So we are trying to get through the never-ending list of things do to before heading out on our big trip. One of my errands today was to go to the Apple store and finally get the recalled (or so we thought) battery replaced. When we arrived- me, Rayna strapped on my back, and Anika- I explained what I needed. The woman I asked turned to a co-worker and asked if he knew how to do it. He said that I would need to have that done at the "Genius Bar" and that you need an appointment for that. I asked how to go about making an appointment, and when I could get it done. He said there were five people in front of me and the wait would be 45 min to an hour. I said that was fine. He seemed to be a bit surprised at that and after trying unsuccessfully to get me to make another choice he took my name and email address (not sure how that would help them since I was physically in the store and they had my computer...?). I asked if I needed to wait in the store or if I could walk around outside with the kids (there's an awesome toy store about a block away and I figured we could easily pass an hour there). He again seemed a little flustered so I said we would just wait there. He started to ask if I could carry my computer with me, but thought better of it when he noticed how loaded down I was already and said he would hold on to it.
Anika and I began wandering through the aisles looking at random ipod accessories until Rayna got a bit fussy. I found the quietest place I could (in the back corner by the software boxes) and took her off my back to nurse. Of course then Anika wanted to, too. Rayna was excited to be free and began pulling boxes off the shelves and trying to eat them, so she won a trip back on my back, much to her dismay. We then went over to the children's area and I tried to help Anika with the demo games. Over the Genius Bar there is a display where they occasionally post the list of names of who they are going to help next. They list 12 at a time, and I noticed that my name wasn't on it. I said something about that to the man who originally helped us. He said that my name wouldn't be up there, that I was essentially like on stand-by at the airport. They had to help the people who had appointments, but they would try to fit me in somewhere. That sounded a whole lot different to me than "There are five people in front of you and the wait will be about an hour" especially considering that it also said on that same board that the next available appointment was at 5:15 pm (we got there at about 9:30 am). I must have looked particularly distressed because he said that he understood my situation (meaning being there with two small children) and would mention it to the powers that be. (This man really was very helpful... as much as he could be, anyhow. He even figured out how to make the demo computers louder when I was having trouble hearing them to help Anika. I'm not sure the rest of the store appreciated the Dora theme at that level, but... :)
By this point Anika is starting to get a bit crabby and I couldn't help her a whole lot with the programs because she was down at this low table and I had Rayna on me. Rayna, for her part, had had it and was getting more active and vocal... and not in a good way. Finally I took her off my back and sat at another of the low stools at the computer next to Anika's with Rayna on my lap. She began drooling on the table and banging on the keyboard, screeching in utter delight. Wouldn't you know it, within about five minutes they had time to fit me in! Coincidence? You decide. :)
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Sounds like amateur hour at the Apple Store. What they usually do is have you sign up for an appointment at one of computers in the store. I've never waited longer than 15 minutes, even when the list was quite long. I wonder what happened.
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