Now there is an online system for scheduling free, same-day appointments. Customers would stand four or five deep, broken gadgets in hand, waiting to speak to an expert. Johnson said.įor the first few years, there was general mayhem around the Genius Bars. 'It's the part of the store that people connect to emotionally more than any other,' Mr. Over the years, as the concept gained momentum, the bars have become what Ron Johnson, Apple's senior vice president for retailing, calls the soul of the stores.
The walk-up assistance has existed since the first Apple Store opened in 2001, in Washington.
In fact, go to any of the 102 Apple-owned retail stores in the world and - if you are willing to wait - you will be treated to what is an increasingly rare service: free face-to-face technical support.
