Microsoft is reportedly shutting down all of its offline authorized stores. The company has announced its decision to streamline its channels in the mainland Chinese market.
Recently, several bloggers have posted on social media platforms claiming that Microsoft will close all offline authorized stores in China, leaving only the official online store and the flagship store on JD.com.
One user, claiming to be the manager of the “Microsoft Zhengzhou David City Store,” stated that this is the reason why Microsoft did not allocate display unit quotas for the new products recently released (Surface Pro 11 and Laptop 7) to national distributors. However, Microsoft’s national official after-sales service centers continue to operate normally, and channels for enterprise versions are also functioning normally.
According to IT House, Microsoft’s online retail business in China will only retain the Microsoft China official online store and the Microsoft self-operated official flagship store on JD.com. All offline authorized stores in China will be closed, while the national official after-sales service centers will remain open.
In response, a Microsoft spokesperson stated on July 1 that Microsoft continuously evaluates its retail strategy to meet the evolving needs of customers. Microsoft has decided to streamline its channels in the mainland Chinese market. Customers can still obtain Microsoft’s full range of consumer products and services through retail partners and Microsoft.com.
According to The Paper, several Microsoft authorized stores in Shanghai and Beijing have shut down in the past few days, while some stores have not received closure notices and are still operating normally, albeit without the new Microsoft products like Surface Pro 11 and Laptop 7.
Some store owners mentioned that stores solely responsible for computer products are indeed closing down, while larger stores with a richer product range can “transform” into Xbox retail experience stores to renew contracts with Microsoft. Several stores have confirmed that warranty services for purchased products will not be affected by store closures.
Currently, on the Microsoft official online store, there are 51 stores listed in mainland China under the “Find a Store” section. However, many are Xbox experience stores and Shundian Microsoft Experience Zones, with only 7 stores named as “Microsoft Authorized Stores” remaining, located in cities such as Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, and Wuhan.
Earlier in mid-May, The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft had consulted employees in its cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) departments in China about their willingness to transfer overseas, involving around 700 to 800 employees who could choose to relocate to the United States, Australia, and other locations. Microsoft responded that a small number of employees were offered the opportunity for international transfers, and they could choose to accept the transfer or continue working in their current positions.