[crazygringo]

No, I have no idea what you're talking about:

> it would take half an hour or so to get somebody over

That's only the case for genius bar appointments or an extended consultation when they're super busy or something. If you just want to buy a phone you've already decided on, you ask the nearest person and they grab it and you pay for it.

It sounds like there was maybe just a miscommunication in your case. There is no trend here.

[Groxx]

I've known multiple people, and attended with one, who walked in, picked up the watch, and left in a few minutes total. That's also how I bought a laptop once (the rest online).

Apple stores are often willing to spend enormous amounts of time with you if you ask for help, but I've never seen them stay in your way when you say "no" and that you're ready to pay and leave.

(Obviously it can happen, but they're some of the most-standardized tech stores out there. If it were A Thing™, it would be everywhere.)

[bee_rider]

Some people have trouble rejecting help and feel awkward doing so. Of course, it is a totally normal thing to do, to reject help, and people should practice it!

[whstl]

Yep. There's often people there whose job is to sell without an appointment. At my local stores they normally stand next to the accessories, where you can just grab stuff from the shelf.

But you can ask them to grab a specific model of iPhone, iMac, etc, for you if you don't need information.