A guy walks in to the Apple store...

Who you calling a dirty mall rat?

jayf said:

And there are a thousand people in there. Less than 1% of which want to spend money (like I did). 998 of the people in there are just stealing oxygen and surfing the web for free. It was impossible to get around and browse the products. I am interested in Apple TV and a new mac, but not this day. This day I walked out feeling a bit unclean from being in that confined space with all those dirty mall rats and bandwidth leeches. Who knows, I may have spent a grand or better but the atmosphere turned me completely off.

I wonder how often someone who wants to spend money walks out due to their policy of letting everyone play with the displays?

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#1 How do you know that people in the Apple Store didn't think the same of you? Maybe someone thought you were as you said an "unclean dirty mall rat leeching bandwidth?"

What exactly do you want the Apple Store to do? Act like a comic book store and tell people not to touch unless they want to buy? Why not try doing what most other people would do. Go to the Apple Store when its less crowded...when they first open or closer to closing time, preferably during the week. Or make an appt. with an genius employ which will indeed insure you get the attention that you deserve. It's not hard to figure out peak crowd times.

I've done all the work for you, now plan your round 2.

jayf said:

And there are a thousand people in there. Less than 1% of which want to spend money (like I did). 998 of the people in there are just stealing oxygen and surfing the web for free. It was impossible to get around and browse the products. I am interested in Apple TV and a new mac, but not this day. This day I walked out feeling a bit unclean from being in that confined space with all those dirty mall rats and bandwidth leeches. Who knows, I may have spent a grand or better but the atmosphere turned me completely off.

I wonder how often someone who wants to spend money walks out due to their policy of letting everyone play with the displays?

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Just order online and then go pick it up. Test it in the privacy of your own home, with he knowledge that you can take it back within the return timeframe with no penelties.

Or, go spend your money at the Samsung kiosk. Pretty sure it was right down from the Apple store and most likely devoid of anyone, save the employees.

jayf said:

It was impossible to get around and browse the products.

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At the Apple Store I worked at as part-time sales Specialist for a few years, not once did I ever have a problem "clearing" a product for a customer that wanted some "hands-on" time with it.

jayf said:

Guess I'm getting old and grouchy. Three replies with three like opinions.
Stores should be for vendors to sell goods to willing consumers, with a secondary responsibility to post sales service. They should not be hangouts for wayward teenagers and semi street urchins who have no intentions of making a purchase, to the extent of interfering with a consumers ability to be parted with his money.

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In the more general case I have abandoned attempts to buy products when a store is too crowded. But I like the fact that apple stores are lively, it validates the fact that the products are popular and cool. Back in the day when magazines were a thing, you got (middle aged people) standing at the magazine rack, like it was a urinal, reading the magazines with no intention of buying. That was quite unpleasant.

If I ever have to go to the Apple store, I go during the last hour of the night. There are usually about 10 people if that, that late at night.

Back when Apple did the check in thing, it took me an hour to buy an iPhone. I swore off going during busy times.

Apple lost a few Mac sales from me(opted to visit Vermont based Small Dog instead), often I usually replace a Mac either spring or summer as DOA/failure won't impact workflow. Stores in my area either have insane amount of non-buyers hanging out at iMacs/MacBook Air/Pro or the store never setup enough display units(pre-2013). 2014 re-designed layout is still awkward, some stores yanked up to two tables worth of demo space for "Genius Bar check-in" and some stores even shrunk the number of demo iMacs for One-to-One training. (some malls Apple even shrunk floor space for stocking more Macs or handling a growing amount of Genius Bar repair space and spare parts for same-day work jobs(batteries & HDD/SSD).

Going to an Apple Store during off-peak hours aren't easy for many, most stores seem to peak at foot traffic from 1pm until 8pm. Times I've made Genius Bar appointments for early mornings, 11am they can be busy even when there wasn't a recent iPhone/iPad launch.

Go visit a Microsoft store, they aren't suffering from "too many people" problem.

People may not have the money to purchase a product at that time, but they are obviously somewhat interested in at some point acquiring the device(s) or else they likely wouldn't have been there. This isn't like Best Buy where everyone goes in to not spend money and then buy online. You buy from Apple, or ... Apple. Whether that's a brick and mortar store or apple.com.

It almost seems like you're a tad intolerant towards others, but like posters above have stated - come in at a better time if the crowds bother you.

smoledman said:

Go visit a Microsoft store, they aren't suffering from "too many people" problem.

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Hahahaha that was good.

jayf said:

998 of the people in there are just stealing oxygen

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And all this time I thought Apple just got the air from outside where oxygen is free.

By the time I actually purchase my iPhone 6, I will have probably gone in 3-4 times to try out both the 6 and 6+, using them in my hands, putting them in various pant pockets (dress pants and jeans have looser and tighter pockets), comparing the colours, showing them to several friends, one of whom is an Android user.

Sometimes I go in just to look at accessories, like bluetooth speakers, cases, computer bags, etc. When I bought a new messenger bag for my MacBook Air a couple weeks ago, I had last looked at them 3 years prior, and not found anything I wanted in the Apple store, but when I returned recently, I found exactly what I want. I didn't need a new bag, I just wanted to give an old one away, and was curious if there was a better replacement for myself.

When I was looking at tablets for my Father, at the Apple store, and elsewhere for the Android options, I liked the iPad mini so much, that even when we went with a much cheaper Nexus 7 2012 for my Dad, I eventually got a second-hand mini for myself, and sold our old iPad 1. None of that helped Apple per se, but it facilitated the secondary market, which helps people enter into the eco-system.

So, I think the stores are doing their job, even if that's not so pleasing to those with agoraphobia.

The REAL issue, IMO?

Since day 1, one of the big "bragging points" Apple has always had about the retail operations is the $ amount sold per square foot of retail space.

The problem with this statistic is that it's easy to manipulate somewhat, by simply opening stores that are smaller than what's really comfortable for shopping in them.

I think Apple has tried to strike the balance that optimizes this figure for them, vs. what would make the most pleasant shopping experience for all customers.

Apple can get away with this for several reasons, but a big one is the fact you're probably going to have to go in there for your in-warranty support. Even if you buy your Mac via mail order, you'll likely make a genius bar appointment if you have issues or questions about it. It might be really crowded and claustrophobic, but you made your appointment in advance and have little choice -- so they know you'll go anyway (and contribute to the visual impression of how POPULAR the store is, just by adding to the crowd).

jayf said:

And there are a thousand people in there. Less than 1% of which want to spend money (like I did). 998 of the people in there are just stealing oxygen and surfing the web for free. It was impossible to get around and browse the products. I am interested in Apple TV and a new mac, but not this day. This day I walked out feeling a bit unclean from being in that confined space with all those dirty mall rats and bandwidth leeches. Who knows, I may have spent a grand or better but the atmosphere turned me completely off.

I wonder how often someone who wants to spend money walks out due to their policy of letting everyone play with the displays?

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Not so busy store

The store near me relocated June 2013. The new place is not far from the previous location but access is difficult. One lane of traffic in each direction with most cars making left turns into the ragtag shopping strips on the approach.

The previous location had excellent access. It was always busy. You had to breathe up and down instead of in and out at peak times. I enjoyed the lively atmosphere. I visited when I was in that shopping village if time permitted. If friends were meeting me there they knew I could be found in the Apple Store. I made a lot of purchases also.

I always let staff knew if I was just playing or buying so as not to waste their time or keep them from a paying customer. I stepped aside if another customer wanted to look at the item I was occupying.

This new place is uninspiring. Not busy. I've never seen it crowded but I don't visit often. When you walk in there is always a blue shirt telling you how busy the store is. It's not. If there were a lot of people I would see them.

The huge downside to the not so busy store is the hard sell, hustle and upsell that customers are subject too. It's unpleasant. I understand that sales must be made.

I really think the lack of customers is due to the traffic bottleneck with the one lane street. Just my observation.

I really miss the busy old location. It was fun!

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well not everyone has to pay 50$ a month for oxygen so I understand if people go to Apple Stores to steal it! it's expensive!