Comments on: Stores Are 5-Star Hotels

By: Former MG

Former MG — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:06:06 +0000

Apple (store managers) have a habit of hiring a few unprofessional type people to sprinkle about the store for whatever reason, though I have my suspicions.

These folks were usually Mac Specialists, but I have seen a few Mac Geniuses that fit that description and gave very little good customer service.

Now if one is a Mac Specialist, one is most likely a college student and will go on to other jobs after the Apple Store.

However, if one is a Mac Genius and leaves the Apple Store for the corporate world, an even more professional attitude and appearance is in order.

By: JoeB

JoeB — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:13:00 +0000

Geeez. Cry me a river guys.

By: HLEWIS4375

HLEWIS4375 — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:25:47 +0000

As a wheelchair-bound Mac owner I was very excited about going into the new mac store in my area. Unfortunately, I found that all of the software was up on a wall well out of my reach and I needed to search someone out to help me. After ten minutes of looking I did find an employee to fetch me the software, but he seemed uninterested in the product. I really doubt I will be going back to the mac store as I see no real advantage.

By: Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:02:39 +0000

The point that I agree on is that this time of year it is very common to be in a line just to check out. If you can’t find a sales person or an obvious line to get checked out, how do you know when you will be done. How do you know that you are being waited on in turn. Maybe the sales people walking around with their hand held devices (is there an official name for these things?) keep missing you. You are trying to buy an iPod protector while some one else is looking at a computer. Do you get passed over? A customer should never even get the feeling that they are being passed over.

By: GeneMG

GeneMG — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:30:53 +0000

Just because it’s been that way for “a couple of millenia” (which is false, incidentally) does not make it right.

By: Thomas Pindelski

Thomas Pindelski — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:11:34 +0000

Undistilled, pure BS.

My wife and I just spent 10 minutes in the Burlingame CA store (a few miles from Cupertino, for goodness sake) trying to find a clerk to take our money. Another few while the clerk tried to find our receipt which was printed below a table she had to access on hands and knees. Comically inept - the sort of arrogance (”we have to help them understand”) that puts great businesses under. Chic masquerading as customer service.

When I go into a retail store I expect a check out counter with a register so that someone can take my money. Fast. Apple needs to relearn that before trying to change the retail model for the worse. It’s worked for a couple of millenia without this kind of idiocy.

5 Star? Maybe the fellow writing that should try a night at the Ritz.

By: Howie Isaacks

Howie Isaacks — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:42:02 +0000

I think it’s great that the Apple Stores now have the new concierge position. When I was a Mac Genius at Willow Bend, I worked very hard to maintain the vision that was set forth by Ron Johnson. I’m glad to see that there is a resurgence of this philosophy at the Apple Stores. I was worried that it might have begun to fall off.