[graypegg]

This is closer to my experience around late 2019. (Toronto Ontario Canada, at the time.)

Went in, saw someone on staff fixing up a display unit, asked if I could buy an S5 apple watch, he asked if I had any questions, I said none, tapped card on the mobile POS thing, and then in maybe 10 minutes, someone else came out, apologized for the wait, and handed me my box.

It's possible it's changed over covid though. Makes sense they would want the in-store experience to be more white-glove if they were seeing less foot traffic.

[devilbunny]

Lack of foot traffic was their choice. Apple stores were far more picky about COVID than the local norm. You had to show an appointment or a "ready for pickup" email to be allowed into the store. And that was early 2021, when I was fully vaccinated (and had the card to prove it).

[ghaff]

I picked up a couple of things during Covid to save on sales tax. Couldn’t even enter the store.