[Ti] who owns the stores?

[b]

According to Michael Bigley:

>Bottom line, IMHO, is that not franchising is a good business 
>decision by Apple. Forcing other retail distributors out with 
>gestapo contractual tactics is a stupid business decision. Not 
>having a definitive customer service training and follow up program 
>-- including "secret shoppers" who evaluate service, is a slow death 
>of a thousand cuts (look at how much bandwidth it has taken up on 
>this list of solid Mac users!)
>--

Agreed. My point re: Sears...there's a huge difference in a 150-yr 
old plus corporation's Retail/Catalog establishment, and a cash 
burning 25 yr old co. with little in the way of retail experience.

The horror stories burning the bandwidth appear to be anecdotal, in nature.

Apple has a remarkable history of research & development, as well as 
an obvious 'slant' towards user experience and empowerment, and it 
would be naive to expect top-to-bottom perfection in their initial 
move into retail.

Also, it would require one to assume that they would suddenly adopt a 
policy of not 'listening' to their natural market, and adjusting 
accordingly...it could be the case, but I wouldn't short the stock on 
the notion, or bail out to Linux just yet.

~flipper