Taking the opposite approach of most American students, China’s Peking University student body is mad at Apple for placing an Apple store inside the campus library. Why? Because it “goes against the spirit and environment” of studying.
Apple’s new “Experience Center” in the Peking campus library (China’s most prestigious university) allows for students to see and touch Apple’s products without actually buying them in-store. Apple’s product line is displayed in a glass structure for students to observe and use.
An employee of the Peking library explains:
“We have worked with Apple to provide a better learning environment to our students. The center aims to offer students more access to study materials and information through high technology. We will install study-related software to assist students using digital methods.”
While in-store sales don’t take place in the Apple Experience Center, students can show their student ID and order online from the Macs on display. Seems like a good idea, right? The students themselves strongly disagree:
“It’s totally against the spirit and environment of the library. Apple should have discounts or give-back activities if they want self-promotion, other than introducing this commercial thing into a sacred place like this.”
“Learning and shops should be separate. Why opening an Apple shop inside a library? Isn’t this a promotion strategy of Apple?”
A professor’s opinion:
“It’s good to have a digital service to help students study, but the location should be somewhere independent that does not disturb others.”
We think it’s awesome that Apple decided to open a store in China’s most prominent university library. Perhaps the location of the Experience Center could be placed separate from the library itself, but nevertheless, it was a great idea.
What do you think? Should Apple have opened a store in Peking University’s library?
(via M.I.C Gadget)
