The most surprising thing about this is how many HN readers/commenters are actually seeking help at a brick and mortar store full of "geniuses".
How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
271–280 of 288 posts
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#272I went in a few months to get a hardware thing fixed with an appointment set and nobody helped me. I waited for like 10 minutes past by appointment time and everyone was booked up. I tried pestering people but everyone was helping someone else and asked me to wait for another associate. Eventually I gave up and left the store. I'm sure their analytics never even noticed me, their data says I just never showed up for…
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Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#273The absolute worst thing about going to the Apple store is figuring out how to flag someone down if they're busy. For that reason alone, I've stopped recommending Apple products to my older relatives. Once upon a time, the dominant factor was that the walled garden allowed them to feel less intimidated by their technology, which left them feeling like their devices were vastly more capable, even when they technically…
The stores I've been to all have concierge staff at the front (often with phones or tablets pretty much glued to their hands, sometimes wearing a different shirt). You can tell them what you are looking to do (check out watch bands, genius appointment) and they'll ask you to stay in a certain general area until the next apple person is available, who is sent over based on what I assume are notes on your appearance.
But if you manage to walk past them to the back of the store, you're out of the system and likely to fall through the cracks (unless the other staff aren't busy).
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#274Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can understand being anti-Google, but why anti-Google and pro-Apple?
I think their view is that Apple tries to keep your data to themselves vs. sharing it with third-party ad providers
Apple (legal) really doesn't want your data if they can help it.
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#275The absolute worst thing about going to the Apple store is figuring out how to flag someone down if they're busy. For that reason alone, I've stopped recommending Apple products to my older relatives. Once upon a time, the dominant factor was that the walled garden allowed them to feel less intimidated by their technology, which left them feeling like their devices were vastly more capable, even when they technically…
Not only that, but you have to get someone assigned to you just to buy something. It's an annoying slow process. Why can't I just go to the counter, tell them what I want, pay for it, and go?
If you use the Apple Store app, you can buy any floor goods with your phone and walk out - without interacting with a person at all.
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#276Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have the app. It works really well if you are an Apple nerd like me. But not everyone does. Judging by the number of people that wander around, this is clearly a solution that sounded good at Apple's Silicon Valley offices but breaks down doesn't work in the real world. This is not an area that needed innovation for innovation sake. Just have a sign and employee assigned so you can go to them and pay for stuff.
You can literally talk to any employee if you want to buy something, and they'll whip out their Square-equipped iPhone/iPad. There doesn't need to be a dedicated employee for sales. Just ask one of the employees roaming around the stores.
If you can find one who isn't busy.
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#277Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s not that I expect fewer issues. The reason I started using Apple over Linux was because I thought I could avoid some of those headaches and I do think years ago they cared about quality of experience. But if I’m going to have just as much trouble I might as well keep my freedom.
Ah, so indeed it was not the only factor. ;-)
It is though - the lack of a good experience means lack of a reason to use Apple.
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#278I went in a few months to get a hardware thing fixed with an appointment set and nobody helped me. I waited for like 10 minutes past by appointment time and everyone was booked up. I tried pestering people but everyone was helping someone else and asked me to wait for another associate. Eventually I gave up and left the store. I'm sure their analytics never even noticed me, their data says I just never showed up for…
> I waited for like 10 minutes past by appointment time and everyone was booked up Ha. Here in New York, I’ve never had an Apple Store appointment honored inside an hour. Usually an hour and a half. My strategy is now to get a cocktail at the Cipriani Dolce, walk it across to the Apple Store, ignore the “you can’t bring that in here” protests and wait out the hour with a drink.
This is hilarious, if you actually do this you should make videos where you tell jokes or just film yourself silently drinking for an hour while waiting. Instant viral success.
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#279Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not only that, but you have to get someone assigned to you just to buy something. It's an annoying slow process. Why can't I just go to the counter, tell them what I want, pay for it, and go?
If you use the Apple Store app, you can buy any floor goods with your phone and walk out - without interacting with a person at all.
Really? How do you pickup the thing you bought?
Re: How the Apple Store Lost Its Luster
#280Earlier quoted context omitted.
Funny that they should ignore the old fogies without influence, as they are the ones that can most afford the Apple junk. I’m pushing 50, and I don’t need a fucking loan to buy an iPhone.
Yeah, no interest payments from you. Less profitable.
When you lease to own to your phone through Apple with CitizenOne, there’s no interest