Microsoft Company Store

Pros: you can get some Microsoft branded notebooks, coffee mugs, pens or usb cables etc. Some of that stuff is kind of cool. They sell Sounders FC and Xbox clothing often on sale. The staff are friendly. Right across from the company visitor center.
Cons: Microsoft is a software company, yet there is ZERO software for sale here. Only company employees with a security badge can shop for software (at a discount). Retail customers are stuck with tchotchkes. And what’s with everything being labeled «Geek»? Not helping your uncool image, Microsoft.

Stopped by here after hanging out at the visitor center. Besides hardware and software, they carry apparel from t-​shirts, sweaters, caps, etc. They also have a backroom exclusively for Microsoft employees. Makes you want to leave your resume in hopes to get into that room. I had a Unilocal check in offer that trimmed my bill a bit as well. I love everything Microsoft.

Great selection of Microsoft branded merch, from pens and mugs to shirts and mouse pads. Fairly cramped space when people get off work to shop. They were running major 50% discounts so I stocked up on holiday gifts. They seem to carry some inexpensive and kinda cheap looking products. A lot of it is just regularly stuff with a small Microsoft logo printed. I got some nice mugs, some carabineers, and a candy gift set that looked nice. All in all, a great experience, but wish they had more quality products with nicer logos.

Stopped in to the company store to roam around while waiting for some items being prepped for me in IT. Asked for help locating a badge protector, and the first employee I asked walked me over to where they were.
A lot of overly priced items just because they have the word Microsoft on them like water bottles, notebooks and pens. Also have decent Minecraft tees, polos and toys for kids.
The line was really long and it took 20 minutes to get through it with 5 cashiers. When I finally reached the counter, the cashier apologized for the long line. Not his fault but a nice gesture.
Would recommend to any Microsoft geek/​fan for a one time visit.
Plenty of visitor parking out front.

My time here was great, good memories. I’ll miss everyone and hope to see everybody again on next visit. Sayonara. I’d say the store itself is great for visitors from abroad and those who have interest in clothing and mini items for souvenir from Microsoft also the visitor center (meuseum)

May 4^th I ordered the surface pro 3 over the phone paid 1679.15 for it I was told it would be delivered on the 6^th. Today I go to my account to check the status on the shipping and there was no history of that item on my list. I called the customer service line yet again and asked what was going on the female was not the smartest in her group she sent me over to the accounting department and they said my order was on hold because they wanted to make sure that the shipping address was correct… ok so why did you all not call or email me… she has no answer I said ok now that you know the address is right will it still be here on the 6^th se said no it was to late in the day to get it shipped inn time. I asked for him to check the store in Seattle and he said that the CS agent can do that. When she got on the phone she was again trying to get me to buy over the phone I asked to speak with her manager… He gets on the phone tells me he will check the store and well 20 min of being on hold he hangs up on me. No call back no email still. Unbelievable. No problem calling people to make an order but when you F%$* up the phone doesn’t ring GREAT JOB A^%HOLES

Just left the company store after they refused to replace a damaged (unused) Xbox Live Gold 1 year subscription card. The code was obscured when scratched. The counter person couldn’t help since I was no longer an employee/​in the system.
Wow. Way to empower those employees!

It’s exactly what it says it is: a store that sells Microsoft swag and products. The products component of it is only accessible if you’re an employee, as they sell both hardware and software at a discount. But the swag is for everyone. And hey, if you check in on Unilocal,you get 10% off your swag! Aww yeah!
I have found some hardware/​software for less on Amazon, though, and that’s taking the employee discount into account. Go figure.

This review is from the perspective of a non-​Microsoft employee.
I’ve been to my fair share of company stores, and this is by far, one of the BEST. First off, the store has two sections: software (for employees only) and non-​techware (e.g. shirts, water bottles, pens, etc.). My review is for the latter only.
The best thing is the pricing. Some of the other reviews say it’s «overpriced,» but comparatively, I think most of the gear is VERY well priced. You can get a giant coffee mug with the Surface logo for $ 3.95 (a similar mug at Apple’s company store is about $ 10). Most of the t-​shirts range between $ 15-​$ 20. There’s also a sale section.
The variety is also great. Aside from what I mentioned earlier, some other things you can get: beanies (8+ designs/​colors), plastic sunglasses, badge holders, backpacks, umbrellas, notebooks, baby clothes, mousepads, headbands… If you want it, they probably have it!
A fun place to visit if you’re a Microsoft fan. Check out the mini Visitor Center across the hall too. :)
P. S. There is free parking in designated Visitor spots.

I am NOT a MS FTE. Ok, for those of you done reading this… move on. I am «his» wife, thanks. And «he» loves my «I *in the shape of an anatomical heart* Geeks» shirt that I got here.
I see the reviews and everyone is all grouchy about the tech aspect of this store and how it blows and Xbox junk, etc. That’s not me.
My husband can get in and get the keyboard, mouse, programs, games stuff we/​he needs and I can peruse the junk the rest of the people are griping about… the pens, the keychain holders, and well… seemingly bins of junk. But I love it, just the same.
And yet, I’ve learned a few lessons. I’m done buying the USB connectable cords that will allow me to connect MORE USB devices that look like colorful worms from the bins.
Going to the Microsoft Company Store is great for the apparel, the things you need and want for your family to «represent». Again. I’m not the techie in my household, and this works for me just perfectly.

Unless you’re coming with an employee, don’t bother. Everything on the public side is overpriced junk.
The employee side has a limited selection of games, software and peripherals for a fraction of retail prices. 360 systems were available but a better deal can be had online. Thumbs up otherwise.

Great place to bring the kids so they can touch stuff! They have all kinds of electronic devices and video games in their visitor center for the kiddos to browse and there is only one way in and out so they can’t escape on you.

Ah, the company store. A complete ploy, if you ask me.
If you’re not a MSFT FTE, don’t bother making the trip (even if you’re in the building). There’s nothing good for non-​FTEs at the Company Store.
On the other hand, if you like cheap quality, crappy stuff like key chains, t-​shirts, pens, and water bottles then you’ll like this store because that’s all they have to offer you.
The ‘security guard’ outside the FTE-​only part of the store (where the software and hardware lives) is a joke. The guards always seem to be in poor spirits, and I don’t blame them. All day long they have to deal with upset customers who thought they could buy software and hardware, made the trip, and were disappointed. Here’s an idea: Put all that brainpower to work, implement a system that requires the FTE blue badge to be scanned for access, and get rid of the unpleasant ‘security guard.’ It just makes MSFT look bad. Or better yet — move the software and hardware to another location so non-​FTEs don’t have to feel obviously segregated.
Bottom line — don’t bother with the Microsoft Company Store.

The new company store is a nice upgrade from the old space off 148^th. It occupies a large area of campus building 92, which itself sits on land previously occupied by Eddie Bauer’s old eastside HQ. The colony of rabbits that used to live here in the EB days is gone, which is probably for the best, but this upgrade to the company campus is a welcome addition. The store itself is part of a Welcome Center that house the Microsoct Visitor’s Center, library, lots of meeting rooms, and a snack bar. The store sells all manner of company chotchkies from umbrellas and squeeze toys to t-​shirts and water bottles. If it has the name Microsoft on it, you’ll find it here.
Of course, the main reason people come is buy discounted Microsoft software and hardware. Mice and keyboards, controllers, software, and games are pretty cheap but buyer beware, there are no discounts for XBOX consoles, Kinnect, Windows Phones, or PCs. These things are already sold at or below cost, or very low margin through company outlets so no discounts can be found here.
To purchase things here you must be a campus guest, sponsored or accompanied by an employee. And only full-​time employees get the software discount, but if you’re with one they can buy a limited amount of product for you.

I took a contract at Microsoft without expectations. It turns out that I totally love my job. I do user research with developers. My building is sweet:
. I was near the store after a UX meeting, so I headed over to check it out.
My goal was to see whether the holiday bundle Xbox 360 was in stock. I walked in and passed an array of products with logos. There were very few pieces of women’s clothing and the ones that did exist were baby pink t-​shirts with «gamer chick» and things like that. I started to walk into the back room and noticed a security guard there. He glared at me and said «Didn’t you read the sign?»
A small sign was nearby and said «Microsoft employee area». I’d read it, but it hadn’t immediately registered that contractors didn’t count.
I said «Yes. So this badge won’t work.» My words were more rhetorical commentary to myself. He stood up, began walking towards me, and yelled «READ THE SIGN!» again.
I didn’t feel that was necessary. I’d just indicated that I understood the situation. It wasn’t like I was running into the back room at top speed and attempting to steal software. I already have free access to download it. In a sense, I help create it… part of my job is to work on the UX of some of the software in the room. I wasn’t moving toward the door at all or indicating that I wasn’t going to respect what he had to say.
I started wondering whether he yells at international tourists like that. It’s not a particularly warm representation of the company.

When you attend a Microsoft event, sometimes you get a «voucher» to spend a certain amount of your own money at the «back room» of the corporate store, which includes heavily discounted PC peripherals, Xboxes, and video games. Which is a pretty cool deal. I usually come out with something I don’t want… because…it’s cheap, how can I pass it up.
But as another reviewer notes, this is also your one stop shop for Halo action figures, Microsoft t-​shirts (I don’t need to reinforce the stereotype any further, thank you) and anything you could imagine that has nothing to do with Microsoft, but is still inexplicably festooned with the Microsoft logo. Like chapstick. And… stain remover pens. But just a note from personal experience… the stain remover pens? They’re all leaking. I know, because both of the ones I bought as a gag leaked instantly… and that’s after I replaced one when the clerk found it to be leaking. Nevermind that whatever is in them (hydrochloric acid or lye, perhaps) is not good for your skin when you discover they are leaking. In that it turns your skin white and makes it burn. My heart goes out to the clerk at the store who realized that one of them was leaking… and wiped a puddle of the stuff off the counter with the flat of her hand. Plus it doesn’t remove stains anywhere near as well as a name brand stain remover pen does. Although, it also doesn’t eat holes through your clothes, which is kind of amazing after the skin thing.
So. Microsoft Store for software, action figures, and t-​shirts. Not for laundry supplies.

If you’re a MS Full Time Employee, great place to get discounted software and bone up on MS swag to make you feel all spiffy.
If you’re not, well, you dont get to go into the Software section for software, xbox’s, computer accessories or anything like that. You do however get to pay alot for Cups, t-​shirts, bags and accessories with a MS logo on it. I don’t really get it, but alot of tourists show up at the Redmond campus, and receps gotta have someplace to point em to, so the Visitor’s Center and the MS Company Store it is.
If you’re looking to get the full MS consumer experience go to the Microsoft Store at Bellevue Square. There you can buy an Xbox, computer, whatever, not here. This is really a store for employees, with a section open out front for tourists/​family/​friends with memorobilia.

It’s a solid little place to pick up software and games for MS employees, but even for that crowd, the online store is way more convenient.
For the public, there are a bunch of tchotchkes of no particular distinction. I personally have virtually no need for golf balls with corporate logos on them, but, as my friend Jeffrey has pointed out, obviously, I am not a golfer.
What’s unique about this place is the newly constructed setting. MS has focused on being more attractive to college hires, after years of making relatively little special effort in this area. With a few office buildings, a museum, company store, and training center all set in a lush green campus-​like setting, they have something they can show off to the younguns. The company store used to be stuck in a fairly nondescript building that looked kinda like a warehouse. It’s moved over here since the construction of this Commons area.
As with a lot of Bellevue places, there are lots of Seattle toponyms scattered through the eating areas next door. Nothing to do with the company store, but a curious behavior endemic throughout the 425 and now carried forward by MS – we already have a Post Alley in downtown Seattle. Do we need one in an MS dining space 20 miles across the lake? Why would we want another one on the east side? Wouldn’t the east side rather craft its own identity? I’ve never understood this, ever since the Crocodile Café opened 20 years ago… and then again two years later, when another, unrelated Crocodile opened in the 425. I just don’t get that. OK, I have nothing more to say on topic, so I’ll just quit.

I went in there to look for one of those «I’m a PC» stickers for my mac so I can actually bring my mac to work inside MS without getting death rays.
Unfortunately they ran out of those stickers. Everything else was just overpriced to me.

This place is awesome if you’re in need of the legit stuff
with the caveat that you needz them employee discountz.
The store itself isn’t filled with things you really need —
mostly things you’d find at a college career fair… pens, toys,
shirts, mugs… that kind of stuff.
Now, the good stuff is locked in the back. Games, programs,
mice, keyboards… all at discounted prices to employees.
Got MS 2007 around $ 30 thanks to my hubby’s friend who works there.
Find yourself an employee!!!
The visitors’ center is pretty cool — lots of stuff to play with
and large screens to play games on. =)