FR1, mitch-c and threaders:
OT PC Storefronts
This is one of those business models that keeps getting revisited every so often. Dell's had their turn in the barrel along with all the other PC makers. They found it to be a busto idea, and bagged it, going only with direct sales. Gateway Country stores appear to be working, but that's because they function differently. Try carrying out one of their systems and see how far you get before the sheriff arrests you. <g> (I don't know that from personal experience, mind you.)
Gateway Country is just another order channel, to the marketing folks. But Gateway wants to turn GC stores into training, service, and so on. Add some value in addition to "kick the tires" stuff, and maybe it'll make a go of it. I don't know that Teddy will dump the GC stores. If the current champion of that activity is capable of showing Waitt the "cha-ching" in the idea, it'll get to hang around until it makes it, or the model is ultimately discredited.
By the way, GC stores in Florida seem to be well accepted; when I visited over there, lots of traffic, and apparently lots of $ being pushed through them. Enough to justify the overhead? Stay tuned....
Mitch
PS You're not the other one, mitch-c; lots of room for us in the world! And we need to hang together, or we'll surely hang separately. <g> M |
