Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Holidays
Apple to bring changes to retail stores
As the holiday season brings additional shoppers to Apple's retail stores, they'll be making changes to ensure a pleasant experience for the new customers, ifoAppleStore reports.First, they're going to ditch the color-coded Starfleet uniform T-shirts, which shoppers have found confusing. Instead, all employees will wear the same color. Next, the handheld checkout devices will be swapped out for specially-equipped iPod touches. A new scanner accessory will interact with point-of-sale software on the iPods. Best of all, employees will be able to accept cash from customers right where the stand, eliminating the often time-consuming walk to the cash register.
Watch for these changes at an Apple Store near you.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bcarney said 9:07AM on 10-29-2009
"Best of all, employees will be able to accept cash from customers right where the stand, eliminating the often time-consuming walk to the cash register."
Really, how lazy/busy are you?
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Jordan said 10:20AM on 10-29-2009
I agree. That's actually my biggest problem and reason I won't go to an Apple store. Build a checkout counter. I don't like standing there awkwardly waiting for some teenager to awkward slide my card through (now I guess an ipod...) and waiting for a receipt to print while looking for a hard surface to sign. It's not welcoming at all.
But I am glad they are no longer using multi-colored shirts. Not sure if the employees will be able to handle this change, but it's going to be nice. Hopefully they're not bright colored.
Ned said 12:49PM on 10-29-2009
Sorry to be a pedant... but the first "the" should be "they" in this quote :)
Jason said 2:05PM on 10-29-2009
Jordan,
I appreciate the fact that all Apple Stores usually have some semblance of difference, but I can only gauge experience off the two I've been to.
If "a hard surface to sign on" (I always signed straight on their terminals), "finding a teenager to awkwardly swipe your card" (I haven't dealt with anyone younger than 25), and "awkwardly standing there" (I just go tap someone on the shoulder or stand next to them if they're helping someone else) are Apple Stores' biggest problems, then I hope they enjoy continued success for a long, LONG time.
Jordan said 5:07PM on 10-29-2009
I think you mis-understood me. I didn't say they stand there awkwardly. What I meant was I feel awkward standing there out in the open with the products I purchased sitting around me waiting for a transaction to happen. It's just not comfortable. I appreciate Apple taking an approach to make it more personable when you give them thousands of dollars, but I'd actually rather have a counter to go to when I want to complete my transaction - it seems more professional and business like.
Yes I know that's what Apple is trying get away from, but they shouldn't be. Apple is still a business and needs to act like one.
puhsitch said 6:13PM on 10-29-2009
Yeah, I'm with you on that, Jordan. If the store is busy, I feel like an idiot wandering around slowly chasing employees, or standing uncomfortably near one while I attempt to figure out how much longer the guy before me is going to take. I've liked their holiday setups better, where there's a dedicated checkout person, and then specialists on the floor stepping in whenever they're free to take care of customers waiting in line.
andy said 3:51AM on 10-30-2009
i'd just assume the colour coding was just them trying to have a bit of variety, like the folks in subway often have different (albeit subway branded) tshirts.
but really? time consuming walk to a cash register?! is this guy on crack or something that impairs his ability to walk 10 yards?!
I also would find it odd that i'm just stood in the middle of the room - I like the cash register - it means business, commitment - it says i'm making that step to hand over cash for a considered purchase. Handing over money in the middle of nowhere in particular is what you do to homeless people and charity collectors.
The iPods are a nice touch tho - I will give em that, altho I would then kinda want them to keep their startrek uniforms as they now have a little pocket phaser to zap things with!!
lindkold said 9:08AM on 10-29-2009
Like the idea of accepting cash on spot... Just wish they wouldn't take so much of my cash...
And Apple...When are you opening a store in Copenhagen - where waiting impatiently?
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starq said 10:16AM on 10-29-2009
1. Stop charging go much.
2. Please open a store next door! I'll be first in line!
Pretty much the defenition of a fanboy agreed?
I'm guilty as charged as well.
Anthony said 2:55PM on 10-29-2009
Well there is only 1 store in the entire state of Maine, at the bottom of Maine. Consider yourself lucky.
CAWjr said 9:25AM on 10-29-2009
Let's see them take cash on the spot when I offer to pay for my 27" iMac with a water jug full of pennies! Seriously though, if you want to be fast, swipe your AMEX. If you want to wait or spend all day in the store, by all means, bring a wadded up ball of singles.
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mark said 10:33AM on 10-29-2009
I agree. Who actually uses cash any more? The debit card came out how many years ago now?
michas_pi said 10:38AM on 10-29-2009
@mark:
I use cash. Try again.
Andrew Timson said 10:47AM on 10-29-2009
Debit cards aren't always free for the user at POS, at least in the United States.
CAWjr said 10:55AM on 10-29-2009
@michas_pi: That's fine & great that you use cash, but the downside is that you should forfeit the speed & convenience of using a credit/debit card. If I am shopping & I want to get in & out, I don't want to be stuck behind someone counting out their singles, dimes, and nickels...or even worse, writing a check. There should be a single line for people who want to pay with cash & the rest of the lines should be for those of us who want to fly through with a quick swipe of the card.
Justin Guest said 11:32AM on 10-29-2009
that's silly... It doesn't take hardly any longer to hand the employee a couple bills as opposed to swiping a card, especially after processing and signing. And of course doing something outrageous would take outrageously longer....
Frank said 2:59PM on 10-29-2009
@ Andrew – speaking as a merchant who runs a card machine, there should NEVER be an extra charge for the customer at the POS who wants to use their card. it is a violation of the merchant agreement with both VISA and MC to charge the customer anything more for any purchase they want to use their card for, no matter how small. what we are advised to do as merchants to encourage people to pay cash for small purchases is to offer them a slightly discounted price for cash purchases under $XX amount (like $10). but by contract, we cannot turn away or charge extra for small amounts if someone wants to use their debit/credit card.
Cheese Rations said 9:30AM on 10-29-2009
I wonder how long it will be before we see a story about Microsoft Store employees changing their shirt colors to be matching, as well.
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Jimbot said 9:30AM on 10-29-2009
Good changes. Prepare to see these changes in the Microsoft Store just as soon as they can. What are they - 5 years behind?
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solarpos said 9:33AM on 10-29-2009
What a sad world we live in where people are 'confused' by the color coding of retail clerks shirts and need to avoid standing in a line to pay. Is this entitlement or slothfulness?
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