Comments on: The Apple Store Shopping Experience http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/ TheAppleBlog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:49:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ago http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-50645 Ago Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:28:04 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-50645 Keep in mind it's incredibly difficult to provide a uniform in-store shopping experience, and in the end the result is down to an incredibly complex variety of intervening factors. Here's my personal recount of a recent visit, where I purchased several items and found customer service to be courteous, efficient and generally spot on: http://brandingthroughpeople.com/2009/07/11/comparing-apples-to/ Ago Keep in mind it’s incredibly difficult to provide a uniform in-store shopping experience, and in the end the result is down to an incredibly complex variety of intervening factors.

Here’s my personal recount of a recent visit, where I purchased several items and found customer service to be courteous, efficient and generally spot on: http://brandingthroughpeople.com/2009/07/11/comparing-apples-to/

Ago

]]> By: Chris http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17859 Chris Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:05:15 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17859 I went to one of the apple stores in San Antonio interested in buying a macbook. We were confronted by an associate who explained that the display table where the macbooks are was only open for people purchasing the iphone 3g and if I was not going to buy one, then I should step away. Completely Rude and condescending. What is worse is it seems that all of the associates in that store behave this way normally. Apple lost my interest in the macbook by not caring about its customers. I went to one of the apple stores in San Antonio interested in buying a macbook. We were confronted by an associate who explained that the display table where the macbooks are was only open for people purchasing the iphone 3g and if I was not going to buy one, then I should step away. Completely Rude and condescending. What is worse is it seems that all of the associates in that store behave this way normally. Apple lost my interest in the macbook by not caring about its customers.

]]> By: Matt http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17858 Matt Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:15:34 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17858 Exactly, Charlie. But that's easier said than done. I shouldn't have to hunt for someone to take my money. Exactly, Charlie. But that’s easier said than done. I shouldn’t have to hunt for someone to take my money.

]]> By: Charlie http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17857 Charlie Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:06:04 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17857 . You need to find the apple employees with easy pay units! Its the way to go in and out. . You need to find the apple employees with easy pay units! Its the way to go in and out.

]]> By: Dan S. http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17856 Dan S. Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:22:46 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17856 @Richard: I doubt you were ever talking to any "Geniuses" -- they only handle hardware repair and service; they don't know inventory, they don't answer the phones and they don't handle retail sales. As for the iPod Touch availability pre-November, stores were getting sporadic shipments of 10-20 at a time and they'd be gone within an hour of opening. The staff is not made aware of future deliveries, their timing or contents and quantity Ironically, at the same time, you could buy it online at the same price and have it delivered within 5-10 days. It's very hard to be civil to every person who calls, inquiring about iPod Touch/iTouch/podTouch/phone-less iPhones/etc (yes, I was asked for all of those) inventory, then when told that there aren't any in stock and you don't know when the next shipment will come, they either: a) rudely hang up, b) berate you for wasting their time, or c) try to figure out the secret apple code phrase that will get them access to the super secret reserve inventory that all stores keep in case Steve walks in unannounced and screams "free iPods for everyone!" It's also equally hard to be genial when, in the middle of a 9-hour day, someone tries to grab you during a 15-minute break to ask a question that they could have just as easily asked someone who isn't on break -- I'm sure you really enjoy it when your boss/co-workers/clients/etc call you during your dinner to ask you a question they could have found the answer to on their own. It's also pretty amazing how everyone complains if you don't answer their call within 2 rings, but the same people roll their eyes when you answer a call while they're standing in line. (The phone at the store is constantly ringing.) Anyway, the Concierge position is designed to alleviate a lot of these issues -- I can't say whether or not it's working, as I left Apple shortly before the position came online. @Richard: I doubt you were ever talking to any “Geniuses” — they only handle hardware repair and service; they don’t know inventory, they don’t answer the phones and they don’t handle retail sales.

As for the iPod Touch availability pre-November, stores were getting sporadic shipments of 10-20 at a time and they’d be gone within an hour of opening. The staff is not made aware of future deliveries, their timing or contents and quantity Ironically, at the same time, you could buy it online at the same price and have it delivered within 5-10 days.

It’s very hard to be civil to every person who calls, inquiring about iPod Touch/iTouch/podTouch/phone-less iPhones/etc (yes, I was asked for all of those) inventory, then when told that there aren’t any in stock and you don’t know when the next shipment will come, they either: a) rudely hang up, b) berate you for wasting their time, or c) try to figure out the secret apple code phrase that will get them access to the super secret reserve inventory that all stores keep in case Steve walks in unannounced and screams “free iPods for everyone!”

It’s also equally hard to be genial when, in the middle of a 9-hour day, someone tries to grab you during a 15-minute break to ask a question that they could have just as easily asked someone who isn’t on break — I’m sure you really enjoy it when your boss/co-workers/clients/etc call you during your dinner to ask you a question they could have found the answer to on their own.

It’s also pretty amazing how everyone complains if you don’t answer their call within 2 rings, but the same people roll their eyes when you answer a call while they’re standing in line. (The phone at the store is constantly ringing.)

Anyway, the Concierge position is designed to alleviate a lot of these issues — I can’t say whether or not it’s working, as I left Apple shortly before the position came online.

]]> By: Dan S. http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17855 Dan S. Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:47:52 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17855 The Credit Card ID verification is required if the card is not signed. If the card isn't signed and they don't have ID, then their only choice is to pay in cash -- checks require a government ID with an address that matches the one on the check. If the card is signed and the cardholder refuses to produce ID, the transaction must proceed. The Credit Card ID verification is required if the card is not signed. If the card isn’t signed and they don’t have ID, then their only choice is to pay in cash — checks require a government ID with an address that matches the one on the check.

If the card is signed and the cardholder refuses to produce ID, the transaction must proceed.

]]> By: Matt http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17854 Matt Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:40:39 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17854 Regarding the last comment, it's odd that they would require identification. When I worked there, it was policy at the Apple Store to ask for identification, but it was also policy to just say OK and continue the transaction if the person declined. Regarding the last comment, it’s odd that they would require identification.

When I worked there, it was policy at the Apple Store to ask for identification, but it was also policy to just say OK and continue the transaction if the person declined.

]]> By: Karen http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17853 Karen Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:37:37 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17853 The Apple Store in Rancho Cucamonga, California, did away with their register counter. They moved the "genius" bar to the back where the registers used to be, and there is no visible way to purchase without standing awkwardly while an employee finishes with another customer. The employees are hard to distinguish from other customers unless you like examining strangers' clothing, since they are wearing normal shirts in a normal color, distinguished only by some small lettering on a sleeve. Some wear badges on lanyards, and some wear no name tag of any type. When I finally was able to find one to ask if there was a register (I wanted to pay with cash), it turned out a part of the genius bar was "registers" where you could check out. There is no visible indication of this; the very prominent sign over it said genius bar and had no suggestion of cash registers. The "registers" are laptops with no POS terminal in sight, so there's no way to tell by looking that you can pay here. I then stood in line and watched them demand identification from every customer, no matter what they were purchasing (it wasn't just iphones). One credit card customer had clearly been doing his homework and pointed out they were not allowed to require additional identification for credit card purchases. He cited the merchant agreement which prohibited it, and was very pleasant and patient with the employees. He got bumped from one person to another, stalled very obviously by a "supervisor" who got caught in a lie because he couldn't remember what story he'd been telling a few minutes earlier. I got to watch all of this because the line was moving so slowly. Finally I just quietly put my would-be purchases back and left. The whole visit left a sour taste in my mouth and I have no desire to return to an Apple Store. I don't know what Apple was thinking with this move to do away with registers, or make them invisible. Offering the option to check out with a hand-held is great, but it shouldn't be the default and registers should be identifiable as such. Why would you make it hard for your customers to give you money? Is this part of the "too smug to be polite, helpful, or informed about the merchandise" Apple stores seem to have adopted? The Apple Store in Rancho Cucamonga, California, did away with their register counter. They moved the “genius” bar to the back where the registers used to be, and there is no visible way to purchase without standing awkwardly while an employee finishes with another customer. The employees are hard to distinguish from other customers unless you like examining strangers’ clothing, since they are wearing normal shirts in a normal color, distinguished only by some small lettering on a sleeve. Some wear badges on lanyards, and some wear no name tag of any type. When I finally was able to find one to ask if there was a register (I wanted to pay with cash), it turned out a part of the genius bar was “registers” where you could check out. There is no visible indication of this; the very prominent sign over it said genius bar and had no suggestion of cash registers. The “registers” are laptops with no POS terminal in sight, so there’s no way to tell by looking that you can pay here.

I then stood in line and watched them demand identification from every customer, no matter what they were purchasing (it wasn’t just iphones). One credit card customer had clearly been doing his homework and pointed out they were not allowed to require additional identification for credit card purchases. He cited the merchant agreement which prohibited it, and was very pleasant and patient with the employees. He got bumped from one person to another, stalled very obviously by a “supervisor” who got caught in a lie because he couldn’t remember what story he’d been telling a few minutes earlier.

I got to watch all of this because the line was moving so slowly. Finally I just quietly put my would-be purchases back and left. The whole visit left a sour taste in my mouth and I have no desire to return to an Apple Store.

I don’t know what Apple was thinking with this move to do away with registers, or make them invisible. Offering the option to check out with a hand-held is great, but it shouldn’t be the default and registers should be identifiable as such. Why would you make it hard for your customers to give you money? Is this part of the “too smug to be polite, helpful, or informed about the merchandise” Apple stores seem to have adopted?

]]> By: Apple Fever - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Apple - Powered by SocialRank http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17852 Apple Fever - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Apple - Powered by SocialRank Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:24:50 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17852 [...] The Apple Store Shopping Experience [...] [...] The Apple Store Shopping Experience [...]

]]> By: Bradley http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17847 Bradley Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:30:01 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17847 No cash registers in annoying. Takes way to long to checkout. 20-25 minutes to buy an ipod nano and an armband. Come on people. No cash registers in annoying. Takes way to long to checkout. 20-25 minutes to buy an ipod nano and an armband. Come on people.

]]> By: Nick http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17851 Nick Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:40:48 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17851 i felt the SAME way about the Apple store in Stamford, CT. SO ANNOYING i felt the SAME way about the Apple store in Stamford, CT. SO ANNOYING

]]> By: fitzage http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17807 fitzage Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:24:49 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17807 Apple used to give their retail employees phenomenal training. Sadly, they don't really refresh this training, and anyone who is hired after the store opens doesn't get the same level of training. Apple used to give their retail employees phenomenal training. Sadly, they don’t really refresh this training, and anyone who is hired after the store opens doesn’t get the same level of training.

]]> By: Richard http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17810 Richard Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:01:59 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17810 The APPLE STORES are the greatest outlets ever. I'm always lured into the store by the greatest displays. However, all that exciting experience is washed away by the sales people working in the stores. Does anybody at Apple care about training those people? What about replacing them with robots? The robots would be much warmer, friendlier and less sarcastic than the salespeople. Robots would not make sarcastic comments or faces to other robots about their customers. I begged my friends to stop me if I ever mention about going into an Apple Store again. I was doing really well for the last 12 months with my promise of not stepping in any of the Apple stores, until the new iPod Touch was released. Because I still wanted to honor my promise, I decided to call the store to see if they had the product in stock, so I would ask a friend to pick up the product for me. Here's the phone conversation that I had with one of the sales person at The Apple Store Eaton Centre, Toronto, Canada on Sept 07, 2007 around 5:00 PM. Salesperson: "ApStoEaCenterrrrr!!!" I was greeted by a not so friendly Mac Genius, and I guess she couldn't say "Apple Store Eaton Centre" after handling so many calls, so she combined the first syllables of each word into one word to express her frustration - "ApStoEaCenterrrr!" FIRST TRY Me: "Do you..." . Even before I finished my question, she interrupted me by shouting "NOOOOO!". Me: "Do you..." and she shouted "NOOOOOO!" once again. Me: "May I..." and she shouted "NOOOO!" again. So I decided to play her game of interruptions, regardless of my mom's advice when I was kid ("Do not talk when other people are talking!!!"). Me: "May I finish my question before you say 'NO'?" I shouted back. Salesperson: "I know what you are going to ask, and the answer is NO". After that answer, of course I would not ask if the iPod Touch was available in stock, so I thought about asking for the availability of another product such as the iMac, Apple TV, etc, which I know it's in the stores already. However, before I had the chance to start the question, she hang up on me. SECOND TRY I was in a good mood that day, so I didn't let that drive me insane. I assumed she had a bad day, but I still wanted to know when the iPod Touch was going to be available in the stores. So I decided to call again... I waited 5 minutes, hoping she would go to the washroom change her "iPad" (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1BUH9eXy18), then I called again. Salesperson: "ApStoEaCenterrrrr!!!" It's very encouraging to hear gibberish that sounds like the real name of the store. I was expecting another pleasurable conversation with the Mac Genius Girl. Me: "Do you...". and she interrupts again. Salesperson: "Didn't I say 'NO' before?". The first picture that came to my mind was of a chubby dominatrix with the Apple logo on her chest and a whip on the other hand. She was ready for total domination and humiliation. That may turn-on a lot of people, but I must admit that I'm pretty vanilla, so I replied... Me: "I'm so sorry to disturb you..." and before I finished my apologetic statement, she hang up on me again. I had a great day and I wouldn't let that spoil my day, so I called it a day. THIRD TRY It's Saturday morning on beautiful sunny Toronto. I had to go shopping at Sherway Gardens Mall where there's another Apple store (hopefully with polite Mac Geniuses), and it happens that one of the Mac Geniuses was just coming out of the store, so I approached him with a quick question. I could see the "look of death" in his eyes. How dare I stop him during his break, but he couldn't ran away. Me: "Do you have the iPod Touch in stock?" Salesperson: "No". And his body language tells me that he is ready to go for his break. Me: "Any ideas when it will be available in the stores?" Salesperson: "At Christmas". How could Apple release a product in the beginning of September, and not be available in the stores until Christmas? The fulfillment process must be really screwed up. I felt like saying that Apple would be out of business by Christmas if they don't do anything about their customer service, but he couldn't care less. Me: "Do you know if iPod Touch is available in the stores in the USA?" I was willing to drive to Buffalo-NY and get one. Salesperson: "I don't work in the USA... d'oh. I don't know. " and he walked away before I asked any more questions. Oh well... I guess Apple can get away with such bad Sales staff. I still think Apple creates great products, but the bad experiences that I had with Customer Service makes me think about going back to the PC World again. I'm already prepared to hear "I told you so" from my friends. I know it's hard to believe, but you can check the APPLE Customer Service for yourself. Call the Apple Store Eaton Centre, in Toronto Canada, and ask anything about the iPod Touch. You can reach them at (647) 258-0801. I hope you get the Apple Dominatrix. What happened to the polite Canadians? Where is Apple recruiting those people from? What about sending them for Customer Service training? Has anybody else had a bad customer service experience like me? I'm posting this message in a few newsgroups and it would be nice to hear your experiences. Have you converted back from Mac to PC? If so, is there any counseling or support group out there? Would the PC world accept me back? Pleeease! The APPLE STORES are the greatest outlets ever. I’m always lured into the store by the greatest displays. However, all that exciting experience is washed away by the sales people working in the stores. Does anybody at Apple care about training those people? What about replacing them with robots? The robots would be much warmer, friendlier and less sarcastic than the salespeople. Robots would not make sarcastic comments or faces to other robots about their customers. I begged my friends to stop me if I ever mention about going into an Apple Store again. I was doing really well for the last 12 months with my promise of not stepping in any of the Apple stores, until the new iPod Touch was released. Because I still wanted to honor my promise, I decided to call the store to see if they had the product in stock, so I would ask a friend to pick up the product for me.
Here’s the phone conversation that I had with one of the sales person at The Apple Store Eaton Centre, Toronto, Canada on Sept 07, 2007 around 5:00 PM.
Salesperson: “ApStoEaCenterrrrr!!!” I was greeted by a not so friendly Mac Genius, and I guess she couldn’t say “Apple Store Eaton Centre” after handling so many calls, so she combined the first syllables of each word into one word to express her frustration – “ApStoEaCenterrrr!”
FIRST TRY
Me: “Do you…” . Even before I finished my question, she interrupted me by shouting “NOOOOO!”.
Me: “Do you…” and she shouted “NOOOOOO!” once again.
Me: “May I…” and she shouted “NOOOO!” again. So I decided to play her game of interruptions, regardless of my mom’s advice when I was kid (“Do not talk when other people are talking!!!”).
Me: “May I finish my question before you say ‘NO’?” I shouted back.
Salesperson: “I know what you are going to ask, and the answer is NO”. After that answer, of course I would not ask if the iPod Touch was available in stock, so I thought about asking for the availability of another product such as the iMac, Apple TV, etc, which I know it’s in the stores already. However, before I had the chance to start the question, she hang up on me.
SECOND TRY
I was in a good mood that day, so I didn’t let that drive me insane. I assumed she had a bad day, but I still wanted to know when the iPod Touch was going to be available in the stores. So I decided to call again… I waited 5 minutes, hoping she would go to the washroom change her “iPad” (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1BUH9eXy18), then I called again.
Salesperson: “ApStoEaCenterrrrr!!!” It’s very encouraging to hear gibberish that sounds like the real name of the store. I was expecting another pleasurable conversation with the Mac Genius Girl.
Me: “Do you…”. and she interrupts again.
Salesperson: “Didn’t I say ‘NO’ before?”. The first picture that came to my mind was of a chubby dominatrix with the Apple logo on her chest and a whip on the other hand. She was ready for total domination and humiliation. That may turn-on a lot of people, but I must admit that I’m pretty vanilla, so I replied…
Me: “I’m so sorry to disturb you…” and before I finished my apologetic statement, she hang up on me again. I had a great day and I wouldn’t let that spoil my day, so I called it a day.
THIRD TRY
It’s Saturday morning on beautiful sunny Toronto. I had to go shopping at Sherway Gardens Mall where there’s another Apple store (hopefully with polite Mac Geniuses), and it happens that one of the Mac Geniuses was just coming out of the store, so I approached him with a quick question. I could see the “look of death” in his eyes. How dare I stop him during his break, but he couldn’t ran away.
Me: “Do you have the iPod Touch in stock?”
Salesperson: “No”. And his body language tells me that he is ready to go for his break.
Me: “Any ideas when it will be available in the stores?”
Salesperson: “At Christmas”. How could Apple release a product in the beginning of September, and not be available in the stores until Christmas? The fulfillment process must be really screwed up. I felt like saying that Apple would be out of business by Christmas if they don’t do anything about their customer service, but he couldn’t care less.
Me: “Do you know if iPod Touch is available in the stores in the USA?” I was willing to drive to Buffalo-NY and get one.
Salesperson: “I don’t work in the USA… d’oh. I don’t know. ” and he walked away before I asked any more questions.

Oh well… I guess Apple can get away with such bad Sales staff. I still think Apple creates great products, but the bad experiences that I had with Customer Service makes me think about going back to the PC World again. I’m already prepared to hear “I told you so” from my friends.
I know it’s hard to believe, but you can check the APPLE Customer Service for yourself. Call the Apple Store Eaton Centre, in Toronto Canada, and ask anything about the iPod Touch. You can reach them at (647) 258-0801. I hope you get the Apple Dominatrix.
What happened to the polite Canadians? Where is Apple recruiting those people from? What about sending them for Customer Service training?
Has anybody else had a bad customer service experience like me? I’m posting this message in a few newsgroups and it would be nice to hear your experiences. Have you converted back from Mac to PC? If so, is there any counseling or support group out there? Would the PC world accept me back? Pleeease!

]]> By: Grant http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17846 Grant Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:32:43 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17846 My local Apple store (Toronto, Canada, in Yorkdale shopping mall) has a desk at the front with three or four cash registers. It's always busy, so they keep some people behind cash, and they have crowd-control ropey things too. My local Apple store (Toronto, Canada, in Yorkdale shopping mall) has a desk at the front with three or four cash registers. It’s always busy, so they keep some people behind cash, and they have crowd-control ropey things too.

]]> By: LK http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17850 LK Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:33:41 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17850 I went to my local Apple store in Bridgewater, NJ the other day to get new earphones for my iPod. I stood fir in line, waiting for the two people behind the desk who were helping other customers with non-purchasing issues. NO ONE wanted to take my money! Finally after 5 minutes I got one clerk's attention and was told that I was on the wrong side of the rope. Oh please. I do not like going into the Apple store. It's a holier than thou attitude and I resent it. I went to my local Apple store in Bridgewater, NJ the other day to get new earphones for my iPod. I stood fir in line, waiting for the two people behind the desk who were helping other customers with non-purchasing issues. NO ONE wanted to take my money! Finally after 5 minutes I got one clerk’s attention and was told that I was on the wrong side of the rope. Oh please. I do not like going into the Apple store. It’s a holier than thou attitude and I resent it.

]]> By: Alli http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17849 Alli Fri, 31 Aug 2007 21:14:55 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17849 I have to admit that I have not noticed a problem with the setup but I live in NY and the store nearest me is 24 hours and I'm generally going there to wonder around and check stuff out and not to immediately purchase something. I will say that both stores in Manhattan have both registers and tons of people walking around waiting to help you and check you out on the spot which I think is great! I have to admit that I have not noticed a problem with the setup but I live in NY and the store nearest me is 24 hours and I’m generally going there to wonder around and check stuff out and not to immediately purchase something. I will say that both stores in Manhattan have both registers and tons of people walking around waiting to help you and check you out on the spot which I think is great!

]]> By: limitedition http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17848 limitedition Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:02:51 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17848 I was at the apple store near me about 2 months ago, and I was informed by one of the employees that apple was headed in a direction that would eliminate the desinated terminals for checking out. I certianly hope that is not the case as well. I usually go in to get what I need and then I am out the door. I dont want to have to wait on an associate who is usually being asked millions of questions about and ipod in order to checkout. Not good for those who are on the go, or impatient. I would be quite annoyed. I was at the apple store near me about 2 months ago, and I was informed by one of the employees that apple was headed in a direction that would eliminate the desinated terminals for checking out.

I certianly hope that is not the case as well. I usually go in to get what I need and then I am out the door. I dont want to have to wait on an associate who is usually being asked millions of questions about and ipod in order to checkout. Not good for those who are on the go, or impatient. I would be quite annoyed.

]]> By: piminnowcheez http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17808 piminnowcheez Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:39:06 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17808 I've never been to an Apple store that didn't have a plain old counter o' registers, and I don't think I'd like this free-floating checkout business very much. If I liked human interaction, I wouldn't spend so much time on my computer. (Joking! Really!) The only unpleasant experience I've had at an Apple store was a surprising and *really* irritating degree of pushback from a checkout person when I wouldn't give her my personal information for a cash purchase. She argued with me, acted like it simply wasn't an option not to give her my name and whatever else she asked for, and in the end when I kept refusing, she poured on the attitude like I'd taken a dump on the counter. Really astonishingly rude. I rarely get worked up in these situations, but my god was I steamed. I’ve never been to an Apple store that didn’t have a plain old counter o’ registers, and I don’t think I’d like this free-floating checkout business very much. If I liked human interaction, I wouldn’t spend so much time on my computer. (Joking! Really!)

The only unpleasant experience I’ve had at an Apple store was a surprising and *really* irritating degree of pushback from a checkout person when I wouldn’t give her my personal information for a cash purchase. She argued with me, acted like it simply wasn’t an option not to give her my name and whatever else she asked for, and in the end when I kept refusing, she poured on the attitude like I’d taken a dump on the counter. Really astonishingly rude. I rarely get worked up in these situations, but my god was I steamed.

]]> By: Josh Pigford http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17806 Josh Pigford Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:25:40 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17806 @ovrsightcommittee: I appreciate the name calling and comparing my desire for a decent shopping experience to people dying in Iraq. It's quite sensationalist of you. Step back a minute and read what you wrote. Do you honestly think I somehow put more importance on shopping than people dying? Of course I don't. But this is a blog about Apple. We don't cover wars...we cover Apple. If you think we shouldn't talk about things like customer experience when it comes to Apple then I'm afraid you'll need to stop reading our blog. We're not changing that. @ovrsightcommittee: I appreciate the name calling and comparing my desire for a decent shopping experience to people dying in Iraq. It’s quite sensationalist of you.

Step back a minute and read what you wrote. Do you honestly think I somehow put more importance on shopping than people dying? Of course I don’t. But this is a blog about Apple. We don’t cover wars…we cover Apple.

If you think we shouldn’t talk about things like customer experience when it comes to Apple then I’m afraid you’ll need to stop reading our blog. We’re not changing that.

]]> By: ovrsightcommittee http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17836 ovrsightcommittee Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:51:14 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2007/08/27/the-apple-store-shopping-experience/#comment-17836 Your just one of these self entitled boneheads who couldn't give a rats butt about those who are contemplating making a paradigm switch from Window$ to Mac or someone who is getting the time of day by having their computing questions answered by a dedicated and helpful Mac Specialist. I'm certain there was a time in your life when you didn't know squat about computers and had to ask questions. Imagine that person who was helping you suddenly cut short because there was another impatient bonehead. Mmm, lets see, if you had a question about Dell's at their little kiosk, I've been there...not much help I'd say, but they do try. Relax dude, take a chill pill. You and people like you ***** and moan and groan about having to wait minutes for service. Families wait months and sometimes a year to see their loved one come back from the war - sometimes in a casket. I'm not a warmonger nor am I an Apple fanatic. We have both systems at home. All I'm saying is people...it's not all about you. Learn a little patience. Your just one of these self entitled boneheads who couldn’t give a rats butt about those who are contemplating making a paradigm switch from Window$ to Mac or someone who is getting the time of day by having their computing questions answered by a dedicated and helpful Mac Specialist. I’m certain there was a time in your life when you didn’t know squat about computers and had to ask questions. Imagine that person who was helping you suddenly cut short because there was another impatient bonehead.

Mmm, lets see, if you had a question about Dell’s at their little kiosk, I’ve been there…not much help I’d say, but they do try. Relax dude, take a chill pill. You and people like you ***** and moan and groan about having to wait minutes for service. Families wait months and sometimes a year to see their loved one come back from the war – sometimes in a casket. I’m not a warmonger nor am I an Apple fanatic. We have both systems at home.

All I’m saying is people…it’s not all about you. Learn a little patience.

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