Retail Stores

Apple employees will enjoy some healthy products discounts as thanks for the company's recent blockbuster quarter.

At an internal meeting yesterday, CEO Tim Cook announced that employees will soon be able to grab a $500 discount on the purchase of a new Mac and a $250 discount on a new iPad, revealed 9to5Mac.

Not scheduled to launch until June, the new discount program is saddled with a few restrictions. Apple workers must have been with the company for at least 90 days and can only take advantage of the discounts once every three years. The program seems to cover … Read more

Apple broke all kinds of records yesterday with its monster earnings report.

With those results in the rear view mirror, now's as good a time as any to sit back and take a look at what they mean. Below are some of the big or otherwise notable facts and figures to chew on.

$46.33 billion. That was Apple's total revenue from the quarter, an all-time record and 73 percent better than the company did during the same quarter last year.

$13.06 billion. Apple's profit for the quarter, more than double what it did during the … Read more

Apple has pulled the plug on iPhone 4S sales in mainland China after unruly crowds hurled eggs at the company's flagship store in Beijing, according to reports.

Hundreds of people had waited in line overnight to grab the new phone at the Santilun outlet (English translation) in Beijing, only to find out Friday morning local time that Apple had decided not to open the store in light of safety issues over the huge throngs of people, according to the Associated Press.

In reaction, some in the crowd began hurtling eggs at the store, eventually triggering the arrival of police … Read more

Don't mess with an angry mob of people waiting in line for a shiny new Apple product--especially if they've got produce on hand.

That was the lesson Apple's retail store in Beijing learned the hard way.

Bloomberg reports that those who had lined up for the iPhone 4S on its launch day in the country became incensed when the store did not open up for sales at the previously announced time.

According to the story, the 500 some person group began "pelting" the store with eggs, later transferring their rage to an unidentifiable "man … Read more

Last week's report of Target launching specialty Apple stores within its confines has now been confirmed by the retailer.

Reuters reported that Target is getting "special displays of Apple Inc. merchandise," as part of a new effort called "the Shops of Target," which the company unveiled today.

Target is starting out with 25 stores, mirroring the number mentioned in a report from Apple Insider last week.

Apple already sells a number of its products at Target, though it's limited to iOS products like the iPod, iPad, and iPhone. By comparison, the mini store setups … Read more

Apple and Amazon took home the best grades in customer satisfaction among people who did their holiday shopping via a mobile device.

ForeSee Results' "E-Retail Satisfaction Index" looked at the top 16 retail sites out of a possible 40 to gauge which offered the best mobile experience for holiday buyers. Apple's score of 85 out of 100 and Amazon's score of 84 handily surpassed third-place Dell with only 78.

Foresee Usability Team Lead Matthew Dull said both companies place huge value on the customer experience and carry that into their mobile environments.

While Amazon has both … Read more

Apple reportedly wants to expand its presence at Target retail locations with plans to open up store-within-a-store showcases of its products.

Citing sources, AppleInsider says the company plans to roll out "Apple-branded areas"--similar to what it already offers at Best Buy--to 25 Target stores.

The first group of locations, the site says, has been picked specifically in places where Apple does not already have a nearby retail store of its own.

Apple already sells a number of its products at Target, though it's limited to its iOS products like the iPod, iPad and iPhone. By comparison, … Read more

Apple is planning to give its Palo Alto, Calif., retail store a reboot as part of an upcoming construction project that will build a new "prototype" store just a block away.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that construction on an upcoming $3.15 million, 15,030-square-foot store is imminent, and that the new location could serve as a replacement for its nearby predecessor.

"Our Palo Alto store was one of our first retail stores when we opened it nearly a decade ago and it's been incredibly popular," Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette told the Mercury … Read more

One thing was made abundantly clear when Apple opened up its Grand Central store for the first time today: those early enthusiasts care more about the Apple experience than the products.

The Grand Central store opening garnered the kind of buzz typically reserved for a new product launch. Hundreds of Apple fanboys waited in line, which stretched into the tunnels of the station, all for a glimpse at a retail outlet. As with any product launch, the first wave of customers entered the store to thunderous applause and cheering from Apple employees.

"Your heart beats like crazy, seeing all … Read more