Apple's Authorized Reseller Simply Mac to Close Business and File For Bankruptcy, Blames COVID-19 Pandemic

Simply Mac, Apple's authorized retail and service provider, announced that it would shut down its business after 16 years because of pandemic-related financial difficulties.

Unfortunately, it is not clear what will happen to the repairs that are yet to be sent back to the customers.

Simply Mac Shuts Down

According to AppleInsider, Simply Mac CEO Rein Voigt sent a letter to the staff members of the company to announce the decision to shut down the operations. All employees will be terminated effective immediately.

Simply Mac was purchased from GameStop in 2019, and in the letter, Voigt told the employees that the company had worked hard to grow and be the preeminent Apple Partner in North America.

Voigt added that they also worked together to provide their customers with a "transformational experience that drive long-term loyalty." However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the reseller to lay off half its workforce and close several stores in the United States.

Voigt went on to say that the financial performance of the company had never met its expectations and that it had no funding to stock its stores with inventory or fulfill its financial obligations to its customers, partners, and employees.

As for the staff, Voigt admitted that Simply Mac does not have enough funds to pay them, and the company already informed them that they would get notices from bankruptcy court where they will have to submit a claim for outstanding pay, according to MacRumors.

As of January, Simply Mac had 53 stores across the United States. Most of the areas where the Simply Mac store did not have an Apple store nearby.

This means that the customers were reliant on Simply Mac for technical support and a chance to purchase Apple devices like iPhone, Apple AirTag, AirPods, and more.

What This Means to Customers

Now that Simply Mac is out of business, Apple customers will have to rely solely on the services the Apple store offers.

One of the reasons why Apple had agreed to have an authorized reseller and services provider is because of the overcrowding issue that it has with its stores.

According to 9to5Mac, since Apple stores opened across the United States, every single one of them was overflowing with people. This is especially true whenever a new iPhone model drops.

Instead of going around the store to play with the latest tech, customers will have to fight their way through the crowds just to get a look at it, and there are often people on all sides waiting for their turn to try the new device.

The lack of manpower is also an issue, as some customers have stated that it takes them almost 30 minutes to talk to someone.

Simply Mac was formed to help Apple with this dilemma. But now that the company is gone, Apple customers won't have a choice but to go back to the overcrowded Apple stores.

Customers can now visit Apple stores without masks or proof of vaccination.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster