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Are all Apple Stores like this??
- Thread starter sofdog
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A lot of stores are like that. Apple is trying to keep its employees and customers healthy by limiting people in the store.
My local store (also in a mall) is like that now. The store recently stopped allowing walk-ins. Everything has to be done by appointment.
The local Apple Stores in the SF Bay Area encourage appointments for hands-on shopping.
There are a limited number of slots but they do accommodate drop-ins. You have to wait in line as they limit the number of people inside the store.
If you know specifically what you want to buy, they might actually bring it to you curbside and conduct the transaction in front of the store.
I've done all three: appointment, walk-in wait-in-line, and curbside purchase.
There are a limited number of slots but they do accommodate drop-ins. You have to wait in line as they limit the number of people inside the store.
If you know specifically what you want to buy, they might actually bring it to you curbside and conduct the transaction in front of the store.
I've done all three: appointment, walk-in wait-in-line, and curbside purchase.
It's even more like that at some of the flagship-type Apple Stores. They have sent up a completely walled-off Apple Express in the front and deal with customer requests by appointment and at a counter. About a month ago, I went without an appointment to buy an Apple Pencil and was turned away while in line and before I ever reached the counter.
My closest Apple store also is requiring appointments both for shopping and for Genius bar. If the store is not busy then I would think that appointments would be available and you could possibly just use your phone to reserve a time right then and there. Or take a minute to purchase the charger and cable using your app, while specifying store pickup, and then go back to the store and tell them you are picking up an order.
If the store is really that unoccupied with customers then you would expect them to let you come in without an appointment, but sometimes individuals get so focused on the strict rules that they forget to use common sense and allow some flexibility. Your photo shows a store that is considerably less busy than I have experienced here with my closest Apple store, it does seem like they could have been more accommodating to you.
If the store is really that unoccupied with customers then you would expect them to let you come in without an appointment, but sometimes individuals get so focused on the strict rules that they forget to use common sense and allow some flexibility. Your photo shows a store that is considerably less busy than I have experienced here with my closest Apple store, it does seem like they could have been more accommodating to you.
No, but the whole ordeal of an empty store, plus needing a second security guy and a manager to approve my entrance, and only the single power brick available was just too weird. I bought an Anker brick and a pair of cables from Amazon as soon as I got home.
They don't want people lingering around OP not implying you would do that but their objective now is to get folks in and out. That's not just Apple that is many retailers.
Every single other store I go to, the supermarket, liquor store, home center, flower shop, Game Stop, bike shop, etc., are open for business as usual. The Apple store is the only store I see doing this.
On reading this I said "Christ!" under my breath, as I thought your comment was rude and inappropriate. So one could say your own avatar is quite appropriate........
Those stores nearly do not get crowded as an Apple store pre pandemic. Anyway there is literally no reason to linger these days get what you want and go. Best Buy did this for a while and is going to be going back to this model where you book an appointment and you stay in a specific area and do not get to roam around the store.
It is a pandemic and just makes sense that stores don't want people touching all the items and surfaces.
All the Apple stores here in California are like that. I had an appointment to pick up something I purchased. While I was in line though I overheard the security personnel tell another person they had to have an appointment or they could not be helped. AT&T, whom my wife works for has this same model set up. Only a handful in store and otherwise you wait outside till your turn. Demo models are unavailable. They are all currently put away from general public.
Yes. This happened to me as well. Even the other shops in the malls don't refuse entrance. The Apple stores are effectively (bar the few appointments) shuttered now.
During COVID, I avoid Apple stores like the plague, I mean COVID-19.
I live in NJ, we are all quite aware. I rarely go to shopping malls but that is where the Apple stores are. Every other store is open. I can walk into any store and touch stuff and buy stuff but the only exception is the Apple Store.
Apple just closed all California stores and many in London. I expect more closings will follow soon.
This is typical for most areas of the U.S. right now, I think.
My view is that Apple is financially much stronger than most other retailers (financially stronger than probably just about any other company, really), and can deal with having their retail stores either shut down or with limited use for as long as necessary. The different approach being taken by other stores is as much a reflection of this as anything.
Apple Retail Stores have the highest revenue per square foot of pretty much all retain chains, a very important retail metric. That includes Tiffanys.
They also generally have excellent growth in same store sales, another important metric.
Apple is in better financial shape to temporarily close their retail stores. And unlike a jewelry store, Apple Store retail sales associates can also be productive as online customer support staff.
They also generally have excellent growth in same store sales, another important metric.
Apple is in better financial shape to temporarily close their retail stores. And unlike a jewelry store, Apple Store retail sales associates can also be productive as online customer support staff.
This was at 11am at a mall in NJ. They asked if I had an appointment even though there was nobody in the store. I wanted to buy a charger and cable and walked out empty handed.
Mine is. You have to have an appointment for in-store pickup or to see a genius.
The difference between apple and virtually all the other stores you name is that ALL of Apple's inventory is online. Its no different than going to Amazon, which apparently you know how to do. You look through their stuff, order it, and set an appointment to pick it up. The fact that your other stores do not do this do not make me say, great for them, but rather the opposite, great for Apple for being conscientious and doing what they can to fight the pandemic. And yes, btw, this is exactly what I do with the Apple store near me. When the infection numbers were lower, there were limited spots for people to walk in, now its closed and by appointment. fine with me.