Visited a Microsoft Retail Store Lately? #GoMicrosoft

Microsoft Retail Store Fulfill All Microsoft-Related Needs, Partnered Post…

Where do you turn for all your Microsoft needs, including technical support and training? Where can you go for your XBox gaming fix? Where are you able to rent a theater space for events such as children’s parties for free? Well, I just recently found out that you can find all that and more at the local Microsoft retail store.

Before last week, I didn’t even know that Microsoft retail stores existed and that there was even one near me in Palo Alto at the Stanford Shopping Center. It was kind of funny that it was only one store down from their competitor’s store.

Microsoft retail stores are so much more than just a place to buy ‘stuff’. You can purchase Microsoft products but that’s just one portion of the services they offer. There are oodles of items on display so you can test them hands-on including the all-new and totally awesome Surface.

Unfortunately, I was too busy exploring the rest of the store and didn’t get to play with one much. I’ll have to do that next time! There were also XBOX and Kinect games, laptops, Windows 8 PCs, phones, and their related accessories.

While I was busy working, my daughter wasted no time in entertaining herself on all the various products. By the way, the wall-to-wall screens really kept the store bright and interesting.

Already have one or more of these but need help using them? Ask an employee for help or make an appointment at the Answer Desk for, well, answers. You can get assistance in setting up parental controls, getting a tune-up on your Microsoft products, or finding out what system is best suited for you and your family.

Don’t worry if you didn’t buy your Microsoft items from this exact location. Just bring them in and the crew will be more than willing to help you out. Or, if you want, you can go online to Microsoftstore.com to get instant help from home or any other place you might be.

You’ll want to check your local store’s calendar for all the events they have lined up. These will include workshops, summer camps, gaming events, networking events, and more. Personal one-on-one training sessions are available able too – all for FREE!

Most of these are held in the sectioned off theater area. The theater area can be reserved (again, for FREE) for groups and events. Food and drinks are allowed. Just call the store’s Community Development Specialist to book the space. The only thing that concerned me was the fact that the theater area is so open and not really private at all. I’d be concerned with noise and food for the reserving party as well as other patrons.

I was really surprised at how open and inviting the store was. No one was hovering over you and trying to pressure you so they could get a sale. In fact, we found the staff to be helpful and pretty knowledgeable.

I also had the chance to hear from Melinda George, Training and Development Specialist from Microsoft stores. Here are a few highlights she shared on our conference call:

• There are 35 full-line Microsoft retail stores (stores with the theater in the back)
• There are 31 Microsoft specialty stores (which can’t accommodate camps but are still fun to visit!) – specialty stores are denoted on the locations page of the website with this symbol: ” “; the specialty stores feature a curated selection of the best Microsoft products
• New U.S. stores are opening all the time
• Since the beginning of Microsoft stores, the brand has embraced families and communities. Every store reaches out to its own community, whether it is planting trees, packing frozen foods, etc.

In regard to personal training and workshops in the theater space, Ms. George related the following:

• Train with Experts: Choose a topic that interests you and learn one-on-one with Microsoft associates at your local store. We have single hour-long classes that offer maximum flexibility, a 3-session subscription, a year-long membership for a variety of courses to buy and redeem in stores, and business training
• Workshops can either be one-on-one or a group training or workshop
• Training can be an ongoing class or a one-time specific topic of your choice (great for homeschool groups)

Tomorrow, May 14th, there’s going to be an exciting Twitter chat with generous prizes. We’ll be checking out the ways Microsoft experts can make our lives easier and how the Microsoft stores are places to shop and fun for everyone.

• When: Thursday, May 14, at 1 p.m. ET (the party will last one hour)
• Where: On Twitter using the #GoMicrosoft hashtag. Feel free to use this TweetGrid
• Prizes: Five winners will receive $25 Microsoft retail store gift cards and one grand prize winner will be chosen for a $500 Microsoft retail store gift card!
• Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite: http://twtvite.com/GoMicrosoft

Lastly, here are some key links to keep you up-to-date:

• Microsoft Store Locator page
• Microsoft retail store Facebook page
• Microsoft retail store @MicrosoftStore on Twitter
• Microsoft retail store Pinterest page

I am being compensated for my participation in this campaign. All opinions are 100% my own.