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Apple "genius" said I couldn't browse before 12PM $1300 purchase

P

pjny

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 18, 2010
798
159
I was trying to decide between 12 P and 12PM at Apple Grand Central apple today. They let me in and I was led to an area where I asked an Apple genius several questions about upgrading. I told him I was there to decide between 12 P and 12PM.

I barely had a chance to fire off 2 shots with camera app when he said we aren't really allowed to let people browse.

Really?

Even car stealership allows you a test drive before they take you for a ride.
 
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They're more careful about the covid more likely than dealers who are really hurting financially. Apple isn't hurting with COVID. Car dealers totally are not doing well.

I like you am disappointed obviously (I wanted to browse and look at apple watch bands, and the phones) but I understand their stance (I'm in the health care field and I know 3 people who have died from COVID complicationwho would have otherwise still be here celebrating Thanksgiving if not for the COVID-19). I also tried going to the Apple Space Ship campus in Cupertino; when i was there 2 years ago you can look at the overlook area, but now that is closed. I parked in the parking lot only to be told to turn around and drive away when we went to the entrance. They turned it into a store and you need to have an appointment to have an apple store employee with you. I drove there for 90mins each way on a road trip through Sacramento/San Fran, but hey I understand their policy.

These are extra-ordinary times hopefully by the summer we will all have some sense of normal. I'm confident in this.

If anthing, just buy and "try"/return the $1300 device in January by using the extended holiday deadline.
 
Last edited:
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Hi sorry your argument doesn’t fly. They took my temp, I am wearing n95 mask, was wearing goggles and there are people socially distanced in a large high ceiling area with no walls.

I have had to sit for 15-20min waiting inside the 5th avenue store for my phone to be brought in after a battery replacement. The grand central terminal apple store is way safer IMO.
 
StellarVixen said:
If COVID is an excuse, why don’t they ask people to disinfect their hands before touching the phone, rather than not letting them to browse the phones?
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There are other, potentially even more important, factors in play in that type of context than just the touching aspect of it.
 
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pjny said:
Hi apple fanboy. Thanks for your input. I’ve covered the entirety of the pandemic and taken precautions such as I did today.
Click to expand...
That’s a good one. Apple Fanboy!!! Maybe you should hit up Dangerfields.

Yes, how dare Apple not allow you to mill around the store while you decide.
 
Septercius said:
Sense of entitlement, much? You do realize there's a pandemic on and they're just being careful?
Click to expand...

slippery-pete said:
Yes! How dare they don’t let him mill around the store while he decides! Damn you Apple
Click to expand...
Wow, how originial. Milling? i was looking at the phone with the genius there. if they are so concerned about safety protocols they wouldn't have so many people inside the 5th avenue store.
 
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C DM said:
There are other, potentially even more important, factors in play in that type of context than just the touching aspect of it.
Click to expand...
Such as? If Apple is that concerned about safety protocol they would shut down the 5th avenue store. Have you been inside?
 
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StellarVixen said:
If COVID is an excuse, why don’t they ask people to disinfect their hands before touching the phone, rather than not letting them to browse the phones?
Click to expand...
In France at least, we need to disinfect our hands before we can enter the store. I've been to 2 stores and it's the same protocol in both.
 
1rottenapple said:
They're more careful about the covid more likely than dealers who are really hurting financially. Apple isn't hurting with COVID. Car dealers totally are not doing well.

I like you am disappointed obviously (I wanted to browse and look at apple watch bands, and the phones) but I understand their stance (I'm in the health care field and I know 3 people who have died from COVID complicationwho would have otherwise still be here celebrating Thanksgiving if not for the COVID-19). I also tried going to the Apple Space Ship campus in Cupertino; when i was there 2 years ago you can look at the overlook area, but now that is closed. I parked in the parking lot only to be told to turn around and drive away when we went to the entrance. They turned it into a store and you need to have an appointment to have an apple store employee with you. I drove there for 90mins each way on a road trip through Sacramento/San Fran, but hey I understand their policy.

These are extra-ordinary times hopefully by the summer we will all have some sense of normal. I'm confident in this.

If anthing, just buy and "try"/return the $1300 device in January by using the extended holiday deadline.
Click to expand...
hi i just spoke to apple. you can create a shopping reservation online and look at the phones. so there goes the safety theory.

when i arrived earlier I explained i to a red shirt i was there to compare two phones and they said stand in the line on the right with one group. they took my temp and asked me what i was there for. I went up and met an apple "genius" who answered a couple of questions then kindly let me know I had to leave.

I guess they should perhaps inform people on the line I was that they have to create a "shopping reservation".
 
pjny said:
Wow, how originial. Milling? i was looking at the phone with the genius there. if they are so concerned about safety protocols they wouldn't have so many people inside the 5th avenue store.
Click to expand...
You were deciding, no? You want to act like Apple owes you special treatment because you were buying a phone. You have too much time on your hands.
 
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pjny said:
I was trying to decide between 12 P and 12PM at Apple Grand Central apple today. They let me in and I was led to an area where I asked an Apple genius several questions about upgrading. I told him I was there to decide between 12 P and 12PM.

I barely had a chance to fire off 2 shots with camera app when he said we aren't really allowed to let people browse.

Really?

Even car stealership allows you a test drive before they take you for a ride.
Click to expand...
Don't bother with the Apple Store. The Best Buy locations (featuring Apple Store within-a-store) in Manhattan let you liberally try out the iPhones before purchase. That's how I knew that as much as I LOVE the screen real estate on the 12PM, I would eventually grow to HATE carrying it around (as I did with my Xs Max). Rockin' the 12 Pro now.
 
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Lol you people here are ridiculous. Y’all seriously think someone shouldn’t be allowed to shop and compare the product their about to spend their money on? 😂 entitlement? Lmao. Yes there is some entitlement when your about to hand a store money in exchange for their product. Y’all need to loosen your masks a little, it’s starting to effect brain function.
 
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pjny said:
LOL. Did you read my post about speaking to apple. Not asking for special treatment. You have too much time on your hands with ill-informed reply.
Click to expand...
How many phone calls have you made? Lots of time to waste...calls and ill-informed posts.

How about this. You don’t like how you were treated in the store, don’t buy the Apple product. Take your hard earned money to a competitor.
 
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I went to my local Apple store yesterday to check out the new iPhones. Temperature check at the door. I could check out anything I wanted. That was yesterday. As of today there is only pickup online orders and Genius appointments. No in store shopping.
 
Phone Junky said:
I went to my local Apple store yesterday to check out the new iPhones. Temperature check at the door. I could check out anything I wanted. That was yesterday. As of today there is only pickup online orders and Genius appointments. No in store shopping.
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Sounds like they converted overnight to express pick up only and Genius Bar appointments only.
 
Yeah it’s not a very pleasant experience the two times I’ve been the past 8 months. I don’t really care for looking at an item while having an employee hover over me.

I get the intention but it’s definitely not for me. I think measures like that are more for show than anything.
 
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