Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Details and Impressions on Apple's Retail Changes

Could care less about the iPad per display. The specialist notification is pretty cool though.

Quick question, do they place a tutorial iPad next to the iPads? That would see silly looking and raher redundant to me.
 
Finally a queuing system. On the few occasions I had to go an Apple store I always got frustrated with the staff and customers stalking them.

I left a couple times empty handed after I got fed up with that mess
 
The iPad software was very easy to navigate. The information I needed was two clicks away. I also support the larger setup area because many new buyers are clueless and senile at my local store.
 
marconiusrex said:
While I appreciate how having dozens of iPads in the stores linked to an improved que system will improve the customer experience, you would think Apple would prioritize getting iPads into the hands of their customers. 1 to 2 weeks to get one does not seem acceptable to me.

M
Click to expand...

One would indeed think that Apple would prioritize, because they do. That's why there is a 1-2 week lag. First to order is first to get the product. If Apple can produce faster than orders come in, the lag will go down. If you have a better queueing idea, tell us your secret.
 
I was tempted to drive by the Apple store to see what the fuss was about but decided to check MR first. I'm glad I didn't go. All these changes benefit somebody that is there to actually buy something, not somebody that is there to see some good old fashioned mayhem. Heck, these changes will reduce the mayhem. I've been pretty lucky getting waited on promptly at the local Apple store but the place is always too darn busy. It will be interesting to see what it like the next time I need to go there to actually do something. Normally I look for the person at the front of the store who is intercepting people as they come in to put them in the queue to get help. Now that person will be gone and I just have to pick up one of the iPads and click something to get in line.

I wonder if I'll have to punch 1 for genius bar, punch 2 for mac, punch 3 for iPhone, or will I have to make my way to a specific table to make an appointment for Mac or iPhone. I'm sure Apple's intent is to make things better but I can't help but feel this runs the risk of being too impersonal and turning some people away. Time will tell...
 
Won't solve anything? Let's wait and see.

ArcaneDevice said:
and this won't change my opinion. Apple tried so hard to be cool and hip by removing the cash register that I never shop there now. This won't solve anything. You'll just have people fighting over an iPad to push their queue button then everyone hanging around it in erratic groups waiting for attention.

What was so hard about having a dedicated and clearly indicated register where you could take your product, wait in a line and get the hell out of there? Far too conventional was it?
Click to expand...

Not at all. It was too slow. Whether you think the new way is cool or not, it does work better in heavy volume situations, which in my experience is the norm at an Apple store.

It's too bad that you never shop there anymore. As you may have read, they are really hurting for your business.
 
Queueing 101

Hberg said:
I am on the fence with this change ...

If I am undecided and need questions answered, I won't mind waiting in queue for assistance. Trust me I would much rather buy Apple products at the Apple Store; however, most times I know what I want, and I want to get in and get out. If I have to wait in queue to spend my money, I am not sure it is valuable experience. In fact, I may have second thoughts if I have wait too long.

This may push more people like myself to Best Buy or the Apple Online Store.

(The only product I waited in line for was the iPad2, and I doubt I do that ever again.)
Click to expand...


So if there's a line at a cash register, you just walk out?
 
Sackvillenb said:
Really? People need to have their ego's stroked and that's why they go to retail stores? Sure, some stores are rather fancy (and to an extent, apple falls into this group), but come on, has it ever occurred to you that maybe people want to go into a retail store because they want to see and examine and try out a product? Is that such an alien concept? You say the product should "stand on it's own", well sure, but you can't have a product stand on it's own unless you can actually examine it! It has little to do with wooing people into buying things (although that IS the underlying principle behind advertising, retail stores, and sales-people). People need retail stores. They need to see a mac display in real life to gauge it's quality. They need to test out the weight of a laptop, and compare sizes in real life. Many people like to test out the keyboards and see how the buttons respond.

And your car dealer is an even worse example! Buying a car (an expensive and usually long term purchase) practically demands that you examine that car physically, in real life. You should look at it inside and out, and you should probably drive it. You have a strange outlook on things, and bizarre misunderstanding of how consumers and their products relate to one another. I mean you no disrespect when I say that. (no really, I don't).

And no, you don't need an ipad connected to a MBP to buy one. But having a ipad that displays relevant information about the MBP (and other related laptops) is very useful to a potential buyer, especially if they are new to macs.

And finally, as a general comment on this change in retail Apple stores: for all the people complaining about the queue, do you not realize that this is something that complements the existing store setup? The queue does not replace that normal way you can approach a specialist (or how they can approach you), it only offers an additional, more organized way to ask for help, with less effort, especially when the store is crowded.

Oh, and one more thing: I can't speak for all stores, but all the Apple stores I've been to DO have a real cash register, in addition to all the staff having mobile credit card processing devices. So, although Apple stores can really get very busy and chaotic, if you can't find the register then you need to improve your brain functions. Yes, Apple is one of the busiest retail stores, but there are ways you can deal with that (go at non-peak times, etc.).

/rant off
Click to expand...

I wasn't even trying to suggest that retail stores were bad. My point was only an Apple fanboy would make a statement that someone doesn't "get" it when Apple does something like this. If it was any other retailer most everyone here would be saying it was ridiculous to have 100 iPads hooked up to everything. And the same people would be complaining about the floors of gold adding to the cost of the merchandise and nothing to the product itself. These customers are getting their ego stroked and trying to convince themselves that they are getting the first class experience.

And no, I didn't know that it didn't replace the traditional method of customer/employee interaction. Thank you for pointing that out to me, I stand corrected.

As for the car dealer, I can go to a Mercedes dealership and the service bays have a tiled floor, etc, etc. If this isn't trying to impress the customer, I don't know what is. It's reinforcing the "you are special because you bought a ..." attitude. I wasn't suggesting that retail stores or car dealerships go away. Why not spend the millions on actually having iPads in stock instead of trying to impress me with how your store is superior to the competition. And then the customer brags about it?
 
Department of Redundancy Department not needed

toddybody said:
Could care less about the iPad per display. The specialist notification is pretty cool though.

Quick question, do they place a tutorial iPad next to the iPads? That would see silly looking and raher redundant to me.
Click to expand...

Redundant? They operate differently and are performing entirely different functions. One of them you can do what you want with, play a game, set up a spreadsheet, watch video. The other answers your questions or calls a specialist. It does not runs apps.
 
Remember the good old days when the system specs were on a plastic-encased card next to the system?

Of course, several of you appear to have missed that item when looking at systems and only would have bought something different if the specs had been on an iPad...

😛
 
SeattleMoose said:
I am not hip, I am not young, and I am male. Most of the "help" are young, hip, and male.....guess who they prefer to help?
Click to expand...

While I'd love to agree with you, I seldom find that to actually be the case here in the Bay Area, and everyone in the Bay Area loves to go on about life as if they WERE a hipster.

Maybe it's because part of being hip is rebelling the norm and out here the norm is to be hip XD
 
Hberg said:
I am on the fence with this change ...

If I am undecided and need questions answered, I won't mind waiting in queue for assistance. Trust me I would much rather buy Apple products at the Apple Store; however, most times I know what I want, and I want to get in and get out. If I have to wait in queue to spend my money, I am not sure it is valuable experience. In fact, I may have second thoughts if I have wait too long.

This may push more people like myself to Best Buy or the Apple Online Store.

(The only product I waited in line for was the iPad2, and I doubt I do that ever again.)
Click to expand...

Honestly if you just want to get "in and out", Apple doesn't want you to shop at the store (unless you are a business customer and are familiar with their in-store business teams). They want you to hear about all the services the store has to offer. Even though there is extra cost associated with them, the main goal is to drive retention. Having customers visit the store over and over again.

If you buy a Mac with no Apple Care or One-To-One at an Apple Store, you aren't doing anybody a favor. Chances are you waited longer than you would have liked to buy it, and the Specialist takes a hit in his/her metrics.

Apple Stores exist for Fanboys and people who genuinely love Apple or the products and want to immerse themselves in the experience.
 
Herdfan said:
I ...asked the Genius Bar check-in lady a couple of times what I needed to do...
Click to expand...

bobbleheadbob said:
Bummer. If only you could've somehow communicated your desire to be waited on.
Click to expand...

Bummer, if you only decided to read before commenting. The same thing has happened to me, not that it's unique to Apple stores. Employees get busy, and keeping track of who's first isn't their highest priority. Unless you want to be a big giant screaming ******, it just happens. Having a formal queue is a great idea.
 
marconiusrex said:
While I appreciate how having dozens of iPads in the stores linked to an improved que system will improve the customer experience, you would think Apple would prioritize getting iPads into the hands of their customers. 1 to 2 weeks to get one does not seem acceptable to me.

M
Click to expand...

1 or 2 weeks? U must be kidding... I have ordered my iPad at a big Apple retail store here in Aussie on April 28... and I'm still number 20+ in the waiting list 😡
 
jaksta said:
The Apple retail experience is so awesome already, I can't imagine they will make it better.
Click to expand...

Awesome - like walking into a Scientology church and seeing the drones coming at you.

Seriously - I don't have enough tattoos (none) and piercings (3) to feel comfortable in a store that hip.
 
Last edited:
Went in to the apple store today and there were about 50+ iPads just with info about other produces. This is a small store, and there are over 300 stores worldwide...so that's easily 15000 iPads 😛 probably more like 20-25 thousand. Haha and there's a shortage of iPad 2s? I wonder why🙄
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back