Just came across this item on itnews.com.au - could this indicate that Apple are considering their own retail stores here?

The existing resellers are also going to be asked to reapply for reseller certification, with some designated Premium and some as simply Authorised Resellers.

It will be interesting to see where this is going...

hopefully get rid of the stupid rule of having spare parts located only at the warehouse!

This is kinda funny because Next Byte just rebranded themselves and their uniforms to say "AppleCentre Next Byte".... whoops :P

Very interesting...i wonder whats going to happen after this takes place...hopefully they'll open up at least one AppleStore somewhere, like i mean, Australia has exactly 0 AppleStores...they don't even have one in Sydney of all places!!!!

you look at the service that apple in canada/usa, and compare it to here...

at least in america, you can get a 4 hour turnaround on repairs :\

That too...compared to what happens in the US, Apple AU is a joke.

Compared to Apple Japan too, AU is a joke.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mechcon @ Aug 2 2006, 09:57 AM) [snapback]200457[/snapback]</div>Apple Australia suck...there is no two ways about it.

If they open actual Apple Stores here, that might bode well for not being treated like the arse-end of the world anymore - i.e, timely product releases (Nike + iPod, I'm looking at you) and iPhoto books directly from Apple.

Perhaps the resellers can use the brand name "Buzzle"...

I suppose the only way around having spare parts at apple resellers, is to purchase x amount of notebooks and desktops, and pull'em all apart? :\

Interesting, very interesting.

When I answer the phone at work, I say "AppleCenter Malvern, Anthony speaking, how can I help you?" (as cheery as possible of course). My uniform has a big APPLECENTER emblazoned across the back too. Not to mention the large signs out the front.

But, it could be a good thing. Far too many people think all the AppleCenters are one large chain and ask us about stock levels at other stores that aren't us. Or say "your other store is giving free iPods if you buy a comptuer! Why can't you match that?!" - it's not our store sir :P

Hopefully it's just a step towards Apple opening 30 stores country-wide and jacking up their level of service for the Australian market.

yes, i wondered about this here. in SAfrica we not allowed the name. i think distinction needs to be made. Apple do have a whole naming scheme thing, so it is inline with the trend.
eventually from what i can gather, i don't see Apple doing anything like knocking up a a chain of stores. Australia's market is a big one, but i think they can see the interest and how relatively well the resellers here are pushing the product. yes, they do need to put in a better part support structure. and al least an Apple centre in the major cities. this however will be decided on based on sales in each city.
i do look forward to the day u can get a repair done in a few hours! why not!!

I'm guessing some of the owners already knew this. The largest chain of stores here in Perth, Digilife, have not branded themselves as an AppleCentre as such for a few years now. It will suck for those stores that did get wholeheartedly behind the AppleCentre branding (and spent a small fortune over the years pushing the brand).

You can tell Apple were going to do something - the AppleCentre ad in Aust. Macworld still has a rev a G5 iMac with an external iSight in their ad! Shows how much they really care about resellers :-)

and have genius/pro bars too! :P