Dana Reports On Maine Sears

"The So. Portland Sears store has the iMac on an end cap, in a small computer section. The display is reminiscent of the BestBuy set up, possibly not as elaborate. The store still had the $1,299. price on it, as the sale doesn't kick in until tomorrow. No Epson 740i in sight but there was space for one next to the iMac. I did see a white 740 @ $269.95 on another shelf with the 440 and 640 all crammed in together. The entire computer section was small, crammed and lack-luster. No salesman approached. A demo was running.

The Brunswick, ME. Sears has the iMac on a top shelf, on one side of a small gondola which has computer gear on both sides. Looks like the iMac was squeezed in with barely room for a mouse and some "take-one" brochures. Signage indicated it was on sale for $1,199. And "a matching Epson printer for $249. after rebate." No 740i in evidence. (This store devotes considerably more floor space to computer furniture - low price and bulky - than it does to computers and peripherals - high price and compact. Poor utilization of retail floor space.)

These iMac displays were mediocre. I was disappointed and I felt sorry for iMac. A stack of tires gets better space at these stores. Of course the sale starts tomorrow. But, Sears has a sale flyer every week and neither of the Sears I visited seem to care very much about computers in general or iMacs in particular. Just another sale item. Ho hum." [Dana Baggett]