Chowdhry's Channel Checks Are In: Microsoft Holiday Sales A 'Non-Event,' Apple Stood Out

• In a recent report, Global Equities Research’s Trip Chowdhry took a look into Microsoft Corporation MSFT’s sales.
• Based on the stores the firm monitored, below are some observations.

How were Microsoft’s sales? How did PCs, Xbox, the Band and other products fare? These are the questions that Chowdhry sought to respond.

According to the report, only “a handful of people” bought Xboxes and laptops. Moreover, the analysts did not see people purchasing the Microsoft Band.

What they were unable to monitor were Office 365 subscription sales, for which Microsoft offered a $50 discount.

The Eternal Rivalry

Chowdhry pointed out some significant differences between Apple Inc. AAPL’s approach and Microsoft’s strategy for this holiday season. The former had “a platform based approach to holiday sales, which had been extremely well targeted to the customer interests."

• Gamers
• Photography
• Music
• Fitness
• Learning
• Travel

“The Apple expert sales people, both at the traditional retailers as well as at Apple Store, highlighted the Apps that fit the users interest,” he added.

"For instance, if a customer defined himself/herself as a gamer, the salesperson would make emphasis on the game apps on iPad, iPhone and Apple TV; if someone was into fitness instead, the salesperson would highlight the fitness apps on Apple Watch, and Apple TV."

Ultimately, it was the apps that differentiated Apple’s platform from the rest. On the other hand, Microsoft was “almost a non-event at the stores we monitored,” the report concluded.

Disclosure: Javier Hasse holds no positions in any of the securities mentioned above.