So as far as Apple and Best Buy are concerned, is the honeymoon over? Heck, did it ever even start? Best Buy used to be an Apple-authorized reseller way back in the Performa days, but it was the first national chain to bow out when Apple started pruning its list of retailers-- so much for that marriage. But once the iMac showed up on the scene and quickly became the hottest selling computer on the market, there looked like there might be a chance for reconciliation. After all, Best Buy is one of the biggest sellers of computers to the consumer market, and Apple makes the best-selling consumer computer. It's only natural that they tried to patch things up and restart a mutually beneficial relationship; last November, Best Buy signed on to sell iMacs in their 300-odd stores nationwide.

Alas, we just don't think it's meant to be. Apple thinks different, whereas Best Buy just doesn't seem to think at all. Reports of shoddy iMac salesmanship and downright abuse of Mac customers at Best Buy stores are ubiquitous, and yet Best Buy seems unable to understand why they're the only company having any trouble selling iMacs. Apple's attempts to get Best Buy to shape up seem to be falling flat-- the proposed mandatory training for Best Buy computer sales personnel isn't sitting well with the Best Buy management, according to Apple Insider. In addition, Best Buy refused delivery of their first shipment of fruit-flavored iMacs, apparently edgy about the idea of stocking and selling five different colors. Things just aren't meshing, you know?

I think we can chalk it all up to irreconcilable differences. The Apple Insider piece quotes a Best Buy representative as saying, "The future of iMacs in Best Buy is uncertain right now, despite the fact that both parties are pretty committed to making it work." But as far as we can tell, neither side will change enough to keep the relationship together. Some things just aren't meant to be. While we hope with all our hearts that Best Buy can somehow transform into a reasonable Apple reseller-- after all, the iMac needs Best Buy's visibility-- we would rather see them call it quits than have their shoddy ways continue. After all, at what other store can you be kicked out and threatened with being arrested simply for wearing a Macintosh-themed t-shirt?