Apple Stores moving to Automation

[JM]

I got these survey questions after buying an SE and picking up in store last week.

Apple store will be dismal and soul-less if they move to self-checkout and vending machines

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I got these survey questions after buying an SE and picking up in store last week.

Apple store will be dismal and soul-less if they move to self-checkout and vending machines

Interesting! It looks like Self-Check out might be coming via Kiosk? Kinda like what we have at Walmart and Target? Self Check out is the future.

 

[chrfr]

Self checkout is already available for many items in the store, and it has been available for many years.

 

[calliex]

They had it when I worked there about 5 yrs ago. You used the apple store app and scan things off the shelf.
I wondered how they would tell, if you stole it or bought it.

 

[JM]

Oh. 😆

Well, guess that explains why the Apple store is less fun already than it was eight years ago.

Wait… that’s when Angela Ahrendts was hired! 😱

Oh well… guess I didn’t stumble upon any big change I guess.

No just kidding. It’s not all because of self checkout or Angela.

 

[jav6454]

Self checkout is already available for many items in the store, and it has been available for many years.

Agreed, this just means a more appropriate process will be implemented other than paying and walking weirdly as if you stole it.

 

[JM]

Agreed, this just means a more appropriate process will be implemented other than paying and walking weirdly as if you stole it.

Yeah had no idea self checkout was a thing.

I’m just afraid they’re looking for justification to layoff a lot of the staff and push people towards kiosks and self checkout. And that would be a less “bright” and exciting Apple store.

 

[jav6454]

Yeah had no idea self checkout was a thing.

I’m just afraid they’re looking for justification to layoff a lot of the staff and push people towards kiosks and self checkout. And that would be a less “bright” and exciting Apple store.

Well, you can still check out with people. I honestly rather do checkout with a person.

 

[pilotpat]

Well, you can still check out with people. I honestly rather do checkout with a person.

I think it's fine as long as you have both options. If I have a question about my purchase, i would rather the person who I am working with can check me out as well. But for those times you need to get in, grab something and not have to wait for someone to come and help you, self checkout is great.d

 

[motorazr]

Oh. 😆

Well, guess that explains why the Apple store is less fun already than it was eight years ago.

Wait… that’s when Angela Ahrendts was hired! 😱

Oh well… guess I didn’t stumble upon any big change I guess.

No just kidding. It’s not all because of self checkout or Angela.

I heard they’re making more products available for self check out — used to be only non-serialized stuff, which would exclude AirPods, air tags, Apple TV, pencil, etc

 

[eyoungren]

Yeah had no idea self checkout was a thing.

I’m just afraid they’re looking for justification to layoff a lot of the staff and push people towards kiosks and self checkout. And that would be a less “bright” and exciting Apple store.

I don't go to the Apple store to buy anything. There are other, less expensive options - like Walmart and Best Buy. Incidentally, those are closer. The Apple store is a 30 minute drive.

I do go to the Apple store for service. Apple has invested quite a lot in their stores, I doubt there's going to be any massive layoffs of Apple store employees.

On another note, I use self-checkout whenever I can. I went to pay at Walmart once using Walmart Pay. You scan a QR code in their app and it charges your card. For whatever reason the system wasn't working that day and when I inquired the clueless cashier claimed to know nothing about Walmart Pay - Walmart's own payment system that customers use every day. She told me what Walmart does not accept or use Walmart pay. Sure! Since I was holding up the line, I paid directly with my card.

But since that day I refuse to subsidize the employment of willfully ignorant, lazy employees by checking out with a cashier. If there is any option for self-checkout wherever I am I use it.

 

[chrono1081]

Self checkout is already available for many items in the store, and it has been available for many years.

I always feel like I'm stealing when I do this lol. (For anyone who doesn't know, you just scan the item, pay with your phone and walk out.)

 

[JM]

I don't go to the Apple store to buy anything. There are other, less expensive options - like Walmart and Best Buy. Incidentally, those are closer. The Apple store is a 30 minute drive.

I do go to the Apple store for service. Apple has invested quite a lot in their stores, I doubt there's going to be any massive layoffs of Apple store employees.

On another note, I use self-checkout whenever I can. I went to pay at Walmart once using Walmart Pay. You scan a QR code in their app and it charges your card. For whatever reason the system wasn't working that day and when I inquired the clueless cashier claimed to know nothing about Walmart Pay - Walmart's own payment system that customers use every day. She told me what Walmart does not accept or use Walmart pay. Sure! Since I was holding up the line, I paid directly with my card.

But since that day I refuse to subsidize the employment of willfully ignorant, lazy employees by checking out with a cashier. If there is any option for self-checkout wherever I am I use it.

I much prefer people to check out in case there’s some error that comes up and I don’t have to fight with a program that can’t think beyond basic true or false programming.

And I buy from Apple store for the easy returns and experience and excuse to go in. I also have this weird theory that I get treated better later if I buy from store. They always ask me “did you buy from Apple/Apple store/etc.”

 

[JM]

I always feel like I'm stealing when I do this lol. (For anyone who doesn't know, you just scan the item, pay with your phone and walk out.)

Apple lo-key giving people the legal rush of stealing from Apple Store? Haha

 

[eyoungren]

I much prefer people to check out in case there’s some error that comes up and I don’t have to fight with a program that can’t think beyond basic true or false programming.

And I buy from Apple store for the easy returns and experience and excuse to go in. I also have this weird theory that I get treated better later if I buy from store. They always ask me “did you buy from Apple/Apple store/etc.”

At most of the self-checkout places I've used there's at least one employee hanging around. Walmart, grocery stores, etc still need someone to do age verification and other things. I don't have a problem turning to that person because they are going to know more than your average cashier. If they don't, management's going to hear about problems and not just by me.

Walmart, or eBay, where I get things like cables, has easy returns. For stuff like phones/devices, I'm usually buying online through my carrier or in the carrier store. It's hard for Apple to be pissy when they're the ones that made and sold your phone/device to the carrier store. I just get all my service at Apple.

But I don't see a point in driving 30 minutes to an Apple store to buy a lighting cable when Walmart has legitimate Apple cables and other Apple products in their electronics section.

Just me.

 

[Macky-Mac]

In my area I don't find the current crop of Apple store employees to have much interest in helping people who only need to pay for a purchase. Their attitude seems to be that the process is interrupting the store staff from more important things.

For me, I'd be fine with more self-checkout at the Apple store

 

[eyoungren]

In my area I don't find the current crop of Apple store employees to have much interest in helping people who only need to pay for a purchase. Their attitude seems to be that the process is interrupting the store staff from more important things.

For me, I'd be fine with more self-checkout at the Apple store

I had an Apple genius once in 2015 that took a dislike to the fact that my iPhone was jailbroken. That was sometime after Apple's policy of dealing with repairs of jailbroken devices had changed. I was there for a screen replacement, $150. I forget what she wanted from me exactly, but it led to a restore, which led to me handing her a bootlooping iPhone because back then you couldn't just 'restore' a jailbroken device.

An hour later, apparently the aggrieved and pissy genius had gone home because I was met by someone in a much better mood. Turns out Apple couldn't get iOS 9 to install on my iPhone (really??!!!!) so they simply replaced my entire phone for the cost of the screen replacement.

Yeah…so thanks for the brand NEW iPhone genius!!!! 👍

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I got these survey questions after buying an SE and picking up in store last week.

Apple store will be dismal and soul-less if they move to self-checkout and vending machines

To each their own. My FAVORITE place to shop is Sam’s Club, because the app lets me do everything myself & then just walk to the car.