Google will start selling products at its pop-up stores this week - The Verge
source link: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/10/17/16489796/google-pop-up-store-pixel-2-for-sale-home-mini
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Google doesn't have any dedicated hardware stores like Apple or Microsoft, but it has previously experimented with pop-up demo experiences where users can test products before buying them online through the Google Store. That's changing today... sort of.
The company confirmed to The Verge that it will begin selling hardware at these temporary locations this year. The Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, and Google Home Mini will go on sale in New York City and in Los Angeles on Thursday. The rest of the new devices will follow as they're released over the next few weeks.
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The company opened the retail spaces in West Hollywood in LA and the Flatiron District in New York. Both locations are open from October 19th through December 31st, so clearly, they'll be around for last-minute holiday shopping.
Given that Pixel 2 orders are already backordered online, the physical stores might have a more plentiful supply. We wouldn't expect them to be overflowing with phones, but they might at least give users a better shot at grabbing a Pixel 2 on launch day.
There are 27 comments.
That’s pitiful. They need to actually open up real stores and in much more than two cities. I already ordered my pixel but I’d love to have a google store that I could go to and use one to see how I feel about it. It’d help with people who are on the fence and having stores help with support.
I guess Google is really committed to a slow buildup of it’s hardware division.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 2:18 PM
to be fair, everything you said you wanted to do you can achieve by going into a verizon store.
I would expect google to just use other stores for displaying their products like most cell phone makers do. Not sure why you think that’s pitiful.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 2:52 PM
Yeah, if you don’t buy your phone unlocked which I do. I honestly want the android version of the iPhone experience except with an open operating system and options from other manufacturers.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:01 PM
to be fair, everything you said you wanted to do you can achieve by going into a verizon store.
Not everyone uses Verizon.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:22 PM
Bingo. I have an unlocked phone, and buy nothing but unlocked phones. Plus carriers do not have the same convenience or knowledge of phones that an Apple store has on iPhones. Hell, carriers are way more annoying and have always pushed phones on me when I simply came in to address a billing issue.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:40 PM
I’d love to have a google store that I could go to and use one to see how I feel about it.
My apologies, I didn’t realize in order to look at phones at Verizon you are required to buy it from them first.
He already bought one online so buying isn’t an issue. Looking at it in person before purchase is, and is very achievable by going into a verizon store.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:51 PM
And I probably will do that, unfortunately carrier staff aren’t as knowledgeable as they should be. Not a problem for me, but it is for common people. Plus, I’d like support from Google at a store. Especially if they’re gonna keep charging those premiums, which I’m fine paying but not enough people are.
Posted on Oct 18, 2017 | 8:10 AM
That’s pitiful
I mean, did you expect them to have hundreds of permanent stores overnight? Samsung sells by far the most phones of any company, and they don’t really have a retail presence at all.
Give it time. This is exactly what Google should be doing, building slowly but surely.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:42 PM
No, but this is an announcement that they’re putting up temporary stores. So not even one permanent store. And Samsung is selling phones based on everything but support and customer service. If Google wants to charge $850 and reach even half of the sales of Apple or Samsung flagships, they should go after having great support too. Unless they secretly have OLED displays on par with Samsungs.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:49 PM
Not sure I follow your logic. It’s okay for Samsung to not have stores because they have great OLED displays? OK…
How about the Pixel’s unbeatable camera, immediate software updates and lag-free UI. How much "cred" does that get them in your scale of not-needing vs needing a retail presence?
You’re using flawed logic. The point is, nobody NEEDS a retail presence but it is nice to have. I’d rather see Google do these pop-up shops before diving head-first into permanent stores. Like I said, they will learn slowly but surely. They tried jumping head-first into smartphone manufacturing when they bought Motorola, and that turned out terribly. Let’s watch and see what moves they make going forward.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 7:28 PM
Yes, it is ok. People literally make that tradeoff for their screens. And right now no android manufacturer can compete with Apple customer service. Something that grants them more loyalty from their customers. The only other company that comes close is Samusng, based on their screens and now their designs. And opening one permanent store is far from jumping in head-first. By that logic, opening two pop up stores is jumping in head-first and Google should slow down!
Posted on Oct 18, 2017 | 8:13 AM
Even if they wanted temporary stores, I wish they would do what Amazon’s been doing in our area and having large kiosks at malls that showcase all their products. It’s a nice middle-ground to pop-up and permanent store.
Posted on Oct 18, 2017 | 12:15 PM
I’m just hoping they do more pop up stores next time and open a permanent store or two as well.
Posted on Oct 18, 2017 | 12:49 PM
Yeah, me too. I just missed the NY store by a couple weeks, but I’ll be down in West Hollywood next month so I’m hoping to stop by to at least see their products in person.
Posted on Oct 18, 2017 | 3:27 PM
I pre-ordered from Project Fi with a shipping estimate of Nov. 6, I selected financing. Can I cancel my Fi preorder and go to this pop up store and do the same financing?
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:15 PM
I imagine you should be able to, they say they won’t bill you until it ships. I’d recommend if you took that route to do so sooner than later. Like on this Thr so you can cancel in time, otherwise I’d just wait.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 4:22 PM
how did you do that ? i clicked like nuts the minute the order button went online and my delivery is Nov. 23rd… waaa
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 5:19 PM
For an XL? Or the standard one? I tried to get a panda XL but its page started crashing. Eventually it came back up as sold out. I had to get the black XL but it delivers this month, on the 25th. I’m confused why your delivery is so late when I ordered my phone at least two hours after preordering went live.
Posted on Oct 18, 2017 | 8:18 AM
yeah, a panda XL — the page was crashing for me too, went "sold out" then back and that’s when i finally managed to order it. my precious !
Posted on Oct 19, 2017 | 1:14 PM
Oh the panda! That explains it. I wanted that phone so bad but I was busy at work when preorders went up. So of course I missed out on it. I’m jealous. Went with the still attractive but less exciting black XL. But it does get here sooner at least.
Posted on Oct 19, 2017 | 1:19 PM
Is there a website like the pop up shop for the google home mini donut event? What are the addresses and hours?
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:24 PM
Opps I meant to ask a website for the pixel pop up shot like the donut shop one. I found it, wrote it in a new comment below.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:37 PM
Wow, had to do my own Googling. Page is here: https://store.google.com/magazine/pop_up
New York City store will be located at 110 Fifth Avenue
Los Angeles store will be located at 8552 Melrose Avenue
Both are 10am to 8pm.
Posted on Oct 17, 2017 | 3:31 PM
I don’t see Google’s Pixel line succeeding, unless they launch large physical stores in all the major big cities to rival stores run by Apple and Microsoft.
The cutesy pop-up store ain’t gonna do it, and relying on carrier stores will be a failing strategy, as Apple and Galaxy are too rooted in mind share there.
From phones to laptops to desktops to dongles to streamers to Wi-Fi routers to voice assistants, Google has a ton of hardware to show off. They’re already 5 years too late, but better late than never, as they need to own how their line of devices is shown off in high traffic areas, if they’re going to win mind share. They can even push their cloud services as well.
In fact, Google has an opportunity to bring back the Nexus program for phones and other hardware with stronger partner requirements that match the Pixel "reference devices," but with a large focus on allowing Google to push OS updates whenever available (but keeping manufacturers’ "skins" in place with Android O’s new infrastructure), as well as a focus on its Fi wireless service.
I argue that showcasing these Nexus premiere partner devices alongside its own hardware in Google branded stores across the nation is the only chance Google has to succeed with Pixel. Calling their sales anemic so far is an understatement.
Posted on Oct 31, 2017 | 1:35 AM
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