Comments on: Can tony Apple stores survive a down economy?

Are Apple stores elitist? You bet--and that's not a bad thing. Unless the U.S. economy keeps going south.

[tgibbs]

The Gateway stores may have been nice, but the Gateway computer was just one more generic PC, perhaps a bit better made than some, but offering essentially the same user experience. Apple offers unique products that you can't find anywhere else. The success of Apple's products does not derive from its stores; it is the other way around.

[twyrick]

I don't see why it's automatically "elitist" behavior when a company has the money to place the stores in "choice retail locations" and goes through with it?

Honestly, here in St. Louis, Missouri - the only real shopping mall I'd label "elitist" might be Frontenac Plaza, and Apple never put a store in there. Rather, they put one in West County Shopping center and a second, smaller store in the Galleria. (The Galleria isn't even really in what most people would call an "upscale" part of town.)

To me, elitism implies buying or selling merchandise that's not worth the price tag for any tangible reason. People pay more merely for the branding. If that was true for Apple, they'd be selling all their computers with Windows installed on them, just like everybody else does, and people would keep buying them just for that big Apple logo on the front. It's not like that.....

[MaximusToo]

Maybe we're confusing elitism with Apple targeting the premium market segment in the business. There is no doubt that Apple products are targeted at the high end. You pay a premium for their computers and music players. Generally speaking, I think you get a higher quality product. Some of it may be the brand they have built as well. It's cool to have a Mac, just like it cool to drive a nicer more expensive car.

So, it's hard to believe that Apple will be immune to this meltdown in the retail computer business. Consumers, even Mac-lovers, are spending less and less. I don't think it is unreasonable to think that Apple will have to close some retail outlets in the next two years. Generally speaking, in bad times the premium market segments suffer more than the lower end.

Plus, without Jobs the company will lose it's direction eventually. He is the true visionary of the company and without his leadership, things won't be the same.

[bornlikethis38]

It's stupid to use the acronym "PC" when talking about a non-apple computer. "PC" stands for "personal computer." Macs and Macbooks are all PC's by definition.

[JFerrari427]

Apple charges a premium for design. I paid for it and ended up selling it on ebay for a new PC that does the same thing with better hardware specs for half the price.

[iphonedied]

The "Geniuses" at Apple stores are hilarious: "Dude, if it isn't in an Apple product, you don't need to have it."

Even Stephen, the Dell Dude had more brains than these "Geniuses."