Just recently, Microsoft unveiled their own range of dedicated stores in which they'll showcase their software and technologies, as well as directly compete with the opposing Apple Stores. Of course, with stores, you'll need managers and sales staff, which is apparently where Apple comes in. According to anonymous sources that spoke to The Loop, the Redmond-based software company has been offering jobs with higher pay and benefits to staff in Apple Stores, hoping to draw them away from the competition.How it's working is that Microsoft offers a job to an Apple Store manager, who then takes the position and contacts the employees he or she once reigned over, hoping to get them to jump ship as well; to help persuade them, it is said that Microsoft has even offered to cover moving costs in some circumstances. This is, understandably, a very enticing offer for most, though it's unclear how well it's working out so far.
Some believe this is a rather clever move from Microsoft, even though others might think it's a bit wrong; by taking the top sales people from Apple, Microsoft can grow and Apple will suffer. As The Loop reminds us, it was revealed in July that Microsoft's stores were to be modeled after Apple's, with product tables on display and even a Genius Bar equivalent, named the Guru Bar.
Backwards, forward, sideways, some people will do anything to change reality into their favor. Much easier than accepting you are wrong.
The issue you would have if you take this offer is job security. How long will Microsoft put up with these stores if they don't pull in the cash?
Nah, that's a bit more recent. I'm talking about when Apple just began developing the iPhone, and picked up a large amount of Palm staff. I wanna say I heard it in an Engadget podcast so I'll go check it out.
EDIT: Here it is. Although I screwed up the numbers real bad. Apple hired 2% of of the Palm workforce if I read it right.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/20/palms-c...al-plea-to-sto/
However, in more recent news, Palm definitely has been hiring/poaching from many top tier companies including Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
Last edited by Trong on 22 Sep 2009 - 05:07
it isn't illegal so this is a non-story... well its a flamebait story is what it is
You think MS is going to advertise that they bribed Apple employees? Seems more like something that would be in one of those Apple ads; the PC guy handing out $$$ so people like him.
I worked at a local Office Depot before it even opened. Helped with setup and all that. When it opened I would sell business machines (computers, fax machines, copiers, ect). I do not remember how long it was (Worked there years ago) but I would say within a week or two I was paged to a call. It was someone from CompUSA down the street trying to get me to work over there. Funny thing was I worked at that store a few years before that and left. After talking to some of the other sales people they got similar calls within a month of the location opening.
You clearly have never been to a Mac store. I had an old ipod touch that broke, took it in, and the guy I spoke to new what they were talking about, unlike every other single computer store I have been in. It is laughable hearing someone try to justify buying the more expensive PC because it has a slightly faster processor, and you can download email AND listen to music at the same time.
They clearly know enough to work in an Apple Store copy, lol.
As opposed to buying the more expensive PC because it's Apple?
I buy IBM Thinkpads when I need a Window laptop. They are more expensive, but I consider them worth it. Just the same as a mac, but the mac comes with a better OS in my opinion.
I buy $1000 bottles of water because I think its worth it and it comes with better water in my opinion.
Awesome justification.
Maybe we'll actually get some good customer service at the Microsoft Stores. I can't wait for them to open one near me at some point.
Not exactly true. In the high tech industry almost every directors/senior directors knows each other. When you hop around companies it will eventually catch up to you. Why? Because you have become too expensive to "keep" in the company, and with the fact that now the directors/senior directors know you will leave the company you are at when there's a better offer so the chance they will hire you when you are looking for another job at another company will be almost zero.
In addition, when you become too expensive to "keep" so the next batch of layoff you will be first in line.
Yes, I'm imagining Microsoft worker creation lines now. These IBM arms, these Cisco legs, and these heads we stole from Apple.
Seriously now, how do you expect a company to "create" store managers?
Apple = Pwned
http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2009/09/22...loyee-walk-out/
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.