Apple Stores now offer personal 'Shop with a Specialist' appointments

AppleInsider

Apple is now allowing customers to book one-on-one appointments with Specialists at its Apple retail locations.

Credit: Apple

Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Apple Stores that have reopened have new sanitation guidelines and occupancy restrictions. Some stores only admitted customers who had a specific product in mind.

To help customers from having to wait in line or getting turned away at the door, Apple is launching a new "Shop with a Specialist" option in its Apple Store app.

Booking a time slot to shop with a specialist will allow customers to browse a store with one-on-one help. Appointments are being offered in 15-minute increments through the Apple Store apps and can be booked by searching for a local Apple Store or through the "Shop by appointment" search term.

When they arrive at the store, customers will still be required to wear a mask and have their temperatures checked.

Apple retail has undergone massive changes in the era of COVID-19, with many stores across the globe shut down and all in-person "Today at Apple" sessions suspended.

The Cupertino tech giant has been cautiously reopening specific locations in the U.S. since mid-June. However, new spikes in coronavirus cases have prompted the company to re-shutter at least 77 of them.

dewme

This sounds like a great idea for folks who are not so familiar with Apple's current portfolio of products.

SpamSandwich

Sounds like a solid move to guide undecided shoppers.

Beats

Sounds perfect for the tech un-savvy.

mike1

SpamSandwich said:

Sounds like a solid move to guide undecided shoppers.

And shoppers who might be less tech savvy and intimidated/embarrassed trying to navigate the purchase process. I'm thinking of my Mom trying to upgrade her phone. She always prefers to go to the Verizon store for that reason.

Rayz2016

When they arrive at the store, customers will still be required to wear a mask and have their temperatures checked.

Had my temperature checked in the dentist car park the other day. 

I was dead, apparently, but they let me in for a checkup anyway. 

GeorgeBMac

This is good!

The most dangerous places in America are small enclosed spaces filled with people.  I avoid them as much as possible and, when I do have to enter one, I try to get in and get back out to safety as quickly as possible.

Being able to set up appointments should facilitate that.

Hopefully it does:   My experience with appointments at the Apple store has not been good.   The last one was for a cracked screen where I made an appointment with a genius.   But, when I got there I waited 15 minutes past the appointment time only to find out the appointment wasn't for a genius but for a nobody so they could simply take down the information -- then I had to wait another half hour till a genius was available.  In short, the appointment was just a come on.  A sham.

But, that experience was back when Apple stores were under Ahrendts.   I think they have returned to being more customer centric and efficient under Obrien.

Fingers crossed!

fred1

Wow, a Personal Shopper at the Apple Store. I have lots of Apple products, but I’d still enjoy the personal help.  And I agree with the above posts that this should help to encourage the less tech savvy and familiar to actually go to an Apple store. 

erniefairchild1

GeorgeBMac said:

This is good!

The most dangerous places in America are small enclosed spaces filled with people.  I avoid them as much as possible and, when I do have to enter one, I try to get in and get back out to safety as quickly as possible.

Being able to set up appointments should facilitate that.

Hopefully it does:   My experience with appointments at the Apple store has not been good.   The last one was for a cracked screen where I made an appointment with a genius.   But, when I got there I waited 15 minutes past the appointment time only to find out the appointment wasn't for a genius but for a nobody so they could simply take down the information -- then I had to wait another half hour till a genius was available.  In short, the appointment was just a come on.  A sham.

But, that experience was back when Apple stores were under Ahrendts.   I think they have returned to being more customer centric and efficient under Obrien.

Fingers crossed!

Sounds like they were just behind in appointments. Given this reality, the "nobody" tried to help save you time by taking down information before the technician was ready to see you, so the technician would have a head's up on how to help you best. So, your appointment wasn't to see a "nobody"; "Nobody" popped in to help while you were waiting for your (late) appointment. And you may not have even seen a "Genius" (there are three different positions in the Genius Bar, and they can all do iPhone appointments). 

It can be an irritating experience when that happens, though, just like any appointment based experience (a previous doctor I went to would habitually get behind in appointments...I waited 45 minutes one time! But he was a great doctor, so it's all about trade-offs I suppose. You bake it into your expectations when choosing your appointment time).

Here's hoping wait times improve!

GeorgeBMac

erniefairchild1 said:

GeorgeBMac said:

This is good!

The most dangerous places in America are small enclosed spaces filled with people.  I avoid them as much as possible and, when I do have to enter one, I try to get in and get back out to safety as quickly as possible.

Being able to set up appointments should facilitate that.

Hopefully it does:   My experience with appointments at the Apple store has not been good.   The last one was for a cracked screen where I made an appointment with a genius.   But, when I got there I waited 15 minutes past the appointment time only to find out the appointment wasn't for a genius but for a nobody so they could simply take down the information -- then I had to wait another half hour till a genius was available.  In short, the appointment was just a come on.  A sham.

But, that experience was back when Apple stores were under Ahrendts.   I think they have returned to being more customer centric and efficient under Obrien.

Fingers crossed!

Sounds like they were just behind in appointments. Given this reality, the "nobody" tried to help save you time by taking down information before the technician was ready to see you, so the technician would have a head's up on how to help you best. So, your appointment wasn't to see a "nobody"; "Nobody" popped in to help while you were waiting for your (late) appointment. And you may not have even seen a "Genius" (there are three different positions in the Genius Bar, and they can all do iPhone appointments). 

It can be an irritating experience when that happens, though, just like any appointment based experience (a previous doctor I went to would habitually get behind in appointments...I waited 45 minutes one time! But he was a great doctor, so it's all about trade-offs I suppose. You bake it into your expectations when choosing your appointment time).

Here's hoping wait times improve!

Nope!   That's a good theory.  But, when I questioned them why they had not kept the appointment they confirmed that appointments were only for the 'nobody' who simply took down the information and then scheduled time with a genius.   My response was that I may as well have just walked in rather than bother to make an appointment -- which they did not deny.

But, as I said, that was under Arhendts and there were lots of things going wrong in Apple Stores (at least the one I go to).   I have seen a significant improvement in how the store runs as well as in employee attitudes and training since Obrien took over.