Apple store time limits?...

[Romulus]

I've been checking the Macbook Air a few times over the last weeks. Mine is coming in tomorrow, the 13/4/128 - but after reading all the 11 vs 13 posts I made my way back to the store today...

I was post call and somewhat underdressed in a pair of sweats and unshaved since yesterday... Well, after using a 13 next to a 11 for about 20 minutes, an employee comes to me, does not ask "Anything I can help you with?" but goes "hey buddy, you got 5 minutes." I'm like "what do you mean?" He goes "there's time limits on computer use, you have to leave". Mind me, there's like 5 open MBAs right next to me... And I promise I did not smell, just may have looked tired...

Now, I'm a surgeon, drive a BMW, own my place... and in this case felt a bit ignored... no service, no interest, nothing... Over the last 2-3 weeks my experience at Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge, Mass. has been horrible. The employees are uninformed, provide wrong information regarding computer specifications, are rude, and disinterested... Just putting it out there...

 

[bcaslis]

Wow, that's pretty terrible. Seems like every time I'm in a store there are tons of teenagers playing on the computers. It's clear they aren't going to be buying anything. I'd be tempted with something like "Gee, I guess this must be the right place to return the computer I just bought from you".

 

[Finnxeon]

i would definitely speak with a manager about this, they take it really seriously, I've had a manager call me directly after I simply noted an employee was texting their friends rather than helping me in their feedback system. Was really pleasantly surprised, i'm sure they would appreciate the feedback and hopefully place measures to solve the issues there.

 

[Sound Evolution]

I've been checking the Macbook Air a few times over the last weeks. Mine is coming in tomorrow, the 13/4/128 - but after reading all the 11 vs 13 posts I made my way back to the store today...

I was post call and somewhat underdressed in a pair of sweats and unshaved since yesterday... Well, after using a 13 next to a 11 for about 20 minutes, an employee comes to me, does not ask "Anything I can help you with?" but goes "hey buddy, you got 5 minutes." I'm like "what do you mean?" He goes "there's time limits on computer use, you have to leave". Mind me, there's like 5 open MBAs right next to me... And I promise I did not smell, just may have looked tired...

Now, I'm a surgeon, drive a BMW, own my place... and in this case felt a bit ignored... no service, no interest, nothing... Over the last 2-3 weeks my experience at Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge, Mass. has been horrible. The employees are uninformed, provide wrong information regarding computer specifications, are rude, and disinterested... Just putting it out there...

That is why I only order online. In the Netherlands we don't have real Apple Stores (yet) but so called mac stores and Icentre premium resellers. I am never really impressed by either their human skills, insight and not in the last place knowledge of the store employers.

However it is ridiculous shipping takes ages when you order online (if you order multiple items at once).

If I was you I would have said "I give you 5 minutes to bring me your store manager!" and while you standing at the desk waiting just pull out your BMW keychain in a provoking way

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[iBookG4user]

I've never heard of time limits on the computers, but that is some bad service, perhaps raise the issue to a manager when you next go in to the Apple Store. Although, it definitely does seem that some Apple Stores are better than others in regards to their employees.

 

[frunkis54]

Im not saying you are or you looked like one but i heard a homeless person say last year that they like to go to apple stores to check there email/facebook and they do get time limited.

 

[Sound Evolution]

Now I remember, It happened to me too. Last March I was in NYC in the late evening at the Apple Store on 5th ave. Some employer told me also something like 5 minutes. But because it was around 12 in the evening, I assumed the store close in 5 minutes. But I found out later the 5th ave store is open 24/7

Very wrong! I buy mac's already since the classic, and I am one of the die hard old school fanboys way before the Ipod even exist.

With kind regards,
Bas

 

[coochiekuta]

I've been checking the Macbook Air a few times over the last weeks. Mine is coming in tomorrow, the 13/4/128 - but after reading all the 11 vs 13 posts I made my way back to the store today...

I was post call and somewhat underdressed in a pair of sweats and unshaved since yesterday... Well, after using a 13 next to a 11 for about 20 minutes, an employee comes to me, does not ask "Anything I can help you with?" but goes "hey buddy, you got 5 minutes." I'm like "what do you mean?" He goes "there's time limits on computer use, you have to leave". Mind me, there's like 5 open MBAs right next to me... And I promise I did not smell, just may have looked tired...

Now, I'm a surgeon, drive a BMW, own my place... and in this case felt a bit ignored... no service, no interest, nothing... Over the last 2-3 weeks my experience at Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge, Mass. has been horrible. The employees are uninformed, provide wrong information regarding computer specifications, are rude, and disinterested... Just putting it out there...

umm what you drive and all that matters how? im happy you were able to experience this because now maybe you can be gain more humblity? if that is a word.

i could be wrong but it sounds like you place importance on certain things and linked them to how you should be treated. im not saying you deserved to be dealt with rudely. my stance is that no one does. again, sry if im off point.

 

[Apple OC]

Now, I'm a surgeon, drive a BMW, own my place... and in this case felt a bit ignored... no service, no interest, nothing... Over the last 2-3 weeks my experience at Cambridgeside Galleria in Cambridge, Mass. has been horrible. The employees are uninformed, provide wrong information regarding computer specifications, are rude, and disinterested... Just putting it out there...

There is a lot of Karma out there ... maybe one day you will see him at your work ready to go under the knife ... you can lean over him and say ... hey buddy, remember me from the Apple store? ... you got 5 mins!

 

[tigres]

Here is how I would have handled it.

As soon as I verified he/she actually asked me that question, I would have said the following...

"Excuse me, please direct me to your supervisor." Now.

Would have told the sup exactly what happened, showed and express my disgust, and demanded some sort of gratification.

I simply don't take any of that ***** anymore. Some people have no idea whom they offend, nor care on how they come across in the sales environment.

Go back OP, and get some gratis...

 

[omgitscro]

umm what you drive and all that matters how? im happy you were able to experience this because now maybe you can be gain more humblity? if that is a word.

i could be wrong but it sounds like you place importance on certain things and linked them to how you should be treated. im not saying you deserved to be dealt with rudely. my stance is that no one does. again, sry if im off point.

Because it's Cambridge (streets are filled with homeless, it's quite unfortunate), the employee had probably assumed that the OP was just mooching some computer use (due to his appearance). I got my launch-day iPhone 4 at this store; I can see what the OP had meant, having the store environment in mind...

 

[aristobrat]

Time limits are implemented on a store-by-store basis. If an employee is rude to you about it, talk to a manager, or leave you feedback here:
http://www.apple.com/retail/feedback

 

[iCheddar]

@coochiekuta

See, this is part of the problem with people today. We need to remember to give respect to people in higher stations than us. Me, I'm a poor student, I've got a ton of respect for a surgeon - he worked his ASS to get where he is today, and for that he deserves respect from his peers and from staff at an Apple store.

 

[frunkis54]

@coochiekuta

See, this is part of the problem with people today. We need to remember to give respect to people in higher stations than us. Me, I'm a poor student, I've got a ton of respect for a surgeon - he worked his ASS to get where he is today, and for that he deserves respect from his peers and from staff at an Apple store.

actually i agree with him it shouldn't matter what he does for a living or what he drives. we should all treat others with respect.

 

[Romulus]

actually i agree with him it shouldn't matter what he does for a living or what he drives. we should all treat others with respect.

I agree with both of you - the inclusion of my background was just to support the fact that I was in no way rude, uneducated, or would have appeared ignorant if appropriately approached with concern or interest.

 

[bowlerman625]

I would speak to the store manager about the way you were treated!

 

[rgarjr]

Ive only had one occasion where one told me there's like a 20 minute limit to surf the web, check e-mail, etc.

 

[Pipper99]

I went to CompUsa once, and I exited out of a Beatles cd-rom that they had running on a Mac so that I could try it out. I was seriously shopping for a Mac, and the sales guy came over and said, "sir, could you please not stop our demo? Is there anything that I can show you?" I told him and his manager that they lost a sale and a customer, but they didn't particularly care. I'm glad that they're out of business, now.

 

[jfyrfytr25]

I went to CompUsa once, and I exited out of a Beatles cd-rom that they had running on a Mac so that I could try it out. I was seriously shopping for a Mac, and the sales guy came over and said, "sir, could you please not stop our demo? Is there anything that I can show you?" I told him and his manager that they lost a sale and a customer, but they didn't particularly care. I'm glad that they're out of business, now.

CompUSA is not out of business here in the Chicagoland area. There are 3 or 4 of them. I was in one saturday picking up an HDMI cable.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

after using a 13 next to a 11 for about 20 minutes, an employee comes to me, does not ask "Anything I can help you with?" but goes "hey buddy, you got 5 minutes." I'm like "what do you mean?" He goes "there's time limits on computer use, you have to leave".

This employee was way out of line, and the last type of person that Apple wants on the floor of their beautiful store.

If it were me, I would call the store manager and calmly tell him or her the story. There's nothing more valuable to a store manager than to know how the customers are being treated. And frankly I wouldn't even mention your appearance as that has nothing to do with it.

Any salesperson stupid enough to judge a prospective customer on their looks, is a salesperson that will never amount to much.

I feel quite confident the store manager will thank you for your call.

Cheers...

 

[bowlerman625]

CompUSA is not out of business here in the Chicagoland area. There are 3 or 4 of them. I was in one saturday picking up an HDMI cable.

TigerDirect/Systemax bought the CompUSA name after the original went out of business. The stores are ok, but nothing like the CompUSA that was around 10 years ago!

 

[Pipper99]

CompUSA is not out of business here in the Chicagoland area. There are 3 or 4 of them. I was in one saturday picking up an HDMI cable.

Interesting. I thought that they'd closed up everywhere.

 

[JoeG4]

lol, I've been to a few Apple stores and never had that kind of experience. Ever. And I usually end up at the 30" + Mac Pro setup screwing around with Photoshop and whatever else I feel like.

I always thought I would too, since twice now I've been in the store in outfits that were slightly outlandish (tripp shorts with chains!)

XD

I guess it helps that I'm usually either there waiting for an appointment or something like that, but yea, I'm not surprised.

OTOH, I'd work my way up management and complain to them about it. That's just WRONG.

 

[texfire]

I agree with both of you - the inclusion of my background was just to support the fact that I was in no way rude, uneducated, or would have appeared ignorant if appropriately approached with concern or interest.

In my personal ER doc experience, I think putting out you're a surgeon does not help the " I was in no way rude " case

sounds like you were minding your own business...but just sayin...

 

[celo48]

If I were you, I would write to Steve Jobs about your experience.