Apple Shopping

[FrogTastic]

Ive never purchased anything from directly in store, so I thought I would give it a try.

So i decided to go grab an iPad2 last week. Called the Regent Street store to confirm stock, jumped into a cab and headed there.

Walked into the store, asked the first Sales person for a white iPad 2 32GB wifi. To which she answer - " We only have wifi". I answered - "I want wifi". "go stand in that Q and someone will help you".

Got into the Q, made to the front - "White iPad 2 32GB wifi please". To which the cashier answered - " We only have wifi". I answered - "I want wifi". "Go upstairs and someone will help you".

Headed upstairs, asked the first free staff memeber -" Could I have a white iPad 2 32GB wifi". Replied - " We only have wifi". I answered - "I want wifi". "Go stand in that Q and someone will help you!"

Headed to the Q, literally in the middle of the floor. Finally got to the front of the Q, after having to listen to 3 Apple Staff member discussing their lives and loves with eachother for 5 minutes, infront of the Q of 10 people waiting. "White iPad 2 32GB Wifi please" - I asked. Guy - " We only have wifi". I answered - "I want wifi".

So after 45 minutes of getting messed around, staff clearly too involved with having their blue tee's and how cool they are. I got my iPad 2. Its not like the store was crazy and they dont have enough staff. I just wonder, why is it so difficult to buy something from direct and why they hiring kids than clearly dont give a crap.

Ive been a Mac user for quite sometime now, but doubt Ill visit an store again.

 

[tersono]

It's not like that everywhere. I've bought from the Kingston store several times and they've always been very helpful and attentive (despite usually being very busy).

 

[solowmodel]

Weird. Have had nothing but quick, friendly, and efficient service in both the Regent St. and Covent Garden stores.

 

[r0k]

I had a bit of a disappointment with staff at the Somerset (Detroit area) store where they wasted my time trying to prove I had dunked my iPod Touch in liquid. I wound up getting a replacement through AppleCare over the phone. I had to do without my device for days while I waited for shipping. Then I had to go out in the rain to pick it up at a fedex depot because I wasn't willing to go online and waive the signature and nobody could sit at the house all day waiting for the delivery.

As for shopping at the Somerset store, I tend to avoid the place because it's always crazy crowded. When I do shop there, I find I get decent service. I picked up my Macbook there, several Mac Minis there, my son's Macbook Pro there, my iPad there and my iPhone 4 there. I was impressed with the service on all those occasions but I did make an effort to time my most of visits so they weren't during peak hours or right after a new Apple product announcement. The exception to avoiding crowds was when I picked up my iPad on 4/3/2010 after waiting in line. I got there shortly before the store opened and was on my way with my 16GB wifi iPad about 30 minutes later. I was impressed that all my contacts, etc were on the iPad before I left the store (via MobileMe).

The other day I noticed 64 GB 3G iPad 2's just sitting there in a local Target store but the lower priced models were all sold out. Around here you can get an iPad 2 if you're willing to buy the more expensive models.

 

[Consultant]

That's absolutely not how it's done at most stores.

At the Apple Store here, they got a person with tickets with model on it. You get a ticket.

 

[r0k]

That's absolutely not how it's done at most stores.

At the Apple Store here, they got a person with tickets with model on it. You get a ticket.

Interesting. I never noticed the tickets at Somerset. Perhaps that's because I tend to shy away on the busier days.