their trust in the product. That's an incredibly valuable thing IMO.

I don't agree with this.

The Microsoft Store was basically a bad version of Best Buy that happened to sell Microsoft's hardware products front and center.

Why would a customer go to a Microsoft Store instead of a Best Buy? It has less selection, fewer locations, and likely worse prices, while selling essentially the same product categories.

The Apple Store, in contrast, is arguably mostly possible because it's a massive cell phone store, and before that an iPod store. They didn't exist before the iPod era. By now, Macs probably only account for 5% of the economic activity that takes place in Apple Stores.