Apple Store

This is about the iPAD … For some reason, the iPAD is NOT allowing me to login without my icloud password — So sure — I go, reset my password on my PC — but since the iPAD does not even allow me to login without the icloud password — the iPAD cannot connect to my wifi —
SO I AM STUCK.
Extraordinarily POOR software design that traps you.
And no, this is not the first time I have had trouble with Apple — my iPhone will also refuse to connect to the wifi — same wifi that I have used many many times.
Poor Software.
(And sure — taking it to a store may help the problem — but THAT is POOR design)
(And no, I am not a computer newbie OR a luddite)
But Apple can indeed make people long for pen/​pencil and paper.

I was in the store 3 minutes and my problem was solved. Seth saved the day. And my phone!

Gotta be one of my least favorite places to go in Bridgestreet. It’s not necessarily that I’m anti Apple… but I never get a warm fuzzy feeling for the handholding and herding that goes on in here.
Beautiful products, nice salespeople… but I’ve been out of kindergarten for quite some time.

The average rating for this store is surprising. I stepped out of my comfort zone to take classes here – all of which were beneficial. In addition to classes, I’ve bought products and returned products. Regardless of my purpose, the employees were always quick to ask if help was needed, positive, and energetic. I tend to judge a store by whether or not I walk out feeling better than I did when I went in – the employees at the Bridge Street Apple store pass the test with five stars.

Better than some Apple stores, worse than others. Staff is friendly and generally helpful. This is one of Apple’s smaller stores so it is often very crowded and noisy, particularly around holidays. They don’t post weather closings, nor answer their phones when closed. They have a moribund Facebook page. Overall, a big fat «meh».

I’m glad that the Apple Store moved here so I don’t have to drive 25 minutes just to check out and possibly buy stuff.
Genius Bar is very helpful whenever we need help, they always have good discount, and the things I need!
But I’m giving them a four because the prices are outrageous ($ 1000 FOR A MACBOOK AIR?! I can get a more powerful laptop for less than half that).
But still, great!

Definitely not my favorite store to visit. I prefer giving my money to the local guys, they are much more friendly and knowledgeable.

I just walk in trying ask how do i repair a iPod product, associate couldn’t answer that instead i had to schedule appointment. Poor customer service for over priced products. Plus i made a appointment and i still had to wait 17 mins for help from my appointment time.

Everyone here is always so helpful… When they’re available! This place gets so busy sometimes!!!

Recently I made appointment online. Got there 5 minutes before and everything went smooth. The service was fast and helpful.

Just to clear this up — march of technology and financial capabilities do not go hand in hand like Mike M. seems to think it does. I own several apple products — I have an IPad, IPod Touch, and a macbook air. That doesnt change the fact that people at this store cannot provide me any help beyond what I already know. I am not a mac technician. I know Linux and Windows OS, but somehow the basic knowledge I have seems to surpass that of a «genius» when I ask questions about how to integrate devices within my home or seek solutions to integrate say. a Mac Mini and get nothing but blank stares. As Arisa also experienced, anybody who is already technically proficient in general is likely more qualified than the «genius» you’re going to.
Also… The screen cracked on my iPad. They wanted to charge me $ 500 to fix it. I found a kit online and did it myself for $ 150. Works like new. Markup is nothing new but come on… $ 350 for 45 minutes work? Probably could cut it to much less than that if I’d done it once or twice.

(The Focus)
Customer service.
(The Inspection)
I came here recently to get my computer checked up on for a virus that may have attracted it self to it. But in all the rush to get a appointment I forgot to make a appointment to clean my other computer as well, so after I arrived at the store I got everything set up, I was taken 2 min before my appointment was and squared away. Then I asked if I could get my other computer looked at but sadly was told that he couldn’t do it. Understandable, however a few min later he asks for my computer and went to get other worker to clean it while the other one is getting looks at. After
waiting about 40 min, both of them were done, and I was out of there.
(Final analysis)
If your a customer, your basically king or queen here, everyone is friendly, smart, and answer questions not even related to apple products. Buy here, and no where else, you won’t regret it!
–The Inspector…

THIS PLACE ROCKS!!! I had great trepidation after reading all the negative reviews for this store– I do not Know HOW the other reviews had those experiences– maybe management has changed. My experience was awesome. From the moment I walked in — greeted at the door by an intelligent young woman who took my name and checked on my appointment, told me how long it would be – then proceeded to answer my questions about some new p[products. When I got to the Genius bar — I was lucky enough to get a young man named Ryan. This man was compassionate, intelligent and professional. I was upset because my iphone 4 wasn’t working AND my macbook air wasn’t working,
consequently I was pretty upset and thought I was going to be a tough customer. Ryan was awesome — I thought he was going to grow angel wings! He handled the phone and the computer quickly and painlessly. I was so impressed and moved by his empathetic charming manor — that I hugged him before left the store. I have been using a store in Manhattan for all of my repairs/​purchases for the last 10 years – but after meeting Ryan and the staff at the Huntsville Apple Store — I will only brings my Macs to Ryan in Huntsville. You won’t be disappointed if you shop at this store — PS — they told me 5 days to fix my Mac book Air — I had it back and LIKE NEW! in just a couple of days.

I expect better than a Looney Toons experience at the Apple Store. I called to learn if their 27″ high res monitor could work with a PC. The perky clerk who answered my call conferred with her male colleague and said, why don’t you bring in your computer and we’ll hook it up and see. The next day I packed up my desktop, a laptop, a variety of video connectors, and data appropriate for this test. I drove 30 minutes, put my computer on a rolling cart and the backpack of parts over my shoulder for the trek to the Bridge Street store. The clerk called the «back room» to find out what he would need to help me and THEN learned he would need a mini display port that they did not have — it would have to be ordered (as in I would have to BUY it) and come back when it arrived. So I schlepped all my computers and parts back home, disgusted. It seemed as if these Apple Store clerks get hired for their perkiness…
If I ever decide to consider Apple products again, I’ll go to Mac Resource on University Dr — I had called them first and they apologized when they SAID they did not have a mini display port available for such a test, and did not waste my time.
PS: I have had better experiences at Apple Stores in other cities.

I like this store. The employees do everything in their power to make this a positive encounter. They are personable, professional and empathetic to technologies hick-​ups. I’m not an engineer, I’m not what one would call a techie. I am just a regular guy that has been using computers and technology related things as an end user sine the late 1970’s. They provide solutions to the issues that I have brought to them here. If you are not happy with the marching on of technology and your financial ability to keep up with it, don’t dump it on their doorstep here. They provide products and services and do it well. I prefer a computer that is upgradeable and do not own a Mac. There is a price to be paid for owning a Microsoft product as well. I’m just saying.

Apple Stores are obviously chain stores, so the review is purely for customer service that I have experienced in this store.
So, first of all– I was really glad to have an Apple Store in Huntsville. I have been a Mac user for more than 10 yrs, and I appreciate the concept of having a place you can experience the products hands-​on.
Bridge Street Apple Store is fairly new (opened in May 2008). While the store is on the smaller side compare to the giant stores in San Fran, NYC, or Tokyo, but it is decent in size and have plenty of rooms for the Huntsville crowd. The product trying area was never too busy that customers have to wait forever to try the product. The retail staffs are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. It is pleasant to shop in the store.
If I can just rate the store’s service, I’d give a 4-​star. But then, there is the technical support. (Le Sigh)
I WAS really excited that Huntsville will have a native Genius Bar, where the genius will resolve all the questions that I will ever have for all my mac products — -as least that’s what I thought.
Well, Being a Mac user for 10+ years, and holding a graduate degree in engineering, I pretty much have my ways when it comes computers. Apple makes solid products, so for me, typically the technical supports were needed only when hardware failures were involved. Back in the days when there wasn’t an Apple Store, I’d call up Apple Technical Support and send in my laptop for repair. But the opening of the Apple Store means I can just take my product to the geniuses for troubleshooting and when I receive my product back, it should be as good as new — -as least that’s what I thought.
In December 2008, I noticed my laptop was having internet connection problems, researched online and did some troubleshoot without any success, I took it in— only have it returned to me for «not able to duplicate the problem», which, is kind of understandable since internet connection issues could be caused by the ISP, the router, or the laptop itself. So life went on with and without steady internet connection for a while, until June 2009, I started experience unexpected freeze while using my laptop. To ensure the geniuses can diagnose properly, I took my laptop when it is in its failure mode. Few days later, Apple Store called me and told me to «Your laptop is ready for pick up». I think my greatest failure was that I assumed by «ready», they meant it is fixed. Also, I didn’t check the laptop in the store before I leave. Sure enough, 5 minutes after I got home, the laptop froze on me again.
I made another appointment and took it back in, only to have the «genius» tell me they’ve ran the hardware diagnose and cannot find the problem, and recommend me to reinstall the OS myself. I was really disappointed. Not only they symptom does not at all seem like a software issue, I was treated like a idiotic, over-​demanding customer, whose making unreasonable demands, when I just want my laptop to work!
I happened to have a San Francisco trip came up, so I took my laptop to the Genius Bar in San Fran Apple Store. Within minutes, the true genius has identified the faulty logic boards and possible HDD issues. He prescribed both to be replaced. I received my laptop few days later, all working perfectly.
So, in conclusion, I’ll try my best to avoid Huntsville Apple Store Genius Bar again. They are everything but genius. They make me want to buy Acer or Toshiba, or even Sony. At least Sony confesses when they have hardware reliability issues. If my mac laptop is having problems again, I’d take to to another store.
One final note: Both time my laptop was diagnosed by Chris, I am not saying she’s incompetent, but perhaps you will have a better chance with other genius.