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Microsoft Stores – What You Need to Know {$100 Giveaway}

Microsoft Store $100 Giveaway

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored conversation and giveaway on behalf of Microsoft and The Motherhood. As always, all opinions expressed are my own!

You may have seen them in your mall… the new Mega Microsoft Stores popping up around the nation? If you are like me, you’ve probably walked by your local Microsoft Store a dozen times, have been curious, but have never gone in. I always assumed they were just for people looking to buy computers. Little did I know what all the new Microsoft Stores had, well, in store!

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit in on a webinar explaining all the features the new Microsoft Stores have to offer. I also visited the local Microsoft Store here in Kansas City and was so impressed! Moms and dads with kids home for the summer, get ready for the low down… I have a feeling you’ll be wanting to spend a lot of time here this summer!

Theater

 

First of all, did you know that many of the Microsoft Stores offer FREE camps for kids during the summer? Isn’t that awesome? The Youth Spark Summer Camps begin June 3rd and are for kids ages 8-13. They are held Monday – Friday for 2 hours a day and cover different topics like Digital Movie Madness, Digital Art Smart, Gamemasters, Storyteller Studio and more! Some of the stores even offer App Builder classes for kids 15-18! I don’t know about you but I know my oldest kids would really love to learn this kind of technology – and I love that it’s free! Check out the Microsoft Store Community Pages to see what’s being held in your area.

Tech Help at the Microsoft StoreTechnology can be confusing, especially when you are learning something new. The Microsoft Stores offer an in person “Answer Desk” where anyone can enjoy worry free technical support and protection. Answer Techs can answer your questions, resolve your problems, and help safeguard your new device. From your X-Box, to your Windows Phone to your Surface Tablet… you can get hands on technical support…that’s a very cool thing! Again, it’s FREE!

Windows-Phone-2

 

There are 35 full line Microsoft Stores across the country that have a “Theatre” space that can be reserved for small groups.  The theater space can be used for many different things: birthday parties, social networking and other events (food and drink are allowed). Those interested can tailor-make workshops, whether you’re a homeschool group or blogging group, anything, to whatever meets your needs. . You can even request to come in and learn a specific curriculum! And guess what the cost is? FREE!

For gamers, for mom’s night out, for technical help and so much more, the Microsoft Store has so much to offer beyond just being a retail space. Stop just passing by… next time, make sure you stop in, say hi, play an X-Box game or browse the newest technology Microsoft has to offer (like The Surface tablet or the Windows Phone… so much fun!).

Windows-Store-5

$100 Microsoft Store Giftcard Giveaway!

In the meantime, Microsoft would like to give one lucky Dine & Dish reader a chance to win a $100 Microsoft Store Gift Card!

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what you like the most about the new Microsoft Stores.

For additional entries, share a link with info about this giveaway on any of your social media outlets. Return to this post and leave a comment letting me know where it was shared. Each place you share it will grant you an additional entry. Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc are all great places to spread the giveaway love! You can easily share by using the buttons at the end of this post.

Entries must be received by midnight CST on Monday, May 20th, 2013. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and notified via valid email address.

For more fun and prizes, make sure to join us on Twitter for a party! Details below.

When: Tuesday, May 14, at 1 p.m. ET (the party will last one hour)

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #GoMicrosoft hashtag to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite:  http://twtvite.com/GoMicrosoft

Prizes: We will be giving away six prizes to randomly selected winners. Five winners who answer trivia questions during the party will receive $25 Microsoft retail store gift cards, and one grand prize winner will be chosen for a $500 Microsoft retail store gift card!

 

 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Microsoft and The Motherhood. As always, all opinions expressed are my own!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Justin says

    I haven’t visited one of the stores and haven’t been to a mall in ages so I don’t even know if we have one here, but I LOVE the help desk. Seriously, free tech support? That’s a huge plus because if something happens after the warranty or isn’t covered, it’s expensive to pay for that, and to pay so you can get a simple question answered to a problem you can probably fix yourself? That’s the worst.

  6. Michelle @ My Gluten-free Kitchen says

    I don’t have one of these stores in my town yet, but after reading this, I really hope they bring one to Boise, Idaho! I love the idea of the classes for kids! I’d totally let my kids try those out and I bet they’d love them.

  8. Lisa Brown says

    I like the Answer Desk – no appointment needed.
    jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com

  16. Kristina says

    I love that the stores extend out into the mall, with the fun interactive video games.

  17. Kelly D says

    I like the workshops. I think it would be a great place to take my son’s boy scout troop so they can learn more about technology.

  20. Jennifer Laneaux says

    I love the free camps for kids and the theater space…plus, the place just looks really cool!

  28. Tammy S says

    I love the Answer Desk. You don’t need an appointment and can just walk in for help.

  37. Amy Tong says

    Wow, I can’t wait to walk in to a MS store and check it out. 🙂 I didn’t know they have so much to offer until I read your post. What I love the most about the Microsoft Stores is that it offers an in person “Answer Desk” where anyone can enjoy worry free technical support and protection! How often can we do that? Almost never. Either we get email support or wait forever over the phone and got transferred to India. hahaha….So, in person tech support is totally new and I considered that a very wonderful service. 🙂

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  46. D SCHMIDT says

    My favorite thing is the answer desk, it would be so helpful to have real people to answer my questions. The workshops are also a fantastic idea!

  48. Annelise says

    I love my new Windows 8 computer, and am glad that the stores have in-person support!

  49. Marissa says

    A new Microsoft store just opened near my house. I can’t wait to visit it. It looks great from the pictures. Very bright and colorful inside.

  50. Katie Contests says

    My favorite thing about the stores is that they even exist! I never knew they had stores..

  62. Elaine says

    Would love to win a Microsoft gift card would love to see more stores in rural areas

  63. Amy L says

    I love that they are helping kids and adults learn how to use their products for free! Having an actual person, not just a telephone “techie” on hand to guide you through everything is a great idea.

  93. Nicole S says

    I love how it genuinely seems like it wants to help the community by educating our youth!

  113. Tabathia B says

    That it’s interactive and you can test out the computer

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  123. Cheryl M says

    I have shared the competition on Facebook and tweeted it.

    I love the open feeling and the upgrades so that we can meet with others for gaming etc it is great

  125. Catherine says

    I love the new style of the stores and the upgrades I can get for my computer!