First Apple Reseller FirstTech Is Closing Down

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On March 20, 2014

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Back when Apple first began selling Macs back in the 1970s, their first batch went to Team Electronics in the Twin Cities. Later Team Electronics became FirstTech, a Minneapolis tech dealer that has prided itself on being the world’s first Apple reseller.

However according to a report released Wednesday they will be shutting down March 29th, and will be hosting a liquidation sale beginning on Thursday.

According to product manager Fred Evans, “It happened very quickly, it was very emotional but very nice. We have a lot of really nice people who work here.”

Evans stated that the biggest problem for the company was shrinking hardware margins and national vendors getting more and more aggressive vendors. As he noted they have “basically been willing to sell the computer equipment below cost to go after the national service business,”

FirstTech, which marked its 35th anniversary in 2012, weathered hit after hit as it fought to stay in business over the decades. However perhaps one of the biggest competitors actually came from Apple itself who opened several stores in the area,  including one which opened in 2010, just blocks away on Hennepin Avenue.