New Samsung Store Opens In Australia – Another Example of Apple Envy?

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The jury is still out on the Apple vs Samsung patent trial leaving the fate of the 2 companies’ devices and wallets hanging in the balance. But Samsung isn’t going to let that slow them down, going full steam ahead with their plans to open their own Samsung-branded retail stores around the globe. We saw their first North American retail store open up in Canada a few weeks back, now Samsung is bringing that same aluminum on wood “where-have-I-seen-this-store-before” vibe to Australia.

Okay, okay. I get it. Apple didn’t invent (despite what they might have you believe) nor patent this storefront style. But I guess you could argue they simply made it iconic. It also doesn’t help that Samsung is currently locked in legal battles with Apple, accused of being too inspired by Apple and their products.

If I could be a fly on the wall, I’d love to see how many grandmas and soccer moms casually walk into this Samsung store asking for the new iPad — only to have one of Samsung’s “Smart Tutors” wearing a bright blue shirt point them into the direction of the new Galaxy Note 10.1.

So, what do you guys think? Be honest. At first glance, does this new Samsung store remind you of and Apple Store? And could Samsung really be crazy enough to bank on consumers mistaking their products for another? Crazy? Like a fox.

[Samsung]

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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53 Comments

  1. Samsung’s looks like a mix of Apple and Microsoft. I like this over Apple’s.

  2. Samsung…I like what you are doing.

  3. Where are the Korean girls Chris!!!

    My humble request…please always (as in ALWAYS) post pictures of Korean girls carrying big phones in their small hands when you post about Samsung!!!

      1. But definitely has a great point…

    1. I’m sorry. Wont happen again :c

    2. Please no, not all of us are attracted to asian women. If you really want that I suggest you do a google image search for it.

      1. Majority rules! :D

    3. PERVS!

      (Japanese or Eurasian, please)

      1. What do “Eurasian” girls look like? O_o

        1. Gorgeous. In general, my personal favorite. (Japanese or Amerasian – another “breed” with which you are undoubtedly unfamiliar – would take 2nd place.)

          1. Ahhhh.. the elusive halfies. Yeah, they’re gorgeous.

  4. Grandmas and soccer moms can’t tell the difference between a giant Apple and the word Samsung…? Or? Sorry, I don’t get it.

    1. They’re women….

    2. Sometimes, while I’m waiting in line at the grocery store, I see people pull out the wrong membership card and say “You mean this isn’t ___?” Only to find out they were in the completely wrong store.

      1. Grocery stores have the same products…eg any store will have Oreo cookies. It says on the package. the phones also have distinct
        labels.

  5. Now they’re just begging to have Apple sue them over this

    1. good thing you can’t patent ‘opening a store’… although I’m sure Apple will try.

  6. In business people are imitating each other success. Opening a shop and make the interior a kittle bit similar like their competitor is all right. Many business do that especially Apple (who like to steal idea from others). Talking about apple made it iconinc? “iCon-it” do you mean?

  7. I guess Circuit City, Conns, Best Buy, ect ect copied each other!

    No.

    It’s not like apple invented a modern appealing store. What is with you guys, sometimes I feel like you guys are children that tattle tale. There is nothing wrong with this.

    1. Nobody said there was anything “wrong” with this. It’s just.. interesting. Seeing as how Samsung is being sued for copying Apple.

  8. “see it, feel it, touch it”
    Am I the only one here with a dirty mind?

    1. For the answer to your question, please refer to the comment regarding hot Asian women holding big phones in their small hands. O_o

  9. Lol Samsung keeps in asking for it and I’m pretty sure they’re gonna get it.

  10. I think this is a good thing. Samsung has a wide variety of electronics and appliances. why wouldn’t they have their own store? I think it’ll do better than the Windows store that’s opening at my mall.

    1. sorry, I mean Microsoft. I seriously don’t see that store staying open long

  11. I just walked past this store on George st, sydney.

    1. But did you confuse it for an Apple store?

      1. Confused? You think people can’t read? You think people get confused between a BMW and an Audi? Just another dumb question. All zombies walking around this planet? Can’t tell a green traffic light from a red light? Man, people are looking hard for reasons to call Samsung a copycat !!!

        1. Lol Well, if you’re walking around an outdoor mall, you just kinda wander into places. It’s also easy to confuse one store for another at first glance, but then you realize “Hey, this says Samsung everywhere!”

    2. If we had a Samsung store on George St in Sydney I would have a new favourite haunt.

  12. At one time Sony had store front in the us.

    1. sony has a store here in Gilroy,CA, been here as long as i can remember.

    2. In the Uk we have Sony Centres and Panasonic Shops, in my city they’re opposite each other.

    3. The outlet mall in my home town has had a Sony Outlet since about 1996. Not new for a electronics company to have a fancy store. And I think there was a lot of metal and wood there too…

  13. are we going to bash sony and bestbuy for having stores too?

    1. oh and what about Nobhill and Walmart and Target, does apple own their rights to have a store?

  14. I don’t see how opening a brand specific store is “copying”. There are hundreds of apparel brands that have their own retail chains and no one accuses one of copying the other. It’s smart business: open your own chain; sell only your own products; reap the higher profit margins because you’re cutting out another middle man. Samsung finally realized it has the product lines, diversity, and brand recognition to have its own store and do just that. So, to Samsung I say, “Good on you.”

  15. Sorry but you’d have to be half blind to not spot the huge Samsung names all over the store, to mistake this for an Apple store

    1. Years ago, a woman in my hometown was once trying to sell a black-and-white color TV. She was oblivious to what she was saying.

      With thinking like that, someone, a lot of someones, wanting a new Samsung Galaxy iPad doesn’t seem at all improbable. Not that that would be Samsung’s fault, mind you.

      1. well, black and white are still considered colours

  16. This looks more like a Bose store than an Apple store. That is, if you ignore the giant Samsung Galaxy writing on the wall.

  17. To be entirely honest, Chris, I’ve visited this site less and less lately other than to simply see an enticing headline and go straight to the source link. Most of the journalists have lost credibility with grossly poor information (recently AOKP being based off CM10? /major facepalm) or butchering information taken from their linked source (recently Samsung v. Apple source had the journalist here discuss Motorola v. Apple with false information/butchered statistics). It’s gotten.. bad.

    For you? You’re one of the few with credibility left. That’s where it’s sad to see an article like this. You either are stretching for humor with this article, or you don’t visit techie stores much. Hell, even phone carrier stores, such as Verizon, have stores that look very similar. Poking fun at the “Samsung copying Apple” has gotten stale; new material is required if you’re attempting to humor route.

    1. I’m sorry you disagree with the opinions in this article, but I always invite discussion and encourage others to voice their opinions. I’m glad you voiced yours.

      Back to the article, I for one do feel like Samsung has been going out of their way to become the “South Korean Apple.” A lot of companies have been “copying” many of Apple’s technique’s and business model in an attempt at gaining their same level of success (they’re currently the richest company in the history of companies).

      As a Google/Android fan, I don’t like what I’ve been seeing. But rather than feed our readers what I think they’ll “want to hear,” I give them my honest opinion and again, invite them to make their own.

  18. So what, Sony also has these kind of stores. Wouldn’t mind a Samsung store near me.

  19. Looks exactly like every single mobile phone shop in the UK, they all look like that and did a long time before apple, certainly the high end ones.

  20. Only been to one Samsung store and that is in Westfield East London. I’ve visited four times and been disappointed every time.

    1) Went looking for a case for my Samsung Galaxy Nexus and was told that no case exists and there was no news about a case.

    2) Problem with Samsung Galaxy Nexus regarding an update. Their top guy tried hooking it up to Kies even though GNex doesn’t use Kies. After about half an hour of me telling him that Kies wouldn’t work he gave up. Took my phone to Carphone Warehouse and they fixed it within 20 minutes.

    3) Went shopping for a new TV. Prices were sometimes 50% higher than Currys and John Lewis.

    4) Enquired about a camera for my new TV. At first I was told they had just sold out. Then the guy showed me a camera on their website, however I later found out that it was incompatible with my TV, then told me they never stock the webcams and have had no training on them.

    If Samsung wants to have their own shops then they need to make them worthwhile.

  21. As everyone has stated, there is everything wrong with the ideas you are pushing about Samsung copying Apple’s store design. There are absolutely no grounds to stand on within the realm of ‘copying’. It’s just more rubbish you post with a childish personal slant on it. Your articles lack any humor when you obviously try, and most of the time they lack the necessary facts, breakdowns, quotes, or guides to deliver the message correctly.

    1. At no point in the article did I ever even USE the word “copying.” It’s just similar in design. And the facts in the article are this: Samsung opened up a store in Australia that many other sites are saying looks similar to an Apple Store. I agree with them. No need for quotes, breakdowns or guides on an article such as this.

  22. Apple stores have an air of condescension mixed with paranoia by the staff as they gaze over to see if the cameras are pointed at them.

  23. Whoa. You think Apple invented stores as well? They existed long before Apple was founded. It is just competition. To compete on every front. Why does everyone think no one is allowed to do something Apple does but Apple is allowed to do things other people do?
    Come off it. Mp3 players? Did they not start to make iPods because someone else is producing it? And everyone goes goo goo gaga over it. But when it is the other way around we get comments like YOURS. I see Sammy bashing and iSheep all over again.

  24. Samsung has had two stores in Santiago in Chile for two months now. I don’t have photos but they look like the store in your article.

  25. Because opening stores to sell your product is something Apple has a “patent” for…. They clearly invented this.

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