Former Apple SVP Ron Johnson Recounts Early Days of Apple Retail Stores

[zumajoe]

Customers complain that they didn't get approached or were confused when needing to be rung up for an item. That's why the employees ask people if they need help or have questions.

Apple employees are still friendly and welcoming. There were negative employees in 2008/2009 and there are negative employees now... Apple does have a lot more employees and stores today than it did when Steve was alive and healthier, but there are amazing interactions still happening at the stores.

Not saying anyone is negative, of course there are still amazing interactions. My point is it feels more sales driven than before. As an employee i'm sure you can decipher when someone is lost and looking for help as opposed some dude geeking out.

 

[mrhick01]

Seriously, Apple stores have changed (hate to say it.. but seems around when Steve died).

In the past, I always felt comfortable walking into an Apple store and would only asked once if I needed help. This was great, because it was a relief from walking into Best Buy for example, where you have some fly buzzing around you non-stop "do you need help with something?".

Often times I walk into an Apple store for no reason at all, usually when the wife is shopping and I get an excuse to escape picking out girly clothes- to simply admire the iPad i've already seen 20 times that I don't have yet.

Maybe it's all in my head, but it really seems they've pushed employees to be up your ass a little bit more over the years and feels a bit corporate. This makes me less excited to stop in.

It is. Perfect example of confirmation bias.

----------

Yes. I was made aware that the purchase should be made at that retail location.

If they don't pressure in the store you visit good for you.

I'm finished with this topic. It's obvious that some people here think each and every retain store is the same. Any location of any retail store is only as good as the GM. Apple is no exception

Look, we get it. You want Tim Cook to step down as CEO of Apple because you do not have confidence in his ability to maintain Jobs' vision. Every thread you participate in does not have to work towards that conclusion.

 

[thewordiz]

I visit the store nearest my home. It was not always this way. There has been an unfortunate turn. I'll give you an example.

Several months ago I stopped in and looked at the iPad Air. A salesperson approached and asked if I had questions. I only had one. How much memory on the Air.

His response "I don't know." I asked him to find someone in the store who had the info. "No one here knows. Nobody knows. Even Apple doesn't know".

I thanked him and left. This store needs a new manager or Apple needs a CEO.

I find it interesting that you don't answer the simple question "what store you visited" which leads me to believe that you are a liar. The average Apple store probably has more than 20 employees at any one shift. That includes the Genius Bar (I know, they aren't really Geniuses, but I personally know a few that are pretty smart MoFos) plus they probably have at least 1 or 2 people on the Business sales team. Now, while it is possible that you got a new Specialist that is unsure of how much Ram is in any of the device/machines the standard "Apple" response would have been "I don't know, let's find out together" then they, with you would have simply opened Safari on the very device/machine you were standing in front of, and you both would have learned something new. Like the fact that iPad Airs come in 16/32/64/128. Problem solved. No need to ask anyone. Actually since you are so intelligent you could have done it on your own, or done it before you went in.

What most likely is going on here, is that you are one of those smart asses, that likes to waste peoples time because you have an abundance of (probably because you couldn't get a job at the Apple Store) so you like to go in and "Stump The Salesperson"

Jolly Good Fun!

I just think you're a liar.

But, I agree. Tim Cook may need to be replaced. Ron Johnson isn't a genius that is clearly abundant. He was lucky.

 

[69Mustang]

I find it interesting that you don't answer the simple question "what store you visited" which leads me to believe that you are a liar. The average Apple store probably has more than 20 employees at any one shift. That includes the Genius Bar (I know, they aren't really Geniuses, but I personally know a few that are pretty smart MoFos) plus they probably have at least 1 or 2 people on the Business sales team. Now, while it is possible that you got a new Specialist that is unsure of how much Ram is in any of the device/machines the standard "Apple" response would have been "I don't know, let's find out together" then they, with you would have simply opened Safari on the very device/machine you were standing in front of, and you both would have learned something new. Like the fact that iPad Airs come in 16/32/64/128. Problem solved. No need to ask anyone. Actually since you are so intelligent you could have done it on your own, or done it before you went in.

What most likely is going on here, is that you are one of those smart asses, that likes to waste peoples time because you have an abundance of (probably because you couldn't get a job at the Apple Store) so you like to go in and "Stump The Salesperson"

Jolly Good Fun!

I just think you're a liar.

But, I agree. Tim Cook may need to be replaced. Ron Johnson isn't a genius that is clearly abundant. He was lucky.

That's funny. And wrong. if iPads came with that amount of RAM... never mind. But you are right about the possibility of a new specialist not knowing much about the products they're selling.

 

[SusanK]

What most likely is going on here, is that you are one of those smart asses, that likes to waste peoples time because you have an abundance of (probably because you couldn't get a job at the Apple Store) so you like to go in and "Stump The Salesperson"

Jolly Good Fun!

I just think you're a liar.

But, I agree. Tim Cook may need to be replaced. Ron Johnson isn't a genius that is clearly abundant. He was lucky.

I'm a profesional nurse. Never considered a position at Apple store. Blue shirt comes with too much of a pay cut.