Apple Store stock

[jterp7]

Maybe this was a mistake, but I went through the trouble of calling the store to check stock/line, just a rough estimate of wait time and whether or not it was even worth traveling, since I am looking for the white gold/silver phones. The rep had the gall the tell me nothing but to come down and see a specialist.

How the tell does the guy NOT know 1) Stock (check the computer) 2) Look at the line and just give me a rough estimate of people, like 100 or 50 or 10. 3) Come down to the store = I'm willing to help as little as possible.

I hate my local store, but they're the closest so I have little choice. For those of you in the DC area what are the better apple stores you know of? Because montgomery mall is absolute garbage, especially how they handled the 4S and that was AFTER the rush.

 

[Zimmy68]

Maybe this was a mistake, but I went through the trouble of calling the store to check stock/line, just a rough estimate of wait time and whether or not it was even worth traveling, since I am looking for the white gold/silver phones. The rep had the gall the tell me nothing but to come down and see a specialist.

How the tell does the guy NOT know 1) Stock (check the computer) 2) Look at the line and just give me a rough estimate of people, like 100 or 50 or 10. 3) Come down to the store = I'm willing to help as little as possible.

I hate my local store, but they're the closest so I have little choice. For those of you in the DC area what are the better apple stores you know of? Because montgomery mall is absolute garbage, especially how they handled the 4S and that was AFTER the rush.

So you expect them to do this every 5 minutes when someone calls?
I would call ahead also but I wouldn't begrudge them if they said they couldn't tell me.
Heck, the AT&T corporate store didn't even bother picking up the phone today.

 

[maflynn]

I'll play the devil's advocate and say that the store is probably a zoo, with a line going out the store and around the block and they're doing everything they can for customers who took the time to wait in line. While it was not a bad idea to call, clearly they're probably jumping out of their skin being busy.

Working in retail sux and today is one of those days that they're dammed if they do and dammed if they don't.

 

[Allport1954]

Allegedly, Apple will be updating their Apple Store App to include store inventories (see link below).

I echo the sentiment retail sucks, a Genius I was speaking with today told me that some of his coworkers worked overnight shifts for the launch.

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/17/iphone-5s-inventory-said-to-be-severely-constrained-at-launch/

 

[jterp7]

So you expect them to do this every 5 minutes when someone calls?
I would call ahead also but I wouldn't begrudge them if they said they couldn't tell me.
Heck, the AT&T corporate store didn't even bother picking up the phone today.

If you're sold out you should know, especially for the rare colors like the gold. And I don't see how they couldn't look outside and say there's 10 or 100 people. Make a damn effort.

 

[TheKrs1]

If you're sold out you should know, especially for the rare colors like the gold. And I don't see how they couldn't look outside and say there's 10 or 100 people. Make a damn effort.

And as someone who would be in line. Make a "damn" effort and get off the phone and help me, the customer who is already here.

 

[Velin]

The rep had the gall the tell me nothing but to come down and see a specialist.

That was nice of him. I would have hung up on you, and slammed the phone down while doing it.

 

[maflynn]

And as someone who would be in line. Make a "damn" effort and get off the phone and help me, the customer who is already here.

This bugs me the most, not for the OP, but in retail as general rule. I'm waiting in line to pay for some product yet, all the cashiers are answering calls and not taking my money. I'm like helloooo, paying customer here please help me.

 

[fender57]

I'm surprised on launch day they actually picked up the phone.

 

[Poly]

This bugs me the most, not for the OP, but in retail as general rule. I'm waiting in line to pay for some product yet, all the cashiers are answering calls and not taking my money. I'm like helloooo, paying customer here please help me.

So I'm working at an adidas retail store and afaik in EVERY adidas retail store(worldwide) you don't see who is calling.
Tell me what you're going to tell your boss if he tries to call you 3times in a row and you don't take the phone...well actually i don't know how they handle it at the cash desk because i'm working as a consultant.

 

[TheKrs1]

So I'm working at an adidas retail store and afaik in EVERY adidas retail store(worldwide) you don't see who is calling.
Tell me what you're going to tell your boss if he tries to call you 3times in a row and you don't take the phone...well actually i don't know how they handle it at the cash desk because i'm working as a consultant.

About 10 years ago I used to be a store manager for a wireless retailer in Canada. I would regularily not answer the phone, even if it was my District Manager calling, if I was dealing with a customer in the store.

He could think two things:
1. Yay! more store is too busy making money. I will talk to them later.
2. Oh no. The staff is lazy, or the store is on fire.

I can tell you, he more than likely always chose option 1... because he knew me and my store. We help those who are there face to face without moving onto another customer on the phone.

Our sales improved while I worked there too. Maybe it was due to more traffic, better promotions... or maybe due to our customer service. Science can tell us the answer, but I don't know how to ask it.

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This bugs me the most, not for the OP, but in retail as general rule. I'm waiting in line to pay for some product yet, all the cashiers are answering calls and not taking my money. I'm like helloooo, paying customer here please help me.

I feel as though the Fry meme about shutting up and taking my money would apply here. (especially with your avatar).

 

[Poly]

About 10 years ago I used to be a store manager for a wireless retailer in Canada. I would regularily not answer the phone, even if it was my District Manager calling, if I was dealing with a customer in the store.

He could think two things:
1. Yay! more store is too busy making money. I will talk to them later.
2. Oh no. The staff is lazy, or the store is on fire.

I can tell you, he more than likely always chose option 1... because he knew me and my store. We help those who are there face to face without moving onto another customer on the phone.

Our sales improved while I worked there too. Maybe it was due to more traffic, better promotions... or maybe due to our customer service. Science can tell us the answer, but I don't know how to ask it.

Ok, we also don't answer the phone WHILE we are dealing with a customer. But in between customers we answer the phone.

 

[atteligibility]

So you expect them to do this every 5 minutes when someone calls?

YES!! These guys spent two hours with their blue shirts taking pictures and videos of the line of people waiting in the rain, how unreasonable is it to expect some basic customer service for their most loyal customers, such as telling you that they don't have any TMO or gold phones.

Personally, the experience wasn't good at all for me this morning, and it would not have taken much to make it better, such as telling me at 5 am that they didn't have any TMO phone, instead of waiting 7:30.

 

[karmatourer]

Regarding upgrading store stock for online orders & store pickup,I thought that didn't happen until roughly 10 days after release.Wasn't that the case with the 5?

Allegedly, Apple will be updating their Apple Store App to include store inventories (see link below).

I echo the sentiment retail sucks, a Genius I was speaking with today told me that some of his coworkers worked overnight shifts for the launch.

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/17/iphone-5s-inventory-said-to-be-severely-constrained-at-launch/

 

[maflynn]

So I'm working at an adidas retail store and afaik in EVERY adidas retail store(worldwide) you don't see who is calling.
Tell me what you're going to tell your boss if he tries to call you 3times in a row and you don't take the phone...well actually i don't know how they handle it at the cash desk because i'm working as a consultant.

I've worked at retail I know. The store I worked at had communicated that its better to answer the phone then help a paying customer - it made no sense.

As for telling your boss, just say you were slammed and wanted to give customer individual attention and your complete focus

 

[Allport1954]

Regarding upgrading store stock for online orders & store pickup,I thought that didn't happen until roughly 10 days after release.Wasn't that the case with the 5?

You're right, store stock info is usually added at least a week after the launch.