Apple SouthPark

Visited the Apple Store in South Park expecting the usual “premium experience”. The store manager greeted me warmly at the entrance with the standard corporate line about how they’re “here for us,” which was impressive because that was the last time anyone seemed remotely concerned with helping me. The employees were deeply engaged in what appeared to be very important conversations with each other, while I stood there trying to trade in my old iPhone after buying a new one from the same store. A process that should have taken five minutes somehow turned into a 40-minute endurance test of patience. For a company that prides itself on efficiency and customer experience, the lack of urgency was surprising. I didn’t come to socialize or admire the lighting design - I came to complete a simple transaction. If you’re planning to trade in a device, bring snacks. And maybe a folding chair.

The store is fine, the usual apple store but Google Maps (on foot)will try to guide you to it as though it’s on the first floor. It decidedly is not. I just ended up going to the second floor and guessing where it is. It’s astounding that a company with the resources Google has available can't get this right. So, again, it's on second floor. Between Johnny Was and Pottery Barn. ironically, I was going there to buy AirTags. Maybe if I'd use one of those to find the store I'd not have had to wander in the wrong direction for 45min. Oh yeah, when I tried to tell Gemini about this issue, it told me that the store was closed. It isnt. Smh.