Apple-mania arrives in Israel

September 24, 2008 - 11:32 AM by · 5 Comments
Filed under: Business, Technology 

Apple store yes, iphone no. Well, idigital launched the first Apple store of sorts in Israel this week and the country was a-buzzin. I didn’t really feel the need to go since I’ve been to Apple stores all over the world and what I am really going to see that’s new anyway? Next time I’m in Ramat Aviv (which will most likely be never) I’ll stop by…unless they start selling the iphone. Which I’m hearing rumblings in the street that it is happening sooner than later. It’s important to note that this is not an official Apple Store and while the store looks identical to Apple stores elsewhere in the world there are indeed differences. My favorite is that the Genius bar is called the Guru bar.

Globes reports:

The new 300 square meter store in the Ramat Aviv mall in Tel Aviv is exceptional for its design, which is radically different from that of other computer retail chains in Israel. The Apple flagship store in Israel is almost identical in design to the stores spread across the US and Europe, the only difference being in size, since the chain’s stores overseas are still much larger than the newly opened Israeli branch. iDigital has also taken the initiative, in view of the criticism leveled at it over prices of Apple products in Israel, which are far higher than those abroad, and has reduced prices on most products by 10% to 33.7%.

I’m glad to see that they’ve lowered their prices. I’ve complained about their markup in a previous post, and while the decrease is welcome, I fear it is not enough to make Apple a successful brand in Israel. Though other steps are being taken to make the Apple a contender. An official Hebrew translation of OS X is now available and is being offered as a free download for Hebrew speakers.

Check out this video of the countdown. Includes the patented Israeli rhythmic clapping.

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Apple Store sort of opening in Tel Aviv

August 11, 2008 - 11:34 AM by · 11 Comments
Filed under: Business, Pop Culture, Technology 

Ipod TouchTo say that Israel’s relationship with Apple computer has not been the most fruitful is somewhat of an understatement. The sole distributor of Apple’s products here never bother to market to anyone and basically ran a small sales operation for business. Their basic customer support was abysmal and even if your computer was covered under Applecare (Apple’s extended warranty) you would have to pull teeth to actually get your computer fixed. Thankfully these days are long gone. The new distributor, idigital, has gone to great lengths to not only properly market Apple products, but to treat the customer with respect. They have quickly garnered an excellent reputation among Israeli mac users.

No, we still don’t have the beloved iphone, but we are getting our own Apple Store, albeit not a real Apple Store.

The Jpost reports:

What if you don’t want to spend all that airfare just for a shopping experience? Well, pretty soon you won’t have to: Israel is set to get its own Apple Store around the beginning of September, according to an Apple rep I spoke to this week. But like so many things here, the local version is just different enough from the “real thing” to be – well, different.

According to Michal, who represented iDigital (Apple’s local licensee in Israel) in our conversation, the Apple Store Israel “will give customers the full Apple Store experience,” although the store will not be operated by Apple, as Apple Stores elsewhere are. The store will feature a genius bar – where you can pick the brains of an expert on Apple products or software. The store, to be located at the Ramat Aviv Mall, will have a layout and product display similar to Apple Stores around the world. But the Apple Store Israel is a project of iDigital.

Not necessarily a bad thing. According to the article they’ll also be offering training much like the Apple stores do in America. One item the article does not cover are iDigital’s outrageous prices. Macs are generally more expensive products but in Israel their prices can be completely inaccessible.

For example the 8gb ipod touch retails for $299 in the United States and it can be purchased here for $557! That is almost double the price. If buying a large computer it looks like it would probably be more economic to travel outside the country to buy one. Unbelievable.

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