Maybe it's just me, but I get the impression that the big retailers, Myer, David Jones, Dick Smith, Harvey Norman etc. don't find the Mac mini a worthwhile product.

Lately only the iMac and MacBooks seem to get advertised in their catalogues and in the stores the mini is often only given a minor place on the Apple stand (I've even seen it tucked behind the stand of an LCD display with only a small placard advertising it's features and price). Isn't the Mac mini sexy enough? I think it is, but maybe the majority of shoppers don't.

Or could it be that it's too hard to sell because the salesperson has to explain that there's no keyboard, mouse or display included in the price?

Maybe it's not being pushed by Apple at the moment because there's an upgrade in the wings. I don't know, but since I noticed (or to be precise, didn't notice) the mini in the latest Dick Smith catalogue I'm noticing the lack of attention to the mini at almost all of the Johnny-come-lately Apple re-sellers.

Or, maybe it's all in my head

Now you mention it, the retailers I have seen here (Myer, DJs) are much the same. I think its also just the presence and the attraction the iMac and portables have - they can draw curious shoppers from across the showroom floor. The Mac Mini is a small box - elegant and sexy, but just lacks the presence and command to draw in anyone but Mac enthusiasts who know the potential of the little box.

Or the lack of decent margin ;-) Even if they were making 10%, that's roughly $95 *gross* profit on the base mini, and $125 on the top end mini. Hold on, that's $949 with GST. Take off GST, and that's $862 ex tax. $86 gross profit might seem okay on a high volume item, but I can't say that Mac Minis fly out the door :-)

(Correct me if I am wrong, but I know the resellers I have worked for in the past weren't all that excited about selling Minis)

Computer show desks seem to revolve around the displays. The Mini has drawn the short straw in that discipline...

At Domain they have the usual line-up from small to big computer screens. The Mac Mini is seen in the neighbouring department underneath or in front of big widescreen TVs.

Cheers
Steffen.

JB HI-FI have started selling Macs again, and one thing I did notice was the lack of Mini in advertising. I'm hoping they do still have them though... I need me an Intel Mini.

Security is an issue for these stores according to an Apple guy at DJ's when I went in to check out a Mini back in the G4 days - he had to step out back to grab the demo model. Too easy for Mr Klepto to swipe it into his bag and waltz straight out the door.

Doesn't explain the ones sitting behind a monitor though.

LOL "Mr Klepto" might not be trying to steal that laptop at Myers, but simply trying to get some service.

I think when the Apple Store comes to Australia a lot of these retailers will struggle to sell any Macs.

lavo is right. It's money. They'd hardly make anything off a mini.

And also, the iMac looks a lot sexier, and what Apple is better known for, a desktop in a small case with serious power. Same with MacBooks/Pros - small, sexy, sleek. They get peoples interest - and cost more

i am sure the small marjin can be 'made up' on selling keyboards and mice and screens and games and software and anything else - if the sames person is good - its just a copout that the sales person doesnt want to do it... the shop doesnt offer performance indicators or bonsus based on that stuff i dont quite know - but basically saying 'there is no profit in it' isnt true - if there is no profit they wont move - WE JUST GET TOLD THAT so they wont have to give us a discount when we ask for one... i tell you folks ASK ASK ASK - dont take no for an answer - cause i have always been able to get a discount on everything... if you cant get a discount on the MAIN item get them to 'throw in' the extras or give you more then fifty percent discount on the peripherials... maybe its a printer you need... dont take no for an answer - if they say no - they are loosing the business - there are a gazilion stores out there...

Well the minis are that out of date its not funny anymore. I wouldnt buy a mini in a million years.

It takes someone with a bit of sales savvy from the TV department to borrow a Mini from the computer department nearby, hook it up to one of their "home theatre" displays and demo the full solution to customers - make 2 sales out of the one store display....

As I said.. "savvy" is a pre-requisite.

Ang

I mean are there that many tv's out there with DVI ports?

Every single LCD sold right now has DVI or HDMI. They're just big monitors, with a resolution of 1366 x 768 or 1920 x 1080

Exactly. In fact this was supposed to be the whole way stores could differentiate themselves, by selling minis with the best add-on bundles. I remember at least one of the major department stores doing it at first, but they seem to have slackened off (maybe because the price was approaching that of the entry-level iMac anyway).

Retailers make about $3 on Mac mini's...

well not really $3, but it is f*ck all - less than 10%, last time I checked it was about $50...
also, Mac mini's just aren't as popular as the portables or iMacs.