Went in today to have a case started to have my series 4 iwatch repaired or replaced. They had a 3 hour wait so I put in for a return call when it was my turn. I just hung up with a young lady that I felt did not know how to price my repair or the information that I was given by the Apple store and what I read on website was incorrect. I was told since I didn't have Apple care it would cost me $299 to have my watch repaired or replaced with a like new one. She just quoted me $475 to have my watch fixed. I said why would I send you my broken watch to be repaired when I can purchase a brand new one $50 less at the Apple store. She insisted that was the correct price after being on the phone for .15 minutes she said she can let me speak to a supervisor and see if they can lower the price. She said if I had Apple care it would have been $299 I was no it wouldn't it would be $69 and all this is posted on your website. I was frustrated by this time and just told her I was just going to end our call. Very Disappointed, I have purchased several phones from this location and other Apple products and I still have a broken watch. read more

WARNING Run from this store. They STEAL phones. When trying to upgrade to a new phone they go thru the whole process of setting up with installments with your phone company in my case AT&T then they tell you they couldn't activate your phone so you leave the store with no phone but with a new installment plan on a new phone that you don't have but have to pay for. Then your phone company thinks you got a new phone and they want to charge you for it and apple it is not "able" to track the phone you purchased read more

Poor customer communications. New iMac crashed. Used for business, estimated completion date came and gone. No communications from repair, impossible to contact anyone at the store to get information. Quick to sell to you, but horrible at service if anything goes wrong. read more

So as my ex was using her forefinger to peck away at her new iPhone setup screens, I mentioned to our law student/Genius Bar guy Julian - "You ever notice how youngsters can bat out 300wpm with two thumbs, while us old folks peck away with one finger?" I thought he would respond with something like, "Haha" or "Everyone does it differently," but what he said was, "You're right. That's what my mother does." Okay, that made me laugh. The bottom line is you can get a new iPhone at a zillion different places these days, but what you're paying for at the Apple Store is convenience and "peace of mind"- they unbox your phone, set it up, and do whatever they need to do so you're walking out with a working iPhone in your hand. This may be an old folk's thing. And finally, my ex detests the notion of multi-year contract and commitment - which may partly explain why she's my ex - so she had no problem spending a flat thousand bucks for her 64gb 6 Plus with a case. But when our cool Apple guy Austin couldn't get his cool Apple gizmo to update her interesting month-to-month "service plan" with AT&T, he casually suggested the three of us stroll around the corner to the AT&T store so he could resolve the issue. Which he did. I thought that was pretty cool customer service. You know that cliché you sometimes hear old folks use -"An Apple a day is as good as it gets?" - I'm not the one who'll disagree. read more

Had made an appointment for 10:40 inside mall; front doors at mall says open at 11am; called support said they can reschedule for 11:15; drove around and entered through nordstrom, checked in with apple rep said have to wait till 11:15, blaming on covid; if only they made customers aware in the first place. read more

Barton Creek Mall became a destination retail megalopolis for me the day that the Apple Store opened. I have, in the past, made the journey with the sole intent to caress as many beautifully designed tech gadgets as I could in a half hour. I am a recovering Apple Store Lurkerphile. I purchased the IMAC graphite online back in the first days of 2000, when a large and bulky, space-age plastic helmet sitting on a designer's desk was COOL. Before the advent of sleek and anorexic laptops, there existed the Graphite IMAC, Hummer edition. Three years after my dip into the design perfection that is Apple, I lapsed and was cajoled into using a new flat-screen PC and then I simply fell asleep for about 4 years, plugging away at my personality-less computador. Dell sucks. Anyway, I can count on one hand the number of times I have been to the mall in the past few years, and every time I have surreptitiously slipped in an Apple visit and even once secretly bought an iPod here, as a Christmas present to myself. The store is tiny and the activity is mighty. Every visit that I can recall, there has been a mob of people vying for the next Genius in the Genius Bar. (Not a bad job and these guys and girls really know their stuff, or so it seems.) Or a mob lining up to try out the new iPhone... shouting loving expletives for sexy Steve Jobs. Or a mob of screaming teens lined up to try out the latest, smallest Nano that can fit between your eyeball and your eyelid and is turned on by thinking: "ON!" You get the picture. It seems loud in here to me, and at the same time, very magical. So two weeks ago the Significant Other, heretofore referred to as My Sweetie, arrived home on a Friday evening and said, "I would like a date with you tonight - dinner and a surprise. I have done some research... what would you think about each of us buying an iPhone tonight?" I seriously had to change my clothes. Yeah. New clean clothes for this special date and also because I had just soiled the ones I was wearing. "Am I dreaming?" was my only thought on the longest 15 minute drive of my life. Usually in the past, I would try to adroitly maneuver past the Maitre D' Apple so that I could caress all of the titanium with my eyes closed. This time it felt different. This time it felt real. Joyous ecstasy of belonging and delight. I love you Steve Jobs,errrr, My Sweetie. read more

Rude. Rude. Rude. Dear Apple @ Barton Creek, Thank you for unveiling the mystery of where all the ATX hipsters hang out when it's too late in the day to sip on a $6 organic, locally grown, pretentious-ass drink, and too early in the day to go to some art show in E. Austin. I'm glad that someone likes your store! Really. Kudos! However, I do not for several reasons: 1). I don't enjoy waiting around at the "Genius" bar 30+ minutes for my APPOINTMENT,while your employees avoid making eye contact with me, and instead, run off to chit chat/gang bang in the corner. 2). And the "I'm too cool to help you" attitude that your employees give off. Yea, you're so cool with your gauges and 20 tattoos. Hey look, I can see through your ear! Is that your ex's name? Klassy! What was I thinking going to college? Getting a real job? PSH. I could be working at the Apple store making nearly nothing! And living with mommy and daddy! Seriously, get over yourself. 3). And after hijacking my computer for a week+, I would really like a little bit more than, "Here. Sign this piece of paper. Check your email for your receipt." So Apple store, although you only get one star on Yelp, you get a solid two fingers in the air from me. P.S. The hispanic guy in the Steak and Shake uniform is not going to buy that Macbook Pro. Or the 15 yr olds looking at iPads. Learn your customers. read more

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice....ok they fooled me twice. I made the mistake of once again bringing in my iPhone for service here. I had been using my iPhone 4 bumper on my iPhone since I got it. I took it off one day to clean the phone and noticed scratches all up and down the antennae band, the silver ring that surrounds the iPhone. Apparently the bumper doesn't do much of a good job of protecting the phone. I brought it to the Barton Creek Apple Store hoping to get this resolved. The Genius takes a look at it, and then heads to the back of the store where apparently he asked the "Lead Genius" about the issue. Lead Genius goes on to say "this is normal wear and tear and not covered under warranty." What? It's normal wear and tear for an Apple case to scratch the phone that it's made to protect? After asking a few more questions, I left in frustration. A few weeks later I head over to the Domain to try to get some better service. Surpirse surprise, they replace the iPhone with no questions asked. I'm in and out of the store under 20 minutes with a new iPhone. I really have to start asking what the problem is with the Barton Creek store. Do you just have a grouchy lead Genius who is stingy about replacing phones under warranty? Either way this store is sub par when compared to the Domain. I'm just glad Austin has 2 Apple stores from which to choose from. CHOOSE THE DOMAIN! read more

Allow me to start with the good. Five stars for Apple products - I haven't dabbled in the Microsoft world since early 2005 and since switching, I've never looked back. But I do realize this review is specifically about this particular Apple outpost. And so it begns. I've been to this store at Barton Creek Square Mall several times now - after my operating system was upgraded to Lion not too long ago, I've had some problems with some of the remaining fragments from the OG* system interfering with the new. Symptoms? My machine was running hot and the fans LOUD. The Genius who looks like a younger version of Jon Hamm (ladies, you know who I'm talking about) quickly identified the rogue daemon wreaking havoc and put an end to its reign. He also showed me how to shut it down should it return, which is apparently a common issue. Did I mention? 'Jon Hamm' is a god. All's been happy on the homefront (I'm still killing the demon daemon now and then) until yesterday, when I experienced spontaneous loss of control over my PowerBook's trackpad. After a couple of hours of unsuccessfully trying to resolve the issue on my own, I took my laptop to the Apple store and 'Jon Hamm' quickly diagnosed my trackpad as completely kaput (and also mentioned than an external mouse would not override my trackpad issues). While the new trackpad would only cost about $90, the repair itself would take anywhere from 7-10 days. Um - NOT going to work for me, as I work for an internet company. 'Mr. Hamm' was very empathetic and tried to expedite my request but unfortunately, nothing could be done to quickly deliver a fix. So, I was nicely sent home with a sheet detailing authorized repair shops' contact information. I settled into my favorite nook on the couch, turned on my computer one more time in a valiant effort to bring it back to normalcy, and.... nothing. The bleakness of the situation set in. I drank a few beers, went to bed early and awoke with a nagging action item tugging my eyes open - time to get my laptop fixed! I started it one last time and decided I should get it extra shiny and clean before taking it to the 'doctor'. Ta-da! The trackpad came back to orderly life. As it turns out, you should always get a second opinion whether dealing with your own health or your computer's. Hours of work lost = 8. *And yes: damn, it feels good to be a gangsta. read more

Note to the manager/employees at the Apple store: The iPhone comes out one week from today, and lets just say it could mean very good things for your review if you can put one in my hands around 6:05pm next Friday. You've got 3 stars right now. It could be 5. Or it could drop to 1. Your choice. UPDATE: It's 6:06pm on Friday, June 29th. Yet there is no iPhone in my hands. Now there are people who will say that it's not really fair to rate a business if you've really never bought anything there. Those people can lick my balls. What good is it to be an all powerful and feared Yelp reviewer if, when my demands are not met, my wrath is not felt? You made your bed, Apple Store: 1 STAR, BITCHES. Lets see how many iPhones you sell now. read more

I am a somewhat unwilling Mac devotee. I love the industrial design, the interface, and the operating system. I very much dislike the company's ethics, governance practices, environmental practices, and occasionally snotty customer service. The Apple Store has been good to me for the most part. I pay a premium for extra in-store service, and it's really helpful when my machine goes kerflooey. But that one Mac Genius, you know who you are, needs to wipe that smirk of his face and stop acting like he's the second coming of Steve Jobs. Just fix my computer, and spare me the freaking attitude. Ahem. Anyway, the Barton Creek store is usually overrun, so don't bother going in unless you plan to drop a wad of cash (they like that), or you have an appointment. Once you can nail down an employee, they're usually very helpful. read more

Over the years, Ive visited this store on more than a number of occasions. It turned out I had a rather tragic series of events that resulted in the return of 5-6 ipods in a matter of 6 month; I would detail more but I had to sing some legal mumbo from Apple that said I would never detail my horrific experiences in detail. However, I have had more than a few chances to talk with the apple folk over at the genius bar. Quickly thumbing through the dictionary, I recognize the definition of "genius" as being someone smart, and in this case, I would assume helpful. Sadly to say, this doesnt appear to be the definition that the employees of said bar hold themselves accountable to. Now, I wouldnt compare these blokes to the call centers over in india we are all so familiar with that other companies use. They are clearly well above that, but beating completely useless isnt really a high bar. Overall, the store is very nice to walk into and browse around, as long as it isnt iphone into day or something equally as horrifying. The product displays well and the sales people are reasonably friendly, if you have an emo haircut and are drooling over the latest macbook. Personally, I would (gasp) rather shop at best buy for a mac - at least they are honest in their uselessness by not referring to themselves as "genius." As Im typing on a MacBook currently, Im sure that Ill update this if this wonderful piece of aluminum has issues. read more

I received not a whiff of Apple's notorious arrogance when I visited the Genius Bar here on an early Sunday morning. In fact, the whole experience was fairly painless. You can reserve an appointment online -- and by all means, do it, because this place gets swarmed, even at 10 am Sunday -- and check in when you arrive. A whole gaggle of Apple customers were waiting for the store to open that morning (many were there to take a class), but the staff seemed to handle the crowd with ease. I was paged by Jen, my assigned Genius, less than 10 minutes after I arrived. Jen was a sweetheart. Once we discovered that my iPhone issue was caused by user error -- it really was my fault -- she handled the situation with absolute aplomb. Let's hope my luck holds out, both with my iPhone and with my experience at the Apple Store. But so far, so good. read more

I made an appointment with the Genius Bar yesterday. The whole experience was awesome! It was packed in the store at 2pm. They called my name right away. I had issues with my Entourage mail program (a Microsoft product!) and the Apple guy knew just how to solve the problem. I also had syncing issues with my iPhone and Entourage and he solved those too. He was super helpful and took the time to answer my questions. It was totally packed and loud, and the Genius area is pretty small. They also use it as a checkout area. So people buying stuff kept bumping into me. A bit annoying. They should separate the two areas. read more

Dear Apple, I love all your products, I really do. They are beautiful and work great. I wish I could say the same for your stores. There is NO reason a person should be in there for two hours to get their new phone to be able to make phone calls. If I could imagine hell, it would be a lot like the Apple store on a Saturday afternoon: hot and full of miserable people. Why don't you make some little cubicles so that your "geniuses" can take the folks with appointments aside and work with them in a decent environment until their issues are resolved? Our genius got a backup going, said he would be back in 20 minutes and then "went to lunch" and never came back. The next assigned "genius" had no clue what was going on and spent maybe an hour looking for the first genius. It's ridiculous and bad business. How about more stores? How about a/c? How about snacks and beverages it you are so poorly organized that it takes two hours? And again, how about some separate areas so the milling throngs are not an issue for people needing assistance with products they already own? You do so many other things well, one would THINK you could figure out how to run a store. Sincerely, Kami read more

I have never had to jump through so many hoops just to get one question answered. I bought a Mac Book Pro at the beginning of 2010 and I absolutely love it, so imagine my dismay when the camera just stopped working out of the blue. Not to worry though, just follow these 8 simple steps negotiating through Apple's ridiculous rules and you too can find yourself as frustrated as I was: 1. Call the store and inquire about the issue, be told there is nothing they can do for you, not even answer a simple question, and you have to instead go online to make an appointment to had said question answered. 2. Go online and make an appointment three days later because nothing else is available until then. 3. Show up on time for your appointment and be told to sit to the side and wait for your genius to be with you shortly. 4. Watch 5 people who showed up after you get helped before you do, (and make sure to point this out to the genius for some extra frustration,) and finally get called up half an hour after your appointment time 5. Place your computer on the counter and explain that the camera has stopped working and you don't know why, only to be told that there is nothing that can be done to fix it and you will have to spend $700 replacing the whole screen (all before the genius has even so much as opened your computer to look at it.) now this next step is optional, but there is only so much being pushed around i could take before pushing back... 6. Point out that it seems like the job of a genius isn't so much to help fix the problems at hand, as it is to convince the unsuspecting customer that the worst has happened in order to get them to spend more money... 7. Receive little more than a shrug of defiance and a "well...that's just how it is" and finally...8. Leave the store fuming with frustration, what a terrible waste of time. The only reason I don't knock out the last star is because I do love my iPhone and computer, if only that dang camera would work.... read more

Ohhhh Apple. You are too smooth for your own good. I'm writing a review not for the shiny beautiful technology amazingness that this store obviously is, but rather for their repairs/customer service. I have a 1.5yr old macbook pro. It's beautiful. SO you can imagine my dismay when, as I was about to turn in the final copy of my thesis, I heard a crack as I closed my computer screen. Before I closed it all the way, I saw that the bottom corner of the screen had become dislodged from the casing and was now all wonky. I flipped the EFF out, b/c ... must I explain? The next day, I took my baby to the apple hospital. I was told "Applecare isn't insurance." Really?? What is it, then? I was told my problem is usually not covered by the $350 applecare plan that I went to great lengths to purchase for JUST THIS EVENT. Eventually, Mr. Jobs's minions decided my case warranted a fix under applecare, because I wasn't at fault. Well, bless his kind soul! The people who helped me at this juncture were legitimately nice, if a little 'holier-than-thou.' I had to return to drop off my baby at the shop the next day. At that point, another employee told me that this kind of repair (replacing the entire screen) was not usually covered by applecare. So why do I give a shit? Mine IS covered, so don't make me feel guilty. I was told that the repair would take 1-2 days, so I left the store to fight rush hour traffic. 1 hour later, I get a call that my computer is ready for pickup. While I appreciated the promptness, I could have just WAITED! Instead I went out of town for the weekend, stuck without my computer. When I came to pick up my computer 2 days later, I had to wait around for some paperwork. I was told repeatedly how much my computer would have cost to repair, had it not been covered. Is this whole shtick pretty transparent to anyone else? They make YOU feel guilty that your shittily-made product broke, and then they don't cease to remind you the extent of their kindness in repairing said shitty product (which is still under warranty). Well, the replacement was seamless and beautiful, still working perfectly 1.5 weeks after (so far). Apple products are freaking cool. The store employees? Not so much. They were eventually helpful but their attitude is soooo...poopy. Maybe it's their corporate rules, but, yech. I hope I can get away with doing all future apple transactions online. read more

Worst customer service EVER. Every time I've stepped into this location, the greeter at the door is incompetent and the attitude from the rest of the employees is palpable. Today, after the greeter admitted she didn't know the answer to my question, she arrogantly dealt juvenile attitude like a 13-year old brat when I asked, "Is there someone here who can answer my question?" Here's a clue girl; you're not cool or somehow superior just because you work for Apple. I left and drove straight to Compuzone Apple Specialist on W. 5th street, where my issue was handled immediately with no puerile hipster attitude. Don't waste your time with the Barton Creek bozos. It's worth the drive to the Apple Store at The Domain where you will be treated professionally and courteously, or go see the real pros elsewhere. read more

I had purchased my new phone online and only needed to pick up. Already paid for and had the QR code all ready to go upon arrival. There was a long queue outside the store for people wanting to shop. I waited in a shorter queue since I was only there for pick up. I got "checked in" by 3 different people yet that didn't seem to translate into someone actually going to retrieve my phone. I get it, it's still covid times so things take a little longer. But then the guy behind me got escorted into the store because he "knew exactly what he wanted and just wanted to grab it and pay". Wtf. Not only did I also "know exactly what I wanted", mine was already paid for. I told the lady for the life of me I'm not sure why I'm still waiting when I just wanted to pick up. She apologizes, moves me into a different area and someone brings out my phone shortly after. All in all, I waited 15 minutes to pick up a fully paid for online purchase. F-ing A. Very annoying experience on a Saturday morning read more

I used to love going to the Apple Store. Great products to gawk at and eventually buy, friendly knowledgeable staff who could explain the difference between laptops or software apps and actually smart people working at the Genius Bar. Nowadays when I walk in, the staff are all standing around talking to each other, are not interested in helping customers, act offended if you ask them for help, and have bad attitude and low knowledge at the Genius Bar. What happened? Different generation of brats working there who never learned their manners it seems. UPDATE: far better experience in the last 2 visits I have had with the Genius Bar for my macbook pro. read more

Worst customer service I have experienced in a very long time. Came in to get a screen repair and was left waiting for a long time even though I had checked in. I Asked employees for help and the guy thrust his iPad in my face to prove I am checked in and told me to keep waiting even though his system kept texting me that I was losing my place in line. Very rude and very slow service. Not coming back read more

I had an appointment yesterday at the genius bar because my new macbook air was making a loud fan noise and running very slow. Eric was super helpful and easy to work with. He offered me several different solutions for the issue and let me pick what worked best for me. I left the store a happy camper. Thanks Eric!! read more

6 months ago I would have given this place a glowing review. I am such a loyal apple customer. I've got 2 mac book pros, an ipod, and an iphone. Today I went in to the apple store with a power cord problem, which resulted in a short in my computer. I knew exactly what happened (they wouldn't believe me). And since I'm 3 months out of warranty, they decided that they just couldn't help me. Long story short, by the end of the genius bar appointment, I'm crying and Lauren, the manager, is smiling at me telling me she's just so sorry. I'm not sure in what world it's amusing when a customer is bawling over a product you won't stand behind, but apparently she thought it was kinda funny. I'd like to add a note that after this experience I went to the Apple store in the domain - no one made me cry, and the fixed the problem in minutes for free! It was a simple solution with great service. So, to sum up - don't go to the apple store at Barton Creek, stick with the Domain location, they're so much better! read more

I am such a Mac Maniac (Makes me a ManiMac?!)! I also love Justin Long, who personifies MAC in the Mac Vs. PC commercials!! I went here just the other day thanks to Errol's review.... Just had to get a small accessory. This store was bumpin', jumpin' busy.....like Kris Kross it made me wanna jump jump... So I got the small desired accessory and a nice man (employee) came over to us and let us buy it with his hand held scanner/purchase device to avoid the Octa-Mom-times-a-hundred person line that seemed to be wrapping around technology itself as we know it... So our transaction was fast, easy and here is my favorite part, wait for it: He EMAILED me the receipt.....It's the small things in life that make me wanna jump! So for those of you who do not like to shop and look at the walls, you can get in, get out, and have your receipt emailed to you (which it was that day) and truly make a paperless transaction! I actually wish every place was this way to cut back on all that darn paper... Apple-tastic.....Apple-licious! This Mac is Whack! But in a good, sick way! :) I'll be back, Mac! read more

OK, as a followup to my last diatribe about this store and what I think about Apple. This store had the most incompetent prima donas I've ever seen who pretty much contradicted each other at every turn. Promised everything before getting us to buy it and then once it was purchased, their promises all became vaporware. I don't have the time to list all the pages of their incompetence, but I should mention that they lost the computer. Took them a few hours to find it. We had to sit around for somewhere between two and three hours. They were frustrated with us rather than admitting what idiots they were. Oh, what did they say? It was, "there are many many boxes in there", as if that was an excuse. Haven't they heard about having a system for locating things? I went there to help my mother but I will never in a million years buy one of their computers. An iPhone is OK, but I can buy it from someone other than their store. While I'm at it, be sure that you know where they are located beforehand. When we called them because we couldn't figure out where their store was located in the mall, they just hung up on us. read more

The mall website says the best parking here is outside of the Dillards and has you walking through there, but there's a main mall entrance between the Dillards and the Apple store that is a better parking spot for your trip. Take a right, and just keep going past the Godiva kiosk until you see the Apple Store on the left. This store is always paaaacked. And it's just not in a convenient location, having to lug your laptop or whatever through the mall. Even with an appointment, I always have to wait 20-30 minutes after I get there to get helped. Even just to pick up a fixed product. And once, they fixed a trackpad and a few hours after opening my laptop, it crashed forever, and would've been more expensive to fix than it was worth. So, they're getting two stars in my book. They need more staff or a more efficient process, because I think most people associate absolute dread with having to bring something in here just because of how long you have to wait. read more

Staff is incredibly rude and don't go out of their way to help. Went in for a problem with the wifi on my MacBook Pro, and was informed that there was an issue, not user caused, that they spent no more five minutes on before declaring that they weren't sure of what exactly was wrong. The solution was rebooting it in a fancy Apple way and sending me home with a computer that didn't work upon arriving home. Took it in a second time to spend over $100 on the problem. Overall it's incredibly busy, the staff contradicts one another, and they are disrespectful. Location at The Domain is much friendlier, or as friendly as Apple gets. read more

This review is the typical "I wish I could give it 3.5 stars but really doesn't deserve a 4". I've actually had a good experiences coming to the Apple Store especially with their Genius Bar. You get the feeling you are at a high end store which Apple is known for. If you have to have your product repaired, it helps to make an appointment. Sometimes they will call you early or call you late depending the availability of staff and people keeping with their appointments. There were numerous times I come here and they help out a lot with repairing your product. They are pretty patient with you and will take their time to figure out the problem. I don't mind coming here because of the great customer service. Just beware it is always crowded because people are trying out new products and waiting for the Genius Bar. read more

I took my Imac into the Barton Creek store last week. Chaos. The entire store is run by 16 year olds that don't really have a clue. My computer had a black screen, no drive activity, and would not re-start. I asked the Apple staff to evaluate the computer and let me know how extensive the repair would be as I did not want to pay a grand to repair this machine and that I use this for work and need it quickly, or need to replace it quickly. 3 days went by with no call from Apple. I called and sat through the obligatory select this and that number, long hold music and a 15 year old who told me to hold again for another 10 minutes to be told that they didn't know what was up yet. The next day I called again.. same drill and was told that a 'genius" would call me back in an hour. NO CALL all day. The day after.. same drill... and was then told by a smarty pants tech guy that there was nothing wrong with my machine at all and that I should come get it. Now.. I have use Macs for 20 years. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MACHINE... He suggested it might be a bad power chord (Of course you can't but a power cord for an apple product at the apple store).... right? I went to pick up the machine, spoke to a manager.. who didn't seem to care, and took home the machine to of course find out that it would not start..... Called Apple national tech support... have been on with them 3 times.. no help. The company used to have the best customer care and has now become a behemoth that is run by McDonalds works from the movie Idiocracy. Done... read more

Of you are looking to deal with a pretentious and unhelpful staff, I encourage you to visit the Apple Store at Barton Creek. Here's what I experienced. 1. 3 visits to have my computer repaired and the problem was never installed. 2. Despite purchasing apple care the store manager argued with me saying I had never purchased it. 3. They required that I pay $280 to have an issue not related to my usage repaired. 4. They tried upselling me to rent a laptop, because they couldn't diagnose the problem. They wasted my time and were very rude about it. I'm happy to drive out of my way to avoid this store. read more

Brought in a 2011 (YES that old) 15" macbook because it was not booting up. I tried everything prior to the visit with no luck. The "geniud" plugged it in, ran diagnostics and told me they were going to fix the issue for free. I did not have apple care and i even told them i bought this mbp used off of Ebay! No worries, they took it and today i got my computer back. Whoever the tech that worked on it was super anal LOL. Replaced missing screws, taped up the DVD slot (i replaced the internal DVD drive with another hard drive) and EVEN replaced my RAM with new ones (even gave me back my old ones) as the ones that I installed was never "officially supported" (I put in 16gigs and the official highest supported memory was 8, i think). Anyway, I've never been treated by tech support by any company this good. Oh, they replaced the logic board for free. read more

I was daunted by the Yelp reviews, but after my old iPhone 4s broke, I rushed over here about 20min before closing. I had all of my old phone paperwork and packaging to sell back my phone, but it turns out I didn't need anything but the phone itself. I was immediately greeted and helped by a very friendly associate! She answered all my questions and really appreciated I had everything together and was ready to go. The buyback process and set up of new phone of course takes time, but she worked as efficiently and pleasantly as possible. I never felt rushed or given attitude because it was near closing. I was very impressed with the customer service! I always had my old phone in a case with a screen protector so I was able to get $199 Apple store credit for selling it back- the exact price of my iPhone 5s upgrade with new 2-year contract! All I had to do was pay for the tax on the promo price. (Thank you, TX! CA has always made me pay the tax on the full $600-700 value of the cell phones I have bought!). A new iPhone for $16. read more

I wish there were another location closer to me but this is it. I had to make 3 trips THIS WEEK (yes, it's Wednesday night) in conjunction with my recent MacBook Pro issue and will have to go out there YET AGAIN tomorrow because they still can't get it right. I was given the wrong total this evening, with a very blunt and rude "genius" who did not even check that my computer was working right with me. He turned it on, while it was doing it's jazzy welcome flash stuff, he hard powered it off and slid it over to me. I came home to find that I was not reinstalled with Lion, as agreed on, nor was any of the software updated in-house for me, as agreed on, to insure the problem was fixed. All in all, a job totally fumbled by the technicians who took over from my genius. I was simply pushed a new hard drive that I'm not sure I needed, and then nickeled-and-dimed out of the FEW MINOR favors they assured me they would perform. read more

Smells like the stench of humanity inside. Literally packed with people milling around and ogling the merchandise as though they've never seen technology before. I half expected one or two to pull out a large femur bone and, screeching wildly, begin to slam it against one of the computers. *Does anyone else have the Flight of the Concords, "The Humans are Dead" start playing in their heads while in here? No? *I don't care if this is the Apple store...your headset is silly - the store isn't that big, and you look like you work at Old Navy. Seriously, dude...the guy you're talking to on your headset is like...ten feet away. Go tap him on the shoulder. And what the hell is up with the color coded shirts? Is there some sort of hierarchy within Mac ownership I am unaware of? ...but still, that shit is PURDY. read more

Sad to say but when my nano blitzed due to the power button's inability to spring was told I could come back 5 or 7 hours later. Explained I lived 200 miles away and was in town and could not live without my tunes, and there was some slack time it appeared as Apple employees were just roaming the store. Not happening says the mean old Apple guy, have to make an appointment online and then drive back to this not so happening place and freeeeeeze my buns while zipping and zagging to snatch a place to park my ride. Was told unofficially that my problem could be fixed, inquired if there was a video to show me how to fix this irritating problem as I've seen the insides of a landfill and I had no intentions of disposing this baby in one. Able to pay $49.95 for a kit or give Apple $99 (yep I'll lose all my tunes because it is not possible to backup this nano). Infusion of brain cells needed or a 4 year old with brain cells will do:(( read more

Very busy store! I would advise going during the week, especially early morning but we know this is probably true for all Apple Stores I really needed to get my phone checked the same day but there were no appointments available. The manager came over and worked with me on several issues he could handle without a Genius and made me an appointment for the next day! Today was the appointment and I have to take a star off for not having enough staff nor appointments to handle to amount of customers in this store. I had an appointment at 10:40 and did not get seen until after 11 am. All the other Apple Stores I have been to are very prompt with thier appointments. I also tried to get one to one open training (not Personal training) and there were non available for days. Overall I'm still a satisified customer, I just think this store needs to take it up a notch. I often wonder what mold the employees are cut from that work for Apple? I have never had a rude, mean or irritable employee ever. Trust me when I say I have spent many waking hours playing in their classes and coming in for years. That is to be commended! Hooray for Jobs and the creative team for their innovative ideas which have transformed our lives!! RIP read more

Tony helped me yesterday with accessories! We looked at screen covers, waterproof cases, and regular cases. And Mophies. It was awesome, and he was awesome. Super helpful, super knowledgeable. Tony = The Accessories Whisperer. #givehimaraise read more

My MacBook broke at a burlesque and cupcakes show (seriously) at SXSW Interactive, when I got tired and set the sucker down on the floor at just the wrong angle for metal and concrete. I'm a (very stupid obviously) blogger and basically I bring it everywhere during the day, and without a stop at a hotel room to drop it off, it's got to come with me at night. Besides, if you're going to liveblog something, it just might be a burlesque and cupcakes show. This was ridiculous, though, even for me. The computer capital-B broke - as in black screen of death, no little spinning rainbow circle, BROKE. I took a cab to the Apple Store from downtown, and paid money I don't really have for an iPhone that I'd been meaning to get anyway. The iPhone is, of course, awesome. Leeanna or LeeAnn or Anna Lee (I'm so sorry) was very helpful and competent where setting it up was concerned, and did not shame me about breaking basically everything I own and even acted slightly interested in my problems. Floyd the genius could do nothing with my computer, and more or less told me to suck it up til I got home. He was cute, though, and friendly too, in spite of the fact that it was Saturday at 3 p.m., basically the time when all Apple Stores everywhere reach critical mass and the fluorescent lights start to drive everyone collectively insane. Three base stars because I got the answers I needed and an iPhone with minimal fuss. An extra star because everyone's so much friendlier in Austin than at home (sorry, home) which makes the news goes down just a little easier. read more

Would give zero stars if possible. Awful store with arrogant "genius" employees. It seems if I have to go this god forsaken store 10 times, I have crappy experience 9 times, and get someone great every 10th time. I dread how the geniuses school you on how difficult it is to do what you are asking them to do, today the genius spent 15 minutes explaining how complicated it is giving out a replacement phone and it can not be completed in 40 minutes ( with barely anyone else in the store and 15 "geniuses" standing around yawning and/or chit chatting with one another). So now to take another dreadful trip to accomplish this apparently extremely complicated task of taking a new phone out of a drawer and checking out. Hate this place with a passion because of the annoying self important geniuses and customer no service. read more

I'm horrible at names. Just checked my receipt and of course there is only a terminal #. Beside the point, but my salesperson was amazing and I wanted to thank him by name. He's not even a salesperson because they do not work on commission. He was just a guy who knows a lot about Apple products and has the patience of an Angel. I went in wanting the new MacBook because of the rose gold. So pretty. I wanted him to talk me out of it and get the more practical MacBook Pro. He didn't. He just put the two side by side and really made me feel like no maters what I was making a good decision. He gave me pros and cons, which I really appreciated because there is no such thing as a perfect match. On top of all of that he taught me about iCloud, iCloud Drive, and time capsule. All things I knew of, but not about. Again the patience of an angel. I didn't not wait long because you can make an appointment to avoid the lines. It's Apple. There are going to be lines. It's like saying your going to go to brunch at Jack Allen's at 11 am and hope to just walk in on a Sunday. Please. Think ahead and if you don't then expect a line and be pleasantly surprised if there isn't one. Also, it's very clean and organized. Something I really appreciate. Love Apple. Love the Apple Store. Love Apple Employees. Thanks for making my experience wonderful! read more