Excited about the Surface tablet? Want to see one in person, instead of online, or if you are lucky, at a Microsoft Store near you...(Mmmm not a chance there).
Well great news, they are now being sold at your local Staples or Best Buy locations!!! Or is it great news?
Let me tell you about the great maketing fail by both of these retail outlets. First, I visited Best Buy, excited that I may finally get to touch a Surface tablet and explore all the many features I have been reading about. My anticipation was high as I walked into the store. I read that they would be displayed in the Mobile department as well as the computer section of the store. I walked in and immediately saw what I thought was the tablet but shook my head in disapointment when I saw the display. Complete and utter marketing failure!!! There were 3 key immediate features that were not in play here. First, the screen was locked, and no one knew the password, not even the Best Buy GeekSquad manager, seriously?!...come on. Next, I noticed that no keyboard was present, no mention of it anywhere in the display. Finally, I went to pick it up and test the kick stand...FAIL!!! couldn't access it because the security lock on the back of the display model kept the kickstand from being opened.
Frustrated and confused, I asked the set up manager why this "Surface" display was set up this way. I mentioned that 3 key features are going to be missed if this display is not fixed. He looked puzzled and said Mmmm, not sure what happened. I have a picture of it on my phone set up correctly from earlier this morning. I looked at the picture and sure enough there the Surface was standing tall with keyboard and kickstand out and opened as well as the new interface. Curious. I then asked "What the heck happened between this morning and this afternoon. He said "not sure". Then a strange thing happened. He went on a rant about how he hated Microsoft because they put small business competion out of business and that they are an evil empire. "I will never use a Microsoft product again" he quipped. Wow, seriously! Then it dawned on me that maybe that picture was for show, showing the display set up correctly to satisfy a Microsoft requirement, and then after the picture, they set it up whatever way the saw fit.
If Microsoft expects to boost sales of the Surface tablet, and market this excellant tablet as it should, then they should market this product like Apple does. I would have purchased an endcap in the store with two Surface Tablets on display, one with the touch pad and one with the keypad. The display would have "Microsoft Surface" in large bold letters above the two as well as logo and other advertising materials displayed accordingly. I would put as much fanfare in the display as Apple puts in theirs.
The Surface tablet is innovative and can be a home run if someone in Marketing gets off their lazy butts and innovate instead of procrastinate! I plan to do a YouTube video about this subject. Stay tuned! In the mean time check out a few pics of the display I snapped to show the fail in action.
Well great news, they are now being sold at your local Staples or Best Buy locations!!! Or is it great news?
Let me tell you about the great maketing fail by both of these retail outlets. First, I visited Best Buy, excited that I may finally get to touch a Surface tablet and explore all the many features I have been reading about. My anticipation was high as I walked into the store. I read that they would be displayed in the Mobile department as well as the computer section of the store. I walked in and immediately saw what I thought was the tablet but shook my head in disapointment when I saw the display. Complete and utter marketing failure!!! There were 3 key immediate features that were not in play here. First, the screen was locked, and no one knew the password, not even the Best Buy GeekSquad manager, seriously?!...come on. Next, I noticed that no keyboard was present, no mention of it anywhere in the display. Finally, I went to pick it up and test the kick stand...FAIL!!! couldn't access it because the security lock on the back of the display model kept the kickstand from being opened.
Frustrated and confused, I asked the set up manager why this "Surface" display was set up this way. I mentioned that 3 key features are going to be missed if this display is not fixed. He looked puzzled and said Mmmm, not sure what happened. I have a picture of it on my phone set up correctly from earlier this morning. I looked at the picture and sure enough there the Surface was standing tall with keyboard and kickstand out and opened as well as the new interface. Curious. I then asked "What the heck happened between this morning and this afternoon. He said "not sure". Then a strange thing happened. He went on a rant about how he hated Microsoft because they put small business competion out of business and that they are an evil empire. "I will never use a Microsoft product again" he quipped. Wow, seriously! Then it dawned on me that maybe that picture was for show, showing the display set up correctly to satisfy a Microsoft requirement, and then after the picture, they set it up whatever way the saw fit.
If Microsoft expects to boost sales of the Surface tablet, and market this excellant tablet as it should, then they should market this product like Apple does. I would have purchased an endcap in the store with two Surface Tablets on display, one with the touch pad and one with the keypad. The display would have "Microsoft Surface" in large bold letters above the two as well as logo and other advertising materials displayed accordingly. I would put as much fanfare in the display as Apple puts in theirs.
The Surface tablet is innovative and can be a home run if someone in Marketing gets off their lazy butts and innovate instead of procrastinate! I plan to do a YouTube video about this subject. Stay tuned! In the mean time check out a few pics of the display I snapped to show the fail in action.
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