Apple Testing Redesigned Genius Bar to Increase Capacity

[samcraig]

Indeed. I'm sitting here thinking "okay... you guys didn't actually just figure out you could put people on BOTH sides of a table - right?".

It just works.

 

[ivanozerov]

It's now become impossible to buy anything at an Apple Store without having to wait...for a very long time. I've been into my local Apple Store in Colorado Springs and each time I've had to wait on average 10-15 minutes even to buy a trackpad. I have to check in with the guy up front and then wait for someone to come over so I can pay for the item. The problem is I'm in line behind others who are asking tons of questions before buying their item. All I want to do is buy a trackpad.

Or you could use the Apple Store App, which allows you to ring up your own accessories, etc...

 

[yg17]

My local Apple stores are always balmy and hot.

Doesn't help that one of them has a glass roof. Go in there on a sunny day this summer and you'll be walking out with soggy boxers.

Swamp ass just from going to an Apple Store? No thanks

 

[Kurwenal]

If it's not an Apple branded item, you don't have to speak to anyone; just use the Apple Store app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to scan the bar code and OK the charge, and you're out of there.

True, but for anything I can buy with the Apple Store app, any advantage over Amazon.com is increasingly difficult to see.

 

[Winni]

Genius help up to three customers at a time now? Yikes, talk about busy.

Yeah, not bad for systems that are supposed to "just work"...

 

[G51989]

They really are avoiding the whole " we need a bigger store. " thing.

 

[ivanozerov]

True, but for anything I can buy with the Apple Store app, any advantage over Amazon.com is increasingly difficult to see.

Instant satisfaction of walking out the door with it, versus waiting a day or two for shipping. Just depends on how impatient you are

 

[Kurwenal]

Swamp ass just from going to an Apple Store? No thanks

Kind of puts a new spin on "I took it in the shorts on that deal...."

 

[G51989]

Also, with the amount of people Apple stores already attract.

Why no standard checkout lane?

 

[Acorn]

rather then make more space they should make better equipment

 

[faroZ06]

The article makes the Genius Bar sound like an iPhone.

 

[trife]

Am I the only person who avoids their local Apple store like the plague? I find it sad that I'd rather order online than step foot in there. Waaaaaay too many people in there at once.

 

[JDB1983]

Holy ****. Apple patent 'turning a table 90 degrees'!

 

[Kurwenal]

Am I the only person who avoids their local Apple store like the plague?

No. Scroll up.....

 

[chilly willy]

Absolutely. And staffed with more employees. I now avoid going to an Apple store -- packed with people and you have to fight to get some attention, even if you just want to pay for something. That "gatekeeper" at the door is a good concept but, last time I dared enter the hallowed realms, the gatekeeper told me, three times, "I'll get someone to help you" but no one ever showed up.

The original store here in Charlotte is a cramped, crowded nightmare almost every day. Basically a rectangle with all support towards back, so you have to run the gauntlet to get to genius bar etc. Chaos reigns even with mobile employees around. I wish they'd just get a bigger space. They have the customers clearly, so expanding by even 10 feet laterally would be fantastic relief. It's not like I want a flagship NYC or Tokyo store. Understand this is a smaller city but there are tons of folks here and around this area who flood the place. I'm starting to prefer the kiosk with Apple guy at BB.

 

[Comeagain?]

rather then make more space they should make better equipment

Because a multi-billion dollar company can obviously only work on one thing at a time. While the geniuses can work with three people.

. I'm starting to prefer the kiosk with Apple guy at BB.

if only they were reasonably bright at my local Best Buy.

 

[Stephen123]

This is welcome. But two other observations:

1. If only they raised store clerk wages, genius or not.

Um... They did just raise wages by about 25% for most retail employees. Also, their wages where well above average for computer retail before the raise.

 

[Comeagain?]

You know you can tell Apple your opinions on the size/busyness of your local stores.

http://www.apple.com/retail/feedback/

 

[Kurwenal]

if only they were reasonably bright at my local Best Buy.

This is the issue/problem. Go to Apple, you'll usually get good advice, but you'll have to fight through the Golden Horde to get it. Or, go to Best Buy, which will be empty -- just like (most but not all of) the heads of the employees.

 

[Eidorian]

I bought a Magic Mouse with the app. I was in and out of the zoo store within a minute.

Although last time I ventured to the Apple Store, I was looking for a Thunderbolt cable, again, hoping to be in and out within a minute. But they don't keep TB cables on the floor, so I had to hunt somebody down to help me and get one from the back. What should've taken a minute took 15.

But between the massive crowds of people, the long waits, the inability to find someone to help you and the parents who use the Apple Store as a babysitting service while they go off shopping in the mall, going to the Apple Store is no longer the pleasant experience it once was.

That was my experience and it has been years since I have been to an Apple Store. Luckily I have an AASP with a small showroom just a over mile away from home now.

 

[PDXoPDX]

I like this new layout for a very different reason: less confusion about how to pay for things.

Every time I've had a genius bar appt there seems to be half a dozen people thinking that the GB is a bank of registers. My genius then had to take time to tell them to turn around and talk to somebody with an easy pay or use their iPhone to check out.

Having a registerless store with a typical retail layout (products up front, registers at the back wall) doesn't work very well right now - at least for the hordes of suburbanites who typically frequent Apple stores.

 

[juannacho]

I suppose with better use of space they can fit in more tiny horses...

 

[Eidorian]

I suppose with better use of space they can fit in more tiny horses...

Image

Amusing but it is a service animal, right?

 

[koolmagicguy]

They should genius stations all through the store...

You need a verb in there somewhere.

 

[thelink]

Bring on the iPad 4!!!!