# The Microsoft ghost town **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576 "2011-12-17T21:44:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/1 "2011-12-17T21:44:51Z")
Today is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. I went to one of the largest, most crowed malls in the Phoenix area (Scottsdale Fashion Square) and took this picture of the “crowds” at the Microsoft store: [![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6527626355_f5f14f5482_b.jpg) ](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6527626355_f5f14f5482_b.jpg) Then, I ended up at another mall right down the street (Biltmore Fashion Park) and took this picture of the Apple store: [![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6527626943_1cbc5e912f_b.jpg) ](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/6527626943_1cbc5e912f_b.jpg) Microsoft must be losing their shirts on these stores - employees outnumbers customers 4 to 1. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/2 "2011-12-17T21:49:36Z")
I didn’t even know there were Microsoft stores. Possibly because I haven’t been to a mall in 12 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/3 "2011-12-17T22:49:46Z")
I already own an Xbox and a PC…I just don’t know what I’d go to such a store for! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/4 "2011-12-17T22:56:00Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > I already own an Xbox and a PC…I just don’t know what I’d go to such a store for! The (shitty) new version of Windows they foist on the public every 16 months or so? ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/5 "2011-12-17T23:02:01Z")
Actually, Windows 8 is pretty cool. I also didn’t know there was a Microsoft store. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/6 "2011-12-18T02:00:12Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The (shitty) new version of Windows they foist on the public every 16 months or so? I already have Windows 7, but I haven’t gotten a physical copy of their OS since windows XP. It was a 30 minute download from their website! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/7 "2011-12-18T18:34:11Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I didn’t even know there were Microsoft stores. Possibly because I haven’t been to a mall in 12 years or so. Microsoft feels compelled to copy Apple in everything they do. Since the Apple stores have been a smashing success (more [dollars/square foot](http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20096519-17/another-apple-win-retail-sales-per-square-foot/) than any other US retailer), Microsoft figured that they better cash in also. If the crowds I’ve seen are any indication, they are failing miserably. Microsoft has been placing their stores as close as they can to Apple’s. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/8 "2011-12-18T19:02:33Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Microsoft feels compelled to copy Apple in everything they do. Since the Apple stores have been a smashing success (more [dollars/square foot](http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20096519-17/another-apple-win-retail-sales-per-square-foot/) than any other US retailer), Microsoft figured that they better cash in also. If the crowds I’ve seen are any indication, they are failing miserably. Microsoft has been placing their stores as close as they can to Apple’s. Sounds like a classic case of trying to duplicate the effect without addressing the cause… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/9 "2011-12-18T19:09:12Z")
Never heard of a Microsoft store either. Shitty computers and X-Boxes? I thought that is what Wal-Mart is for. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/10 "2011-12-18T19:33:38Z")
> [@Bloodless\_Turnip](#): > > Actually, Windows 8 is pretty cool. > > I also didn’t know there was a Microsoft store. what would they sell exactly? It’s a software company and their product is in every computer store except dedicated Apple stores. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/11 "2011-12-18T20:02:24Z")
I think it’s important to note that in their first two years, Apple Retail stores struggled a bit. ([http://www.macworld.com/article/159499/2011/05/applestoresinancials.html](http://www.macworld.com/article/159499/2011/05/applestoresinancials.html)). They’ve spent 10 years honing it into a product that’s vastly successful. Microsoft is two years into their experiment. I don’t know if it’s currently successful or not, but if it’s not, then with the right execution, they could still pull it off. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/12 "2011-12-18T20:46:35Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Microsoft feels compelled to copy Apple in everything they do. Since the Apple stores have been a smashing success (more [dollars/square foot](http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20096519-17/another-apple-win-retail-sales-per-square-foot/) than any other US retailer), Microsoft figured that they better cash in also. If the crowds I’ve seen are any indication, they are failing miserably. Microsoft has been placing their stores as close as they can to Apple’s. [Sony is jumping on the bandwagon](http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/30/sonys-latest-retail-strategy-follow-apples-lead/) as well with Apple knockoff-type stores. ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/13 "2011-12-18T21:29:37Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > what would they sell exactly? It’s a software company and their product is in every computer store except dedicated Apple stores. Yeah, doesn’t make much sense to me. I can get Microsoft stuff at every electronics section of any store. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/14 "2011-12-18T22:13:06Z")
Yes, MIcrosoft stores make no sense. Apple’s retail operations are a big success-because they do not discount, and do not sell to other retailers. That is why APPLE enjoys huge margins. Microsoft has tried to markeyt all kinds of devices-outside of the XBOX, how many have been a success? Not many. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/15 "2011-12-18T22:49:15Z")
Oh good! I can go pick up a Zune finally! oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/16 "2011-12-18T22:59:50Z")
It must be really hard to work at a Microsoft store if your name is Bob. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/17 "2011-12-18T23:23:36Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > It must be really hard to work at a Microsoft store if your name is Bob. Or Clippy… ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/18 "2011-12-18T23:27:32Z")
If I want an Apple product, I can buy one online, or I can go to the Apple store. If I want a Microsoft product, I can buy one online, or I can go to the Microsoft store, or I can go to Target, or I can go to Walmart, or I can go to Meijer, or I can go to Best Buy, or… wait, remind me why I would want to go to the Microsoft store, again? (I was hoping from the title, by the way, that this was going to be some kind of cool feature article about how Microsoft had layoffs and part of the Redmond campus is abandoned with old tattered “Windows XP” banners fluttering forlornly from the edges of buildings, and the occasional 2010 bus pass tumbling along in the breeze.) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/19 "2011-12-18T23:46:46Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Yes, MIcrosoft stores make no sense. Apple’s retail operations are a big success-because they do not discount, and do not sell to other retailers. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > If I want an Apple product, I can buy one online, or I can go to the Apple store. Or you can go to Best Buy, or Fry’s, or [amazon.com](http://amazon.com), or Walmart, or Radio Shack, or… the point is, you can buy Apple’s products at lots of place other than Apple stores or [Apple.com](http://Apple.com). ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576/20 "2011-12-18T23:50:17Z")
I would group [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) under “online,” actually. Can you really just waltz into Best Buy or Walmart or whatever and pick up an iPod or an iPhone? I honestly had no idea, not ever having tried. Edit: Also, if the answer is “yes,” which I assume by your post that it is, then I feel silly. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-microsoft-ghost-town/606576.md?page=2)