RBC: Apple CEO’s departure won’t scare customers

By on Feb 23, 2011 at 9:00 AM
Retail February 23, 2011

Data from a survey released by RBC Capital Markets on Wednesday suggests that Apple customers’ buying intentions will not be impacted by Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ eventual departure from his role as chief executive. While pundits and analysts continue to panic over the possibility that the Apple chief may relinquish his role while on medical leave, RBC’s survey suggests customers aren’t quite as worried. 3,091 Apple customers responded to RBC’s survey between January 31st and February 9th, and 93% said they would continue buying Apple products once Jobs steps down. These results differ from data obtained from a similar survey conducted when Jobs took medical leave in 2008. At that time, 18% of respondents said they would be less likely to buy Apple’s wares. RBC suggests that the results indicate “Apple may be bigger than its CEO,” and that the company will continue to thrive in his absence. During Jobs’ last medical leave, Apple stock rose 144% and revenue rose 20%. RBC does note a potential long-term negative impact however, as Jobs is currently viewed as “Apple’s chief innovator, dealmaker, leader, motivator, and is deeply involved in minute decisions.”

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38 Comments

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  • Jobs_Leaving

    I’m not really concerned about Jobs’ departure. With the introduction of Honeycomb, I think that Apple will do great — it looks like a really good OS that the Company will be able to integrate into some of its newer devices, including the iPhone 5g and the new Xoom iPad. I ordered mine at Best Buy yesterday and think it’s going to be great.

    • F Of

      HAHAHA! me neither but its from Zach. Steve’s cocksucker

    • Troy Loisel

      The Xoom is not the iPad 2. It is Motorolas tablet.

    • http://twitter.com/Davva360 David Moore

      LOL I hope this was some kind of joke comment.

      Honeycomb = Android which is Google not Apple.
      Xoom = manufactured by Motorola not Apple.

    • Anonymous

      I think I just found a new best friend. Sorry Goofan.

    • Bluelou65

      so much fail………not sure if serious.

  • Kld2009

    Who’s Steve Jobs?

    • Troy Loisel

      Are you an Apple person? If not, don’t worry.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=503037611 Brett Smith

    Those silly Canadians don’t have a clue.

  • http://twitter.com/Davva360 David Moore

    I am not concerned. There is no doubt he is a charismatic CEO who likes to be involved in details of his business but he is not the only person in the company with ideas, focus and drive. I wish him well and hope he recovers soon, but when the time comes for him to relax and enjoy life the company will do fine.

  • Anonymous

    Once Jobs leaves you will see iOS looking way more like Android. You hear that iPhone lovers? Widgets, live wallpapers, actual customization is on the way! :-P

    • Anonymous

      Force closes, fragmentation of the platform, and half baked apps compared to the competition? God I hope so!

      • Anonymous

        I have an iPad. Guess what? Apps crash on there too, but just because there’s no notification that tells you it crashed doesn’t mean it didnt happen. Half baked apps? There’s a bunch that are better on Android.

      • Anonymous

        There are not really but if that makes you feel better. However as long as its free and open I don’t care. With DROID I at least get the apps for free because sites steal them. A lot harder and a pain on iOS.

      • Anonymous

        I’m serious. Apps force close on iOS as well, but theres no notification that tells you they do. Your screen just freezes and goes back to the home screen. Anywho, to each his own, I would say since the designers have more options on Android apps they actually look more unique. Also, if you have a low spec’d Andriod phone AND you come on here regularly then thats your own fault. You should be nerdier than that. =P

      • Anonymous

        You need to learn this difference between DROID and Android. Clearly you’re not educated enough to make the kinds of assumptions and evaluations you’re constantly purporting on this site.

        All of your arguments are dead. Android is the #1 smartphone OS, the people have spoken. Cry fragmentation and apps all you want. Pull your head of out apple’s marketing campaign and realize that it’s just another mobile OS, it doesn’t have some magic pixie dust that just makes it invulnerable to the limitations of a computer system.

  • http://twitter.com/wp7ap a p

    of course not, most Apple users don’t even know who Steve Jobs is, of course his departure does not affect their buying decision. On the other hand, if all their friends stop buying Apple products, that will definitely affect people’s buying decisions. Buying Apple product is “trending” at this point, and like most trends, it will go away sooner or later.

  • Anonymous

    Job’s isn’t going to be departing his position while on medical leave, he’s going to be departing his life. Which is very sad because he has truly been an innovator. I give him less than 6 months.

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  • http://twitter.com/sjpy sayi yendrapalli

    Am I the only one concerned? Steve is the best salesman of this generation. Apple will badly miss him at those product launches!

    • Chut Pata

      He is a good salesman just because customers trust his name which is around for more than 30 years now as an innovators. Every enterprise has a icon who is adventurous, takes risks, and fills the company with energy. After him, things are taken over by a committee who would not take any action until a feasibility report proves that it has a lot of profit. They do not invest in R&D, bloats profits, takes fat bonuses, and then leave company with a fatter severance package, only to see the hollowed company fall later on.

    • Anonymous

      He’s actually a terrible salesman. He’s awful on stage. His voice is shrill and obnoxious, and he looks like a corpse.

      But, as far as everything marketing (product design, selecting target markets, pricing) there is no one better.

  • http://mindmirror007.blogspot.com/p/home.html Sathya

    The real question should be “Is Apple scared of Jobs leaving?” not costumers! No one gives rats a** about a CEO of the company as long as they like the product …. but can Apple, as a company, keep bringing the shiny, though at times useless, products and sell them in millions without its dictator?

  • Anonymous

    I see two issues here. First, this is from analysts, many of whom have an interest in Apple stock or have told their clients to buy the stock. They need to keep the momentum going and don’t want to see a huge drop in stock price. The analysts will trump them up in any way possible, because they have to.

    Second, there is a false assumption here. It isn’t about whether people will continue to buy Apple products. It is about whether Apple will continue to make the next “magical” and shiny thing.

  • Chut Pata

    Customers think the innovations are coming from Apple company. Apple people know the nuts and bolts are coming from the company, but it was Steve who came up with the ideas that only end users would appreciate, and then he used his power to enforce them.

    Desktop, iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad were ideas anyone would come up with (atleast I thought), but nobody dare take the risk of producing and marketing it. I still dream of a Nintendo DS style Kindle that I could hold like my pocket book and read pulp fiction in my bed or my coffee table.

    After Steve, Apple would become Microsoft that did not invent iPhone, did not follow iPhone like Android, but followed Android and yet is still far behind.

  • Anonymous

    He got the company on the right direction. The future of the company, hopefully a 3rd come back won’t be needed should he have to leave permanently.

  • Umm Yeah

    I know when he left to form NeXT and Scully took over, Apple did great. That Newton REALLY took over the market…

    Jobs seems to have a good eye for design and a user interface that has disappeared in the past when he left. It really depends on who takes his place and whether or not they have Jobs’s eye for industrial design.

  • Anonymous

    Steve Jobs departure may not scare customer but Wallstreet and stock analyst will send the stock for a nosedive.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah, customers wont be scared. The stock will crash and the products will go to crap as the years roll on. This is why apple sucks. It’s not a company. It’s ONE person. Steve Jobs. Once he’s gone, apple will follow quickly thereafter.

  • Biggles

    No, Job’s departure won’t scare customers. However, RBC’s waste-of-time user polls should scare their investors. If history teaches us anything, we don’t respond to the loss of executives. We respond to the product going in the dumper. As long as the two don’t happen as part of a cause/effect scenario, nothing will change here. I’m all for job stimulus, but someone is wasting somebody’s money coming up with and conducting polls that ultimately reflect the obvious.

  • Badchad

    I don’t think anyone cares who the CEO is.

    If the absence of Jobs affects actual PRODUCTS then there will be trouble. I broad outline is probably laid out for 2-5 years down the line so the absence of Steve-o won’t be felt for some time.

    But if Jobs and his vision are TRULT the dirving force behind Apple, then the company is done for once he’s gone. Although Apple may be an exception. Their flock is so fiercely loyal that they could stamp an Apple on a turd and it would sell.

    Apple need only worry about their marketing department. Who will be left to sell the kool-aid?

  • Cltbxr13

    Please copy and paste this into your status if you know someone, or have been affected by someone, who needs a punch in the fucking face. People who need a punch in the fucking face affect the lives of many. There is still no known cure for people who need a punch in the fucking face, except a punch in the fucking face. 93% of people won’t re-post this…Why? Because..They probably need a punch in the fucking face.

  • Alexander530

    Although there can only be one Steve Jobs, I believe that Apple will do just fine when it’s time for him to step down. He will not be Apple’s CEO forever, but he would want his legacy to live on even after he leaves Apple. He already knows who’s taking over his position, and I am sure that he’s already been mentoring that person well. Apple has learned a lot from Steve, and they should know a thing or two by now on how to keep things going well for Apple. Steve’s masterplan will live on.

  • David

    “… is deeply involved in minute decisions.”

    ie, he is mostly a control freak.

  • iHate Turtle necks!

    Medical leave my ass, Jobs is being a pussy! He was at the dinner with the president and all other tech heads last week!

    iHope he gets hit by a bus for his departure!

  • Anonymous

    I wonder if they can get that filthy black “mock” turtleneck shirt off of him for a thorough examination… The dude creeps me out.

  • Marco

    It won’t scare customers but Apple won’t be the same and the great thin products Jobs developed won’t be for sale… people won’t be inclined to buying the latest and thinest Apple products as Apple will be like every other company!!!

  • http://twitter.com/anthonygobot Anthony Gobot

    It is reading your guys trash talking posts about Steve Jobs. I have sat with someone through 6 months of chemo and you quickly realize how fragile life is. Give the man a break.

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