(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
|
|
| Apple Japan Names 18 Companies as New "iMAC" Distributors
|
|
August 28, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Apple Japan Inc. named 18 large personal computer
distributors in Japan, including Laox Co., Ltd. and Sofmap Co., Ltd.,
to promote its new "iMac" to consumers.
|
eduled to be launched on Aug. 29 in Japan.
Apple already said it intends to restrict retailers entitled to handle
the iMac model because it places importance on their role in proposing
solutions to purchasers. Three companies, including Ado Electronic Industrial
Co., Ltd., were selected earlier to sell iMac. The announcement this
time brings the total number of retailers to 21.
A host of PC retailers have stopped accepting advanced orders for iMac
from customers.
Even Shimamura Music, which was quick to sign a distributor agreement
with Apple Japan, has been declining to accept advanced orders because,
"We have no idea how many units of iMac will be delivered, and we cannot
promise our customers we can hand over iMacs to them on the day they
reserved."
Ado Electronic Industrial intends to prioritize delivery of new arrivals
to users who reserved in advance. However, the company stopped accepting
new reservation orders, and instead, decided to place orders as they
are made after the Aug. 29 launch.
As to the supply conditions, retailers agree that it is difficult to
know how things will turn out. However, each retailer appears to be
in a different situation.
"All we can do is to secure the number of units we have for orders already
accepted in advance," Sofmap said.
"We may be able to secure what we expect to sell on the first day of
the launch," Laox said.
Commenting on retailers which stopped taking advanced orders, "That's
solely retailers' own judgment. In any case, Apple never acknowledged
the advanced order system," Apple said.
Apple and contracted distributors plan to frequently exchange information
on the status of deliveries and sales.
"We will never fall into a situation where delivery takes several months
from order placement. iMac will be produced in accordance with consumer
demand, not like the World Cup tickets that were in limited numbers,"
Apple explained.
Related stories:
Only Retailers with Skillful Sales Staff to Sell
iMac: Apple Japan's Director
Apple Japan to Start Sales of iMac at Low Price
on Aug. 29
(Nikkei
OR: Personal Computing, Hi-Tech News Center)
|
|
|
