Apple Store London - Disappointing
Last week I had a social engagement in London, and decided to take the opportunity to visit the Apple Store in Regent Street. I’m seriously considering a mac as a laptop replacement.
I’d heard a lot of great things about the stores from people, and on arrival, I was impressed with the design of the store. A modern, simple design with a number of areas to suit a number of customers.
What let the experience down, though, was that the whole of the main downstairs area was full of people using the machines as though it were an internet café (without the fees). I understand the dilemna of retailers - that the guy using a machine may be a potential customer tomorrow. But when you’ve got people not being able to try your products and then walking out of the store, then its time to consider being a little more vigilant.
I did get to talk to someone, and then I found out that there were no MacBook Pro machines, even though on Apple’s website they are listed and there’s an “order now” button. To have a product on the site, and on the keynote, and no demo model to try was a letdown.
I was in Peter Jones, the John Lewis store the following day. Macs on display. Excellent staff and no tourists jamming up the machines. Still no MacBook Pros, but when I want to see one, I know where I’ll be going.
RSS
The macbook Pros are not even shipping to customers who ordered over the internet yet (they are still putting all of the bits together in the factory in shanghei.), so its hardly surprising that you were not able to try one out for yourself at the regent street store or at John Lewis.
Apple announced yesterday that the majority of exisiting orders have been pushed back until march because of a shortage of components.
If you are in london again in a few weeks time, pop back in to the apple store (maybe try going in the evening when its usually less full of wi-fi hogging bandits :o) and see if they have any in store demo units then.)
You are lucky that you had the chance to visit an apple retail store, I live in wales, so its a 7 hour coach trip for me to visit regent street, I’m hoping that apple will announce a retail store in cardiff this year, but am not getting my hopes up too much
Hi Lee.
Thanks for the post.
Maybe I was jumping the gun expecting to see one, but I had an expectation of seeing at least one in the store that could be seen, if not bought.
I’m not in London much (based in Wiltshire) and whilst I thought it was a well designed building, I feel that I’ll have a good or better retail experience at John Lewis (the one at Cribbs Causeway Bristol has a decent Apple section).
They are starting to open more stores across the country, and looking at their locations (Sheffield, Manchester, Kent, London, Birmingham), it appears that they are opening in places that can be easily travelled to by a large population. If I was to open one in the South West/Wales, I’d pick Bristol, as it serve people from Swindon, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham and Gloucester. Eventually, I expect that we’ll see them more widespread. Southampton is getting one, and I don’t think that the area covered by Southampton (Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth) gives the same coverage of Bristol. There are probably all sorts of other factors that apply.
I sympathise with your journey. The train prices to London from Bristol are crazy. You’d probably be better off flying to Manchester
Hi,
I think they should have an Apple Store in Bristol, UK because they’ve only got John Lewis or Western Computer at Temple Meads (which is rubbish). I really like the Apple Store in Regent Street, London, and spent hours in there. I really think Apple should have one in Bristol.
Scott