Apple’S Retail Army, Long On Loyalty But Short On Pay

[lomatopo]

I thought this article was interesting, many found it negative but as a shareholder I am obviously pleased with a relatively low-cost direct, highly evangelistic sales staff. The Apple store I frequent in the U.S., in the Burlington Mall, Burlington, MA, is amazing. I counted ~ 60 staff on the floor, and hundreds of customers intent on purchasing then and there.

Apple’s Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay

By DAVID SEGAL

Published: June 23, 2012 1374 Comments

Last year, during his best three-month stretch, Jordan Golson sold about $750,000 worth of computers and gadgets at the Apple Store in Salem, N.H. It was a performance that might have called for a bottle of Champagne — if that were a luxury Mr. Golson could have afforded. “I was earning $11.25 an hour,” he said. “Part of me was thinking, ‘This is great. I’m an Apple fan, the store is doing really well.’ But when you look at the amount of money the company is making and then you look at your paycheck, it’s kind of tough.”

America’s love affair with the smartphone has helped create tens of thousands of jobs at places like Best Buy and Verizon Wireless and will this year pump billions into the economy. Within this world, the Apple Store is the undisputed king, a retail phenomenon renowned for impeccable design, deft service and spectacular revenues. Last year, the company’s 327 global stores took in more money per square foot than any other United States retailer — wireless or otherwise — and almost double that of Tiffany, which was No. 2 on the list, according to the research firm RetailSails.

Worldwide, its stores sold $16 billion in merchandise.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/business/apple-store-workers-loyal-but-short-on-pay.html?pagewanted=all

[nikster]

I read a similar article. I got as far as "... are being paid above average for retail operations...", then lost interest.

If Apple had them work for less than what others are paying, just for the "privilege" of working for Apple then this would be news. But they don't. So it isn't.

[Dancali]

It's typical for a paper like the NYTimes to try to stir up economic discontent where none existed before. Always "doing good" in the world.

[nikster]

It's typical for a paper like the NYTimes to try to stir up economic discontent where none existed before. Always "doing good" in the world.

On the topic of the NYT - it used to be the last real newspaper in the USA and one of the best in the world.

But then came 9/11 and they became a government/military propaganda outlet just like all the others. Now it's the humpty to the right wing's dumpty - a news outlet completely owned by the system.

It took them what, 2 months before reporting the first story on the occupy movement. Very simple to see what's going on there. Who pays the bills calls the tunes.

[lomatopo]

It's typical for a paper like the NYTimes to try to stir up economic discontent where none existed before. Always "doing good" in the world.

Did we read the same article?

I thought the article highlighted the success of Apple's retail strategy, and presented a balanced view of the employees experiences which seemed on the whole positive.

A lot of the comments on the article were also interesting, some were from current and former employees, and also seemed relatively positive.

I'm not sure I understand your comment?

[nikster]

It's typical for a paper like the NYTimes to try to stir up economic discontent where none existed before. Always "doing good" in the world.

Did we read the same article?

I thought the article highlighted the success of Apple's retail strategy, and presented a balanced view of the employees experiences which seemed on the whole positive.

A lot of the comments on the article were also interesting, some were from current and former employees, and also seemed relatively positive.

I'm not sure I understand your comment?

Don't know but it could be the highly misleading headline

[Dancali]

I must admit that I only read the headline of the article, and the subject of this thread: "Apple’s Retail Army, Long on Loyalty but Short on Pay"

That generally translates to "Apple not paying employees enough".

[lomatopo]

Don't know but it could be the highly misleading headline

I must admit that I only read the headline of the article,

Oh, OK. I sort of assumed one would have read the article before commenting on its veracity, intent or the OGL in general.

[Dancali]

Don't know but it could be the highly misleading headline

I must admit that I only read the headline of the article,

Oh, OK. I sort of assumed one would have read the article before commenting on its veracity, intent or the OGL in general.

And I sort of assumed that the headline of the article accurately represented its contents when I wrote my one line response to this thread.

[lomatopo]

Don't know but it could be the highly misleading headline

I must admit that I only read the headline of the article,

Oh, OK. I sort of assumed one would have read the article before commenting on its veracity, intent or the OGL in general.

And I sort of assumed that the headline of the article accurately represented its contents when I wrote my one line response to this thread.

Understood. Again, your initial comment confused me but now that I understand that you did not read the article it makes perfect sense.