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Businesses Apple

Apple Opens First Canadian Store in Toronto 74

Posted by timothy from the can-apples-survive-that-far-north? dept.
ElectroBot writes "I received a email today with an invitation to the Grand Opening of the first Apple Store in Canada. The Store is opening on May 21st at 9:30am at the Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto. There's also a contest for a Digital Lifestyle Collection valued at $2,985. On top of that the first 1,500 people to arrive at the opening will receive a free Apple T-shirt."
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Apple Opens First Canadian Store in Toronto More

Apple Opens First Canadian Store in Toronto

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  • I won't be in Canada until late June. Meh!

  • Arg (Score:1)

    by seann ( 307009 )
    My Powerbooks power adapter died on friday the 13th.

    I really could of used an apple store then!

    • Re:Arg (Score:4, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @02:54PM (#12558405)
      Yeah, but look at those prices! Just about every product they sell seems to cost more up in the Canada store than down in the US stores.

      It's like Apple thinks a dollar from a Canadian isn't worth quite as much as a dollar from an American!

      Why do they hate Canadians like that?

  • Shyeah! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @02:47PM (#12558305)
    As if Canadians have any use for a t-shirt! The store should be giving out Apple toques.
    • Apple, eh. Microsoft? Take off, hoser.

      Seriously, reading that Apple hasn't opened a store in Canada before now almost literally knocked me on my ass. Well, it would have if I wasn't sitting on it already.

      I do remember having to go to NY to buy my Mac IIfx, but that was in... 1988? Jeez. Has Apple even offered any explanation why they've been so frigid with the Great White North?
  • Now can we close the three in Minnesota, so I can skate around the local sales tax when ordering from the Apple Store online? ... er... I mean... so I can declare the sales taxes myself when I file, as I always do when ordering products through the mail or Internet, in full compliance with current laws, rather than having the tax added to the purchase price right away?

    (whew!)

    • Re:Congratulations Canada (Score:4, Informative)

      by TVC15 ( 518429 ) on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @03:31PM (#12558796)
      Apple will collect sales tax anyway. There are no Apple stores in DC and they still collect DC sales tax when I order. Been that way for years.
    • I'm sorry to burst your bubble (that's a lie, I really hate americans just because it's the hip thing to do up here).. you're going to pay taxes anyway! In order for a tax exemption to be valid, there must be proof of address, and that proof comes in the form of a physical shipment. You can't just wave an immigrant driver's licence and skirt the GST, you have to pay your crap, wait for a big brown box to arrive at your doorstep and pay the exorbitant courier fees.

      Yes, it sucks. There's no such thing as

      • Free Lunch! No tax! (Score:3, Interesting)

        by microcars ( 708223 )
        if you are in the US and the Apple product you want is available from Amazon.com , you can get it with NO SALES TAX charged.

        I got a new G5 iMac from Amazon, and saved $166 in sales tax (compared to buying online from Apple directly).

        It arrived the next day even though I chose "Super Saver Shipping"!

        • Wow! Thanks for the tip. Mod parent up!
        • Many states have a "use tax" where you have to pay the sales tax on out-of-state shipments as part of your income tax return. If you don't pay, you could be audited.
          • "If you don't pay, you could be audited."

            so, are you saying that the act of "not paying the use tax" triggers a State Income Tax Audit somehow?

            How exactly does that happen?

            • State taxing authorities know that on-line shopping is extremely common. If you made a lot of money but claimed you never bought anything out of state, that is a big fat "audit me" sign.

              Some states (PA is not one) actually have a formula they advise that you use. If you don't know specifics, take your salary and multiply it by some value, and that's how much people in your income bracket spend on out-of-state purchases. The multiplier itself is a function of your salary, though of course it's a gross ov

  • More than a store (Score:5, Insightful)

    by amichalo ( 132545 ) on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @02:56PM (#12558419)
    Okay, so Apple opening a retail store, even in a country that didn't have one before, it not news to get too excited about.

    But it does give us an opportunity to discuss Apple's retail stores and how that are more than just "stores". AppleInsider has a nice piece [appleinsider.com] on the Apple retail stores and it gives insight into how Apple is once again following their "Think Different" mantra. (It also tells us how Apple has over 100 retail stores, plans to open 20 more this year and is opening stores at a rate of one every 10 days.)

    For instance, Apple stores feature "Genius Bars" that allow anyone to walk up (or make an appointment) and get technical help with their Mac concern. They can even send a computer out for repair on the spot.

    Genius Bars don't float your boat (sure, even Best Buy has a computer service window, though "Genius" may be too strong a title for the staff), then try the instore theaters that host free and for-a-fee software demos and tutorials to help users get the most out of appe like iLife, or delve into Pro products. They also host third party software demos.

    This really is the first time that someone can go to a store, buy a computer, and then sit down and learn how the heck to use it. HomeDepot has been doing this sort of thing with weekend project classes with good success and it is nice to see the practice making its way to the IT sector where so many people (who don't know what /. is) feel so very intimidated by technology.
    • But if you want to use your educational discount on software, you have to go to the online store. The discount works on hardware in the store, but for some reason they can't apply it to software.

      There's an Apple store 15 minutes from my home, but I've put off getting Tiger because I want instant gratification (and the $69 edu discount price!)
      • You can get the edu discount in store. thats how my brother bought his iBook. Just bring a transcript or acceptance letter or other proof.
      • You can't get the edu version from the store because it's actually sold under a different license and the stores don't carry those. I'm not sure why they don't carry them when so many people want them, but I assume it's because the boxes are identical, it's just the internal license and SKU.

    • Re:More than a store (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Golias ( 176380 )
      But it does give us an opportunity to discuss Apple's retail stores and how that are more than just "stores"... [insert all kinds of stuff which small PC stored used to do before the massive chains pushed them out of the market...]

      It's not that Apple Stores are "more than" stores. It's that most computer warehouses are less.

      Try this sometime: Walk in to a CompUSA, Best Buy, Fry's, Microcenter, whatever... Ask a question about a relatively new technology to which you already know the answer. Assuming y
      • Now if I can just get somebody to teach me to remember to close my italics tags, or at least hit the damned preview button before posting, I'd be doing great. :P

      • Re:More than a store (Score:5, Insightful)

        by amichalo ( 132545 ) on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @03:49PM (#12559061)
        It's not that Apple Stores are "more than" stores. It's that most computer warehouses are less.

        I disagree with this statement.

        The expectation I have of a store is that I can see the products for sale, touch them, examine them (perhaps I cannot use them such as at a food store, but as the price increases, I can, like at a car dealership). I expect to be able to ask questions about the product itself, "how many 'foo' does this have?" "what does 'bar' mean?" I lastly expect to be able to purchase the item or atleast place an order for one.

        Apple takes it way further. The Genius Bar allows me to ask detailed technical questions and even fix my technical solution. The studios allow me to get training on software. This is a way new concept for most stores but it is catching on. A home decore store won't teach you how to decorate your house, but some cooking suply stores have instructional kitchens where you can go and watch chefs cook.

        The concept is very appealing because it turns the whole 'sales' aspect of the store into an information station, where I can also buy the products I just learned about.

        The whole part about CompUSA sreading miss-information, and the part about the closing italic tag I agree with.

      • Re:More than a store (Score:1, Interesting)

        by Anonymous Coward
        It's funny how we still expect people who sell us products to know how they work. Fact is, Best Buy (and the like) employees are $8 an hour high school and community college students who can't afford the expensive devices they're selling you. The working environment in the large chains is often hostile, and turnover is so great they don't bother to train anybody. They DO tell them to answer every question the best they can to make the sale (whether they know the answer or not.) Saying "I don't know what

        • Re:More than a store (Score:1, Informative)

          by Anonymous Coward
          There's also other differences. Apple store employees don't get comission (ask em), and they're told from day one to never bullshit. If you don't know the answer tell the customer, I don't know, but I'll find out, and the customer will appreciate it much more than being given bull only to find out later it was wrong. It also helps that all the computers in their store are online, so if there's a question that can be researched quickly via google, they can do it, and even show the customer how to do it.
    • Slashdot has reported [slashdot.org] before about opening *virtual* stores in other countries -- I don't see why Canada should be excluded. :-)

      Is it a standalone store (a la Michigan Avenue [inkblotsmag.com], or inside a mall?

    • Okay, so Apple opening a retail store, even in a country that didn't have one before

      Easy for you to say, yankee.

      I, for one, welcome our new Apple store overlords!

  • Its about the touchie feelies (Score:5, Insightful)

    by oh_the_humanity ( 883420 ) on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @03:25PM (#12558731)
    I think apple realizes the intrinsic value of touch and feel. Being able to walk in to a store, where not only is the beautiful hardware on display for you to grope and fondle, but the entire store aesthetically is designed with the same thought process. You're getting a total immersion into the apple philosophy. Its one thing to oogle at pictures on a website, and it's another to play with them IRL, and apple knows it.
  • Why doesn't he open a Canadian Store in the US? Why should I have to travel all the way to Toronto to buy a Canadian?

  • In Celebration (Score:3, Funny)

    by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) * on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @05:09PM (#12559997) Homepage Journal
    We've already heard there's a new keyboard layout in Tiger called Canadian that's identical to the U.S. layout but displays a Canadian Flag (or is that Canada Flag?) in the menubar.

    To celebrate the opening of the new Apple store, 10.4.1 will change the first item under the Apple menu to "Aboot This Mac..." when the Canada layout is selected.
    • We've already heard there's a new keyboard layout in Tiger called Canadian that's identical to the U.S. layout but displays a Canadian Flag (or is that Canada Flag?) in the menubar.

      I know this is meant to be a joke, but there already is a Canadian layout. It is different from the US layout, because it has accent keys and some other nicities. It's called the Canadian Multi-lingual Standard, or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) keyboard. If you want a keyboard that (AFAIK) is just like the US but disp
      • I know this is meant to be a joke, but there already is a Canadian layout. It is different from the US layout, because it has accent keys and some other nicities. It's called the Canadian Multi-lingual Standard, or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) keyboard.

        And it's not new in Tiger; it's in Panther, or, at least, a layout with the Canadian flag and "CSA" below it is.

        • And it's not new in Tiger; it's in Panther, or, at least, a layout with the Canadian flag and "CSA" below it is.

          It's been in every operating system that I've used and allows one to change the keyboard layout, actually. Even Windows 95, DOS, and all the BSDs and Linuxes I've used.

      • there already is a Canadian layout. It is different from the US layout, because it has accent keys and some other nicities. It's called the Canadian Multi-lingual Standard, or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) keyboard.

        The problem with the CSA layout is that for most of us its wrong. Unless we're in a government office (or Quebec I suppose), then our computers have "normal" U.S. layouts.

        I know some people who, rather than seeing a U.S. flag in their menubar, would choose the CSA layout and learn the l

  • I got the email too! (Score:4, Informative)

    by Steve Cowan ( 525271 ) on Tuesday May 17, 2005 @05:31PM (#12560233) Journal
    here's the text of it. sorry it's not heavily html-laden, like the original:
    -----
    Apple Store, Yorkdale
    9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 21

    See the latest from Apple up close.
    Help us celebrate the grand opening of our first Canadian store and be one of the first to check out Mac OS X Tiger. See for yourself how the iPod family and iPod accessories continue to redefine the way you experience music. You can also try the powerful and compact Mac mini--the most affordable Mac ever. And while you're at it, test-drive iLife '05 and iWork '05, software that lets you create and present better than ever. What's more, the first 1,500 people to stop by the grand opening get a fre e Apple T-shirt.

    A great place to shop. A great place to learn.
    The Apple Store is more than just a great place to shop. It's also a great place to get answers to tough questions. Come in and schedule an appointment with a Genius at our Genius Bar or attend our free classes and workshops. You can also speak with a Business Consultant about our range of service and support options, as well as get details of our Business Day.

    Grand Opening Contest.
    Come by between May 21 and June 30 and enter to win a Digital Lifestyle Collection valued at $2,985.* The collection includes a 17-inch iMac G5, a Canon digital camera and camcorder, an Epson printer, and an iPod mini.

    Join us on May 21. This is one grand opening you won't want to miss.

  • I live in Ottawa (and this probably fares the same for other cities), and frankly, the software selection in most computer stores in abyssimal. On-line Canadian retail presence seems lacking - now that CDW closed down its Mac branch. Is there anything in the way of good software selection in-store at the Mac retail stores? Or, are we going to find, that increasingly, on-line distribution is going to be the key (its happening more and more with Windows software)?
    • I have been to Toronto myself. You make it seem like there is nothing there. While Canada is short on anything "US supplied", it makes it up with many other import products from many other countries.

      Here in the US is the exact opposite. We have a huge supply of everything US made, especially technology. We are short on just about everything cultural.

  • We used to have this place called BMac that was slightly different, in that they were a store with a bunch of hippie dykes finger-painting the walls with vaginally inspired art, while you asked them PC-like tech questions to which they replied "This Mac does more stuff than that other Mac". They also had funky craft supplies taking up half the store. Yay, now I can buy a triple-priced hard drive and a jug of varsol in one seamless transaction :P

    They were definitely "Apple" in the sense that you stepped i

  • Think different, eh.

  • I'll still buy all of my Mac stuff from http://www.macdoc.com/ [macdoc.com]. He takes trade-ins, has good deals, etc. Apple Store can go and sod off, eh?

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