Second Microsoft store draws 1,000-person lineup
updated 05:50 pm EDT, Fri October 30, 2009
Mission Viejo Microsoft store opens
Microsoft's second-ever official retail store opened to lines resembling those of Apple's, an early estimate says. More than 1,000 are believed by the OC Register to have queued up for the Mission Viejo, California opening, some of whom had entered the line as early as the previous afternoon. It's not known how long lines remained in front of the store or how floor traffic has proceeded since the debut at 10AM local time.
The queue was helped by promises of additional rewards beyond what Apple would typically offer. The first 1,000 to agree received tickets to a Justin Bieber concert later the same day, while many of the first also took in $25 Zune Marketplace gift cards, sport bottles and other extras. At the Scottsdale opening a week earlier, the first five visitors also received free Zune HD players.
Apple's store in the area, which is located in The Shops, is currently closed for renovations and won't compete directly with its rival until next month.
Despite the attention, the Mission Viejo is likely to be the last Microsoft store in the immediate future. The Windows developer is believed to be gauging the early reaction to the stores before committing to new locations that themselves may take a number of months to construct. Apple by contrast has 273 stores open as of this week.
Hmm...
10/30, 06:33pm (2 replies) reply
I wonder how many people would have gone if there weren't any free tickets being given out.
Microsoft stole all the ideas from the Apple Stores' makeup and doesn't even have the decency to hide it.
drumrobot
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2009
Apple Store opening giveaways?
10/30, 06:46pm (1 reply) reply
I'm trying to remember what giveaways did Apple use to lure shoppers when they opened their first retail stores?
c4rlob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2009
How much did it cost
10/30, 06:58pm reply
Wonder how many of those people were paid Microsoft 'actors' that were there to make it seem more like news.....
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
just not right
10/30, 06:59pm reply
There's something just abnormal about the whole scene.
Well...other than the fact it's a balls out blatant copy of Apple.
It seems to lack genuineness.
Oh well I give it 5 years tops.
whackjob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
Apple Giveaway
10/30, 07:32pm reply
I went to two Apple Store openings and the only thing they gave away were T-Shirts in a tube that had the Apple Logo with the City location name printed along with it. That's all.
anthology123
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Nov 2000
Why?
10/30, 07:44pm (1 reply) reply
What can you get there that you can't get anywhere else? It's like lining up at WalMart to buy underwear.
Roehlstation
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
the real question
10/30, 07:50pm reply
is how much money they will dump into keeping these stores out there until they pull them like they finally did with Xbox and Zune after losing all those billions of dollars.
oh wait...
nat
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Oh look, Marge...
10/30, 08:33pm (1 reply) reply
There's some Microsoft sheeple! Let's moon them. OK, Bart, you first. Ok, Homer, my pleasure.
iphonerulez
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
I loved the Mac guy
10/30, 11:09pm (1 reply) reply
....he just looked so uncomfortable.
It's such a copy of the Apple stores that I cannot even believe that they would pretend it's anything else.
JuanGuapo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
pathetic
10/31, 02:28am reply
if they weren't so blatantly pathetic, microsoft would be a comedy of errors. can they come up with anything original. here's a thought, start by firing the court jester ballmer. i'm so glad i switched to apple products 5 years ago.
1golfdoc
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2008