I really feel like Apple's stores are an embarrassment. I understand they have some really unique challenges with way more foot traffic volume (especially durin

I really feel like Apple's stores are an embarrassment. I understand they have some really unique challenges with way more foot traffic volume (especially during COVID times) but my issues with them started way before COVID. Apple has gotten so much larger as a company than it was when the iPod was it's most successful product, but it's stores are basically still the same. They should have started moving away from the in mall concepts a while ago or figured out a way to better handle the massively increased volume for things like service and order pickup. They do have bigger standalone stores now, but only in very dense city centers. I remember having to wait for 20 minutes like 8 years ago just to pick up a phone case I bought online because only certain people could go get it. I wrote a thoughtful email and got a reply back from the store manager saying "yeah you're right, you've already paid you shouldn't have to do that" They're only just now coming up with a way to handle in store pickups in a streamlined way: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/24/apple-store-bronx-dedicated-pickup-zone/ https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/24/apple-store-bronx-dedic... One time I walked in to buy an iPhone and also had to wait 10 minutes for an "iPhone specialist" - a regular Apple employee couldn't ring me up. It sucks because you can tell they do spend a lot of effort on having good customer service and support, but it all comes together in such a bad way in their in person stores. I can text Apple at any time and get excellent support that way. I just only buy things online/do support on text and phone.