On October the 29th 2005 World of Apple made a visit to Mac Expo London, based at a new location and advertised as bigger and better than ever, expectations were high. At first impressions the show floor didn’t disappoint and it felt like it always had, as you step through the doors you are barraged with free magazines and promotional material, but there was one very noticeable difference; the crowds. I’ve been to many Mac Expos yet this one was the busiest I have ever seen; so busy it was almost uncomfortable at times and really difficult to get a seat at theatre sessions.
But overall the expo did not disappoint and I was pleased that attendance was up by both visitors and exhibitors. On a very high note I watched a demonstration of Apple’s Aperture and was truly stunned by the quality of the product but also the knowledge of the presenter (name is unknown). Not only did the guy who was showing of Aperture really know how to pull in the audience but he used a few little phrases that Jobs himself likes to use, in fact he said, boom!
After the Expo I headed towards Mac Mecca; Regent Street Apple Store. Expecting to feel at home and incredibly fulfilled, I was grossly disappointed. If this looks like a rant then you’re dead on, it is. Much like the Expo I was surprised by the crowds, it was genuinely crowded in fact so crowded it was difficult to get near anything, But after some further investigation I was shocked that the majority of these people had no interest in the products, they wanted to check there emails or use MSN Messenger.
Not only were people abusing the facility but the surfaces looked cluttered, a brand new iMac was broken (looked like a dead graphics card) and for some reason the staff seemed to lack knowledge of their products.
I can’t help but think that if Steve Jobs were to visit this Store then he would be disgusted. On a final note, the flag outside the store was wrapped round its pole (or is that just me being fussy).
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ron
31st October 2005, 06.44 am
I had to read a few of your sentences twice. This was because you were using the word ‘there’ in place of the correct word ‘their.
there, talks of a place.
their, belongs to them.
sample–staff seemed to lack knowledge of there products. SB-their.
I trust you won’t be upset with the info. If you’re going to be a writer it’s important.
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Trevor
31st October 2005, 08.45 am
then your dead on –> then you’re dead on
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Alex
31st October 2005, 09.23 am
Much appreciated lads
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Scott
31st October 2005, 18.58 pm
I agree with you about the apple Store. It is getting shambolic in there. It is always really hard to try things out because people are using the machines for personal email. I remember waiting 30 minutes to try out the Mighty Mouse when it came out. This was because all machines were occupied. If I’m a genuine customer then I should be able to turf off a freeloader (with the assistance of Apple Staff of course)
I also agree about the staff, they often don’t seem to know their stuff and are not really that interested in doing their job.
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Alex4D
2nd November 2005, 16.56 pm
I agree that the majority of Mac users are checking their email in the Regent Street Apple Store. It brings out the worst in me…
I childishly read other people’s emails while they type - standing right next to them, usually making people uncomfortable. They usually make some sort of complaint about their privacy, I respond by stating that emailing people in a public place makes their email public and stay reading their screen for a few more minutes to really irritate them.
I suggest that’s what other Apple Store fans do.
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FunPerson
8th November 2005, 19.58 pm
Privacy in an apple store? HA! Even without people looking over your sholder they can (and do) track everything that is done on any demo computer!
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Fen
9th November 2005, 01.23 am
Haha, Alex4D, you’re such a shit disturber. I’m going to do that.
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Chris Green
12th November 2005, 17.59 pm
Totally agree with you - the Regent Street store has really gone downhill. the staff in there are poorly trained, and have no idea of what products the store sells/stocks. And yes, the cluttered, dirty tables have become a ghetto for tourists looking to check their email for free.
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Sam (Tech:Casts)
13th November 2005, 15.49 pm
Totally agree with you too - on a recent visit to London, I had asked my mum to visit the Apple Store on Regent Street, as I had advised her to buy a Mac Mini, to replace her iMac G3, as it was going nuts. She wasn’t asked by anyone if she needed help while there, then she got help from a M.S. in the store, but this ‘Apple person’ lacked any knowledge about the Mac Mini’s and weather it was in stock to buy, and worst still this ‘Apple person’ didn’t know much about Mac OS X Tiger! - Are the staff at the store poorly trained?!
I am a freelance Apple Solution Expert, and I too have found myself giving help to M.S. in the Apple Store in London..
I wish the store manager would do something about this lack of Apple experience / knowledge that ’some’ of the Staff have at the store.
Sam
(Anchor and Producer - TECH:CASTS - podcasts only on iTunes)
http://www.dsoundz.co.uk
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